Plastic Surgery in India
Plastic surgery in India is a good option for those looking for various correctional and reconstructive surgeries as the services offered by Indian hospitals and clinics are quite affordable as compared to the west.
Worldwide, an increasing number of people are opting for plastic and cosmetic surgeries.
As per statistics compiled by International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), nearly 17,295,557 surgical and non-surgical plastic surgery procedures were performed by certified plastic surgeons in the entire world in the year 2009.
Plastic Surgery- A Brief Overview
Plastic surgery involves replacement of or repairing physical deformities and correcting abnormalities in the functioning of different parts of the body. Plastic surgery includes:
- Cosmetic surgery
- Several types of reconstructive surgeries
- Hand surgeries
- Burn treatments
Cosmetic surgery is concerned with aesthetic aspects of appearance and is aimed at enhancing looks or maintaining a normal appearance.
Plastic surgeons may also perform cosmetic surgeries for optimization of results of plastic surgery procedures. Different types of cosmetic surgeries are:
- Tummy tucks or abdominoplasty
- Eyelid surgery
- Buttock augmentation
- Rhinoplasty or nose job
- Lip enhancement
- Liposuction
- Mammoplasty (breast augmentation, reduction, and breast lift)
Why India for Plastic Surgery?
India is experiencing a deluge of medical tourists from the US, UK, Canada, Europe, and countries of the Asia Pacific region due to its low cost, yet high-quality medical services.
Popularity of India as a medical tourism destination can be gauged from a Press Trust of India report, according to which nearly half a million offshore patients flocked to India in 2008-09 to avail its value-for-money medical treatments.
Key advantages of undergoing plastic and cosmetic surgery in India are:
1. Cost Advantage
One of the main benefits of choosing hospitals and plastic surgery clinics in India is the low cost of plastic surgery compared to that in other countries such as the USA and the UK.
Even after taking into consideration travel and lodging expenses, one can enjoy a comparative cost advantage due to the low medical fees charged by plastic surgeons in India.
Free quotes from medical tourism websites can be requested for planning the trip.
2. Excellent Quality of Indian Healthcare Services
Indian hospitals and clinics are known for their quality healthcare services at par with the standards of North American and West European hospitals.
With the surge in medical tourism in India, a number of internationally-accredited hospitals have mushroomed in India.
International accreditation entails strict compliance with their quality and safety norms.
3. Highly Qualified Plastic Surgeons in India
Plastic surgeons in India are known for their high competence levels. They are highly skilled, with a number of them being internationally trained.
Board certified plastic surgeons have affiliation with associations such as Association of Plastic Surgeons of India (APSI) and Indian Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
Most of the plastic surgeons and their staff are English speaking and language poses no barrier to communication for foreign patients.
4. Combine Sightseeing with Plastic Surgery in India
Another reason for India being a big draw with medical tourists is the increased advantage of combining a health vacation with sightseeing.
India is known for its rich cultural heritage and hospitality and is a shopper’s paradise.
Indian states of Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh have perpetually been favourite haunts of globe trotters.
Indian cuisine, especially the quintessential India curry, is famous worldwide for its delectable spicy taste.
5. Some of the Key Tourist Places in India Are
- The Taj Mahal in Agra
- Amber fort, Nahargarh fort, City Palace, Jantan Mantar in Jaipur
- Beaches of Goa
- Qutab Minar, Jama Masjid, Lotus Temple in Delhi
- Sand dunes of Jaisalmer
Desirous patients can coordinate with Indian hospitals or medical tourism companies to include sight-seeing in their itinerary.
Medical tourism companies in India play a pivotal role in connecting the patients with hospitals, plastic surgeons, and hotels.
Travel Tips for Medical Tourists in India
- Avoid drinking tap water and go for only bottled drinking water.
- Hygiene standards in India can be quite different from those in the first world countries, so avoid street-food. Eating cut fruits sold by roadside vendors is a strict no- no.
- Most of the banks do not accept traveller’s checks.
- Beware of pickpockets and swindlers who are notorious for fleecing foreign nationals.
- Females should avoid deserted places and venturing out alone late at night.
Services of a medical tourism company can help in easy planning of a leisure trip to India, for getting affordable medical services, and simultaneously enjoying the beauty of its sandy beaches, verdant mountains, rich flora and fauna, and beautiful architecture.
They may also be of good help in choosing the right hospital for high quality and economically feasible plastic surgery procedures.
