I have been thinking about having a facelift ever since I turned 40. I really feel as though this would do me good but the cost of surgery is so expensive I have never gone ahead with it.
However I saw an advert for cosmetic surgery abroad which was much cheaper and even with the flights and accommodation I could afford it. I understand the doctor who will operate on me was trained in but now works in this clinic doing facelifts in .
I’m sure it will all go smoothly – do you think I should have the surgery done?
Cosmetic surgery is an invasive procedure (meaning in this case the skin is cut), usually carried out under general anaesthetic. It will therefore carry the usual risks associated with surgery and anaesthetic, such as infection.
Surgeons in this country must have undertaken extensive training and be registered with the GMC in order to practice. Every country has its own methods of training and registering doctors and these are not necessarily universal. You cannot assume the doctor who will perform your surgery will be trained to the standard set in the .
You must bear in mind that even if the doctor was trained in , if the surgery does not go as well as you had hoped, you would have no claim through the English courts. As the operation was conducted in an Eastern European country by a doctor employed at that hospital then any action you bring must be in that country also. There are some exceptions to this rule but these are unlikely to apply in your case.
You cannot therefore bring any action against the NHS or the hospital where the surgeon was trained as he in now practising abroad and that is where he will administer treatment to you.
As to whether you undergo the surgery this of course is a decision that only you can make. I would advise you to carry out thorough research on the clinic and the doctors practising there and their success rates before embarking on your trip.
