Cosmetic treatment abroad: what to ask first

A treatment package that includes flights and a hotel can sound simple. The NHS says to weigh any savings against the possible risks, because safety standards may not be as high, and overseas clinics may not provide follow-up care to the same standard. This applies to going abroad for a procedure, and it is a useful question for any clinic far from home. General information, not medical advice.

What does official advice say to check?

• Aftercare. The NHS says to find out what happens if there are complications, where follow-up appointments take place and what it would cost.
• Meeting the practitioner. Have a consultation with the person doing the procedure. The NHS says avoid meetings only with salespeople, and do not pay for a hospital you have not seen or a surgeon you have not met.
• Regulation. Find out how clinics and surgeons are regulated in that country and how standards are enforced.
• Insurance. Check what the clinic's insurance covers and what your travel insurance covers. The NHS says travel insurance does not normally cover problems after surgery.
• Rest. A holiday straight after a procedure is not realistic, says the NHS, and it advises waiting before flying home after some procedures. Ask your doctor.

Questions to ask

1. Who will see me if I have a problem after I get home?
2. Which regulator licences this clinic and practitioner, and can I check it myself?
3. Do we speak a language we both understand well enough for consent?
4. What exactly is in the quote, and what could be added?

Use our licence routine and read about dermal fillers if injectables are on offer.

The exception

If you are travelling to a clinic you can visit in person and follow up with easily, some of these risks shrink. You still need the licence, the named practitioner and the written aftercare. For symptoms after any treatment, seek urgent medical care.