| medical tourism | ANALYSIS
dr Geraldine mcKeever, a
specialist trained in general surgery, is among this group. after 22 years as an NHs GP, during 16 of which she also specialised in acupuncture, she left in 2004 to set up a business in cosmetic medicine, in Kent, uK. Her clinic, step Back cosmetic medicine, run jointly with dr chris davies, prides itself on high cosmetic surgery standards and aftercare across a wide range of procedures. speaking to PRIME, dr mcKeever
said that for certain surgical cosmetic procedures she is unable to undertake (e.g. sun-damaged skin), she recommends local plastic surgeons that she has done business with. However, patients often return to her from a consultation with the local surgeons saying they cannot afford their prices. cheaper surgery is offered in parts
of europe, and dr mcKeever has been approached by surgeons in Poland and the czech republic, which offered to work with her if she referred patients to them. on a visit to inspect the former’s business, however, she found that standards were not as high as had been claimed.
Better press the other end of the spectrum — and part of the reason why cosmetic surgery tourism is seemingly getting a better press of late — are the businesses that guarantee standards of care. the 1-year-old secret surgery is an example. the business is run by angela chouaib, who was a plastic surgery patient herself and decided to set up her own company when she saw gaps in the market for enhanced levels of care for patients.
dr mcKeever plans to visit the facility
used by secret surgery, the emc instytut medyczny unit, in Wroclaw, Poland, to inspect the standards of surgery in theatre and postoperative care. she has an open mind but told PRIME that she remains to be convinced about the ability to access high quality surgery at prices 5–6 times lower than that in the uK. the company’s growing list of patient testimonials bears witness to a satisfied customer base, however. the company complies with us
anaesthesiology standards to distinguish healthy and unwell patients, and asks practitioners, such as dr mcKeever, to do a preoperative check involving respiratory, cardiovascular and kidney function. if, after the patient returns home, there are complications, the company has sought to set up arrangements whereby dr mcKeever and others can offer postoperative care for minor complications on a private basis.
the trend for
potential uK patients to look to surgeons overseas may disappoint local practitioners, but it is a function of a free market.
the trend for potential uK patients to
look to surgeons overseas may disappoint local practitioners, but it is a function of a free market. 'i wish the uK market was a bit broader, and was able to decrease its hefty prices,' says dr mcKeever. While that remains the case, her advice is that prospective patients looking overseas check that they are dealing with an ethical company. the BaaPs’ advice is to spend time choosing the surgeon. While this is accepted practice in the us, the average patient invests little time in this process, says BaaPs president Fazel Fateh.
prime-journal.com | November/December 2011 ❚ 13
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