29 Jun
Australia, Cosmetic Holidays

As Botox parties take off, doctors warn of risks

BOTOX parties are on the rise in Queensland, but doctors have urged caution, saying they were regularly called on to fix botched Botox procedures.

Botox party host Claire Licciardo and Hollie Anderson, who says the parties are less intimidating than visiting a clinic.

BOTOX parties are on the rise in Queensland, as everyone from brides-to-be to high-flying lawyers look for a cheaper, more convenient way to turn back the clock.

But specialist doctors urged caution, saying they were regularly called on to fix botched Botox party procedures undertaken by unqualified practitioners.

Cosmetic Holidays International managing director Claire Licciardo said there had been a surge in demand for at-home cosmetic injections in the past few months, and she was now hosting as many as three parties a week with a qualified doctor in southeast Queensland.

She said men in their 40s, lawyers, businessmen, gym owners, strippers and bridal parties were just some of the people flocking to attend parties, at which she said it cost $8 a unit for anti-wrinkle treatments and about $400 for lip fillers.

An internet search turned up evidence of other clinics and registered nurses who are willing to host at-home Botox parties

An internet search turned up evidence of other clinics and registered nurses who are willing to host at-home Botox parties

The parties usually last for at least three hours and Ms Licciardo travels to customers’ homes with a doctor registered with the Medical Board of Australia who can administer cosmetic injections and dermal fillers. The venue host receives a discount.

Ms Licciardo enforces a six-person limit at her parties and said for safety reasons, the consumption of ­alcohol was not allowed.

“I’m not going to boss people around, but we’re very clear,” she said. “We prefer people not to have ­alcohol before.

“What they do after we leave is none of my business.”

Hollie Anderson, 27, plans to host a Botox party and said it was less intimidating than visiting a clinic.

“Plus, we can make an evening of it,” she said.

Mishaps don’t just happen at Botox parties. Lawyer Raluca Crisan claims this reaction was the result of mistakenly being injected with snake venom – in a clinic.

Brisbane Skin director and specialist dermatologist Shobhan Manoharan said he’d been approached to give injections in a party setting, but said it’s something he would not do as patients could not be sure what was being injected and a home wasn’t as sterile as a clinic.

He said he regularly sees patients with complications from a Botox party and was especially concerned that the parties were expanding to offer fillers, which could cause serious issues, such as tissue death.

He said that while smaller complications tended to be more common, poor injection skills could lead to brow drops, dribbling problems, and even blindness.

“I’ve had patients who have had to fly in (to Brisbane) from North Queensland to see me because of a Botox party injectable complication there,” he said.

Queensland Health also warns against the practice.

Ms Licciardo, who has worked in the cosmetic surgery industry for years, said Botox parties sometimes got a “bad rap”, but she’d only ever work with a registered doctor. 

Story was published in The Courier Mail

29 Jun
Cosmetic Holidays

Lay-by boob jobs? How very GC!

JUST like lay-bying the kids’ Christmas presents and paying them off, mum can now put her cosmetic surgery on a payment plan too.

JUST like lay-bying the kids’ Christmas presents and paying them off, mum can now put her cosmetic surgery on a payment plan too.

Cosmetic surgery clinics and travel agencies are offering boob jobs and procedures on payment plans to cater for demand from potential clients who cannot afford to pay upfront.

But those who commit to certain schemes be warned — they could end up paying twice the original surgery price.

Hire purchase used to be for household electrical goods or furniture, now it’s being applied to body parts, a Gold Coast Bulletin investigation has found.

Claire Licciardo, managing director of the Coast’s Cosmetic Holidays International now re-branded as NipTuck Holidays, will today launch a new lay-by option where clients can enter a six to 12-month payment plan and only pay weekly transaction fees.

It means a $6500 procedure would only set them back a further $338.

“I think this will be really successful because we’re catering to that part of the market I never used to, I only catered for the middle to high end,” she said.

Make-up artist Ellie Wright, who runs local styling business Beauty Queen, said this gave women a good option if they weren’t good savers.

Ms Wright wants to go to Thailand next year for a nose job and possible chin implant.

“It’s a way of paying that money, just not spending it week to week on little things you don’t really need,” she said.

Australia’s biggest cosmetic surgery provider, The Cosmetic Institute in Sydney provides payment plans using Zip money which charges a 19.9 per cent interest rate if the loan is fully repaid within three months.

After that a minimum $150 or 3 per cent of the outstanding balance must be repaid every month.

A $6500 loan paid back over six years at around $155 a month would see a woman pay over $4600 in interest as well as a $349 sign up fee and a $5.95 per month ($357 over six years) administration fee.

The fees and interest would total over $5380 almost the same as the original cost of the procedure.

Ellie Wright. Image: Instagram

Ellie Wright. Image: Instagram

Institute managing director David Segal said his company had no financial interest in Zip money and not all clients used it.

“People have been doing it on their home loan, extending their mortgage, getting a personal loan,” he says.

Gold Coast-based Cosmeditour provides an interest free payment option where the person pays n instalments for travelling to Thailand for surgery or using the business’ Gold Coast service. It charges a non refundable deposit of $500.

Sydney’s Enhance Clinic offers breast enlargements for $5790 with finance available if you pay $2970 upfront and $80 per week for a year, clients paying $1,000 in excess of their surgery.

Melbourne’s Elysium Cosmetic and Medical offers payment plans that for around $155 per month over five years would see the person outlay $2318 in interest.

Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey says the interest rates being offered for cosmetic surgery loans “are inflated”.

“It really pays to shop around,” he said.

“Don’t assume the company providing the procedure is providing the best credit,” he said.

Published in The Gold Coast Bulletin

06 Jan
Cosmetic Holidays, Plastic Surgery, South Korea, The state of international travel right now

South Korea prepares for post-pandemic days with a facelift

Published in the Washington Post by Min Joo Kim and Simon Denyer

SEOUL — In the offices of Grand Plastic Surgery in Seoul’s glitzy Gangnam district, Rhee Se-whan has been busy nipping, tucking and keeping up with clients who see the coronavirus pandemic health rules as the ideal time to tweak their looks.

