Step by step guide to succesfully plan a medical trip to get plastic surgery

There's a new trend now called MEDICAL TOURISM that's, simply put, a cheaper solution to problems of people who want or need plastic surgery but the prices for that are prohibited or waiting times are too long.

Some people call it Medical Travel or Medical Outsourcing. The bottom line is, you combine your travel (maybe to an exotic country for best sightseeing possibilities) and your medical treatment (a nip and tuck here and there!), and then come back to your own home, a few dollars lighter but a 100% completely healthy and happy!

That for half the price of common procedures in the United States, you can deal with whatever's ailing you when you want it with no more waiting in line! You can even throw in your hotel accommodations and bring a friend along with you.

The emergence of medical tourism has somehow become the answer to the need for alternative treatments and surgeries in developed countries. Now, patients do not need to spend a lot of money or wait a few months just to get the much needed cosmetic surgery or even other forms of medical surgery. Within days, surgeries can be scheduled and performed without hassles at more affordable costs.

As usual, any decision that involves the overall health requires considerable research and thorough planning. Because medical travel may not be as simple as it seems, it is just advisable that you do necessary planning and preparation before you get any cosmetic surgery in another country. Plastic surgery is still a surgical procedure. You need to prepare for it physically, emotionally and financially. Any thinking person should not get into medical travel easily and impulsively.

But now there is a guide that will help just about anyone prepare and plan well for a cosmetic surgery abroad. www.cosmetic-tourism-guide.com for a low price will get information on this topics:

* You'll see the pros and cons of doing the planning by yourself.
* The Benefits of having a medical tourism partner to hold your hand.
* How to pick the perfect medical tourism partner.
* You're fears about privacy of medical records will be assuaged.
* You'll even learn a few tips about financing your trip.
* How to find the right Medical Tourism Provider.
* Know the price difference on cosmetic procedures compared to your country.
* How you can afford or finance your procedure.
* Learn if you qualify for medical tourism.

So if you are planning in taking a trip for a procedure and some vacations it is very advisable that you first get information and planning tips like the ones you will find in this guide.

Cosmetic Surgery Financing

Taking the decision to have plastic surgery its a whole process per se but after that decision (and sometimes before) you should think in how to pay for your breast implants, your face lift or any other procedure you may want.

If you don't have the funds to overcome the procedures you want you should think on taking a loan, depending on your circumstances you can borrow between $1,000 and $20,000. You may choose to spread the cost of your cosmetic surgery over a longer period and pay a competitive rate of interest. The Interest you pay is normally lower than credit cards. Your interest rate is defined by your credit score. Patients with good credit history could get for lower interest rates. Patients with credit issues can get low rates depending on the length of the loan.

Different to house and car loans, plastic surgery financing is an unsecured loan. Unsecured means that there is nothing to take back if the patient stops payment. Financing institutions try to reduce this risk by assessing the application and credit report to predict how likely it is that you will repay a loan.

Your credit score is calculated based on your credit history and reports. Usually any american with a Social Security number, whether a citizen or not, have three versions of credit reports. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are the three largest American credit agencies that collect your credit information and provide your credit report or credit profile to your lenders/creditors.

There are companies specialized in loans and financing for cosmetic surgery, they offer plans to make it easy to afford the cosmetic surgery costs. Those companies can setup a payment schedule according to your payment capacity. Depending on your credit score, the terms of the loan could be 24, 36, 48, or 60 months. Usually no down payment is required for Cosmetic Surgery Financing. However, some doctors might require a minimum down payment or deposit.

To be considered for a loan you should comply with factors like job or occupation, length of employment contract, or if you own a home. Someone with good credit will:

• Be a U.S. citizen and be a legal resident of the state where you make your application
  
• fulfill the age requirements for personal loans in your state
• Have credit for at least two years, with no negative credit records
• Not have more than 50% of debt to income ratio, including the new loan
• Not having debt more than half of your total annual income
• Having not more than $15,000 in credit card debt.

Cosmetic surgery financing helps make high quality plastic surgery —and your new look— a reality.

