Medical tourism, the practice of traveling abroad for medical treatment, has seen significant growth in recent years. The UK is a popular destination for medical tourists due to its standards of healthcare and regulated medical facilities. However, whether you are a patient or a surgeon, ensuring safety and taking the necessary precautions is paramount. This blog will provide an in-depth look at how to safeguard the patient, the surgeon, and the clinic, as well as essential precautions for travel.
Safeguarding the Patient
- Research and Choose Reputable Clinics
Before selecting a clinic, conduct thorough research.
Look for:
a) Accreditations and Certifications: Ensure the clinic is accredited by recognized healthcare organizations. In U.K., Care Quality Commission regulates the standards of the health care clinic and hospitals.
b) Reviews and Testimonials: Read reviews from previous patients to make an informed decision.
c)Specializations: Choose clinics that specialize in the treatment you need.
- Verify the Surgeon’s Credentials
Check the qualifications, experience, and track record of the surgeon who will perform your procedure.
Look for:
a) Professional Qualifications particularly his / her enrolment in the specialist register in plastic surgery
b) Experience: Number of years in practice and specific experience with the procedure.
- Pre-Consultation
Schedule a pre-consultation, either virtually or in person, to discuss the procedure, risks, and expected outcomes.
Ensure:
a) Clear Communication: All your questions are answered satisfactorily.
b) Understanding Risks: You are fully aware of the potential risks and complications. You are entitled to ask a comprehensive information pack before you make a decision.
- Health Insurance and Legal Considerations
a) Medical Insurance: Verify if your health insurance covers international treatments.
b) Legal Protections: Understand the legal recourse available in case of malpractice.
If your health insurance is not covering the procedure, then you should ensure that you have sufficient personal finance to fund the treatment.
The postoperative care following local anaesthetic procedure is far less involving than a major procedure like e.g. abdominoplasty, lower body lift or breast reduction.
Safeguarding the Surgeon and Clinic
- Compliance with Regulations
Ensure the clinic complies with all local and international healthcare regulations and standards.
This includes:
a) Licensing: Valid operating licenses.
b) Safety Protocols: Adherence to safety and hygiene protocols.
- Transparent Communication
Maintain open and transparent communication with patients about:
a) Procedures and Risks: Honest discussions about what to expect.
b) Costs: Clear breakdown of costs to avoid misunderstandings.
- Post-Operative Care
Offer comprehensive post-operative care plans, including:
a) Follow-Up Appointments: Regular check-ups to monitor recovery.
b) Emergency Contacts: Provide emergency contact information for any complications.
Precautions for Air Travel for Patients
- Consult Your Doctor
a) Pre-Travel Clearance: Get clearance from your doctor before traveling.
b) Medication: Ensure you have an adequate supply of prescribed medication.
c) Plan for Recovery Time
- Travel Time: Plan your trip to allow sufficient time for recovery before flying back.
Comfort and Support: Arrange for comfortable travel accommodations and support during your stay.
- In-Flight Precautions
Hydration: Stay hydrated during the flight.
Mobility: Move around periodically to reduce the risk of blood clots.
Precautions for Air Travel for surgeons
Pre-Travel Preparation
a) Medical Equipment: Ensure all necessary medical equipment is transported safely.
b) Patient History: Review patient medical history and ensure they are fit for travel.
c) Coordination with Local Medical Teams
d) Collaborative Care: Work with local medical teams to ensure continuity of care.
e) Emergency Protocols: Have protocols in place for medical emergencies during travel.
f) Professional Liability Insurance
g) Insurance Coverage: Ensure professional liability insurance covers international procedures.
Conclusion
Medical tourism in the UK offers many advantages, including access to global medical care. However, ensuring the safety of the patient, surgeon, and clinic is crucial. By taking the necessary precautions and maintaining open communication, both patients and healthcare providers can navigate medical tourism successfully. Whether you are traveling for a medical procedure or performing one, prioritizing safety and thorough preparation will lead to a more positive and secure experience.
Services provided by MACS Clinic in UK
MACS Clinic is a unique healthcare facility in the heart of Watford city centre. Our clinic stands out with its specialized services led by senior consultants who have extensive experience in private sector and had extensive experience in the NHS healthcare.
Why Choose MACS Clinic
Our team lead Dr Shailesh Vadodaria a senior consultant plastic surgeon provides personalised care to each and every patient.
