With the cost of breast augmentation in the UK starting at around £4,000 and rising to £7,000 or more, it’s understandable that some women look for more affordable alternatives. The cost of just about everything has gone up over the last few years, and not everyone has that kind of money to spend on breast enlargement. Although there are payment plans available, the way you look can have a significant impact on your confidence and quality of life, so you may not be prepared to wait. The combination of these factors can drive many women to consider the prospect of getting a boob job abroad.
Although it can cost less than in the UK, breast augmentation, which aims to improve the shape and size of your breasts, is an invasive procedure and complications can occur. With that in mind, it’s important to take an honest look at the potential savings and risks associated with getting breast enlargement abroad so you can make an informed decision.
Why are people travelling abroad for boob jobs?
At first glance, it’s easy to see why some women might consider getting a boob job abroad. A quick online search and you can find breast augmentation in Turkey for £2,600 with the cost of your flight and accommodation included. That’s a substantial saving, particularly if you feel you’re getting a similar service for that reduced price.
There are several reasons for these lower prices. There’s less regulation to adhere to, medical training is cheaper, medical equipment is less expensive, staff are paid less due to the lower cost of living and the costs of building, buying or leasing the clinic are also reduced. The result is that you can make a 50% saving on what, on the face of it, is a similar operation.
Some foreign clinics sell cosmetic surgery as part of a holiday, where you enjoy all the trappings of a week or two in the sun and have a boob job as part of your trip. Again, that might sound appealing, but the reality of what you’re being sold might not live up to your expectations, for reasons we’re going to explain.
What are the problems with getting a boob job abroad?
We’re certainly not going to make any sweeping statements about the standard of surgery in any country – there are lots of great surgeons in Turkey. However, travelling abroad for any operation, including breast augmentation, undoubtedly increases the risks. Here are a few reasons why:
A lack of aftercare
Aftercare is a hugely important part of any cosmetic surgery, particularly in reducing and monitoring the risks. Aftercare includes things like wound care and pain management, but also checking for the warning signs of potential problems and making sure you’re healing properly. In the UK, aftercare is generally included in the price you pay for your surgery, and that may not be the case if you get a boob job abroad.
Even if some aftercare is provided in Turkey, what happens if there are complications once you have flown home? Many foreign cosmetic clinics do not have any type of presence in the UK, so getting assistance can be difficult if things go wrong.
Before booking a breast enlargement abroad, think seriously about:
- What happens if there are complications when you’re back in the UK?
- Will you have follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and where will they be?
- What happens if something goes wrong – will you be able to travel back to the clinic where you had the surgery and who will pay?
Flying home
Sitting on a plane for four hours is certainly not the best way to recover from breast augmentation surgery and it does bring additional risks. Most UK clinics advise patients not to fly short haul (three to six hours) for a minimum of two weeks after the surgery. That is due to the additional risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism, as the body’s blood clotting mechanism goes into overdrive.
A lack of proper rest after surgery can also cause pain, swelling and further issues with healing. While the flight itself might be relatively restful, travelling to the airport, progressing through security and walking through the terminal (potentially with heavy baggage) is not.
Not knowing your surgeon
One of the biggest risks of travelling abroad for a boob job is the lack of knowledge you may have about the surgeon performing the procedure. In the UK, you will have at least two consultations with the surgeon before you receive any treatment, and that will include a two-week cooling-off period. The surgeon will describe what the procedure involves, the risks and also its limitations. They will also show you before and after pictures of their work. That’s not always the case when having breast surgery abroad, and the meetings you do have might be with salespeople rather than the surgeon themselves.
In the UK, you can also easily check that the surgeon is qualified and competent, as they must be registered with the General Medical Council and the Care Quality Commission. When having surgery abroad, it can be difficult to find out about their background, their qualifications and whether they have specific training in your chosen procedure.
Experiencing breast implant problems
It’s certainly true that things can go wrong wherever you have breast augmentation surgery. However, research suggests that you’re more likely to experience a problem when having a boob job abroad. With that in mind, you should think carefully about the type of insurance the clinic and surgeon has and what it covers them for.
You should also consider your own travel insurance and whether it’s sufficient to get you home in an emergency. It’s often the case that travel insurance doesn’t cover things that go wrong in surgery, and that could leave you with a large and unwelcome bill.
Lower standards of medical care
Unlike the UK, some clinics in Turkey and other overseas countries do not make aftercare or even painkillers readily available to those who have had breast surgery. That can pose significant risks to your recovery and potentially leave you in pain and discomfort. There are many stories of women who have suffered due to a lack of quality medical care.
Why you should be wary of cosmetic surgery packages that include a holiday
The idea of going away on a lovely holiday and coming back with larger, more shapely breasts may sound glamorous and appealing, but the reality can be quite different.
If you have the surgery towards the end of the holiday, you shouldn’t fly home for at least two weeks after the procedure due to the risks. On the other hand, if you have the treatment at the start of the trip, you’ll need to spend the rest of the holiday resting and recovering. You shouldn’t drink alcohol, lie in the sun, go sightseeing or go in the water, which doesn’t really sound like a holiday at all.
Why is it safer to get breast augmentation in the UK?
If you’re looking at the respective costs and asking yourself – ‘should I get a boob job abroad?’- make sure you think carefully about the risks. There’s every chance the procedure will go well, but if there are problems, you could be in real trouble. We have seen too many women with botched boob jobs or who have experienced complications and had no form or redress. The result, in many cases, is serious psychological distress.
At Enhance Medical Group, we include comprehensive aftercare and a warranty package with every treatment. You also have 24-hour emergency access to your nursing team. That helps to reduce the risks of breast implant problems and ensures you receive a result you’re happy with.
Explore your options with Enhance Medical Group
Find out more about breast surgery, including breast enlargement and a breast lift, and book a free consultation to start your journey. All our cosmetic surgeons are professionally qualified, vastly experienced and licenced by the GMC. We also provide comprehensive patient aftercare.