The new face of medical tourism
19-Jun-17, Condé Nast Traveler
An estimated 14 million people go abroad to receive medical care each year, and the medical tourism industry has long attracted patients looking to save money on costly and necessary treatments while fitting in vacation. But these days, the draw of combining care with a luxury vacation is holding more sway than any particularly urgent medical needs.
%20Chetica%20Ranch.jpg "The new face of medical tourism (c) Chetica Ranch")
Image Chetica Ranch
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the cosmetic surgery arm of the industry, easily its largest subset. According to a 2014 study conducted at the University of Leeds, voluntary plastic surgery accounts for nearly half of the medical tourism industry, and it’s likely even more when you account for cosmetic dental- and obesity-related work.
New businesses are popping up to capitalize on this influx of surgery-seekers. The new infrastructure comes in many forms - trip coordinators with names like Makeover Travel and Gorgeous Getaways; resorts like the Ritz-Carlton Seoul, which famously offered a USD88,000 anti-aging package.