Medical Tourism and the Colombian Connection

If it’s plastic surgery you are interested in, it’s got to be Colombia. That’s where you head to when you want to get a quick and good nose job done or breast enlargement done. Yes, Colombia has been nick named as the Mecca of plastic surgery procedure. Fortunately, there are many genuine reasons that make this South American country such a hot destination for those willing to travel out of their country for medical related issues.

Medical Tourism in Colombia

Today, medical tourism is a booming trend around the world. Countries such as India, Thailand, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Colombia among a host of others are the new hot spots for getting yourself or your family member treated for quality as well as price that are amongst the lowest in the world. Of course, if it’s just cosmetic surgery you are interested in then there are two choices – India and Colombia. But Colombia is the clear winner for the US and Canadian residents because the airfare to this South American country is around $500 for a round trip!

A great combination of international health services along with a chance to travel outside your own country, medical tourism solutions in Colombia are designed to cater to your health care needs while ensure that you have a comfortable and stress free stay. With numerous different medical tourism packages available, based on your individual choice, all you need to do is pick the ones that suit your requirements the best and get ready for a thrilling adventure to a country that is a tropical paradise with some amazing natural beauty, warm and friendly people, and a fast-paced life!

Saving Money on Plastic Surgery Treatments in Colombia

Why pay $6,000 for breast augmentation in the US, if you can travel outside America and get your breast enlarged at half the price! Yes, due to the high prices of plastic surgery procedures in countries such as the US, the UK, and other European countries, many patients have started to look for cheaper and better options for medical treatments outside their countries such as Colombia, India, Thailand etc.

But the best part is that not only do you receive health care facilities at par with the ones back home at a fraction of the cost, you can also benefits from a rejuvenating, comfortable, relaxing, and affordable vacation.

With more than 40-45 new plastic surgery clinics sprinkled across in 3-4 Colombian cities such as Bogota, Cali, Cucuta, and Medellin, over one million people who come to this country each year for various plastic surgery procedures such as cosmetic dentistry, face lifts, tummy tucks, breast implants, Lasik eye surgery etc. So why not you? All that you need is just a passport!

Plastic Surgery in Cali

If you have ever been to Cali, Colombia, you already know that the women there look great! Let’s spill the beans on how almost every woman looks beautiful in this 3^rd largest city of the South American country that has until now had a notorious reputation. Cali is the undisputed plastic surgery capital of Colombia and has an extensive list of top surgeons, as well as cosmetic surgery clinics. Contributing heavily to the city’s economic growth, various plastic surgery procedures such as Lasik eye surgery, face lift, liposuction, ear-nose-throat, facial correct surgery etc, are cheaper and better than in, let’s say, the US or Europe. A regular aesthetic surgery procedure will cost you just $600-$700 US dollars from the

Otherwise famous for its sugarcane plantations, Cali also known as the “World Capital of Salsa,” is a completely modern and cosmopolitan city with its own airport. Located near the Andes Valley of Cauca, because the River Cauca crosses it, Cali has stunning bio-diversity and natural beauty that help you relax, rejuvenate, and rejoice. The tropical climate is comfortable and allows you to flaunt your newly doctored appearance.

A fashion conscious, traditionally and culturally rich society ensures that the city is safe, welcoming and protective of its residents and guests alike. The police force is widespread and active and crime rate is very low. If you are visiting Cali for plastic surgery, you aren’t likely to have any security issues because the government of Colombia is attentive to the tourists who come visiting their country.

So why is Cali considered as the plastic surgery capital of Colombia? The answer is simple. The quality of aesthetic surgery is almost 30-35% of what you may have to shell out in the US or the UK. Let’s assume you want to get liposuction and rhinoplasty done, you may just have to pay $7,000 to $8,000 in Colombia. But the cost of getting similar surgery done in the US could set you back by a whopping $25,000 - $30,000. Packed and promoted as ‘surgery packages’ these plastic surgery procedures include cost of all medical procedures you opt for, nursing, post-operative care and treatment, travel insurance, accommodation at a hotel, transport, tourist guide, and airfare.

Moreover, the doctors in Cali are gifted, experienced, patient-oriented, and have acquired their medical degrees from top-notch universities in countries such as America. The nurses and other support staff are also trained and experienced in taking care of patients who have undergone plastic surgery procedures.

