Has Anyone Gone Outside of United States to get surgery??

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#1 Post by **Graceful58** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:52 pm

I'm looking to possibly getting surgery in Mexico for my lower jaw surgery. I wanted to post this to see if there's others who have gone outside of the U.S. just to get their surgery???

#2 Post by **Graceful58** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:55 am

Thank you Meryaten, that is great to know...have they been on the board lately, do you know?

#3 Post by **happyendings** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:27 pm

I wouldn't recommend this. The standards overseas (including Mexico/Brazil/etc.) are extremely lacking compared to the US. I was watching Oprah or a similar show, I can't remember which, and it was about people who were significantly unsatisfied with their results. One patient went to Mexico to get some sort of facial plastic surgery and when she got to the operating room, she noticed bugs, blood on the floor, etc. Once the staff noticed her apprehension they quickly sedated her.When she woke up she was in immense pain, her eyes were sewn shut, and there was no one there when she cried for help. After all this, her results were terrible, huge scars, etc. and there is no recourse such as malprac or any of the other things that hold doctors accountable in the US. For all you know they are not even doctors. After seeing this show I would never go outside the US, Canada, or some European countries for major surgery.

#4 Post by **happyendings** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:34 pm

double post

#5 Post by **4beauty4symmetry** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:58 pm

I had my Sarpe done in Costa Rica. It's just not that the care I received there was as good as anything I've read here on this forum. It was, in many respects, better. And it sure as hell was cheaper.

I also had a ton of dental work done there, on an earlier trip, all under sterile, modern conditions, with dentist and asst wearing gloves and masks, etc.

My orthodontist was like you--reluctuant to greenlight this. He says the Sarpe surgery was a success and he and his staff were delighted with my healing and lack of swelling and brusing when they saw me three weeks after the surgery. Of course, I think my whole foods, low sodium diet gets some of the credit but still. . . My Ortho is now very comfy with the whole thing.

Beware sensationalistic television shows looking to exploit jingoistic fears of other cultures and indulge American fantasies of FirstWorld Superiority.

Indeed.

4beauty4symmetry and $ ACCURACY IN INFORMATION!

#6 Post by **Graceful58** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:59 pm

My feeling is...

One must do their own research, ask the right questions, check into any previous malpractice suits, find out why type of training they've had and where (training in the United States is a big bonus as far as I'm concerned), how long they've worked in this field, referrals of previous patients. You don't go into any surgery blind, and this is no different.

I appreciate those that took the time to reply.

#7 Post by **angelgarcia** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:44 am

I live in Canada and I got mine done in Canada. The surgery cost me $3000 Canadian so that's even less than $3000 US.

#8 Post by **Delag** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 4:37 pm

I just sent you a PM Graceful! This is most certainy a case of buyer beware. Down here in Mexico there are some excellent doctors, but there are far more substandard doctors. You must really do your homework, and in most cases you will find that the really great doctors down here will charge just as much as any great US doctor. When I asked my OS to recomend a dentist, he said that there are a very few dentists that are outstanding, few that are good, and many that are bad.

When it comes to doing anything like this I don't think that cost should be the major factor in your decision making process. If something goes wrong, no amount of money will take away your suffering. It is far better (in my own opinion) to take more time and save up what you need to get the job done right.

#9 Post by **Graceful58** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 5:59 pm

Thank you Delag for the info, it's good to know. I'm just at the investigating stage and will only decide if it makes total sense and my number one priority is that I would be totally comfortable and have the confidence I would need to move forward. Just as I would be here in the U.S. choosing a doctor.

#10 Post by **angelgarcia** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:56 pm

Meryaten wrote:Wow! That had to be with some sort of subsidy/insurance, right??

Actually, not even. I JUST switched jobs, so my benefits do not kick in until May. So that $3000 was totally benefit-free. It might have been even less if I had some kind of coverage.

#11 Post by **bbsadmin** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:52 pm

Graceful,

Your topic notifications have been bouncing. Please double check that your email address is still valid!

Thanks,
Lynn the site Admin

#12 Post by **Graceful58** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:27 am

Thank you Lynn, I had a missing letter in my email address...it's all fixed now.

#13 Post by **angelgarcia** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 10:45 am

hmmm.. I wasn't charged extra for my stay at the hospital so I'm not sure if it's because it was included in my $3K bill or if its because I have provincial (Canadian version of "state") health care insurance.

#14 Post by **Graceful58** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:03 am

I've been in touch with a Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon in Costa Rica who I was referred to from Beauty here on the boards. He's also the president of the Costa Rican Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and studied here in the U.S. for his residency for several years. I'm asking lots of questions, if you can think of any that I should be asking please post them because I would appreciate your input.