Features

Executive nip-tuck

21 Mar 2011

On the verge of a mid-knife crisis? Sally Brown lifts the lid on the growing trend for undergoing cosmetic surgery abroad

What’s the most memorable souvenir you’ve picked up abroad? For a growing number of business travellers, it’s a new nose or a wrinkle-free forehead.

Coming back from a trip with a new-and-improved face or body is not as unlikely as you may think – about 34 per cent of Business Traveller readers said they’d consider medical treatment abroad in a recent online poll. And of the 60,000 UK residents a year who travel for medical reasons, an estimated 20,000 of them go for cosmetic surgery, while about 26,000 go for dentistry. 

Discretion is undoubtedly a big part of the appeal – tag an extra week for surgery on to your next business trip, and your colleagues need never know the real reason you’re looking so trim or refreshed. A recent survey by the BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) found that almost half of those polled (46 per cent) had thought about undergoing cosmetic surgery and, of these, almost all (97 per cent) would consider getting the treatment done abroad.

In today’s competitive workplace, there’s no doubt that image counts. Demand for cosmetic surgery from men has increased by 54 per cent in the past year, according to the Harley Medical Group. And Keith Pollard, managing director of medical tourism specialist Treatment Abroad (treatmentabroad.com), says: “Since the economic downturn, we’re seeing proportionally more enquiries from men than women about cosmetic surgery.”

According to a recent University of Leeds report, men see cosmetic surgery as “an investment in ‘body capital’ that can be deployed in a variety of different ?elds”. Dr Jacqueline Sanchez Taylor, a sociologist from the University of Leicester, says: “Image is an asset in business. At a certain level, you’re expected to dress well, be clean-shaven and have trimmed nails, but it goes beyond grooming. Looking like you’re fit and in good health conveys strength and capability. It’s becoming more important as we’re working for longer – exuding vitality gives your career longevity.”

According to figures from the BAAPS, the demand for male brow lifts and nose jobs rose by about 13 per cent, face and neck lifts by 11.5 per cent, and eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty) by 6 per cent last year. “Hooded, baggy eyes can make you look permanently tired,” says consultant plastic surgeon Kevin Hancock. “A good upper and lower eye lift leaves no visible scars. People are aware you look younger but they can’t work out why.”

While competitive pricing is one of the main drivers of medical tourism, it’s not the only reason business travellers seek treatment abroad. Independent cosmetic surgery consultant Wendy Lewis (wlbeauty.com), who is also known as “the Knife Coach”, says: “Men treat having surgery like any other business transaction. These clients want to see the best surgeons and they want good service at a time to suit. I deal with a lot of bankers who line up treatments such as laser work whenever they’re in New York because clinics there will fit in with their schedule.” Although there are bargains to be had – an eye lift that costs £1,600 in Belgium will set you back £3K in the UK, for instance – convenience and quality of work is the main consideration for this consumer group. “New York and LA have great surgeons, and some of the world’s best are in Madrid, Paris and Milan,” says Lewis. “Geneva is also a popular destination.”

Although TV makeover shows and media speculation about celebrities such as Gordon Ramsay having treatment have helped to normalise cosmetic surgery, men are still more likely to have it when there’s a medical reason involved, says Sanchez Taylor. Martin (name has been changed), a 42-year-old former rugby player who had broken his nose on a number of occasions, was finally motivated to do something about it when part of it collapsed. He says: “I did my homework and decided on a surgeon from Vienna because of her outstanding reputation as a plastic surgeon specialising in facial procedures.” To reduce costs, the surgeon carried out the operation in Slovakia. “Her professionalism, medical advice, as well as artistic advice, together with her warmth and her ability to make me feel at ease made me feel I could trust in her,” he says. “I love the result.”

Cosmetic dental work such as whitening or veneers is also a top choice for professionals. “Worn, stained teeth are very ageing,” says Lewis. “When men come to me for advice about looking younger, the first thing I do is look at their teeth. A straight, healthy white smile adds an instant impression of youthfulness and confidence.” And spending money to fix your teeth or face, rather than simply grinning-and-bearing it, has become acceptable among the older generation, says Harley Medical Group nurse counsellor Lisa Littlehales. “We find that men have saved money they thought would go on an expensive car, but decide they’d rather put this toward surgery.” Roy (name has been changed) had a face lift at 65. “It was definitely the right decision. Surgery has made me feel great and look ten years younger. I lost a lot of weight in my 40s and was left with saggy skin around my face and neck. The older I got, the more this affected my self-esteem,” he says.

