Nose Jobs in the UK vs. Nose Jobs Abroad

The term ‘medical tourism’ refers to when a person travels overseas to have cosmetic, surgical or dental treatments. In recent years, there’s been a huge rise in medical tourism amongst UK nationals, with the main driving force being the greater affordability that is offered overseas.

Whilst many people are attracted to the appeal of what are marketed as unmissable rhinoplasty packages, a lot of them are unaware of the potential compromise that is also involved.

In this blog, we’ll be delving into nose jobs abroad and uncovering the hidden layers of this growing trend.

The Popularity of Nose Jobs Abroad

Surgical procedures such as rhinoplasty can create a profoundly positive impact when performed properly. For many people wanting to permanently improve the appearance or functionality of their nose, a major block is the fact that cosmetic surgery is not cheap. 

For this reason, each year, huge numbers of Brits travel to countries such as Turkey and the Czech Republic to take advantage of surgical treatment prices that just seem too good to resist. Interestingly, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) reported that from a price perspective, choosing to have surgery abroad can reduce costs by 40-80%. 

Whilst there are many well established clinics and surgeons operating overseas, the experiences provided by those offering cut-cost treatment can come with a range of complications. 

So, we know that price is the main factor behind many patients opting for nose jobs abroad, but are these procedures safe?

Are Nose Jobs Abroad safe?

Alongside the growth of medical tourism, there is also a growing rate of cases in which surgical procedures abroad have had horrific consequences.

“British woman, 28, dies after travelling to Turkey for gastric band surgery”

“In August 2020, primary school teacher Michelle Williams decided to undergo, what should have been, a simple nose job in Turkey. However, the mother-of-one’s surgery did not go as planned, and she suffered severe complications and has been left in a permanent vegetative state.”

With the lure of enjoying a holiday in the sun whilst taking advantage of prices that are lower than those of in UK, thousands of Brits opt to have nose jobs outside of the UK. However, in many cases, the low cost of such procedures has reflected worryingly low levels of patient care. In many situations, extremely concerning surgical approaches have also been reported.

Rhinoplasty Abroad – What Can Go Wrong?

Let’s take a look at some of the main risks associated with having rhinoplasty abroad.

Language Barrier

When patients themselves consider the potential complications with opting for surgery overseas, the language barrier is often the first thing that pops into their minds. Whilst many surgeons abroad can effectively communicate in English, the same cannot always be said for those who make up the entire staff team at clinics. This can cause a serious breakdown in communication.

As many of these clinics are often busy with high rates of medical tourists, getting through to your surgeon during your recovery period to have in-depth discussions or gain answers for crucial questions may not be a smooth process. In many cases, you may have to instead deal with other members of a clinic’s team.

In Rhinoplasty surgery, clarity and communications are important corner stones to ensure good outcomes. Unfortunately, this may not be the case in these circumstances.

Standards & Regulations

Surgeons, their teams and entire hospitals/clinics based in the UK are closely regulated by long-established governing bodies such as GMC and CQC. This usually confers that the level of standards that are adhered to in the UK are substantially higher to those in these countries.

Strict regular inspections ensure that the medical environments in which UK surgeons are performing procedures adhere to strict standards and safety. Though no surgical procedure is without risk, the UK’s standards and regulations support a greater level of safety when compared to many European countries, especially where treatment prices are the cheapest. 

Substandard Facilities & Equipment

In line with the last point, the UK regulations that medical procedures are only conducted in safe, regulated, and hygienic spaces where all equipment is of an exceptionally high quality. Unfortunately, in many cases of surgery abroad gone wrong, surgery package prices have been kept low due to the low quality of materials or environment being used. The affordability of cheap surgery abroad may sound too good to be true…and in many cases, it really is.

Medical History

Surgical procedures in individuals with a medical or family history requires appropriate attention and processes to avoid complications and avoidable medical consequences. The lack of access to your medical records or appropriate assessment and processes in place to manage these can result in avoidable serious and sometime life threatening consequence for an operation that should have minimal if any medical side effects. If you have a medical history or any family history of reactions to anaesthesia, you would wise to avoid putting your self at significant risk by having your surgery overseas.  

Inconvenience/Air Travel

A major block between a patient and the guarantee of a safe and reassuring aftercare process following surgery abroad, is the distance between the patient and surgeon. Amongst the excitement of going on holiday and having affordable surgery, many travellers often disregard how their results will be monitored post-treatment. 

In the UK, face-to-face review consultations play a pivotal role in ensuring appropriate healing and adequate outcomes. Any concerns can be immediately reviewed and addressed. Face-to-face post-surgery consultations are critical in being to adequately access and provide true reassurance for patients. Whilst surgeons operating overseas may offer video review consultations, there is a limit to how effectively a nose can be examined through a digital screen. Also, distance creates a dissociation which often result in false reassurance. Furthermore, unfortunately if revision surgery is required, this has to entail further air travel and remote follow up.

For Sama Rhinoplasty patients, if at any point during your treatment journey you wish to see Professor Sama in person, this can be easily arranged.

Additionally, another risk related to medical tourism is the potentially devastating impact of air travel. Patients travelling via airplane following surgery are at a higher risk of developing blood clots and significant nose bleeds or damage to the sinuses and ears from blockage.

Surgical Outcomes

Some of these overseas institutions maintain a low-price structure by having high throughput. High through put does not equate to high quality! This is the difference between a number and an individual. Social media is an unregulated platform and often the results shared have been amended or hived from other websites. Always be critical of the outcomes promised or shared, after all you are unlikely to get married to someone you have met on the internet so why would you put your health and beauty in the hands of a person that you have never met?

The Sama Rhinoplasty Approach to Nose Jobs

For those who decide to have a Nose Job with Professor Sama, multiple in-depth consultations take place prior the day of surgery being finalised. Each consultation allows the surgical approach to be carefully, patiently, and precisely planned. We believe that as a nose job is such a life-changing procedure, its preparation stage should equip patients with a detailed understanding of their specific case and exactly how the target outcome will be achieved.

Professor Sama will use highly advanced image morphing software to present how a patient’s face could look following treatment. At Sama Rhinoplasty, we believe that this provides each patient journey with a sense of guidance and expectation. 

Patients have the opportunity to take their time to properly think about things before confirming their decision to go forward. There are no time limits for this – patient wellbeing is at the forefront of the Sama Rhinoplasty philosophy. 

During the day of surgery, Professor Sama and his surgical team will ensure to make a patient’s experience as comfortable as possible. Our team will cater to any specific requirements or preferences that a patient may have. Additionally, Professor Sama’s exceptional level or experience and expertise is strategically applied to each individual surgical procedure to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Following the surgery, Professor Sama will schedule multiple review consultations (at no extra cost) to closely monitor healing and progress. Professor Sama and his team of experts can be contacted with ease for those who have questions or queries. 

To book a consultation, please click here or call 0735 400 2099.