Did you know that pre-Covid, around 144,000 UK citizens jetted overseas in 2016 alone for a medical procedure? And that figure is on the rise.
Long waiting lists are blamed for those seeking treatment that’s available on the NHS, while the “Zoom boom”, which has made us increasingly self-aware on screens, has triggered a tsunami of people desiring cosmetic work without the hefty price tag of a private practice in the UK.
But Bryan Mayou of the Cadogan Clinic urges caution, saying, “The health implications of procedures not carried out correctly and the cost of corrective surgery can far outweigh any savings made.”
He’s right. Who can forget this summer’s 'Turkey Teeth' headlines, featuring patients who sought cut-price crowns abroad and were left with a mouthful of filed-down pegs? Indeed, the number of Brits requiring urgent treatment on their return to the UK following botched surgery rose 44% in 2021.
Concerns about this rising figure have even sparked a controversial rethink by health chiefs recently. Four years after mum-of-three Leah Cambridge died following a risky £6,500 Brazilian butt lift in Turkey, UK-based clinics are being urged to offer a less invasive version to dissuade people who are still travelling abroad for the “perfect” booty. The “lite” option – superficial gluteal lipofilling (SGL) – involves fat injected below the skin rather than into the muscles, to avoid accidental injection into the bloodstream.
But not everyone is averse to medical tourism. Dr Martina Hodgson, dentist and Invisalign doctor, says the risks,
in her field at least, are exaggerated.
“There are many ethical and talented dentists across the world who care about their patients’ best interests,” she says. “It’s the few clinics that put profit before patient welfare that give the rest a bad name.”
If you are thinking about an overseas op, do your homework, as each country has its own medical regulations. “Speak to past patients, seek before and after photos and ask about aftercare procedures if complications occur,” Mr Mayou advises.
Use of the World Health Organisation surgical safety checklist is a good indication of a clinic’s attitude to welfare.
Specialist travel insurance is a must as neither the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the UK Global Health Insurance Card cover costs. An understanding of the language barrier is vital too, and consider how your own GP will communicate with foreign medics if required.
Here are the locations emerging as popular hot spots for medical tourism in 2023…
Czech Republic
Whether state or privately operated, all Czech healthcare facilities are subject to strict accreditation requirements, making it a frontrunner among the newly emerging health tourism hotspots. While rhinoplasty could set you back around £4,500 in the UK, a Czech equivalent will cost £800, with travel and accommodation costs on top.
Spain
Bunion surgery is rarely available on the NHS unless you have severe pain or recurrent infections. So why not take a trip to Spain where over 6,000 Spaniards have the treatment each year? Procedures start at £4,400 in the UK, but in Spain will cost around £1,360.
Poland
In recent years, Poland has emerged as a leading destination for anything from plastic surgery to IVF for around a third of the price paid in the UK. But dentist Dr Manrina Rhode points out: “You must be prepared to delay your flight back should complications arise. When dealing with the human body nothing is 100 percent guaranteed.”
Lithuania
A record 6.8million people are currently waiting for hospital treatment in England alone. Perhaps that’s why Health Tourism Lithuania is seeing more foreigners travelling there for treatments such as hip replacements. In the UK, a private hip op can set you back around £10,000, while Lithuania offers the same for just over £3,000.
Turkey
With #turkeyteeth gaining 31.7 billion views on TikTok, the country is still one of the most popular choices for dental work. Seeking out multiple opinions is a must, as some dental clinics offer unnecessarily invasive treatments which can lead to complications costing more than £5,000 to fix.
“A top cosmetic dental surgeon in Turkey charges similar to a top cosmetic dental surgeon in the UK. And cheap clinics have prices comparable to NHS clinics in the UK. The difference is the quality,” warns Dr Rhode. Turkey, with its cheap flights, is a top choice for hair transplants, too, from £1,300.
Hungary
Given that the Budapest thermal baths famously once provided Roman settlers with medicinal remedies and cures, Hungary is no stranger to medical tourism. Although the baths remain a key tourist attraction, today with one of the highest global concentrations of dentists per capita, it rivals Turkey for high quality dental treatments although you can expect to pay £1000 more for 8 porcelain veneers.
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