Orthopedic Procedures and Medical Tourism

With medical tourism, it is possible to get your hip replacement surgery or your knee replacement surgery more quickly and cheaper. Overseas or out of your own country can literally save you a great deal of money, sometimes as much as 60% over normal costs and this will include not only the surgery itself, but treatments, transportation, and hospital stay as well.

Many people find it cheaper to seek out medical tourism. There could be many reasons for this, such as too long of a waiting period in your country or your insurance will not cover the procedure for any reason. Two of the most popular forms of medical tourism are knee replacement and hip replacement.

Knee Replacement

During knee replacement surgery, you may opt for a prosthesis that is either cemented or uncemented. Typically, with either kind, there are four parts to be replaced. The Patellar (or kneecap), the femoral, and the tibial. During knee replacement surgery, you can expect to be put under general anesthesia, while the surgeon will take out any damaged bone and cartilage, replacing these with the new joints.

There are many reasons people use medical tourism for knee replacement. Maybe osteoarthritis prevents them from normal use. Perhaps they have pain so severe in the knee that it prevents activities they would normally perform every day, such as getting up or down stairs, walking, or even sitting in a chair. For whatever reason, it is best to consult with a surgeon to determine if knee replacement is the best answer for your needs.

Hip Replacement

Hip replacement is another popular procedure with medical tourism. Those that have arthritis that has damaged the hip or a hip fracture often seek hip replacement surgery. The most common symptoms that a hip replacement might be necessary include pain while sitting, walking, or even resting. Many people try pain medications to relieve this pain, but in some cases, it is to no avail. Even walking aids have proven to be of no use; therefore, they turn to hip replacement surgery.

Hip replacement surgery takes out the diseased hip and replaces it with a plastic one that often brings a great deal of comfort to the patient. It relieves the pain and gives them the ability to take care of everyday activities, as they once were able to. It is important to understand that with a new hip, you will still have to be very careful. Sports in which there is high impact or running are to be avoided at all costs.

LASIK Surgery and Medical Tourism

More and more people are turning to medical tourism to meet their health care needs. And who can blame them? With skyrocketing costs and seemingly endless waiting lists, medical travel is a worthy option to consider. World-class facilities, highly qualified doctors, and state-of-the-art technology are common among many medical destinations.

- Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism eye conditions.

This is the most common corrective laser eye surgery. In this procedure, a surgical incision is made to the cornea, creating a flap that is folded out of the way, allowing the surgeon to use the laser for correction. Since a flap is created on the cornea, healing is faster because the flap is replaced and allowed to reattach to the cornea. The entire procedure only takes about 15 minutes, with only 30 to 60 seconds of actual lasering. Many patients experience better vision as early as the day after surgery.

- Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK) is similar to LASIK, except that the flap is created in the epithelium, rather than in the cornea.

- Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is for persons who are nearsighted, who have mild to moderate farsightedness, and astigmatism. The surgeon uses the laser to remove tiny tissue on the surface of the cornea.

- Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) uses a probe as thin as a strand of human hair, utilizing radiofrequency (RF) energy. The surgeon uses the probe to reshape the cornea by shrinking small areas of the tissue.

How do these corrective laser eye surgery procedures improve one’s quality of life? Patients who had these procedures were surveyed and noted the following:

- Ability to see on waking
- Freedom from glasses and contact lenses
- Improvement in personal safety
- Better participation in sports and fitness activities

As with any surgery, there are risks involved, and the wise patient will do well to be aware of any and all possible side effects and complications.

Some of the most common risks involved in corrective
laser eye surgery are:

- Loss of vision
- Dry eyes
- Eye discomfort (usually during the first 24 hours after the surgery)
- Irregular astigmatism
- Corneal haze or glaring
- Overcorrected or undercorrected vision
- Inability to wear contact lenses in the future
- Loss of corneal flap, requiring a corneal graft
- Scarring
- Infection
- Glare around lights, difficulties with night vision and driving

Some people who may not be good candidates for corrective laser eye surgery includes those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, diabetes, cataracts, and herpes infections of the eye.

It’s important to remember to have a companion in your medical travel to drive and/or accompany you to and from your procedure.

After weighing pros and cons, it’s good to know that there are world-class eye care facilities, offering inexpensive, modern treatment in many medical destinations, such as India, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. When costs may be reduced by half and a nice vacation in a desirable destination gets thrown into the deal, why not consider medical tourism for corrective laser eye surgery?

Maybe Baby with Medical Tourism

There is a big surge of medical tourists who come to Asia for IVF treatment. In the beginning, most of the patients came from the Middle East and from nearby Asian countries, but in the last 2-3 years, more and more couples from the US and the UK are coming for IVF. So why do they fly half way around the world to get a baby ?

There are many reasons for this. Medical tourists would come to Asia because the charges are a fraction of the cost of what a US clinic would charge. In-vitro fertilization can cost $20,000 in the United States and $15,000 in Europe. In India it costs about $2,500. Today, they come for many other reasons as well. Fertility centers have been established in Asia and are successfully treating couples using the latest advances in IVF treatment.

