An increasing number of Australians are venturing overseas to combine affordable surgery with a holiday. These so called “holiday surgery” packages combine surgery, airline tickets, transport and accommodation. This all sounds terrific, until you realise subsequent recovery may taint your holiday. It is a serious undertaking with major risks.

A survey of 68 surgeons, commissioned by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, established for maintaining the highest standard of surgical practice and ethics in Australia, revealed a growing trend of complications with “holiday surgeries”. Surgeons reviewed over 120 patients seeking treatment for botched “holiday surgeries”, many relating to breast augmentations performed in Thailand. One unfortunate female in her 20’s required skin grafts as she was unable to close her eyes after undergoing blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) in Thailand.

These concerns don’t relate to Australians alone. The BBC also reported a rise in botched “holiday surgeries” with the top three concerns being aftercare, lower standards and language barriers. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons is stressing the importance for people to thoroughly research each aspect of the procedure including risks, benefits, expectations and most importantly the surgeon’s qualifications and expertise. It warned people to be careful, not to base choices on price, discounts or other marketing tactics.