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Dear Medical Traveler,
Welcome to the second issue of Your Medical Travel: your resource for tips and information on the newest opportunities in medical tourism.
Questions? Comments?
Contact Amy Rohrbeck at editor@yourmedicaltravel.com
Visit our Web site www.yourmedicaltravel.com for archived newsletters and a new online discussion board designed especially for you -- the medical tourist.
This online forum (www.yourmedicaltravel.com/forums) is designed for our readers to:
- post questions
- share medical travel experiences
- comment upon newsletter articles
- express opinions
You can choose to remain anonymous -- or not!
Click here for more information on this social networking opportunity.
| Cosmetic Surgery -- Makeovers in Paradise |
Whether you are fighting the effects of aging or simply want to improve your appearance, there are now options for high quality services throughout the world ñ at costs far below those in the United States.
Since many health insurance carriers do not cover cosmetic surgery, an increasing number of patients are leaving the U.S. to take advantage of the savings and enjoy recuperating in an exotic destination.
Cosmetic surgical procedures include:
- Facelift - Eyelid Surgery - Rhinoplasty
- Brow Lift - Facial Implants - Skin Resurfacing
- Breast - Breast Lift - Tummy Tuck
Augmentation - Liposuction
Some of the most popular cosmetic surgery travel destinations include Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica -- with South Africa, India, Thailand and Singapore also becoming increasingly popular. These destinations also offer top beauty salons and luxury vacation packages.
|
Procedure |
U.S. |
India |
Thailand |
Singapore |
|
Breast Reduction |
$7,500 |
$2,900 |
$3,500 |
$4,300 |
|
Rhinoplasty |
$5,500 |
$3,100 |
$3,000 |
$3,000 |
Source: www.starhospitals.net.
When choosing a destination, make sure you do your research. Make a list of questions and contact a medical tourism company for answers.
- Verify the doctor's qualifications
- Ascertain where you will be undergoing the procedure
- Inquire about lodging and recuperation time
- Ask about arrangements for your travel companions
Further guidelines on selecting a surgeon are available here from The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Following are a number of medical tourism companies which can help you arrange cosmetic surgery abroad:
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Star Hospitals.net Announces Patient Airfare Sponsorship Campaign |
Individuals will be awarded round-trip airfare to the hospital of their choice within the Star Hospitals network for medical care
Ontario, Canada ñ May 2008 ñ Star Hospitals.net (www.starhospitals.net), a North American healthcare service, announced today that it is sponsoring American and Canadian patients to travel overseas for a necessary medical procedure at a participating facility in the Star Hospitals network in India, Singapore and Thailand. Individuals will be able to choose the hospital that best suits their medical needs, and Star Hospitals will provide an economy class, round-trip ticket from a major airport.
Following a diagnostic evaluation and the selection of a physician, teleconferencing is available for patients to discuss treatments with their overseas surgeon prior to travel. To finalize travel arrangements to the appropriate hospital, Star Hospitals.net staff will coordinate passports and visas, book flights and hotel rooms, arrange transportation from the airport, and complete hospital registration.
A random drawing to select recipients will be held at the end of June, 2008. In order to be considered, individuals can send an email to mbarbosa@cpronline.com.
Patients wishing to take advantage of this opportunity must be uninsured or underinsured and meet the following criteria:
- 45 years of age or older
- Visit www.starhospitals.net for a list of procedures available.
- Patients must be traveling for a ìmajorî surgery such as orthopedic (hip or knee replacement or resurfacing), cardiac (angioplasty or cardiac bypass surgery), neurosurgery (brain tumors, spine, head or neck surgery), bariatric (Lap band surgery, gastric bypass surgery). Patients seeking minor, noninvasive procedures will not be considered.
- Patients must be open to media coverage.
- Patients must be able to travel for surgery by October 31, 2008.
ìWe understand that many people are interested in medical tourism, but may have some constraints regarding participation,î states Kumar Jagadeesan, vice president of Star Hospitals.net. ìOur goal is to help people discover the benefits of medical travel as well as the quality of our services, which include the first call center operated entirely by doctors, physician assistants, paramedics, physiotherapists and other medical professionals.î
For further information please call toll free: 1-888-STAR-012 or visit www.starhospitals.net.
About Star Hospitals.net
Star Hospitals is a North American health care service offering affordable and timely treatment abroad through a network of hospitals throughout India, Singapore and Thailand. For more information please visit www.starhospitals.net or call 1-888-STAR-012.
| Spotlight on Orthopedic Procedures |
There are many good reasons why Americans are traveling outside the country for orthopedic surgeries:
- Many orthopedic procedures are available including hip resurfacing, hip replacement, knee replacement, ACL reconstruction, multiple joint replacement, lumbar spinal fusion and shoulder replacement.
- Patients who need hip or knee surgery can easily compare prices in different countries by searching the Web sites of medical tourism companies.
Many Americans have already traveled to India and other countries for hip resurfacing, a minimally invasive alternative for active patients who would like to delay undergoing a full hip replacement. During hip resurfacing surgery, a metal cap is placed over the top of the thigh bone (femur), which fits into the hip socket.
Hip resurfacing was only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006, and is not widely performed in the U.S.
Hip resurfacing can cost anywhere from $8,000-$18,000 overseas, compared to $28,000 to over $50,000 in the United States.
If a patientís insurance wonít cover the procedure in the U.S., traveling overseas is a good alternative. Patients can find doctors who are experienced in performing hip resurfacing, and pay less for the quality care they receive. Patients can also save upwards of $20,000 traveling overseas for knee or hip replacements.
Remember: recuperation from any of these procedures is a long process. Be sure to visit an orthopedist before you leave for your trip so the healing and recuperation process can begin once you return home.