Overseas patients are developing confidence in the professional expertise and abilities of doctors in Asia. They have often lost faith in their own medical system. Medical tourism is like a ray of hope for them. To cite an example, the number of infertile UK couples going abroad to try to have a baby is soaring thanks to a new British legislation. So many man-made hindrances, so many political roadblocks...you know what I mean.

If you are thinking of going for an IVF treatment, Singapore has an excellent pool of IVF specialists and clinics. They cater to medical tourists from around the region and to people from the West. Singapore goes out of its way to build a world-class reputation by being transparent, accountable, responsive and patient-centric. The medical facilities are second to none. English is widely spoken here. It is worth checking them out.

You have to involve a clinic in your country before going for your IVF treatment abroad, because you need a scan before implantation to make sure your womb lining is developing properly or it will be wasted. It is ok for doctors to keep in touch with the ones in Asia and swap notes and everything. Patients are given a detailed written report to take back to their GP if they need any after care.

Of course people should research the whole issue before going. The IVF success rate is only about 30%. Don't go for it if your emotional state is so fragile that failure to get pregnant is not an option. but then again it will be a happy surprise if you do end up pregnant and deliver a healthy baby. Sure, undergoing the procedure can be bit difficult, But seriously, it's all about your own mind, not the IVF procedure.

Getting IVF treatment via medical tourism to help you achieve your dream of becoming a parent is possible. Isn't that great?

Before You Go: Tips For Medical Tourists

If you are considering medical tourism, here are some practical tips to help make sure that your trip is smooth sailing.

Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and the required visas. Imagine the inconvenience and the trouble you will get yourself into if you don't have the necessary documents. Worse, you might even end up spending a night or two in jail.

Learn about local laws and respect the customs of the countries to which you are traveling. While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.When in Thailand, DO NOT publicly criticize or make fun of the Thai monarchy, or you will be jailed for 15 years! So mind what you say and do. DO NOT EVER consume or bring illegal drugs with you. Countries like Singapore impose harsh penalties if caught with illegal drugs. A doctor's prescription is preferably be carried along with any medication.

Check all your medical prescriptions for necessary refills. Bring along a list of your medications, and be sure to include their generic names, as brand names may differ from place to place.

Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.

Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

DO NOT leave your luggage unattended in public areas. DO NOT accept packages from strangers. We have heard enough horror stories of travelers arrested for unknowingly carrying those packages that contained illegal stuff.

To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear flashy clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards. Be discreet as possible if you have no choice but to count your big stack of money in the public. In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized money exchange agents

If you get into trouble, contact you country's nearest embassy as soon as possible.

Careful planning and preparation are two of the key ingredients to successful medical tourism holiday. So, do your homework. Put thoughtful consideration into all your preparation, and you too can join the growing ranks of medical tourists. Then you can sit back, relax and enjoy a delightful and memorable medical travel experience.

Medical Tourism: Sex-Change Surgery

Many people emotionally identify themselves with the sex opposite to the one which they were born into. This can cause great emotional distress to a person and limit that person’s quality of life. If you feel you have been born into the wrong body sex change surgery may help you achieve a look that fits the person you are.

Among the top five medical destinations in Asia, Thailand is known for their sex-change surgery expertise. If you are planning to go to Thailand for the surgery, make sure the surgeons are certified by the Medical Council of Thailand. It is also good to check out whether they belong to The Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Thailand. It is now a member of the International Confederation for Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS) and a member of the Asean Federation of Plastic Surgery. At present there are about 250 qualified Thai plastic surgeons.

Sex change surgery is a procedure to change the sex of a person and can be either male to female (MTF) or female to male (FTM). Sex change surgery is often combined with a number of procedures to make your appearance look more male/female. Popular procedures include: breast implants, adam's apple shaving, jaw line reduction, cheek augmentation, rhinoplasty, brow lift, hair transplants, chin augmentation, and voice change.

Sex change surgery is a major procedure that will significantly alter your life. Therefore, it is very important that you have considered it carefully and are mentally prepared for the outcome of the procedure. You must meet following requirements in order to be eligible for sex change surgery:

- You must have a certificate from a licensed psychologist stating that you are a suitable candidate for sex change surgery

- You must have been taking hormones for at least 1 year

- You must be physically fit to undergo the surgery

- Patient must be at least age 18 years of age. Patients will require permission from parents if under 20 years old

- Patients must be diagnosed with at least one of the following disorders: gender identity disorder, gender dysphoria, or associated conditions (anxiety, depression)

- Patients are required to have lived full-time in the cross-gender role for at least 1 year (supported by identification documents)

- Patients must have written approval from a psychiatrist, psychiatric social worker, or clinical psychologist

Medical Tourism: The Angioplasty Procedure

Thousands of people are choosing medical tourism as a fast, affordable way of dealing with both necessary and elective medical treatment.

One procedure readily available to the medical tourist is angioplasty. This coronary care treatment is used in a vast selection of medical tourism destinations.

