25th May 2008

"We're Saving Thousands"

THOUSANDS of Australian workers are flying overseas on cut-price cosmetic surgery holidays, driving a 1150 per cent explosion in medical tourism in the past five years.

Enticed by cheap medical deals combined with an affordable holiday, almost 4000 patients - including up to 800 Victorians - have gone under the knife in countries such as Malaysia and Thailand.

No longer are breast implants, facelifts and liposuction only for the rich or famous. Budget packages are under-cutting Australian prices by up to two-thirds.

The market is booming - despite warnings from the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Hoppers Crossing mother Kristine Zarb is among those taking extreme measures to change her appearance.

The 34-year-old had breast enlargement this month in Kuala Lumpur, boosting her cup size from B to D.

Mrs Zarb said she booked her trip through Gorgeous Getaways after a difficult time in her life.

She miscarried twins and her niece was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year.

The Sunday Herald Sun reporter was invited by Gorgeous Getaways to visit and talk to patients.

"I decided I don't want to have any more regrets in my life," Mrs Zarb said.

"Since I was a teenager, I've wanted to have implants. I hated the way my breasts were and I hated the way I looked."

Mrs Zarb was delighted by the results, quickly throwing away her "chicken fillet" bra fillers.

"I remember looking down and thinking 'oh my gosh, I have boobs'," she said.

"That was my first reaction, I couldn't take the smile off my face.

"I probably will wear a lot more cleavage-style clothes and I'm going to feel more confident in myself."

Mrs Zarb plans to return to Malaysia next year, with husband Paul and seven-year-old daughter Mikayla, for a tummy tuck after having gastric banding.

"If Mikayla wants to do it when she is older, I wouldn't have a problem," she said.

Mrs Zarb was told surgery in Melbourne would have cost $10,500. She paid $5200 in Malaysia, including accommodation and flights.

Most patients who go on surgery holidays are women seeking breast implants. But facelifts, liposuction and tummy tucks are also popular requests at Gorgeous Getaways.

About one in five choose multiple procedures, such as a post-pregnancy "Yummy Mummy" package.

This includes a breast enlargement or lift, plus a tummy tuck or liposuction.

Men are more likely to choose cosmetic dentistry, hair transplants, liposuction and laser eye surgery.

Gorgeous Getaways director Louise Cogan said patient numbers had increased from 40 in 2004 to 480 last year.

She said most were Australian, followed by New Zealanders and the British.

Overseas operations were a third of the price of procedures performed in Australia, according to All About Beauty, which also runs surgery trips.

"Most of our clients would be working-class people," Christa Bradley said.

Restored Beauty Getaways director Rebecca Schimpf said her clients ranged from 18-year-olds to mothers and daughters, sisters and couples.

In one case, a bride had breast implants and a groom had liposuction before getting married, she said.

But Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons spokesman Dr Alf Lewis warned overseas cosmetic surgery trips and carried huge risks.

"The cost saving is probably mythical," he said.

"You're taking a punt on everything going right, but surgery doesn't always go right. It doesn't matter how good the surgeon is or how good the facility is, you can still have problems."

Dr Lewis said marketing cosmetic surgery trips was commercial exploitation.

 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/were-saving-thousands/story-e6frf7l6-1111116432907

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