In the United States, hair restoration surgeries are common, safe, and highly successful. It’s no surprise that one might assume the same is true in other countries… particularly those known as destinations for medical tourism.
Each year, tens of thousands of individuals travel outside of the U.S. for inexpensive hair transplants in places like Mexico and Türkiye (commonly known as Turkey). While the promise of low costs and the thrill of visiting an exotic destination may seem attractive, there are some downsides to leaving the certainties of the U.S. for the unknowns of foreign lands.
Why Is Medical Tourism a Problem?
Medical tourism has risks that are not an issue when you seek treatment closer to home. There are also ethical issues you may experience when dealing with overseas medical practitioners. Not surprisingly, a growing sector of the U.S. hair transplant market is clients who require specialized revision surgery after an unsatisfactory overseas procedure.
What Risks Are Associated With Medical Tourism?
One of the greatest risks of medical tourism is that your surgeon may be under-trained or unlicensed. Equipment in foreign clinics may be outdated or poorly maintained, and sanitation practices may not be up to American standards.
Because overseas clinics deal in volume, you might not receive the individual attention you would enjoy at a U.S. practice. The necessity of completing procedures quickly can lead to over-harvesting of donor hair and overcrowding of recipient areas. This often results in an uneven hairline, tissue scarring, infection, or necrosis.
When things go wrong, there is little or no ability to follow up with the original surgeon. It often becomes necessary to visit a U.S. based clinic for treatment and possible revision surgery. And – even if you avoid all the associated health risks – lack of experience and/or rushing could lead to poor hairline design. That can lead to results that do not look natural.
What Are the Ethical Issues Associated With Medical Tourism?
In the United States, medical professionals are bound by strict laws and codes of ethical conduct. This ensures that doctors disclose any risks associated with the procedures they offer, and that they obtain the patient’s informed consent to perform them.
In some countries where medical tourism is common, the standards of medical ethics may be substantially different and significantly less rigorous. Add to this a potential language barrier and you may not fully understand the specifics, implications, and risks of the procedure you plan to undergo.
Hair MD Maintains the Highest Professional Standards
Procedures at HairMD are performed in strict compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. We conduct ourselves according to a rigorous code of professional ethics. Our follow-up care is unparalleled, and we are available to address questions and concerns at all points of your hair restoration journey.
Our team has more than 30 years of experience and has performed thousands of procedures for our satisfied clients. We also specialize in revision surgery on unsatisfactory procedures performed outside the U.S. Contact us today to take that first step toward a fuller, healthier head of hair.
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