We offer complimentary video/face to face consultations, making it easier and a time effective option for patients. There is minimal waiting times for investigations and treatments.
Our clinic is Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered (https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-9618520616) and located within walking distance from train stations and has ample car parking facilities, ensuring a hassle-free visit. We are open from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays and appointments are available by advance booking over the weekend.
Our Services:
We offer a range of specialized treatments:
- Gynecomastia
One increasingly common type of cosmetic procedure among men is breast reduction surgery, with growing numbers opting for a day case procedure to get rid of excess breast tissue that has built up over time. This condition is also known as man boobs – or moobs!
At our clinic, Mr. Shailesh Vadodaria, senior consultant plastic surgeon, performs this procedure under either local or general anaesthetics. The treatment takes around 90 minutes to complete, with the excess breast tissue, fat, and sagging skin removed to help reduce the soft tissue bulge on the chest area.
Cost of the procedure:
Both sides under local anaesthetics: From £2500 – £3500
Both sides under general anaesthetics: £4500 – £5500
These prices may vary based on factors such as the type of anaesthesia used and your choice of clinic or hospital.
To know more about this procedure visit: https://medicalartsforcosmeticsurgery.com/male-breast-reduction/
- Labiaplasty/ Labia minora reduction
This procedure involves reducing the size of the labia minora to improve comfort when cycling, horse riding, exercise and also reduce pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse.
Our senior consultant plastic surgeon, Mr. Shailesh Vadodaria performs this procedure either under local or local anaesthetic/ sedation or general anaesthetic and is conducted using a trim or wedge labiaplasty technique as a day case procedure. It takes 60 minutes of surgical time.
Cost of the procedure:
From £2750 under local anaesthetics
These prices may vary based on factors such as the type of anaesthesia used and your choice of clinic or hospital.
To know more about this procedure visit: https://medicalartsforcosmeticsurgery.com/labiaplasty/
- Blepharoplasty
The aging process impacts the upper eyelids in various ways. Firstly, the skin loses its natural tone and begins to sag over the upper eyelid’s crease due to decreased elasticity. This is compounded by the natural thinning of the collagen network as we mature. Furthermore, genetic predisposition can play a significant role, with hereditary factors contributing to the development of hooded eyelids even at a young age. Lifestyle choices such as smoking and prolonged sun exposure accelerate the thinning of the skin, making it more prone to sagging. Additionally, weakening of the soft tissues, including muscles, can lead to herniation of the fat pads, further exacerbating the appearance of sagging and bagginess in the upper and lower eyelids.
Mr. Vadodaria typically prefers to perform upper eyelid reduction under local anaesthetics and lower eyelid reduction under general anaesthetics. The procedure is performed as a day case procedure and generally takes approximately 1 to 2 hours.
Cost of the Procedure at MACS Clinic
Upper Eyelid Correction (Blepharoplasty): £2500 to £3250
Both Upper and Lower Eyelid Correction: £5500 to £6500
Lower eyelid blepharoplasty from £4500
These prices may vary based on factors such as the type of anaesthesia used and your choice of clinic or hospital.
To know more about this procedure visit: https://medicalartsforcosmeticsurgery.com/eyelid-reduction-blepharoplasty/
- Dimple Creation
Natural dimples are thought to be genetic, although it’s still not entirely clear just how they are inherited. While cheek dimples are perhaps the most common place to find these interesting features, they can also occur in other parts of the body, such as the chin and the lower back.
It’s perhaps no wonder that cheek dimples in particular are growing in popularity as a cosmetic procedure, as they’re often associated with youth and beauty.
And, of course, celebrity culture has a big part to play in why these dimples are so very popular right now.
In fact, in 2009, our aesthetic, plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Shailesh Vadodaria started receiving huge volumes of enquiries relating to this kind of procedure due to the stratospheric rise of pop star Cheryl Cole…and it’s shown no signs of stopping ever since.
Dimpleplasty is a comparatively simple procedure to carry out, with small incisions made inside the cheek under local anaesthetic. The entire procedure typically taking place in approximately 30 minutes.
Cost of this procedure at MACS Clinic:
Unilateral Dimple Creation: £1150
Bilateral Dimple Creation: £1750
These prices may vary based on factors such as the type of anaesthesia used and your choice of clinic or hospital.