The doctor — and many others in South Korea’s plastic surgery empire — find themselves in one of the more improbable niches of the pandemic: a miniboom even as other looks-conscious businesses such as fashion and salons have taken big hits from lockdowns and the shift to working from home.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr Rhee Se-whan checks a patient’s recovery in Seoul. (Min Joo Kim/The Washington Post)

Cosmetic surgery and skin clinics in South Korea recorded a 10 percent jump in sales in the first 10 months of 2020 from the previous year, according to a survey by the Hana Institute of Finance in Seoul.

That boost came without the normal medical tourists from overseas who flock to South Korea, a center in Asia for cosmetic surgery and one of the world’s best-known locales for aesthetic procedures.

The demand these days is nearly all local. Rhee said many have taken advantage of the coverage offered by masks to get cosmetic work done.

“We have seen a jump in nose jobs and wrinkle treatment among older people,” he said.

What else is hot? Eyelift or eye bag removal, he said. Body contouring and liposuction, too.

Dr Rhee Se-whan

“Because,” he said, “people are not working out as much while staying at home.”

Some South Koreans — mainly women, but an increasing number of men as well — have become more self-conscious about lines or bags around their eyes because that’s the only part of their face visible in a masked world.

There is also the Zoom effect — noted by some clinics in the United States and elsewhere — in which the chats with co-workers double as digital mirrors for people to stress over perceived wrinkles and lines. The result: a spike in Botox treatments.

Rhee’s patients include people like Kim, a woman in her 30s, who spoke on the condition that she is identified only by her surname out of privacy concerns. She had extra time and money on her hands after her vacation abroad was canceled last year.

“I’ve been considering it for the past five years, and the pandemic year turned out to be perfect timing,” she said.

Kim had what’s known in South Korea as “aristocrat surgery,” the removal of laugh lines she believes made her look older.

“My doctor told me it usually takes a week for post-surgical recovery, but I could actually go to work the day after the operation, as I was wearing a mask at the office the whole day,” she said. “My laugh lines were recovering underneath the mask as I was working.”

South Korea has the fifth-highest number of plastic surgeons in the world, with more than 2,500 in 2019, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. That’s fewer than the 6,900 in the United States and the more than 6,000 in Brazil, but higher on a per capita basis.

Subway South Korea

Lee Eun-hee, a professor of consumer studies at Inha University in Incheon, said it reflects the country’s obsession with physical appearance.

“Girls these days grow up looking at K-pop stars who look like living dolls, and plastic surgery ads target women as young as teenagers,” she said.

In South Korea’s hyper-competitive society, she said, women face so much pressure to look good that it’s almost as though they are in a nationwide beauty contest.

“Korean women find good looks give them decisive leverage, not only in the dating and marriage market, but also in the job market,” she said.

Now, she said, people are making up for lost travel opportunities by splurging on things they can do at home — and plastic surgery is the “peak” item on the binge list.

Demand from South Koreans used to be bunched in the summer and winter holiday seasons, as well as just before the start of the college academic year. During the pandemic, it was spread throughout the year.

The number of people working from home is a big factor, said Rhee, the surgeon, whose office is adorned with photos of him posing with K-pop stars and actors.

“After a facelift, patients need to set aside time for recovery,” he said. “Since the pandemic, patients don’t need to take a week’s vacation anymore; they can spend that time working from home.”

Kim, the patient, says she and her colleagues increasingly share information about plastic surgery, including recommendations about good surgeons or clinics.

“Now that I have fully recovered from the aristocrat surgery, I am actually thinking of getting new facelifts before the pandemic is over,” she said.

At this rate the sky is the limit now the borders are open and patients from all over the world can travel again to South Korea- the plastic surgery capital of the world!

Coming soon to NipTuck Holidays!!!!!!

 

Article published in Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/korea-pandemic-plastic-surgery-boom/2021/04/23/117b0556-a0e4-11eb-b314-2e993bd83e31_story.html?fbclid=IwAR27_bwKzovrsiB3uAFdsUTUwVI_x-3IVzKsjTeOGatwHss-7x53Xa4xGk4

06 Dec
Cosmetic Holidays, Cosmetic surgery for Men, Mexico, New destinations, Phuket, Plastic Surgery, Thailand, Travel, Turkey

Countries that have reopened for medical tourism 2021 – 2022

First published in The Thaiger

By Cita Catellya

Friday, November 19, 2021 15:54

As a sector that’s heavily reliant on international travel, medical tourism was badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with countries finally reopening, the medical tourism market is now slowly recovering.Medical tourism companies such as NipTuck Holidays and medical centres catering to international patients are resuming their operations and adapting to the new normal.

As a result, the number of people seeking treatment abroad is finally increasing again!

And now countries are reopening and travelling for medical purposes is possible, choosing the best country to visit can be challenging. You’re probably unsure about which country is open and the entry requirements you need to fulfil. So, to help you decide which country you should visit for medical care in 2021, The Thaiger has compiled the top 5 countries that are the new leaders of medical tourism! They all offer top quality medical care at prices much cheaper than in the USA and Europe. Nip Tuck Holidays offers 3/5 of these country’s to our clients!

1. Turkey

The first country that have reopen for medical tourism is Turkey. This country has been one of the most popular medical tourism destinations for many years before the pandemic. People from all around the world come to Turkey for a wide range of procedures, from complex orthopaedic surgeries to cosmetic procedures like hair transplants.

Turkey offers numerous benefits to medical tourists, such as highly trained medical professionals, internationally accredited medical centres, and affordable treatment prices compared with Europe or the USA.

The Turkish authorities are currently in the process of reviving the country’s regional and health tourism economy. Thus, Turkey has one of the easiest entry requirements for Covid-19 around the globe.

Vaccinated international visitors are allowed to visit the country without any restrictions. You also don’t have to undergo quarantine upon arriving in the country. All you have to do is obtain a negative 72-hour PCR test result and proof of vaccination. If you were diagnosed with Covid-19, be sure to provide proof of recovery as well. In addition, every international visitor needs to have travel insurance covering Covid-19.

2. Thailand

Thanks to its advanced and affordable healthcare system, Thailand is one of the top destinations for medical tourism globally. From Bangkok to Phuket, thousands of people flock to this country to combine first-class medical care with a luxury holiday. Most of the highly capable medical professionals in the country received their education in Europe or the USA.