So make sure, your next stop is Cali!!!!!!!!!!

Top Reasons Why Plastic Surgery In Colombia Is The Best Choice For You!

Did you know that 2 out of every 5 Americans consider traveling out of their country for medical procedures if the cost is lower and quality equal to that back home? There is a huge surge in interest in medical tourism. According to a survey, 40% people have claimed to have considered seeking treatment for certain surgeries such as plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, hip replacements etc, in countries such as India, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Colombia, if the cost is half and quality equal to their own country, while 27% said they would definitely consider medical tourism in the future. On the other hand, 5% Americans had already made a trip aboard for health treatments. Though these numbers are only from the US, the situation in other countries regarding traveling aboard for various health procedures is not very different. One of the main reasons for this paradigm shift in thinking can be attributed to the spiraling cost of health insurance and treatments in developed countries. People who can’t afford the cost of certain procedures such as breast enlargement or rhinoplasty (nose job), or tummy tuck in their country, find traveling to Bogota, or Bombay highly beneficial for not just their health but also pocket!

Let’s consider breast enlargement. Since the time FDA approved silicone gel breast implants (November, 2006), the number of women who wanted to get a boob job has grown exponentially. Of course, with the advancement in technology, breast augmentation is now a short and simple procedure with very little pain and quick recovery time. While enlarging your breasts may leave you poorer by around $6,000 to $8,000 in the US, getting the same procedure done in Colombia will only cost you between $2,000 to $4,000 and less. Yes, you can save almost 3-times the money you may spend in your country!!

Let’s take a closer look and you decide for yourself. Most experts agree that today in the US the customer gets less care for his dollar than anywhere else in the world. In other worlds our healthcare system is broke and there is no help in sight.

Other Main Reasons For Plastic Surgery In Colombia

1. Doctors, hospitals, and clinics in Colombia are 100% covered with insurance, leading to excellent services and smiling faces!

2. Despite the fact that the pay for doctors, nurses, and other support staff is just 20% of what they are paid in the US, these health care professionals still have the highest level of education and skill sets. Hence, these savings are passed on to the patients seeking treatment in Colombia.

3. More purchasing power per US dollar in Colombia, as it’s a very strong currency.

It is safe to send pictures?

The short and most accurate answer is: It depends, depends on who you are sending the pictures to and for what.

The reason that many (not to say all) medical tourism operators ask you to send pictures is because the doctors need to know how much corporal mass you currently have, that is directly implied with the costs to provide you the medical services you require, why? it's simple, while the more corporal mass you have more time will require the doctor to finish the procedure for you, also he will have to pay more to use the medical facilities, anesthesiologist, nurse, etc, so in the case of getting a patient from outside their country, the only method that a doctor have to give an estimate in the price and staying time is by seeing what he is going to do with the patient and how much time he will require. So don't be afraid if the medical tourism operator ask you to send some pictures, that is the only method they have to give you an estimate.

Some medical tourism operators have established prices for surgeries, but I seriously encourage you to ask the terms and conditions of that prices, what it does includes, etc. because it can be prices based on a kind of patient that couldn't be your case.

But there is a way you can keep your privacy while sending pictures to someone you don't know, and I suggest you to do it this way because it will protect you from people who use pictures to make scams, or just simply who are not keeping the main rules of patient privacy. The way to protect you is very simple: Just cover your face on all your pictures, is that simple, in most cases the cosmetic procedure you need involves an area of your body that is not near to your face, that is the case of liposuction, lipectomy (tummy tuck), breast implants, breast reduction, breast lift, gluteoplasty, obesity surgery; In the cases of face lift, ear surgery, eyelid surgery, and other procedures related to your face you can just cover your eyes.

Keeping your privacy is as easy as covering your face with some towel, napkin, a paper or book in the moment of taking the picture, or if you are a little computer savvy you can just use any image editing software to put a black rectangle or to erase that part of the picture. You don't need a professional image editing software you can use MS Paint to do it, it comes with every Windows Machine or you can just ask somebody who is of your complete confidence to do it (Remember that in the most cases the pictures you need to be nude).

Medical Tourism?