To find out more about this procedure visit:
www.starhospitals.net
www.bridgehealthinternational.com
www.hipresurfacing.com/contact.asp
www.medicaltourismforyou.com
www.medtral.com
According to the National Coalition on Health Care, roughly half a million Americans sought medical care abroad in 2006, 40 percent of which were dental tourists.
As a fast-growing trend, U.S. patients are crossing the border and flying overseas for dental procedures scheduled between sightseeing trips and spa appointments.
Countries like Hungary, Mexico, Thailand and Costa Rica have emerged as hotspot destinations for dental tourism. The following chart compares prices of certain dentals procedures in these countries to costs in the U.S.:
|
Procedure |
U.S. |
Hungary |
Mexico |
Thailand |
Costa Rica |
|
Crowns |
$1,500 |
$360 |
$210 |
$380 |
$330 |
|
Bridges |
$1,800 |
$360 |
$470 |
$380 |
$550 |
|
Root Canals |
$ 500 |
$150 |
$170 |
$175 |
$225 |
|
Veneers |
$1,500 |
$540 |
$400 |
$300 |
$400 |
|
Implants |
$3,000 |
$1,600 |
$1,500 |
$1,800 |
$1,200 |
*Dental cost figures from www.revahealth.com.
Although these countries are on the top of the list for dental tourism, countries such as Singapore, India, Panama and Turkey, among others, have starting offering dental procedures to Americans looking to travel abroad for care.
Before traveling anywhere for dental tourism, the American Dental Association (ADA), advises patients to ìcheck with the health department or ministry in the destination country to see what national guidelines are in place for dentists.î
The ADA website also has an International Dental Associations section, where patients can contact dental associations in any country. Visit http://www.ada.org/ada/organizations/international.asp, to find contact information and a Web site link to the selected countryís association.
Always remember to ask the qualification and schooling of the dentist you will be seeing. Also, if you are booking your trip through a medical tourism company, ask a representative if you can speak to a patient who has already used their services, or for a customer testimonial.
Here are a few medical tourism companies that offer dental tourism packages:
Chief of bariatric surgery service to provide services in Israel at much lower costs than the US and Canada ñ with no waiting period
New York, NY/PETACH TIKVA, Israel ñ May 20, 2008 ñ A prominent U.S. board certified bariatric surgeon, currently chief of the bariatric surgery service and an attending physician at a New York-based hospital, is forming a strategic alliance with International Medical Services, Global Ltd. (IMS), a global health care firm specializing in medical travel to Israel (www.medicaltourismforyou.com). This renowned surgeon will provide medical/surgical services at one of Israelís quality hospitals in the IMS network, presenting an opportunity for individuals to access weight-loss surgery at dramatically lower costs than in the United States or Canada and without a long waiting period.
ìThis is a breakthrough opportunity for people to access this specialized surgery at a fraction of the cost in the U.S. or Canada, and performed by one of the worldís most qualified surgeons," says Ira Nissel, founder and CEO of IMS, noting that Israel has emerged as a key, cost-efficient destination for the highest quality medical care. ìWe are extremely gratified and honored to welcome this physician to the medical community of Israel, which is quickly becoming a destination of choice among medical tourists from the United States and throughout the world.î
Medical-surgical travel packages are now available, including airfare, at no extra cost to prospective patients. Patients can take advantage of these procedures:
Gastric Bypass Surgery: Known as Roux en Y, for this surgery, the stomach is made into a smaller pouch using staples and then connected to the small intestine
Lap-Band procedure: Minimally invasive, this involves the placement of a silicone, adjustable band which is placed around the upper part of the stomach to help control food intake.
About IMS (www.medicaltourismforyou.com)
International Medical Services Global, Ltd. (IMS) specializes in uniquely customized medical travel to Israel. Founded in 2007 by Ira Nissel, CEO, IMS offers a full range of medical services to children and adults and provides a completely personalized treatment and travel experience.
The company also aims to advance the image of Israel as a global leader in medical treatment, research, and technological development.
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From The American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
BARIATRIC SURGERY
Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, limits the amount of food the stomach can hold by surgically reducing the stomachís capacity to a few ounces. In addition to reducing food intake, some weight loss surgeries alter the digestion process, which curbs the amount of calories and nutrients absorbed.
ï Primary types of bariatric surgery include: laparoscopic and open gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and duodenal switch
ï Appropriate candidates have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, or a BMI of 35 or more with an obesity-related disease, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea
ï In 2007, an estimated 205,000 people with morbid obesity in the U.S. will have bariatric surgery
ï About 15 million people in the U.S. have morbid obesity; only 1 percent of the clinically eligible population is being treated for morbid obesity through bariatric surgery
IMPACT ON OBESITY-RELATED DISEASES
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in October 2004 of 22,000 bariatric surgery patients showed improvements in the following obesity-related conditions:
o Type 2 diabetes eliminated in 76.8 percent of patients; 86 percent eliminated or improved
o Hypertension eliminated in 61.7 percent patients and resolved or improved 78.5 percent
o Obstructive sleep apn, , ,, ea or sleep-disordered breathing eliminated in 85.7 percent of p, atients
o High cholesterol levels or hyperlipidemia decreas, ed in more than 70 percent of pat, ients
EFFECTIVENESS
,, , , ï Clinical studies show most bariatric surgery patients lose weight quickly and continue to lose weight 18 to 24 mon, th, s after the procedure
ï Patients may lose 30 to 50 percent of their excess weight in the first six months and 77 percent of excess weight as early as 12 months after surgery. Another st, udy showed that patients can maintain a 50-60 percent loss of excess weight 10-14 years after w, eight loss surgery. |