In addition, the country is home to a high number of JCI-accredited hospitals, including the first hospital in East Asia to acquire prestigious accreditations. Whether you’re looking for cosmetic treatments, infertility treatments, or orthopaedic treatments, you can be sure to receive affordable but high-quality care in the Land of Smiles.

After nearly two years of closure, Thailand is finally ready to welcome medical tourists again. As of 1 November 2021, fully vaccinated foreign visitors from low-risk countries can now enter the country by air with no quarantine requirements. You will have to show that you are free from Covid-19 by showing a PCR test before departing to Thailand.

Once you arrive, you will have to take another PCR test. While you don’t have to quarantine, you have to stay at least 1 night at a SHA+ or Alternative Quarantine hotel while waiting for your PCR test result. Another thing you need to have to enter Thailand is travel insurance covering Covid-19.

3. Ukraine

Ukraine can be your top choice if you’re looking for a medical tourism destination in Eastern Europe. Although medical tourism in Ukraine is relatively young, it’s developing rapidly. A large influx of international patients in the country come from Western European and Arab countries. Many people are attracted by the exceptional quality of medical care at affordable costs that Ukraine offers. The medical centres in the country are widely known to be equipped with advanced technology and employ skilled medical professionals. Dental treatments and infertility treatments are particularly popular in Ukraine.

Today, Ukraine is open without restrictions for vaccinated medical tourists all around the world. If you want to visit this country, be sure to obtain a negative PCR test result. You should also provide proof of complete vaccination with vaccines approved by the WHO. These include AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Sinovac, Sinopharm, and Johnson & Johnson. Additionally, you’ll have to obtain medical insurance that covers you for the entire duration of your trip, but you don’t need to quarantine.

4. Costa Rica

Over the past decade, Costa Rica has become one of the most famous medical tourism destination in North America, especially among patients from Canada and the USA. Compared to these countries, the cost of healthcare in Costa Rica is about 30% to 50% lower. However, the quality of medical care is similar. Besides, the medical professionals in the country carry out their practices according to the law, so you don’t have to worry about getting scammed. In addition, you can easily combine your medical care with a fantastic holiday.

Before entering Costa Rica, the first thing you need to do is complete Health Pass, a digital form for incoming international travellers. Be sure to attach your vaccination certificate to this digital form. Costa Rica accepts tourists vaccinated against Covid-19 with Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. If you’ve been vaccinated with vaccines other than that approved by the Costa Rican authorities, such as Sinovac, you need to obtain travel insurance covering Covid-19. The insurance should cover accommodation for quarantine and medical costs for Covid-19 treatment.

5. Mexico

Before the pandemic, millions of medical tourists chose Mexico as their top medical tourism destination. Today, the country attracts an even larger number of international patients. Mexico is now experiencing the most significant medical tourist flows globally, and it’s easy to see why.

The country offers the highest standard of medical services. The WHO stated that medical centres in Mexico are comparable to those in the USA. From medical professionals to medical equipment, you can be sure to receive affordable, high-quality treatment here. Most people come for dental treatments thanks to the exceptional quality and affordability that dental clinics in the country provide.

Mexico is now open to visitors from all countries. If you’re planning to visit Mexico, you need to register on the Mexico Vuela Seguro Platform. You don’t need to quarantine or do Covid-19 testing. However, you might still want to prepare a proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test for your airline. It’s also a good idea that you obtain health insurance covering Covid-19.

The five countries we mentioned on this list are the new leaders of medical tourism. They all offer top quality medical care at prices much cheaper than in the USA and Europe. Still, it’s important that you do your research on the best hospitals in the country so you can get the best and safest treatment. If you don’t know where to start, it might be helpful to get the help of medical tourism companies such as Nip Tuck Holidays

And if you don’t we do have payment plans starting from just $40 per week now! Get a free quote or more info: https://niptuckholidays.com/inquiry-for-free-consultation/

24 Nov
Cosmetic Holidays, Medical Tourism, New destinations, Plastic Surgery, Travel

The plastic surgery boom in the Pandemic and after!

At the start of the pandemic here in Australia and all over the world, things didn’t look good for the field of plastic and cosmetic surgery. With lockdown, many hospitals and surgical centres banned all elective procedures, limiting plastic surgeries to those that were reconstructive in nature. In the major cities for plastic surgery like the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, practices had to all but close to all but essential patients or quickly pivot their focus to in-office procedures using local anaesthetic (which we know is only best for the clinic and not in the best interests of the patient).

It was horrendous for medical tourism industry on a global scale. In fact, NipTuck Holidays one of the pioneers medical tourism agencies in Australia since 2007, is one of the few agencies in Australia that not only remains but has expanded through this difficult times offering our clients new destinations of Mexico, Turkey and Bali in addition to Thailand that we have been offering since opening on the Gold Coast.

Even clients desperately wanting a procedure so much they are willing to pay three times the price in their home country, there has been a general sense of fear and the unknown. In Australia with the problems with the closures with State borders meant patients had to cancel their surgeries, in addition to the associated risks of covid with people being afraid of new risks in the face of COVID-19. Some were no longer able to afford their procedures due to changes in income or were pulling back on spending just in case.

But, where there is a will there is a way and more people than ever before were interested in plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures!

Enter the “Zoom Boom”

You might wonder who would want elective surgery in the middle of a pandemic. On the surface, the idea of COVID-19 and lockdown leading to greater interest in plastic surgery may seem odd. Scroll your social media feed and you will see many memes highlighting people wearing pajamas to work and forgetting to so much as brush their hair before flipping open their laptop and “heading to work” from their couch. It makes you wonder how this casual attitude and an increased interest in cosmetic enhancements can exist simultaneously – yet, clearly, they can.

Once you dig a little deeper, it starts to make sense. Anyone who had previously been interested in surgery but worried about the recovery period suddenly had a golden opportunity; while they would still need time off from work, they would require fewer sick days since they could work from bed as they recovered. Plus, that comfy work-from-home wardrobe translates nicely to a post-surgery recovery one.

