Cosmetic surgery can help to transform the way that you look and feel. But there are also risks associated with many treatments. An increasing number of people are turning to overseas practitioners, for a wide variety of reasons: there are often savings to be made, there be access to treatments that aren't available at home, while some undoubtedly perceive an opportunity to experience a higher standard of care.

This all sounds like a great option, but is everything really as good as it seems? Ultimately, saving money is all well and good, although it should never be more of a priority than ensuring that the standard of treatment that you receive is of the required standard.

There are some problems when seeking cosmetic surgery overseas, including understanding whether clinicians have the required skills and track record to deliver results. How can you go about putting your own safety first?

Do your research

In reality, you probably won't have heard much about the clinic that you are intending to use when you first make contact, so you should make it your business to find out more. Take the time to study their website as a starting point - if you're seeking a Dubai nose job, to take one example, then you can begin by investigating the website before you even think of making contact with the clinic.

Ask yourself some simple questions: does the website provide a good level of detail? Are there clear contact details for the clinic under consideration? Is there any evidence of testimonials, or mention of clinician qualifications?

Follow up on information

So a provider has a lovely, glossy website. Is that all that you need to look at? No! It's really important that you see the website as being the first step along the journey. The site will hopefully have offered you some sort of reassurance that the provider will be able to assist with botox, or a tummy tuck, or whatever type of treatment you are looking for. But do you trust the testimonials? What do the listed qualifications actually mean?

You need to follow up on that information to see whether your trust in the website can be justified by real facts and genuine reviews that confirm the reliability of the provider. You should expect to be able to talk to the surgeon, for example, in order to get a deeper understanding of their experience and what they can provide.

Remember as well that not all qualifications are likely to be equal. Has the surgeon achieved a qualification that is recognised all around the world? It may be that they have qualified locally, but that what they have achieved, in reality, wouldn't earn them the respect of peers elsewhere. When it comes to plastic surgery and cosmetic work, you really can't leave anything to chance.

❈ Our philosophy

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