Medical tourism or medical travel or also health tourism is the practice of traveling to another country in order to obtain medical attention, that could be, but not limited to, heart surgery, breast implants or dental work. This is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media and it is becoming very popular between people of all over the world due to its benefits.

Thanks to Internet, the ease and affordability of international travel, and recent advances in medicine, medical tourism is becoming in a global trend.

Costs for cosmetic surgery, hair implants, dental work and a bunch of other medical treatments abroad can be very low comparing with the cost of the same treatment at the USA and western Europe. Many people actively promote this trend and offer very competitive rates along with other benefits. There are also numerous companies around the world that offer medical tourism packages, which combine surgery with vacation in the country that you will get the procedure on, all for less than you would have to pay if you opted to have the procedure done at your home country. It's not wonder why this phenomena is becoming so popular.

Medical tourism is also a good choice for those who need the treatment in a timely manner. In some cases, waiting for a major surgery can be as long as a year which is not exactly a good news for patients. These long waits could be a deciding factor for people who choose to seek treatment abroad, as in most destination countries for medical tourism wait times simply does not exists. This allows patients to get the care they need sooner and at a time when it is convenient for them.

The high cost of health care and wait times for procedures in industrialized nations, the ease and affordability of international travel, and improvements in technology and standards of care in many countries of the world are factors that have led to the recent increase in popularity of medical travel.

Medical tourists come from all around the world, including U.S., the UK, Europe, Middle East, Japan and Canada. This is because of their large populations, higher income per capita, the high expense of health care or lack of health care options locally, and increasingly high expectations of their populations with respect to health care.

The main words to describe medical travel are convenience and speed. Public health-care systems in countries like the described above are often so taxed that it can take too much time to get non-urgent medical care. It can take a year or more waiting for a procedure such as a hip replacement in Britain and Canada; however, in Thailand, Hong Kong, Cuba, Colombia, India, Singapore or Philippines, a patient could feasibly have an operation the day after their arrival.

Additionally, insurance either does not cover orthopedic surgery (such as knee/hip replacement) or imposes unreasonable restrictions on the choice of the facility, surgeon, or prosthetics to be used. Medical tourism for cosmetic surgery is one of the more widely accepted procedures because of the lower cost and minimal difficulties associated with the traveling to/from the surgery. Colombia provides a breast implant and abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) for about $8,000 USD, including all associated fees such as FDA approved surgeon and hospital expenses. However, many clinics quote prices that are not all inclusive and include only the surgeon fees associated with the procedure.

Medical tourists look for essential health care services such as cancer treatment or transplant surgery as well as complementary or 'elective' services such as cosmetic surgery.

According to research found in an article by the University of Delaware publication, UDaily:

"For many medical tourists, though, the real attraction is price. The cost of surgery in India, Thailand or South Africa can be one-tenth of what it is in the United States or Western Europe, and sometimes even less. A heart-valve replacement that would cost $200,000 or more in the U.S., for example, goes for $10,000 in India--and that includes round-trip airfare and a brief vacation package. Similarly, a metal-free dental bridge worth $5,500 in the U.S. costs $500 in India, a knee replacement in Thailand with six days of physical therapy costs about one-fifth of what it would in the States, and Lasik eye surgery worth $3,700 in the U.S. is available in many other countries for only $730. Cosmetic surgery savings are even greater: A full facelift that would cost $20,000 in the U.S. runs about $1,250 in South Africa."

Popular worldwide destinations for medical travel include: Brunei, Cuba, Colombia, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and recently, UAE and New Zealand.

Popular destinations for cosmetic surgery travel include:Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico and Turkey.

In Europe Belgium, Poland and Slovakia are also entering into the business. South Africa is taking the term "medical tourism" very literally by promoting their "medical safaris": Come to see African wildlife and get a facelift in the same trip.

In South America, countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Colombia lead on plastic surgery medical skills relying on the extensive experience their surgeons have in treating people with desire to enhance their look and feel. In Bolivia and Colombia, plastic surgery has become quite common. According to the "Sociedad Boliviana de Cirugia Plastica y Reconstructiva", more than 70% of middle and upper class women in the country have had some form of plastic surgery. Colombia also provides advanced care in cardiovascular and transplant surgery.

It is safe get plastic surgery out of my country?