For those who suddenly didn’t need to commute, buy lunches out and focus on their work wardrobe, the pandemic also meant more money in the bank to spend as they wished.

However, the biggest factor was likely the “Zoom Boom.” With the switch to online work and meetings, many people went from only looking at themselves while washing their hands during bathroom breaks to suddenly staring at their image on a screen for hours each day. As a result, they had ample time to analyze their lines, wrinkles, double chins and more.

As one would expect, people quickly turned to seeking out solutions. And thus, thousands upon thousands began seeking plastic surgery during the pandemic.

Which procedures saw a boost?

The year 2020 changed everything, including plastic surgery trends.

For years, breast augmentation had reigned supreme, with liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery and facelifts rounding out the top five. These procedures remained popular in 2020; after all, there is a reason why people are so interested in them, and the pandemic made getting and recovering from these procedures easier for many.

However, interest in facial procedures grew significantly, thanks to Zoom and other video chatting platforms. Patients began requesting everything from chin liposuction to facelifts with greater frequency than ever before. There was also an increased interest in med spa procedures, such as botox and fillers, prompting many practices to increase their focus on their nonsurgical offerings, or even innovate their delivery methods to accommodate drive-thru procedures.

Lasting change or a fleeting trend?

Many are wondering if this increased interest in plastic surgery in general and facial procedures, in particular, is going to last once the pandemic is finally brought under control. While this is difficult to predict, most likely, these plastic surgery trends will continue even after the masks are put away.

First, there is the fact that, while the phrase is overused, the “new normal” is unlikely to give way to a return of the “old normal.” Companies have seen increased productivity and lowered costs by switching to a work-from-home model. People are coming to enjoy their virtual chats, and even when socializing in person again, are unlikely to eliminate Zoom from their lives.

Second, Millennials are aging. The oldest members of the generation are 38 years old in 2021. Thanks to the rise of Gen Z and platforms like TikTok, they are also acutely aware that they are no longer the young kids on the block. Unlike previous generations, they are facing 40 while living in an online world. Even if the new normal were to fully disappear, social media will not.

Medical Tourism is Back!

As such, the plastic surgery boom might lose some of its steam in a post-pandemic world, but it is unlikely to end especially now the medical tourism market is officially re-bounding globally! In fact quite the opposite as the prices as set the plunge significantly for people with the resumption of international travel, and set for full recovery!

Experts say we may even see some growth by the end of 2022 as pre-pandemic levels are being restored. With the resumption of travel, medical tourism is set to see growth by the end of 2022 at pre-pandemic rates as demand is being restored.

Official Data

GlobalData estimates that there were over 14 million inbound visits by medical tourists globally in 2019 and forecasts this number to continue to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.5% until 2024. Some of the fastest-growing markets are forecast to increase at CAGRs as high as 15% over the next few years. Several compounding factors contribute to the rapidly growing medical tourism industry. These include, but are not limited to, rising healthcare costs among developed nations, technological and infrastructure advancements in the destination countries and the rise of international accreditation agencies.

The Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted the medical tourism industry, particularly in H1 2020. The main causes of this decline were the implementation of travel restrictions and the global postponement of the majority of elective procedures in an effort to minimise the spread of the disease. During summer 2020, global active Covid-19 caseloads temporarily declined, thus permitting the resumption of elective procedures. As international travel has slowly resumed, so has the demand for medical tourism. GlobalData estimates this market to fully rebound to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022, after which it will experience pre-pandemic growth rates.

Sources: About ECS International

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/will-the-plastic-surgery-boom-last-after-the-pandemic
25 Oct
Cosmetic Holidays, Cosmetic surgery for Men, Medical Tourism, Travel, Turkey

Medical Tourism in Turkey

Published in the International Business Times

Health

By IBT Contributor on 10/21/21 at 4:34 pm edit

Medical tourism in Turkey is one of the driving forces behind its economy as thousands of patients flood the international clinics and hospitals in Turkey every year all year round to undergo different treatments.

The various treatments that foreign patients look for in Turkey include simple non-surgical treatments to the most invasive surgical and medical treatments.

Beautiful view on Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey

Why is Medical Tourism in Turkey Popular?

Turkey has a unique geographical location, especially its most famous city Istanbul, which is only a three hours flight from most of the capitals in the world.

Istanbul has gained an irrefutable reputation in the field of medical tourism because of many factors including:

  • Advanced medical techniques and the newest technologies are used in different medical fields.
  • Well-trained and experienced doctors, nurses, physicians, and others working in the medical field.
  • Price may be one of the most effective factors when it comes to the increasing number of foreign patients who choose medical tourism in Turkey.

The cost of treatments, as well as the cost of living in Turkey, is low when compared to different European countries, the USA, or Canada (incl. Australia and the UK) 

  • Hospitals and clinics that are built and operated according to the best European standards.
  • It is easy to acquire a visa to visit Turkey for most nationalities.

What are the Fields of Medical Tourism in Turkey?

As we mentioned earlier foreign patients come to Turkey seeking many treatments, the most popular of which are:

  • Hair transplantation:

Istanbul is the first destination when it comes to hair transplantation. There are hundreds of hair transplantation clinics that provide their patients with natural results and perform this procedure using different techniques and the latest discoveries in the field.

  • Dental Treatments:

Turkey became among the most famous medical tourism destinations in the field of dental treatments because of the high quality of the materials used in the treatments on the one hand, and the affordable cost of these treatments on the other.

International dental clinics, welcomes thousands of patients every year to have dental implants, dentures, or Hollywood smile treatments among many other dental treatments that are less costly than most of the European countries.

  • Plastic Surgery:

Plastic surgery is one of the beams that hold medical tourism in Turkey. Turkey is among the top ten countries in the world in this field. Patients choose Turkey to have their plastic surgery due to the affordable pieces, high-quality services, accredited hospitals, and clinics.

Prices of treatments, hotels, and other expenses in Turkey are cheaper by 60% to 80% when compared with other different countries especially North America, Canada the UK and Australia.

Dental medical tourism in Turkey witnessed a leap in the number of foreign patients who choose Turkey as the destination for receiving dental treatments. Clinics like Dentakay welcomed thousands of dental patients during the past months who came to Turkey to have dental treatments and spend their vacations in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Istanbul.

