The Advantages of Medical Travel to the Philippines: Skilled Doctors

Another advantage that the Philippines offers to medical tourists is that in the Philippines, there are qualified, well-trained and highly skilled plastic surgeons who can do the procedures. Although cost savings are significant when you choose to come to the Philippines for cosmetic surgery, cost shouldn't be the only factor to consider, since it can cost more to remedy poor results done by unqualified cosmetic surgery providers. Lower cost doesn't mean sacrificing quality of care. Whether you are having cosmetic surgery done abroad or in your home country, choosing the right doctor is the single most important decision you will make. Choosing the right surgeon will ensure the quality of care you will receive.

In the Philippines, there are plastic & reconstructive surgeons who have had formal training in plastic and reconstructive surgery and have studied in some of Asia's best medical schools. Philippine medical and nursing curricula are more difficult than many in Southeast Asia. Some Filipino plastic surgeons have acquired their postgraduate or fellowship training from well-known institutions in the U.S. and other developed countries and have been mentored by leading American plastic surgeons. To enhance their expertise, they regularly attend various seminars and conferences worldwide, where new techniques in plastic and cosmetic surgery are introduced. Thus, they can provide equal or greater quality surgical care than U.S. hospitals at a fraction of the price.

However, patients should be aware that the greater acceptance and growth of cosmetic surgery among the general public has encouraged many Filipino doctors to perform cosmetic surgery, but not all of them have trained as plastic surgeons. Once doctors get their medical degrees, they may practice any specialty, even if they have not completed advanced training in the field they have chosen. And so, a doctor who performs cosmetic plastic surgery is not necessarily trained as a plastic surgeon. Thus, it is essential for patients to choose a qualified plastic surgeon with the training and experience that is essential for the success of the surgery. It is recommended that the patient choose a plastic surgeon who is duly certified by the Philippine Board of Plastic Surgery, the only board recognized by the Philippine College of Surgeons to certify plastic surgeons in the Philippines.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Preventing Complications in Aesthetic Surgery

One of the most interesting comments I heard at the 9th International Congress of the Oriental Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Bangkok came from Dr. Thomas Biggs, Editor-in-Chief of the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal. He said that many of the surgical complications occur during the first week following an international congress in plastic surgery. There was an uproar of laughter from the audience following that comment, because there was indeed a grain of truth in that comment by Dr. Biggs.

Many of the presentations in any international conference deal with new techniques in surgery. Sometimes there is too much emphasis on the techniques, and not much attention is given to the indications for the technique and proper patient selection. Sometimes an overeager presentor may skip or overlook certain details. Sometimes generalizations are made, which may not be necessarily true.

The unwary surgeon in the audience who will then apply the new technique may then be faced with complications he/she is not prepared to deal with. There is a learning curve with any new surgical technique. It is encumbent on the surgeon to practice good surgical judgement. Oftentimes, one of the most reassuring experiences in any meeting is the confirmation of the validity and effectivity of old, tried and tested techniques.

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Cosmetic Surgery for Traveling Patients

It is the middle of November already and it is that time of the year when many Filipinos working abroad start coming home to the Philippines for the holidays. It has been my experience that many of our Filipino balikbayans decide to have cosmetic surgery with only a few days remaining in their vacation.

Last week my brother referred a friend who wanted blepharoplasty immediately because she was scheduled to leave for abroad the next day! I requested my brother to tell his friend to defer her plans for the surgery.

My advice for those who are contemplating cosmetic surgery in the Philippines as part of their vacation, is to allot from one to weeks recovery period after the operation. This much time is needed for the swelling to subside and for the bruising to disappear. The first 3 days after the operation are especially critical, since many of the complications after surgery occur within this time period.

Stitches will also be taken out during this time period of 1 to 2 weeks postop. Plastic surgeons usually do not use absorbable sutures for skin closure as these incite more inflammatory reaction and more scarring. Instead we use nonabsorbable sutures made of nylon or similar nonreactive material which will need to be taken out early to avoid ugly scars. Patients who undergo blepharoplasty usually have the stitches taken out after 3 days. For other facial plastic surgery procedures, stitches are taken out 5 to 7 days postop. For stitches in the chest and extremities, stitch removal may be delayed up to 2 weeks postop to ensure that the wound is closed.

For those contemplating on having cosmetic surgery during their vacation, my advice is to first review all the activities you intend to undertake, such as reunions, parties, shopping, sightseeing, etc. and prioritize your time allocation. Schedule the surgery for the time period when you have accomplished all your social obligations. Most patients would not want to be seen by others in the immediate postoperative period, especially after facial cosmetic surgery with its accompanying swelling and bruising.

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

On Cosmetic Surgery Travel/Vacation Packages

I have spent this morning surfing the internet regarding cosmetic surgery travel packages being offered in various countries like Thailand and South Africa.

I believe that the time is ripe for the Philippines to be a major destination for medical tourism. We have many qualified and well-trained doctors who have acquired their postgraduate or fellowship training from well-known institutions in the U.S.A. and have been mentored by leading plastic surgeons.

In my practice, an increasing number of my patients are based abroad. Many of them are immigrants to the United States who come back to the Philippines for a vacation to visit their relatives here. An increasing number of patients are overseas contract workers based in Europe (notably from Italy and Switzerland), the Middle East, Japan, and HongKong. They decided to include cosmetic surgery as part of their vacation because of their trust in our surgical expertise, combined with the fact that costs here are remarkably lower compared to other countries like the U.S. , U.K., Singapore, Australia, and South Africa.

The affordable cost of cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines has also attracted an increasing number of patients of other nationalities. They come to the Philippines to avail of the excellent medical and surgical services that we can offer them. They have also pleasantly discovered the warm hospitality of the Filipinos and the beauty of this tropical paradise of 7,100 islands.

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Aptos Lift: An Alternative to the Face and Neck Lift

Barbed Sutures, Ultrasonic Body Contouring, Wrinkle Fillers Give Patients More Innovative, Non-Surgical Options (October 14, 2004) — Patients without time for a facelift or intimidated by surgery now have more minimally invasive options that produce effective results. Barbed sutures, ultrasonic body contouring and soft tissue fillers, three emerging trends in the plastic surgery industry, offer patients faster results without the downtime of surgery. > full story from http://www.sciencedaily.com

In the Philippines, cosmetic surgeons are just beginning to use barbed sutures as an alternative to facelift surgery. The attraction this offers to patients is that it does not involve extensive surgery with its attendant risks, hospitalization, nor long periods of recovery from the swelling and bruising that invariably accompanies facelift surgery. The Philippine Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons has taken the lead in informing all practicing plastic surgeons and residents about this new technique. There will be a seminar at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Greenhills, San Juan, Philippines about the use of barbed sutures, more commonly known as "Aptos threads," on Wednesday, November 3, 2004.

More about the Aptos Thread Lift

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

The Cosmetic Surgery in the Philippines

Cosmetic surgery is very affordable in the Philippines and there is an increasing number of Filipinos each year who decide to undergo various cosmetic surgery procedures. The greater acceptance and growth of cosmetic surgery among the general public has encouraged more doctors to enter this field. In the Philippines however, any licensed medical doctor can perform any kind of cosmetic surgery without legal impediment. Any doctor can label himself or herself as a "cosmetic surgeon".

Patients considering cosmetic surgery should know that choosing the right surgeon is the single most important decision they will make. Be sure to have all the facts you need in order to make an informed judgement. The training and experience of your cosmetic surgeon is the most important factor in the success of your surgery.

More on The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines