We live in a global world and thus it is no surprise that patients, who are seeking medical or plastic/ aesthetic surgeries, look beyond their own country borders.

But why would somebody travel abroad for a surgery? In my opinion there are 3 main reasons:

1) You get abroad the same (or even a better) quality of surgery at a cheaper price.

2) You can’t get a certain surgery in your home country and have therefor to travel abroad.

3) You want to combine holidays with a surgery.

But is it safe to have surgeries outside your own country? The answer depends on different factors. Firstly you have to be sure that you find a reputed clinic with an excellent surgeon. Relying only on review sites can be very dangerous, since you never know how genuine the reviews are. Form your own opinion by researching the doctors’ professional careers and ask questions in case of any uncertainties. I would anyway recommend to talk to the doctor before travelling.

Further you should get informed in detail about the preparation of the surgery, the procedure itself, expected results and you should plan enough time post operation. Returning home too soon may require a follow up consultation with additional costs at a clinic on site, which you may not have budgeted for.

Being in good health before traveling is another important point. If you are suffering from chronic diseases like Diabetes, high blood pressure etc., the risk of complications is higher.

In Dubai, I see many international patients for surgeries, and my team and I make sure that all vital preparations are accomplished before patients, will visit Aestheticon for invasive procedures. Following the above mentioned points will make the experience of medical travel a pleasant one.

One of the most common questions I answer during breast enlargement consultations is the question if a breast implant can provide a natural look of the breast! And yes, it is possible, but the doctor needs to know exactly which kind of implant (and there are many different on the market) needs to be used and where to be positioned depending on the findings of the patients.

Anatomic/ tear-drop shaped implants provide the most natural look in many cases, but they are not used frequently in many parts of the world.  The common misconception that implant surgery results in an unnatural appearance of the breast might be due to this fact that anatomic implants are still less often utilized than round implants and that the implant size used is often too big.

Admittedly it requires not only an aesthetic view but also a huge number of executed breast augmentation surgeries to optimize the results, but if these preconditions are given, a breast with a tear-drop shaped implant will look similar to a natural breast – and not “done” at all!

By the majority of people an attractive and balanced profile is desirable.  There are ideal proportions and measurements in the literature for different kind of populations.  Since the midst of last century implants where used to enhance for example the chin or cheekbone area in the face.

In the wake of the development of tissue-compatible fillers with a slow absorption rate, these fillers have become a suitable alternative to permanent implants with unexcelled advantages. First of all they allow a step wise augmentation until the desired result is achieved. The downtime is very short and the costs are much lower compared to a surgical implant placement. After roughly 9 to 12 months the treatment needs to be repeated.  Thus, in case the patient would not like the result, with time the filler will be absorbed and the condition will go back to normal.

I am a great advocate of filler augmentation due to above mentioned advantages and even advise patients, who want to undergo a permanent implant insertion, to decide firstly on fillers in order to simulate the effect.  Only in very severe cases of hypoplasia, filler may not give the augmentation effect needed or are not stable enough to support the soft tissue.

Women who suffer from enlarged and heavy breasts, which can cause discomfort and pain, will eventually consider a breast reduction surgery.

What holds many of them back is the fear of losing the breast feeding ability and/ or original sensation after the procedure and due to the commonly applied breast reduction surgery methods these are indeed the most common unwanted effects.

There are countless techniques described in the literature with different scar patterns and internal pedicles. The vast majority of these techniques move the areola-nipple-complex upwards based on a skin and subdermal bridge. By doing so, not only the original nerves are severed (cut) but also the milk ducts.

However the central pedicle technique preserves the original nerves and milk ducts, thus preserving sensation and breast feeding ability. At the same time this technique – in the hand of the experienced surgeon – provides superior results in terms of shape and longevity of the result. Only very few surgeons and clinics offer this comprehensive technique routinely.

In summary, you can eat the cake and have it, too: reducing enlarged breasts and keeping the breasts’ fundamental functions intact at the same time.

It is a known fact in the business world, that every business owner prefers new customers through referrals. The reason is obvious: If a friend, colleague or family member refers somebody to you, you will have more trust in the professional competence and sincerity of the recommended person, simply because you have already a bond of trust with the referring person.

Thus, wouldn’t it be logical to apply the same principles to finding the right doctor or clinic? Emergencies aside, everybody should take her/ his time to ask around and seek recommendations from trusted persons, who already consulted a doctor/ a clinic and were happy with the advice/ treatment. This will be a good start to form your opinion.

Once you received the name of the recommended doctor/ clinic, you then should do your due diligence to get to know detailed background information for example by internet research.  The combination of in-person-referral and internet search will increase significantly the chance of finding the best doctor/ clinic and thus getting the best possible advice and or treatment.

On the contrary it is not advisable to simply book an appointment just because you read a tempting offer. In the long run this can be more time-consuming, dissatisfying and even costlier