It is worth mentioning that the number of medical tourism patients in Turkey in 2019 was 551,748 patients with 2 billion US dollars in revenues. The expected revenue of medical tourism in Turkey by 2023 is 20 billion US dollars according to some Turkish officials who anticipate an increase in the number of patients who choose Turkey as a destination for leisure, business, and medical tourism.

 

01 Oct
Australia, Cosmetic Holidays, Medical Tourism, The state of international travel right now

Confirmed: Australia’s international border will reopen from mid-November

These changes mean there will be no travel restrictions if you are a vaccinated Australian entering or leaving the nation’s shores.

Morrison also said the government is working towards completely quarantine-free travel for certain countries, such as New Zealand when it is safe to do so.

It will also become easier to enter Australia with the plan abolishing international arrival caps on returning vaccinated Australians.

Citizens and permanent residents fully immunised with a vaccine approved or recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will be required to undergo seven days’ home quarantine.

Others will be required to enter 14 days of managed isolation.

After more than 18 months of being shuttered, PM Scott Morrison has confirmed today that Australia’s border will officially reopen to inbound and outbound international travel from mid-November in states that have hit vaccination targets.


You heard it here. It’s finally happening.

Australia’s tough outbound border restrictions will be scrapped when states and territories are expected to hit 80 per cent double-dose vaccination coverage.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday revealed the path back to international travel with the new system expected to start in November.

“There are no surprises here, this is what we set out to do,” said Morrison.

“Australia will be ready for take-off very soon.”

Restrictions on people leaving the country will be scrapped at 80 per cent coverage – expected in early November in some jurisdictions.

Current overseas travel restrictions will be removed and Australians will be able to travel subject to any other travel advice and limits, as long as they are fully vaccinated and those countries’ border settings allow.

These changes mean there will be no travel restrictions if you are a vaccinated Australian entering or leaving the nation’s shores.

Morrison also said the government is working towards completely quarantine-free travel for certain countries, such as New Zealand when it is safe to do so.

It will also become easier to enter Australia with the plan abolishing international arrival caps on returning vaccinated Australians.

Citizens and permanent residents fully immunised with a vaccine approved or recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will be required to undergo seven days’ home quarantine.

Others will be required to enter 14 days of managed isolation.

Home quarantine face recognition

People who cannot be vaccinated including those under 12 or with a medical condition will be treated as vaccinated for the purposes of their travel.

States and territories will begin this program at different times given varying vaccination rates.

Australian travellers will be able to access an internationally recognised proof of vaccination document (Vaccine passport) in the coming weeks to prove their status.

The TGA will also recognise China’s Sinovac and Covishield produced in India as authorised vaccines to enter Australia, meaning Chinese and Indian students, tourists and business travellers can return.

More than 45,000 people are stuck overseas waiting to come home with the NSW government indicating it wants to welcome thousands into the country when borders reopen.

“It’s time to give Australians their lives back,” Mr Morrison said.

More to come.

Article published by https://karryon.com.au/.

30 Sep
Cosmetic Holidays, Cosmetic surgery for Men, New destinations, The state of international travel right now, Travel, Turkey

TURKEY – THE RISING STAR OF MEDICAL TOURISM

Turkey is one of the top destinations for medical tourism. Home to ancient and scenic natural wonders and famous for its healthcare infrastructure. Being close to Western Europe, Turkey has been medical tourism hotspot for many Europeans seeking affordable cosmetic surgery. Hair transplaint’s have continuously gaining popularity. 

There are many reasons why Turkey has become the rising star of medical tourism. The travelling distances to Turkey from the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa, makes it possible for people to cut costs. But it isn’t just about that. Despite the lower costs, the quality of procedures offered is world-class. 

Famous Kaputaş beach,Antalya Turkey an hour from Istanbul.

Affordable Treatment Packages

The medical tourism industry recieved $1.5 billion from medical tourism in 2018, Turkey received around 700,000 medical tourists, according to the Turkish Health Minister. And it has been growing every year since, with the huge influx of medical tourists is that many people in their home countries are unable to afford the treatment. That is why they consider going to other countries to get the same procedure done.

The quality of the procedure offered isn’t sacrificed because of the lower cost. The cost is low because of the Turkish economy itself. The exchange rate and low cost of living make many things seem very cheap to foreigners. 

Moreover, the minimum wage is lower in Turkey, which results in cheaper labour costs. This means that surgery in Turkey will cost less than it will, say, in Western Europe. Moreover, having cosmetic surgery or a hair transplant is not available on National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. 

No Long Wait Lists

Once you book a treatment package in Turkey, you can get the procedure done in a matter of a day(s). However, in the UK, waitlists can be so long that you might have to wait for almost 2 years to get some procedures done. So, if you want to get treatment without further delays, you can get it in Turkey. 

Many people also find the aspect of including the procedure in their vacation time quite appealing. Turkey is a popular tourist destination, which is why many people can relax after or before getting their treatment. If you’re also avoiding unnecessary questions about the surgery by your colleagues, it’s a good idea to get the treatment and recover for a while in Turkey.

25 Jan
CLIENTS, Cosmetic Holidays, Phuket, Plastic Surgery, Read our past Group Tours to Phuket

MEDICAL TOURISM GROUP TOUR

ex Brisbane to Phuket! ✈️🌍🌏⛑💉🛀🏖☀️☀️☀️👙🍉🍍🥐🍡🍹🍹🍹

Testimonials from Group:

Lani had a breast augmentation

“The entire trip blew all my expectations I had out of the water. I was amazed at the quality of the hospital and it’s staff. Everyone made me feel so comfortable, in fact, I felt like a princess.

The Dr was so warm and friendly, but also professional it took all my hesitation I may have had.

I would recommend it to anyone if they were considering any cosmetic or dental procedures. I would do it again for sure…”

Donna Pope, Upper eyelid lift by Dr Pathom

“I am greatly amazed at the wonderful services provided by all staff. The hospital, doctors, hotel and not to forget the lovely drivers who transferred  us from the hospital back to the hotel.

The beautiful manners and cleanness of the Thai people amazed me.

