Can I have blepharoplasty / eyelid surgery abroad?

Yes. Surgery abroad is often cheaper than here in the UK. And, there is also the opportunity to combine your surgery with a short holiday as well. Many providers will offer a deal which combines surgery with a short break afterwards.

This sounds very appealing but the surgery is the main reason here. A stay in a luxury hotel sounds great but your concern should be obtaining the very best care you can find. This means a reputable surgeon and a clinic which operates the very highest standards.

If you are keen on this option then research this very carefully.

Be aware that many countries have different regulation and standards. In the UK we operate a heavily regulated service. Surgeons have to be a member of a professional organisation such as BAAPS or BAPRAS. These are well known throughout the world and it is extremely difficult to obtain membership of these institutions.

Your surgeon needs to be ‘board certified’. This means being a member of an organisation similar to the two mentioned above.
Ask your surgeon if they are a board certified plastic surgeon.

Some surgeons have a UK registration even though they practice abroad. If so they could be listed on the GMC’s Specialist Register of Plastic Surgery. 

Here are a few things to consider when thinking of cosmetic surgery abroad:

  • Will your surgery be performed at the surgeon’s clinic or in a private hospital? What is the name of the clinic/hospital?
  • Can you contact your surgeon easily? Is the contact via email or the phone?
  • Is it possible for you to have the initial consultation and aftercare visits in the UK?

This is another option. If you only have to go abroad for the surgery itself and can have the follow up visits here in the UK then that will save you time and money.

  • The price quoted may seem attractive but don’t forget there is the matter of booking a flight and arranging accommodation. If you add that cost to the quote then it may not be any cheaper.
  • Does the price include aftercare, nursing/medical care etc? You may find that you have to pay for these as additional extras.
  • When you have had your surgery do you get to recover in the clinic or hospital or are you discharged to a hotel? Whilst this may sound attractive you have to think about what could go wrong. If complications arise then the hotel is not equipped to deal with these.
  • Is it safe for you to undertake a long flight back to the UK after surgery? There is the risk of deep vein thrombosis following surgery and a long haul flight might increase this risk.
  • Do the staff at the clinic/hospital speak English?
  • What are the standards like at the clinic? Are the facilities clean and up to scratch?
  • Ask to see ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs. If possible, speak to other patients who have undergone this surgery. Check to0 see if there are any ‘case studies’ or testimonials you can read.

Be as thorough as you would be if you were having surgery in the UK. Make sure that you find a reputable surgeon who has many years of experience in blepharoplasty surgery. The last thing you want is to undergo surgery from an unlicensed or under qualified surgeon and then experience complications back in the UK.

Unfortunately this does happen. There have been several cases reported in the media of patients who have had surgery abroad which has turned out to be badly done or ‘botched’.

These patients are turning to the NHS to repair these ‘mistakes’.

This has been reported by BAAPS who advise prospective patients to vet their clinic and surgeon very carefully. They argue that patients in this position should seek help from the surgeon who performed the procedure before turning to the NHS.

NHS surgeons have a heavy workload and having to deal with ‘botched’ cosmetic surgery is diverting them away from seriously ill patients. Resources are finite and need to be directed to where there is the greatest need.

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) Guide Index:

COSMETIC SURGERY TREATMENTS

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