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Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 3/2020

01-06-2020 | Rhinoplasty | Original Article

Complications Associated with Medical Tourism for Facial Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review

Authors: Blake S. Raggio, Sabrina A. Brody-Camp, Basit A. Jawad, Ryan D. Winters, Rizwan Aslam

Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery | Issue 3/2020

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Abstract

Background

Medical tourism for cosmetic surgery has become increasingly popular in recent years. The existing literature has identified poor outcomes associated with general cosmetic tourism; however, the complications associated with cosmetic tourism for facial rejuvenation remain poorly understood. The aims of this study are to delineate the risk profile associated with medical tourism for facial rejuvenation.

Methods

A systematic review of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase was performed through January 2019 using the PRISMA guidelines. Search terms included combinations of keywords including medical tourism and plastic surgery and other related nomenclature. Articles published in English relevant to medical tourism for facial rejuvenation and its associated complications were examined.

Results

We identified six retrospective studies including 31 patients who had obtained facial rejuvenation procedures abroad and experienced treatment-associated complications. Twenty-five of 26 listed patients (96%) were female (age range 33–62 years). Departure nations included the USA, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Australia, and Thailand. Destination nations included the Dominican Republic, Cyprus, the USA, Colombia, Thailand, India, and China. Procedures included blepharoplasty, facelift, rhinoplasty, chin lift, and injections with botulinum toxin and dermal fillers. Complications included abscess, poor cosmesis, facial nerve palsy, and death.

Conclusions

We present the first study to systematically review the complications associated with medical tourism for facial rejuvenation. No definitive conclusions can be made given the paucity of relevant data, its clinical and statistical heterogeneity, and small sample size. Additional research is warranted to help inform patients who seek facial rejuvenation procedures abroad and to better understand the health system implications associated with cosmetic tourism for facial rejuvenation.

Level of Evidence V

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.​springer.​com/​00266.
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Metadata
Title
Complications Associated with Medical Tourism for Facial Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review
Authors
Blake S. Raggio
Sabrina A. Brody-Camp
Basit A. Jawad
Ryan D. Winters
Rizwan Aslam
Publication date
01-06-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 0364-216X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5241
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-020-01638-w

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