Claire, you are a truly lovely compassionate lady, I was not once at all nervous or worried because are very calm and a professional at your job.

The upper blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) was pain free, with only slight bruising and swellness but is healing fast.”

Annie had an extended tummy tuck, liposuction to the hips, abdomen, back and waist, and a breast lift/ reduction and implant with Dr Witoon“This was excellent!”

Claire was outstanding, caring, lovely, truly a beautiful person who put herself out of the way to ensure everyone had a good time and their fears were alleviated before they arose.

The customer service is 1000% outstanding!”

Our Group Tour from Brisbane

The day had finally arrived and dreams were coming true for eight exited ladies all over Queensland and one from Tasmania.  Together, we were embarking on a journey-of-a-lifetime as part of the exclusive packages offered by Nip Tuck Cosmetic Surgery Holidays exclusive Medical Tourism Group Tour Package ex Brisbane.

There was an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation about the journey ahead, knowing this journey was going to change their lives!

Wow, what an awesome bunch of ladies having breast augmentations, breast lifts, breast reductions, liposuction, tummy tucks, eyelid lifts, Botox, Laser teeth whitening and dental procedures teeth cleaning, crowns and veneers.

The strength of the Medical Tourism Group Tours is having the support of other ladies in the same position, as well as me, which proved very valuable to clients in terms support and her for advice on hand for any issue that may arise.

For Carole and Donna, who were part of the tour and both partially deaf, obviously the language barrier at times proved challenging, so this support was invaluable with all communication with the hospital and hotel.

Prior to the departure, all the ladies had received their final documents with very thorough information including the medical component of the details of their procedure of choice, pre-operative advice, risks of surgery.

I was in touch daily with the ladies and available 24-7 to answer any questions or clarify any concerns including reassuring clients, husbands, mother and family members about the impeccably high medical standards of both the hospital and the surgeons in the global network, as well as the genuineness of their care and concern for all their clients.

The eastern philosophy and culture in Thailand ensures that you, as a client, are the primary concern of our surgeon and hospital. You will be made to feel like the most important person in the world, because, as a client of Nip Tuck and Bangkok Hospital, you are!

Our surgeons, hospital and we at Nip Tuck genuinely care about you, your physical and emotional needs and understand and empathize with the full emotions you are gone through, and take very seriously the trust you are placing in us. We will not let you down!!!

Day 1: Friday July 3

I was eagerly awaiting there arrival at the VIP area of Phuket airport with Maam and New, our very special hospital ground-care staff.

After an emotional greeting, our hospital staff loaded everyone’s suitcases into a mini bus, and together we went directly to the hospital for our consultations with the surgeons.

Seeing is believing- and everyone is impressed!

I love this moment, when the trust my clients placed in me was re-confirmed and my clients finally have the opportunity to see the hospital, meet their surgeons and experience the incredibly high standards of the medical and personal care we offer.

For every one of the clients, this surreal feeling combined with an overwhelming sense of relief and reassurance that this was the best decision they had ever made.

For everyone that has experienced a package hosted by Nip Tuck Holidays, all those negative thoughts and comments about the standards of medical care offered by our company were now laughable.

This view is supported by hundreds of testimonials from happy clients and the exceptional standard of results. We arrived at the hospital to the grandness of the hospital, and were warmly greeted by the hospital staff with cold towels, drinks and refreshments.

Consultation began with the surgeons at 11am. This gave our clients the opportunity to meet their surgeon and have a private and confidential chat about their procedures of choice and to have any questions answered and concerns addressed with an overwhelming sense of calmness and confidence.

We spent a long day at the hospital and were all becoming increasing tired.  The medial testing at the hospital is very thorough.

A couple of ladies were having their surgeries the next morning early so had checked into the hospital, so now everyone else was ready to venture down to Patong Beach and check into our hotel.

Everyone quickly dispersed after checking in, some dashing for a Thai massage, others mesmerized by the buzz of the town while Claire accompanied some clients and made a quick dash to the Sea Smiles Dental Clinic around the corner for a dental consultation.

Exhausted and starving and in desperate need of a cocktail by this stage, we had one more job to do before we could relax. So….we went next to get a Thai number and some credit on our phones so we could all be in touch with our families.

We arranged to meet everyone in the hotel lobby at around 6.30- 7pm. So now, everyone had the option of joining us for dinner and a drink, or doing their own thing as we headed to a glorious spot on the beach and ordered a cocktail.

It was an incredible moment as the sun set across the beach and we ordered some dinner. Finally, after a long day, we relaxed. This is the moment were all waiting for, however by this stage we were all so exhausted that the conversation wasn’t as interesting as it possibly could have been……. But already, we all sensed that were had developed a very strong bond of having this experience together and a moment we will look back on with fond memories….

I confirmed with the hospital that all Neshamah and Maggie will be ready for their multiple procedures in the morning including liposuction, tummy tucks breast lift/ augmentation/ revision and reductions and face lifts all to be performed on the ladies the next morning.

I was adamant that the ladies go down to the beach for a massage and some dinner prior to their procedures arranged for them to be back at the hospital ready for surgery bright and early the next morning, while everyone else relaxed in their hotel after dinner.

Day 2: Saturday  3rd July.

Surgeries begin…

An early morning, I accompanied Shelley, with pick-up at the hospital at 6.30am. Shelley from the Gold Coast was scheduled for a lower eyelid lift, neck lift and breast revision surgery with Dr Pongsakorn.

As we arrived at the hospital, Shelley was whisked into her room and into surgery, as I went to be with Neshamah and Maggie prior to their surgery.

For both ladies, the reality hit, making this “very surreal” experience very real. I was there for them, holding their hands and wiping away any tears reassuring them that everything was okay.

It was a great honour and a privilege to have the chance to be there for my clients in their time of need. I understand the emotional and physical process of this incredible journey, and understand it from having the surgery myself. And I think its important to also have the perspective and empathy of witnessing it through the eyes of many other clients as well as the perspective of the hospital and surgeons.

“It is a pleasure for me to support someone else.”

The clients tell me the  support is invaluable  as they were whisked into surgery…. Mostly lol.

With everyone doing well and confirmed schedule and appointments for the next day, it was now time to enjoy Phuket with some ladies.

