Medical tourism has become something of a phenomenon over the course of the last few decades and the number of people travelling abroad for medical treatment is at an all-time high. The main reason people travel abroad is to save money and in most cases, prices are up to 70 % lower than here and you can combine your treatment with a luxury trip and still save money.
Popular treatments
The most popular treatments people travel abroad for include cosmetic surgery and elective procedures. In the UK, these treatments are not available on the NHS and private clinic fees can be very high. The most common procedures and treatments include gastric band surgery, breast augmentation (boob job), rhinoplasty (nose job), fertility treatment and cosmetic dental procedures. Liposuction has also become a very popular treatment. VASER liposuction is a relatively new treatment and is less invasive than traditional liposuction treatment. VASER liposuction is designed to contour the body and target problem areas and can be effective in removing fat from several different areas of the body, including the chin, breasts, thighs, tummy and love handles.
Travelling abroad has made many of the treatments and procedures showcased by celebrities affordable for ‘normal’ people. Cosmetic procedures, such as face lifts, nose jobs, liposuction and boob jobs are now accessible to everyone and many of the clinics designed to attract foreign travellers offer luxurious modern settings and state of the art equipment.
Popular destinations
Eastern Europe is the most popular destination for tourists from the UK, Scandinavia, France and Germany and leading countries include Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Bulgaria. Central and Southern American countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica and Brazil are increasingly popular with American and Canadian tourists and Thailand and India are emerging as hot spots for tourists from New Zealand and Australia.