Related Experiment Videos
Complications After Cosmetic Surgery Tourism
Holger J Klein1, Dario Simic1, Nina Fuchs1
1University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Aesthetic Surgery Journal
|April 2, 2017
Summary
Cosmetic surgery tourism leads to patient complications like infections and wound breakdown, requiring significant healthcare resources. Standardized care referrals can mitigate these costs for the healthcare system.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Public health
- Surgical outcomes
Background:
- Cosmetic surgery tourism involves international travel for aesthetic procedures.
- Patients often return with complications or require follow-up care.
- This phenomenon presents challenges for healthcare systems managing post-operative issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate complications from cosmetic surgery tourism treated locally.
- To analyze the associated healthcare costs and reimbursement within the health system.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 109 patients with complications from international cosmetic surgery (2010-2014).
- Analysis of patient demographics, procedures, complications, and treatments.
- Evaluation of cost expenditures and Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG)-related reimbursement.
Main Results:
- Most patients were female, with common procedures including breast augmentation and abdominoplasty.
- Key complications were infections (25.7%), wound breakdown (19.3%), and pain (14.7%).
- Inpatient treatment was required for 34.8%, with a mean hospital stay of 5.2 days; DRG reimbursement covered costs.
Conclusions:
- Cosmetic surgery tourism is increasingly popular despite known risks.
- Efficient patient referral to specialized centers is crucial.
- Standardized care can manage complications and limit the burden on social healthcare systems.