Together we ventured out for a little shopping and exploring in spectacular  Patong, had a cuddle with a monkey on the street, then stopped for some wonderfully  delicious and cheap Thai food and some cocktails and Thai massages.

Day 3: Sunday 4th July

Donna is having her upper eyelid lift today, Patricia is having a face-lift, Carole is having a breast lift and implant and Lauren is having her some liposuction to her abdominal area along with brand new boobs involving a reduction/ lift and implant.

I am very excited another lady is arriving from the Gold Coast today and joining our tour. So, I accompanying the hospital staff and met Lani at Phuket airport.

 

Very excited to have Lani here!!!  I knew Lani from my gym on the Gold Coast! Together with Maam and New-our wonderful hospital ground-care staff, we went to pick her up at Phuket Airport and straight back to the hospital  for her consult with  Dr Pongsakorn and have her pre-operative tests.

Neshamah – WOW!!!! After an extended tummy tuck, liposuction to the thighs, stomach and hips, as well as breast reduction, lift and augmentation Annie looked amazing and complained a little about a headache.

UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!

Her breasts were a little tender she said she was feeling a little uncomfortable and restricted about her position and its awkwardness. That’s it!

Mentally and physically she was fine. I was amazed and so was she both physically and mentally. In fact, she complained about having a headache.

She did not look like she had just come through very major surgery thats for sure. This is a credit to her own strength and the incredible skill of Dr Witoon, coupled with the incredible post-operative care she received in the hospital.

Patricia had her pre-op tests and scheduled for surgery in the afternoon. She was scheduled for surgery at 3pm and could barely contain her excitement and patience as she tried to wait patiently in her room, watch some television and read her book, as her focus drifted….

Within a couple of days Lani was up and about and wanting to explore what Phuket had to offer. She had some friends here we caught up with and we went out to enjoy some Thai food and beer then we went for a Thai massgae, as you do.

Then had some wondered through the shops looking for the ‘secret rooms’ for some gorgeous Louis Vuitton handbags and Channel earrings and Calvin Klein knickers we simply could not resist, then back to the same little spot for more yummy food and beer with some friends from home we saw.

Day 5- Monday 5th July

The next morning I had the opportunity of meeting some clients of mine from Cairns that were there having their surgery. I had only spoken to them on the phone so it was great we had the opportunity to finally meet!

As she was whisked away, I hugged her and reassured her it would be over as soon as she knew it and I will call and check on her tomorrow.

Together with Dr Piyapas, I went to see Maggie post-op and was incredibly moved by Dr Piyapas’s very sincere compassion and empathy in his care of his patients.

He took the time to explain in detail and reassure her, as he held her had, and wiped her tears, and offered support and understanding and humanness rarely demonstrated.

I was there with Maggie as she awaited transportation back to her suite, reassuring her and mostly talking a lot to get to know her and distract her from her physical body to take her mind elsewhere……

Then  Lauren, who was off the morphine after her breast lift, reduction and implant- feeling no pain and looking perfectly well.

No problems at all- she just breezed through it!

Next was Pat, who had a face lift. Again- major complaint as a headache. Probably due to the tight compression bandages from her face lift. She had the physiotherapist with her so I left her to it and would check on her later…..

Then Carole – breast lift and implant. Off the morphine, no pain, bounced back incredible with her bright smile and gorgeous sparkle in her eye……  No pain, no problem at all.

Shelley back to the hotel for her discharge at 1pm back to the hotel. She looked and felt amazing, if a  little tired, so I advised her to rest and take it easy for the rest of the day. I on the other hand, had to make a mad dash to the Sea Smiles Dental Clinic to accompany some clients and also have some procedures for myself including crowns and teeth cleaning.

I grabbed a yummy coconut Gelato on the way home and had another Thai massage and checking on all clients at the hospital and hotel just to see how everyone was doing.

Lani was happy with the size of the implant and Maggie and  Annie who were both doing pretty well. Maggie was sounding exhausted but good.

I called Pat who sounded a hundred percent better, and Lauren who was feeling great. I told all the ladies I would see them tomorrow and get plenty of rest and take advantage of the incredible round-the-clock care they were receiving!

By this stage, everyone had lost track of days completely. It was a blur and I have to say I was completely exhausted!  A combination of the flurry of procedures, doctor’s appointments and keeping track of everyone’s process, this feeling of loss of reality was compounded.

Day 6- Tuesday July

I was up again at 5.30am, and again, the first for my big breakfast of eggs and fruit and coffee after coffeeJ  I arranged myself and Donna to be picked up from the lobby at 11am so the ladies could visit their sisters. Donna surprised me by showing up with a fabulous tattoo on her left shoulder.

As we waited in the lobby, Lauren made a surprise entrance looking amazing!

I was in awe at the brilliance of these surgeons, and continually amazed at the phenomenal recovery process of each and every one of these ladies.

Donna and I went to see Pat, who after a facelift yesterday came out of surgery with a headache due to the tight compression bandages. I spoke to her last night and I was relived to hear her sounding much better. And today different lady today, as the bandages were off, and she sprawled out on the lounge with her feet up looking fabulous!!

Bruising around to her eye area and face was to be expected, but mentally and physically-WOW!!! She was really for discharge and feeling very pleased.  She said there were heaps of people she planned to keep in touch with, but at this moment was feeling like escaping to her own private bubble and listening to her body and just detaching from the world. I completely agreed with her. After her procedures- I advised her is the perfect time to be entirely selfish and let her mind and her body rest, recover and rejuvenate!

Next, Donna and I went to see her sister Carole. So sick of her large breasts, she had a lift and implant to a smaller size which resulted in high, perfect results. She kept peaking at them, just dying to see the results. But Carole’s smile said it all- her face was beautifully lit.

So many success stories!

Next I went upstairs to see Maggie. Her flowers had arrived as a gesture of love and support from her husband Tim, and filled the room with a wonderful smell and warm glow.

Maggie was gradually feeling better- but after her extensive procedures, her recovery was to be expected. The biggest complaint for Maggie was being uncomfortable. In general, I think people don’t appreciate the freedom in their own body until this is taken away……

Her movement was severely restricted, the position uncomfortable, her appetite not completely restored. But she was looking, and sounding, and feeling better by the day.  People’s rate of recovery, the pain and discomfort they experience and the rate of healing is so different for the individual. Like everyone else that had breast work, she was dying to rip of the bandages and see the final result!

