Medical Tourism: The Benefits And Risks Of Getting A Tummy Tuck In Mexico Or IVF In India

Topline

Four kidnapped Americans reportedly traveled to Mexico so one could receive a tummy tuck, raising concerns about the risks associated with medical tourism—though experts believe proper research and consultations will significantly reduce risks and complications.

Key Facts

Big Number

$264 million. That’s how much Dr. David Vequist, the founder and director of the Center for Medical Tourism Research told Forbes it is estimated will be spent on medical tourism services in Mexico in 2023.

Crucial Quote

“As long as you are taking into consideration safety and security issues, you are selecting the right provider and the right facility and you consider all the various different options, it’s very possible that you could end up making a decision that will allow you to get quality healthcare at a lower price,” Vequist told Forbes about medical tourism.

Key Background

Four Americans traveled to Matamoros, Mexico, allegedly for one of them to receive a tummy tuck. However, the trip turned violent and they were kidnapped, with two of them killed and another badly injured. A U.S. official told CNN investigators believe the Mexican cartel was involved and kidnapped the four, possibly mistaking them for Haitian drug smugglers. An innocent bystander also was killed at the scene. The U.S. State Department’s travel advisory for Tamaulipas, the Mexican state Matamoros is located in, advises Americans to not travel there due to the risk of kidnappings and crime.

Surprising Fact

Though medical tourism is popular among U.S. citizens, foreigners travel to the U.S. for medical procedures very frequently. Houston is one of the most popular destinations for foreigners seeking American healthcare, and after the pandemic cost the city $294 million in 2020 because of travel restrictions, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Medical Tourism Benefits

A lot of people traveling abroad for healthcare cite low costs as a driving factor. A 2020 study reported 92% of participants labeled low costs in Mexico as a driving factor. For example, the average cost of a tummy tuck in the U.S. is $6,154 (not including the cost of anesthesia, medication or the operation, which can raise prices to around $20,000 depending on the state), and the average cost of a tummy tuck in Mexico is between $2,000 and $4,000. There’s often a stigma surrounding medical tourism, which associates it with low costs and botched work. However, according to Vequist, this is not usually the case. Consumers “expect a certain level of quality and… they have a certain price point that they’re willing to pay for it,” he said. Some may travel abroad for medical procedures that are illegal in their state, such as abortions (most abortions are banned in 13 states). Other patients travel due to looser restrictions in other countries. Dr. Valorie Crooks, a professor of geography at Simon Fraser University in Canada told the New York Times patients might initially seek care in the U.S., but they’re told they’re “too young or too old for orthopedic surgery” or they might be “too small or too big for bariatric surgery,” so they turn to doctors in foreign countries for assistance.

Medical Tourism Risks

According to Vequist, traveling long distances for medical care increases the risk of developing infection due to being exposed to a “new or unique type of bacteria or virus,” not common in the home country. The practice of medical tourism is largely unregulated and there are virtually no laws in place for the process. The CDC warns traveling by air following a procedure increases the risk of blood clotting due to flying in high altitudes. It advises medical tourists who had abdominal or chest surgery to not fly for 10 days following procedures to avoid complications associated with atmospheric changes. Because patients typically pay out of pocket for medical tourism procedures, their U.S. physicians may not be aware of the work that’s been done. Because of this, the CDC states complications may result in patients seeking follow-up care from doctors in the U.S., so patients should request copies of medical records from the facilities in foreign countries. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends waiting five to seven days after body procedures like liposuction or breast augmentation and 10 days after face procedures like a facelift and nose job before flying. To avoid complications, the CDC recommends patients do pre-travel consultations with a healthcare provider, bring copies of medical records to foreign countries and get copies of medical records from foreign facilities (these may need to be translated to English), do proper research on doctors and facilities and set up follow-up care for a smooth transition.

Further Reading

Two Americans Dead And Two Others Found Alive After Violent Kidnapping In Mexico

(Forbes)

Mexican Drug Cartel Reportedly Claims Responsibility—And Apologizes—For Abducting And Murdering Americans (Forbes)

Kidnapping in Mexico Draws Attention to Medical Tourism Industry (New York Times)