What is Angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a procedure in which a narrowed section of the coronary artery is dilated with a balloon catheter. It is less invasive and has a shorter recovery time than coronary bypass surgery. Most of the time, stents are placed in the narrowed artery during the angioplasty procedure.

The stent is a meshlike metal material, and because of this, cells lining the blood vessel grow through and around the stent to help secure it to the arterial wall.

Reclosure of the blocked area is much less likely to occur when a stent is inserted than after an angioplasty without the stent.

The Procedure

The patient is given a mild sedative, which will make the person relaxed and sleepy, but he will usually remain awake during the procedure. A catheter (a thin, flexible tube) is inserted in the groin or arm through an artery and is carefully guided up the aorta into the blocked coronary artery.

Once the catheter has reached the blocked artery, a balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated. If a stent is used, this inflation pushes the stent open. Then the balloon is deflated, leaving the stent in place, and the catheter is removed. Blood flow to the affected area of the heart should then improve.

What to Consider:

One of the greatest benefits of the angioplasty is that, unlike bypass surgery, it does not require open-heart surgery. It is far less invasive. There is less risk of immediate complications. Evidence suggests that the long-term outcomes of both angioplasty and bypass surgery are similar. This makes angioplasty an ideal procedure to consider for medical tourism. There is a wide range of world-class facilities offering coronary care in many medical destinations.

In my opinion, Singapore, India and Thailand doctors are the best in doing the angioplasty procedure.

As with any medical procedure there are risks involved.

Preparations for Angioplasty Procedure:

Your doctor will probably want to do a number of tests, including x-rays, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and blood tests. You should inform your doctor of any medications you are taking, and any allergies you may have, especially allergies associated with the contrast materials necessary to create the x-ray images of the blood vessels.

You should not eat or drink after midnight the night before the procedure. Ask your doctor to advise you regarding any medication you may be taking.

What to Expect After Treatment:

After the angioplasty procedure, you will be moved to a recovery room or to the coronary care unit. Heart rate, blood pressure and pulse will be closely monitored. The site where the catheter was inserted will be checked for bleeding.

There will be a large bandage or compression device at the groin and catheter insertion site to help prevent bleeding. If the catheter was inserted through the groin, you will be instructed to keep your leg straight.

Usually you can start walking within less than 12 hours of the procedure. The average hospital stay after an angioplasty without any complications is one to two days. You may be able to resume exercise and driving after several days.

The relatively short hospital stay and quick recovery time make the angioplasty an ideal procedure for medical tourism. The benefits of medical travel include greatly reduced waiting time and significantly lower costs, and these should be considered.

The five top medical destinations in Asia offer world-class cardiology specialists and clinics. If you are considering an angioplasty, why not look into the possibility of medical travel to Asia? You can save time, costs, and enjoy a pleasant holiday abroad while taking care of your medical needs.

The Minus Sides of Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is becoming an increasingly popular answer for people seeking medical care. Medical vacations in the past were mostly to have cosmetic treatments at a lower cost than it would have been locally. Currently, people are seeking lifesaving medical treatment in other countries. While this is often a good choice, there are drawbacks to the practice of medical tourism.

Shopping for the best doctor at the best price can be fairly easy when you are looking in your own neighborhood. You can drive over to the hospital or clinic and take a look around, make an appointment to meet the doctor and other staff, even meet others who have used the same provider to see what they have to say. When the facility is in another country it is more difficult to do this. People who are interested in medical tourism should take time to find out about the procedure and the health care provider before having any treatments done. With the World Wide Web it is possible to search for pros and cons of just about any facility world wide. Remember not to stop at the information given to you by the provider, look for information from former patients in blogs, join a medical tourism forum and ask questions.

Make sure you have looked into what your insurance policy will cover while you are out of the country. Especially if cost is the reason you are considering medical tourism. While some procedures are covered outside of your country, not all will be. You may still save money by getting care in another country, even if your insurance doesn’t cover the procedure.

Legal recourse you may have while at home, you may not have available in another country. Malpractice laws that protect the patients are not the same from country to country. Most providers are insured by some form of malpractice insurance. Not all countries will give out large cash settlements when mistakes are made.

After surgery, you aren’t going to want to travel back home alone. The cost of taking friends and family with you to another country is going to bring up the cost of your procedure. One way to minimize this is to have only one person go with you. Another is to schedule your surgery as part of a vacation you were going to go on already.

Many procedures require multiple follow up checks with the provider. You aren’t going to want to go out of the country multiple times for this care. This can be dealt with a couple of ways. You could remain abroad until you have recovered from your treatment. This works best if you have a short recovery time and you want to go on vacation anyhow. You can recuperate while sightseeing. If you do not wish to remain away from home until you have finished recuperating, you can find a provider locally who is willing to take over care.

If you educate yourself about your diagnosis, the treatment available, and the choices you have available at home and abroad you are more likely to have positive results. This is true about any medical care. It is important for you to do your research before agreeing on any medical treatment at home or abroad.