To know more about this procedure visit: https://medicalartsforcosmeticsurgery.com/dimple-creation/
- Otoplasty (Prominent ear correction)
Correction of prominent ears can be considered non essential cosmetic procedure for the purpose of changing the aesthetics appearance of the external ear.
We at MACS Clinic receive many enquiries for more than 20 years. Our patients want this procedure because it affects their self-esteem. We have seen many patients covering their prominent ears with hairband, changed hair style, hat or woollen cap. Many patients are uncomfortable with tying hair up. Our patients have complained of compromising sports activity like swimming and beach holidays. Some female air hostess got the prominent ear correction done because they were very self-conscious during their ‘air travel safety demonstration’ ! Matured men realised when they lose hair because of male pattern baldness.
Mr Vadodaria prefers to perform the operation using suture technique under Local anaesthetics. The procedure takes approximately 2 hours as a day case procedure.
Cost of the procedure at MACS Clinic:
Correction of Prominent ears (Otoplasty) procedure ranges from £3000 – £4000. Cost varies depending upon the type of anaesthetics and your choice of the hospital.
To know more about this procedure visit: https://medicalartsforcosmeticsurgery.com/prominent-ear-correction-otoplasty/
- Chin Implants (Chin Augmentation)
Everyone wishes to have a normal facial appearance. This includes a balance of all the features pertaining to face relating particularly to nose, cheek and chin. If any one of these components are disproportional than the facial proportion could perceived abnormal by some patients. A small chin can be made proportionate by adding volume in front of chin using chin implants. This can help to improve the balance of the facial features particularly in profile view.
Mr. Shailesh Vadodaria, senior consultant plastic surgeon at MACS Clinic prefers to perform this procedure under local anaesthetics and if required under sedation. The procedure takes approximately 1-2 hours. A small incision will is made either inside the mouth or under the chin and the implant is positioned and stabilised in-front of jaw.
Cost of the procedure:
From £3000
To know more about this procedure visit: https://medicalartsforcosmeticsurgery.com/chin-augmentation/
- Liposuction Neck/Chin
Liposuction is a useful procedure for removal excess fat deposits in neck/chin particularly in young patients with good quality skin. It is also a substitute for neck lift as an interim procedure when someone is not prepared to have neck lift procedure which is considered more extensive procedure. It is very important to have realistic expectations in such situations. Liposuction is performed either under local anaesthetic and / or sedation as a day case procedure. The procedure takes approximately 45 minutes of surgical time.
Cost of the Procedure:
From £2000
Chin liposuction (removal of fat from the chin) – Laser ( SmartLipo) and suction assisted liposuction under local anaesthetic
Chin liposuction (removal of fat from the chin) – Laser ( SmartLipo) and suction assisted liposuction under local anaesthetic
Chin liposuction (removal of fat from the chin) – Laser ( SmartLipo) and suction assisted liposuction under local anaesthetic
8. Face / Neck lift
The soft tissue of the face and neck loses their elasticity and strength. This is compounded by the stresses of daily life, gravitational factors, exposure to sun and alteration in body weight. The ageing process is also determined by our genes. The speed and the extent of ageing are different from face, neck and other parts of the body. There is a distinct disproportion in ageing of the face/neck and mind. Some people may not accept the age related changes when they see in the mirror as they don’t feel that old in their mind.
The facelift procedure is designed to tighten and lift the soft tissue of your face below the eyes. The neck lift operation tightens and lifts the soft tissue of you of the neck.
Mr . Vadodaria prefers to perform this procedure under local anaesthetics and sedation as a day case in select group of patients. The procedure takes approximately 3 hours of surgical time. The realistic expectations are essential. It is equally important to maintain good life to maintain to minimise the effect of ongoing aging.
Cost of the Procedure at MACS Clinic:
Mini Facelift/Mini Neck Lift from £2500
Facelift /Neck Lift from £5000
These prices may vary based on factors such as the type of anaesthesia used and your choice of clinic or hospital.
To know more about this procedure visit: https://medicalartsforcosmeticsurgery.com/facelift-surgery/
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please contact MACS Clinic at:
* Phone: 020 7078 4378
* WhatsApp: 07792 648 726
* Email: enquiries@macsclinic.co.uk