This may be the first question to arise when you are thinking in getting plastic surgery in other country different from yours. The first think to take in mind are the reasons why getting a surgical procedure can be unsafe. First lets take a look a these factors: Medical Facilities, Doctor Expertise and Patient Post Surgical Care.

Medical Facilities:
It is absolutely logical to think that if you get a surgery in a place where the very basic conditions of hygiene are not met you are taking too much risk, and that is true, if the instruments that the doctors use are not sterilized then you can get very severe infections that can cause you death, also if the rooms where you are going to spend the post surgical care time are not very clean and the sheets and pillows are not clean then you will have serious problems to heal, but let's get real, many of the Doctors who practice cosmetic surgery are very responsive with their job specifically with the rooms they operate on, the nurses they have, the instruments they use, and this is mostly because they know every aspect of the risks involved in getting the knife over you. Of course there are 'doctors' who doesn't take all the necessary measures but the true is that those 'doctors' are not real doctor or just they don't have the enough professionalism and ethics to practice this honored career. Is in this case when the right chose of a medical tourism operator get absolutely critical because they should tell you who are the doctors (this is usually difficult because they work with more than two or three at a time) and what facilities they use; this last point is essential because most of the risk are on the operating room rather than in the post operating care room or in the doctor's practice. This is usually simple because with the very name of the clinic or hospital that the medical tourism operator use you can go to Google or MSN or Yahoo and find that facility website, if you cant find the website of the facility then you should take extra care because usually the good medical facilities have at least a simple website.
Doctor Expertise:
Let's be serious it is not the same a 25 years old surgeon than a 50 years old one, expertise makes the master and in the case of surgery is not the exception, but you must take in mind that doctors get great expertise very quickly in the cosmetic surgery field because of the amount of procedures they do in a year. This is true because when you have done a task over and over again you start to get practice and start to manage certain kind of expertise in the field, but anyway in the case of cosmetic surgery a doctor with expertise of less than 5 years is not as reliable as one with 10 or 15 years. Do the numbers: a common doctor can make 1 or 2 procedures in one day, if you multiply that by 5 years is a big number but if you multiply it by 10 or 15 you get not only a bigger number of procedures, but also a level of expertise superior to the number of procedures that is because, again, when a doctor as made certain number of procedures in his life he(she) starts to develop a personal technique that assures that the surgery is going to be successful because he (she) knows every risk that could be involved and he controls every aspect of the surgery. So don't be afraid of a young doctor, be afraid of a doctor who make less than 30 procedures in a month.

You should also check the diploma of the doctor and all the courses, seminars, and other academic experience he (she) have, that will give you an idea of the quality of the doctor. As an example, many of the Latin American doctors have diplomas in very recognized universities around the world because they know that the academic experience they get on those ambients are absolutely crucial in their career.

Patient Post Surgical Care:
When you get out of the operating room you will be taken to a room where everything is absolutely controlled, oxygen supply, monitoring equipment, etc, but that is mostly for the first night after that you will be taken to a hotel where you will stay most of your recovering time; if this place is not correctly equipped and you don't have the correct care then you may have problems in your healing process. Usually the medical tourism operator will accommodate you in a hotel nearby to medical facility or to doctor's practice but this is not enough, you will need special care and this can be provided only by a certified nurse, this is why when you arrange a medical tourism package you must get this included because it is absolutely necessary for you. If you are going to travel with a friend or a relative you can sleep in the same room with them but they must follow all the rules the doctor and the nurse give to avoid most of the risk that can be generated by the presence of another person in the same room of a patient in recovery. These rules can be from using scrubs to do not use the same bath room than the patient.

A last but not least important factor is the quality of plastic surgery in the country you are going to, usually this is linked to the prices of the procedure but this is not a matter of concern if you relate it to quality, the prices in other countries (Latin American mostly) are significantly lower because supplies are cheaper due to money exchange, economical aperture and many other factors that let the prices keep low comparing to the USA or other countries.

So the safety of getting cosmetic surgery in another country is related to those factors, others may exists but I consider that these are the most important.

Is Plastic Surgery In Colombia The Best Bet Yet?

