by Caryl Buckstein

Created on: June 02, 2008   Last Updated: June 10, 2008

Initially, having surgery in a foreign country certainly appears attractive, especially to the price-conscious. A $15,000 face lift in the United States may cost $2,900 in scenic Costa Rica, according to Orlando, Fla.-based medical website WWW.LocateADoc.com. And getting there and back seems part of the fun. The "Med Tourist" may travel to such exotic locations as Brunei, Cuba, Columbia, Hong Kong, Hungary, the Philippines or India, to hospitals and clinics that often boast spa-like accommodations.

Technological advances abroad add to the allure, said an Indian medical website, WWW.TheMedGuru.com.

"It almost seems too good to be true," reported LocateADoc.com last July. "A lush paradise environment with surgical procedures that cost one-tenth of what you pay in your own country. How could there be a catch?"

The catch might be serious or deadly, the websites warn. Do your homework before committing to any medical procedure abroad. Just like back home, something may go wrong. The distances involved between home and the surgeon may allow more time for medical problems to arise, and a return visit may not be feasible. "Travel back home soon after surgery can increase the risk of complications," said TheMedGuru.com. The site adds that sitting for lengthy periods on the plane to return to one's country may lead to breathing or heart problems, perhaps even thrombosis or a blood clot.

Cosmetic concerns also exist. Indian officials now caution against the negative effect that sunbathing during recuperation may have on surgical scars.

LocateADoc.com suggests checking out the safety and the sanitation of the facility through its member surgeon abroad program or its corresponding members' service. Doctors practicing outside of the United States may be board-certified through the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Check before you finalize to see if insurance is available to cover complications. The destination surgeon may have a plan in place that may cover the trip home.

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