Are you looking into getting cosmetic surgery? Maybe help from a psychologist? Or is it a dermatologist you’re looking for? No matter what medical field, if you’re considering seeking help, I’m sure you’ve exhausted your options and looked into all the best facilities and doctors. But have you ever considered travelling to get medical help?
Medical tourism is a type of tourism that is booming these days and people are looking outside their home country to find the best help they can get for their needs. There are several advantages to getting treated abroad and if this wasn’t in your radar, then maybe it should be.
But first things first, what is medical tourism?
Medical tourism is when someone travels to find medical help of some kind. The reasons why anyone chooses to go abroad to get help are vast, but one that often comes to mind is the cost. It is true that medical tourism was very popular at some point because of how inexpensive a certain procedure was in another country.
Nowadays, the reasons have grown and it’s almost as common as going on holiday to the beachside.
Why would you choose to travel for medical treatment?
As said previously, the cost. You will find that it is considerably cheaper to get cosmetic procedures somewhere else in the world, depending on where you live. Moreover, people tend to look for the best surgeons money can buy, and sometimes, those surgeons don’t live in the same country as them.
Think of it as looking for the best tattoo artist for your specific needs. You would go anywhere to get the best one because you’ll have it on your skin forever, right?
So, why wouldn’t someone travel to get the best medical treatment they could? It’s your body, your life and your health – you should get what’s best for you. It might also happen that the procedure someone wants to get done isn’t even allowed in their home country, so there isn’t a choice, they have to travel abroad.
According to a medical clinic, Auralia, they are “an industry leader, with an unrivalled reputation founded on experience and expertise in the art of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures and treatments within Ireland”. If you don’t live in Ireland but read this, look at their page and photo results and love them, you might get tempted to check them out in person. Maybe it hadn’t been a possibility before, but something caught your attention and you’re interested – just give it some thought.
If the best is what you’re looking for and the cost is doable, I don’t see why anyone would choose to not travel for medical help.
But what if you could do the exact same thing at home?
The million-dollar question. Why travel if you can get the exact same medical treatment at home? Why spend money flying to another country if you can just drive to a clinic, get it done in a couple of hours, go home and sleep in your own bed?
That is a question that only you can answer. There are advantages to doing this, I believe. You’ll be surrounded by what you know, there won’t be possible language barriers and you can take your time and do it whenever suits you best. If you travel, you’ll have to plan it ahead because you won’t be able to just walk in and get an appointment.
If you’re home, you can decide to have a discussion with a surgeon and then just not go through with the procedure because you don’t feel ready or it’s just not what you were expecting. It’s easy and quick. If you do this abroad, you’ve spent your money on flights, hotels, and food, only to not have your medical treatment done in the end.
As you can see, there are plenty of advantages to doing it at home too, but the answer needs to come from you and what’s best for you. You’ll also be helping the local economy by getting your treatment in your country, if that’s of any relevance to you.
What to choose?
In the end, it’s up to you. It’s a choice that will be different to everyone and it should come with a lot of thought and reflection.
There are pros and cons to both situations and because it’s about your health and body, you should consider every scenario. Travel and experience a new culture and also have some fun while you’re there or stay home and trust your medical institution and maybe save some money and stress in the process.
What’s important is that you ponder well and go with what feels right to you.