With any cosmetic/ medical procedure, there is a high degree of swelling post-operative, and the immediate results are very drastic compared with the final results after the standard 6 weeks post op. But day by day, as your body recovers from the trauma, heals naturally and rests and recovers, in the fullness of time, the results are extraordinary- no exceptions.

I went to see Annie, who was dressed in her very glamorous yet comfortable night gown looking fresh and totally amazing, with a gleam in her eye and the due satisfaction.

Everyone was very pleased with her incredibly quick recovery both mentally and physically.  Her energy was bright, with an aura of peaceful and surrounded by a healthy, orange glow.

All in all, very positive!!!  Together, Pat, Donna, Carole, Lani and I all discharged from the hospital and we taken back to the hotel.

Everyone was very keen to check into their rooms and have the space to do their own things, whether it is just relax, talk amongst themselves in private or explore the streets of Patong.

The shops were a dream, with an abundance of everything you could wish for including handbags, wallets, t-shirt. It was endless…….

 The heavy rain of the morning had stopped, and the humidity and heat was moderate. After we ate, we wondered around he shops and explored the markets, shops, and bought some Ed Harvey t-shirts and soaked in the atmosphere.

Day 6: Wednesday July 8

All procedures completely successfully- all done and checked out, apart from Maggie and Neshamah. Maggie was my primary concern at this stage, as he client who had the most intensive surgery and the one most need of my support and attention.

I spent the morning confirming schedules, appointments at the hospital for follow-ups and flexibility around all client needs.

Breakfast again at 6am and feeling very refreshed and rested after a good night sleep. So after breakfast I will call New and arrange a more suitable time.

Walked past the pool which looked way too tempting, so I grabbed my bikini and headed down for a swim and some sun for an hour .

I spent the day at the hospital with Neshamah and Maggie, catching up on emails and attending to client needs and back at the hotel by 4pm, and as I arrived back at the hotel I saw some of the ladies wandering about so I quickly dropped my things at the hotel and went out for a beer and some food and wondered around shopping…… As you do……

Checked on everyone before I fell asleep that night and fell asleep hoping the weather would be spectacular for tomorrow, as it had rained pretty much every dayJ

Day 7: Thursday July 9

The first day I have had an opportunity for a breather!!!! Because everyone had an individual process to their recovery and it is a good idea to pay it by ear according how you are feeling with any tours after surgery. Today, everyone wanted to take it easy so I went to Phi Phi Island for the first time.

It was a long and exhausting day, but WOW!!!! What a day. Pure magic!

Maggie & Neshamah  were being discharged from hospital today, so all in all, everyone’s procedures and discharges have been completed successfully, starting on follow-ups- I could try to relax today.

We were picked up and crammed into a mini bus then to a meeting point where I grabbed some flippers and snorkeling gear and some bread to feed the fish and a diet coke to try and pick me up.

The boat ride took about an hour and the first stop was Phi Phi Island.  I swum in the gloriously warm and crystal clear beach for about 20 minutes and then together with them quickly explored the island.

Next stop, Monkey Island. The tide was high so we didn’t get to stop, but stopped only inches away from these incredible monkeys in their natural environment where we could hand feed them bananas. I snapped and snapped away, getting myself labeled the “Paparazzi” by the very funny and lovely host of our tour. Oh well, I got some amazing shots!

Next we sailed to another island where I sat outside the front of the boat, snapping away and soaking in the natural beauty of the islands. Next stop, we stopped the boat and had half an hour to snorkel. I grabbed my flippers and put on my mask and jumped into the water.

As people fed the fish, I swum around and with them as they engaged in a feeding frenzy.  It was surreal and magical and truly out of this world. I felt like a mermaid surrounded and a part of this beauty of nature.

I touched the fish as they swum around me, swum wish them and in the other direction, so they swum right to me. There were thousands upon thousands of the most beautiful fish I had ever seen.  It was intensely beautiful, peaceful and magical.

Back on the boat they kept passing around delicious Thai cookies, and with a free flow of coke, 7-up, water and beer, and we were all starting to get very hungry.

Next we went to another Phi Phi Island for lunch for an hour and a half. The food was a buffet with Thai soup, and what seemed like high fat Asian cuisine. Next stop we had another bat ride to another island where we all sort of dozed a little after full bellies and the humidity.

As I awoke and we pulled into shore, my phone rung (on the island!) and I was delighted to hear from Maggie and Neshamah after their discharge from hospital and confirming plans for dinner tonight at 7.30pm.

What a day!

The wonderful host host kept us all very entertained and happy with his upbeat and genuinely lovely disposition, and we watched in awe as her made some beautifully crafted flowers out of straw. He made me one, and I offered him a tip for another one for both my beautiful girls.

Arrived back at around 5pm, where  had a bath, and got ready for dinner at 7.30pm. I was a bit early, so I went for a quick walk down to Bangla Road for a cuddle and photograph with an Iguana.

I arrived at dinner with Maggie & Neshamah and had the most glorious  feast and spectacular drag show I had ever seen. Very, very impressive.

I was in bed by around 10pm I think!!!

Final check-ups , finals and recovery and indulging in decadent Thai food and my favourite Mango, ice-cream and sticky rice desserts. I found DVDs for my kids and a couple of things before falling asleep early as usual.

Up at 5am packing, with check-out and pick-up from hotel foyer at 8am.

Due their multiple procedures, both ladies were required to stay a little bit longer. I had a tear in my eye as I left Annie. She was an absolute pleasure!

I learnt about Pat this morning. As we traveled to the airport she told me about her wonderful adventures doing  volunteer work with Mother Theresa in India.  Wow!! What an amazing woman.

It was wonderful and truly a pleasure to get to know all these amazing ladies individually, and sharing an experience that would have profoundly positive effect on heir lives.

We arrived in Singapore around lunchtime. I was so exhausted I spent the day sleeping, then went down to Chinatown to taste the local food. Shelley and Pat also relaxed and took in the sights of Singapore.