Surgical Management of Cosmetic Surgery Tourism-Related Complications: Current Trends and Cost Analysis Study of the Financial Impact on the UK National Health Service (NHS).

Abstract

Cosmetic surgery tourism is thriving. Lower costs and all-inclusive cosmetic surgery holiday packages have led to more patients seeking cheaper aesthetic surgery abroad. However, limited postoperative care results in patients frequently presenting to UK National Health Service hospitals with postoperative complications requiring surgery. The authors sought to identify current trends and the financial impact of surgically managed complications from cosmetic surgery tourism. A retrospective review of consecutive surgically managed patients attending a London Teaching Hospital between 2006 and 2018 with complications following cosmetic surgery abroad was performed. Patient demographics, procedure characteristics, and length of stay were determined and a comprehensive cost analysis was performed. Twenty-four patients presented with complications. Twenty-two were females aged a mean of 36 years (range, 25-58 years). Gluteal enhancement was the most common procedure (38%) and infection (92%) was the primary complication. Most procedures were undertaken in Turkey (29%) and performed in the last 5 years (63%). Twenty-one patients were inpatients and mean length of stay was 8 days (range, 1-49 days); abdominoplasty patients stayed the longest. The total cost to the hospital was $406,233, leading to an average cost per patient of $16,296 (range, $817-$41,778). Complications from abdominoplasty resulted in the highest cost per patient of $20,404. Cosmetic surgery tourism is on the rise as patients travel for cheaper aesthetic surgery. There is urgent need to better address this issue to help reduce the growing financial strain on the National Health Service, safeguard patients, and optimize the use of valuable resources.