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. 2013 Nov 7;1(7):e63.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000000003. eCollection 2013 Oct.

Impact of medical tourism on cosmetic surgery in the United States

Lauren E Franzblau  1 , Kevin C Chung  1
Affiliations

Impact of medical tourism on cosmetic surgery in the United States

Lauren E Franzblau et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Developing countries have been attracting more international patients by building state-of-the-art facilities and offering sought-after healthcare services at a fraction of the cost of the US healthcare system. These price differentials matter most for elective procedures, including cosmetic surgeries, which are paid for out of pocket. It is unclear how this rise in medical tourism will affect the practice of plastic surgery, which encompasses a uniquely large number of elective procedures. By examining trends in the globalization of the cosmetic surgery market, we can better understand the current situation and what plastic surgeons in the United States can expect. In this article, we explore both domestic and foreign factors that affect surgical tourism and the current state of this industry. We also discuss how it may affect the practice of cosmetic surgery within the United States.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article. This study was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K24 AR053120. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The Article Processing Charge was waived at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Major destinations of American medical tourists, average cost relative to the US health system, and main services offered. Adapted with permission from Deloitte Development. Copyright 2012 Deloitte Development LLC. Adaptations are themselves works protected by copyright. So in order to publish this adaptation, authorization must be obtained both from the owner of the copyright in the original work and from the owner of copyright in the translation or adaptation.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Percent of total global cosmetic procedures by country.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Cosmetic procedures in the United States, 2005–2012.,
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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