A developing economy that is slowly, yet surely achieving greater heights, Colombia in South America is a country that is witnessing a medical revolution of sorts. Yes, no longer is Colombia known for violence, coke farming, and other dangerous things. Today, the country has completely changed its image from a disturbed and violence ridden place to a tropical paradise with soaring skyscrapers, beautiful and lively cities, monied middle-class and wonderful international shopping stores. However, more than all of this, a key economy driving factor is the plastic surgery industry in Colombia.

Currently touted as the Mecca of plastic surgery procedures, Colombia is fast cashing in on this booming industry by encouraging medical tourism and welcoming people who are in need for low cost yet international standards of treatments. Some of the popular cosmetic surgery treatments available in Bogota, the capital also known as the Athens of South America, are:

1. Breast enlargements
2. Breast upliftment
3. Eye surgery
4. Face lift surgery
5. Face surgery
6. Facial cosmetic surgery
7. Forehead lift
8. Laser hair removal
9. Laser surgery
10. Liposuction
11. Liposculpture
12. Tummy tuck
13. Nose correction
14. Jaw correction
15. Hair weaving

Offering so many plastic surgery procedures, Bogota, Colombia is a where all the action is. The best place to transform into a physically perfect and beautiful looking you, Colombia is a haven for all who are in the quest for physical perfection. If you are in America or Europe, you will find reaching Bogota easy as there are more than 50 flights that arrive in Bogota daily from destinations such as New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, London, etc. If you are anxious about the security situation in the country, we must tell you that Bogota as well as other cities in Colombia are much safer than some of the largest cities in the US.

Offering world-class medical facilities, Bogota also has a long list of qualified professional doctors that not only speak Spanish but English as well. Most of the doctors have studied medicine in the US, while nurses are also qualified and experienced in tending to patients who have undergone plastic surgery procedures. The medical facilities offer every patient comfort, a home-like atmosphere, which helps to recover quickly, and many other facilities such as good food, SPA, recreational facilities etc.

So, if you want to benefit from fantastic and low prices without compromising on world class medical treatments and facilities, while also enjoying Colombian hospitality, Bogota is the place to be in.

Why Opt For Plastic Surgery In Colombia

Colombia is a beautiful country in South America known for its vibrant cities, sky piercing skyscrapers, and charming port towns. With a rapidly growing economy, Colombia is fast becoming one of the favorite travel destinations for Americans and Europeans. The appeal of advanced medical facilities and a sound infrastructure are now converting this once quaint and sleepy country into a buzzing and popular medical tourism destination for various medical treatments such as orthopedics, ENT, vascular surgeries, ophthalmology, and plastic surgery. Having some of the best health care infrastructure support systems in all of South America, Colombia offers a wonderful and unique medical experience.

Rapidly becoming the Mecca for everyone who wants to get plastic surgery done at a cheaper rate but in a world-class environment, Colombia is ready to meet everyone’s medical needs. Whether you are looking for increasing your breast size, also known as breast augmentation, or you want to get your breast lifted you should simply hop on to the next flight out to Colombia. If you are an American citizen, you’ll find that Bogota, the capital, is only a 3-8 hours (3 hours from Miami) journey depending on which part of the US you are flying from.

Yes! Flying down to Bogota, will not just help you enjoy huge economic benefits of a lower costing plastic surgery procedure, but also give you the opportunity to make tremendous savings if you choose to go for cosmetic surgery plans. These plans are usually a combination of two or more procedures such as tummy tuck and face lift, or breast augmentation and liposuction, or any other combination you may choose.

You may not believe us when we tell you that coming to Colombia can help you make 125% savings as compared to getting plastic surgery done in America or European countries like the UK. And, you won’t even have to compromise on the quality, the professionalism, or the technical know-how of these cosmetic surgery procedures!

It has been estimated that in 2006, almost 9,000 Americans flew down to Bogota only for undergoing various plastic surgery procedures. The numbers have grown considerably since then and according to some estimates, Bogota today receives around 15,000 to 20,000 people who are there for the purpose of either getting their nose fixed, their lips plumped, forehead lifted, or to get a tummy tuck besides many other plastic surgery procedures.

So, now there is no stopping you from looking beautiful because in Bogota there is a plastic surgery plan for every pocket size!