Is it safe to have surgery done by an out-of-town surgeon?

Question:  Is out-of-town surgery safe? If so, how can I prepare for it?

Answer:

Out-of-town surgery is more challenging than having surgery near home. Once you leave your surgeon’s city, you don’t have direct access to her/his care. This makes many people anxious. It also makes it difficult for your surgeon to help you, if you have a complication.

However, the demand for out-of-town surgery has risen, because of the internet and two other reasons:

1. People search the world for the cheapest surgery. This is risky. As a result, we have seen poorly done surgery, rare, untreatable infections and serious complications.
2. People search the world for surgeons with special expertise that surgeons at home don’t have. This is a reasonable reason to travel for surgery.

Here are some reasons patients have travelled nationally and internationally to see us –

• A second face lift, after a poor result from a first face lift.
• Breast implant, because of our careful approach helping patients select the right implant.
• Lip lifts, because local surgeons don’t do the procedure.
• Calf implants, because local surgeons don’t do the procedure.

 

We recommend this approach if you are considering traveling out of town for surgery:

1. Have a consultation with the surgeon by phone or by Skype at least a month in advance.
   1. We have patient fill out the complete medical history before a phone consultation.
   2. We may ask for medical records and photos.
   3. During the phone/Skype consultation have a ruler or tape measure – to take measurements, e.g. the length of your lip, the width of your chest.
   4. Have a note pad and pen to take notes.
   5. Be sure you understand what the surgeon can and can’t tell you without an exam.
      1. For instance, the best breast implant size can be estimated long-distance, but a pre-surgery consultation is necessary for a final decision.
   6. For major procedures, if possible, travel with a friend or family member for help and support.
      1. Or ask the surgeon’s office for help finding someone for the first days afterwards
      2. Ask if you should spend the night after a minor procedure, if you are travelling alone.
   7. Ask the surgeon’s office about where to stay.
      1. We have good, near-by hotels and motels that offer corporate rates to our patients.
   8. Be clear as to the day you need to arrive, the day you can leave and your expected recovery.
   9. Be sure you get a written proposal that sets out all the costs and requirements. For instance, because of the risk of blood clots, we require out-of-town patients to have Exparel for pain if they are having tummy tucks, calf implants and under-the-muscle breast implants. Exparel is expensive, but it allows early mobility, making travel home easier and safer.
   10. Arrange someone back home to see you, if you end up needing it. Ask what you may need –
       1. You many need a nurse to remove sutures, your regular doctor to check healing, a near-by Emergency Room or Plastic Surgeon in case of infection or poor healing.
   11. Before leaving town, schedule follow-up phone visits with your surgeon and send follow-up photos. We do this one week, two weeks and six weeks after surgery.

 

With these preparations, out-of-town surgery is likely to go smoothly for you.