After rhinoplasty, the second most popular treatment for men is “man boob” or gynaecomastia reduction, demand for which rose by 28 per cent last year, according to the BAAPS. And a recent Treatment Abroad analysis of 1,000 male enquiries about cosmetic surgery abroad showed that 40 per cent were about liposuction and tummy tucks.

“The word ‘love handles’ came up a lot,” says Treatment Abroad’s Pollard. Many surgeons now add general liposuction to the chest and abdomen area on to gynaecomastia treatment. “If you’ve got a decade or two of corporate entertaining behind you, you can acquire a layer of abdomen fat that’s hard to shift,” says Lewis. “The effects of liposuction can be very impressive.”

That said, many UK surgeons aren’t fans of medical tourism. A 2009 BAAPS survey found that a quarter of surgeons said they had seen an increase in the number of patients who had experienced complications stemming from cosmetic surgery “holidays”. “If you go abroad for surgery it is much harder for you to research a surgeon’s record or the safety of the hospital you will be visiting, even if they are members of that country’s association of surgeons,” says Fazel Fatah, consultant plastic surgeon and president of the BAAPS.

He adds: “Aftercare will also be much harder – it can take weeks, even months, for someone who has had cosmetic surgery to realise there is a problem. By that time they are back home again. People go abroad thinking they are getting a better deal but when things go wrong, the NHS is expected to pick up the pieces. The NHS is currently underwriting cut-price cosmetic surgery overseas because there is no clear policy in place on when the NHS should and shouldn’t treat patients who have elected to have cosmetic surgery abroad.”

If possible, go on personal recommendation. Failing that, an independent adviser such as Wendy Lewis will give you candid advice on which surgeons to choose and which to avoid throughout the world. “It’s worth checking the surgeon is a member of a relevant professional body,” says Pollard (see treatmentabroad.com for a European list). “Ask how often they perform the operation you’re interested in – the more they do it, the better they’ll be at it. And a good clinic should be able to put you in touch with past patients.” If there’s one golden rule, it’s to make sure your pre-op consultation is with your surgeon, rather than a nurse or other representative from the clinic.

Lewis steers her business traveller clients to surgeons in places they visit regularly. “If you’re in and out of Geneva or New York, it makes sense to get treatment there as you can fit in pre- and post-op appointments,” she says. Some surgeons do fly into the UK for new client consultations, and others use video-conferencing or Skype. And depending on the treatment, you need to factor in from two to seven days recovery before flying home.

Not every doctor is against treatment abroad. “There are some excellent surgeons operating in Europe and the US, and many clinics offer exceptionally high standards of care,” says Hancock. “The same principle applies to choosing a surgeon in the UK – do your homework first.”

 

Knife work 

The lowdown on the treatments worth travelling for…

Blepharoplasty

(Upper or lower eye lift)

Excess skin and fat is removed from droopy upper lids or puffy lower lids. It’s the treatment cosmetic surgeons admit to having themselves and can stave off the need for a facelift. An incision is made in the natural crease of the eyelid or under the lashes, and excess fat, muscle and skin removed.

Where to go: Madrid, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Geneva

Latest techniques: In some cases you can opt for a local anaesthetic, which speeds up recovery time.

Recovery time: You’ll have bruising and swelling for seven to ten days but you could be back at work within a week with a suitable cover story (sports injury?).

Price guide: £2,725 in the UK; £1,284 in Spain

 

Rhinoplasty

(Nose reshaping)

The most popular cosmetic treatment for men.

Where to go: Spanish cosmetic surgeons are considered top class, with a particularly good reputation for work that requires a fine aesthetic eye, such as face lifts and rhinoplasty. New York and LA surgeons are also good at noses as they do so many.

Latest techniques: The classic nose job will remove a bump from the bridge but newer techniques can reshape the tip of the nose and trim down prominent nostrils. In some cases, the surgeon can work from inside the nostrils (as opposed to cutting and stripping back the skin).

Recovery time: You shouldn’t need an overnight hospital stay but, ideally, you need to stay in the country for seven days, which you’ll spend behind dark glasses with a splint over your nose, facial swelling, bruising and possible black eyes. You should be back at work within two weeks.

Price guide: UK £3,000-£4,000; Spain £2,566; US £2,600

 

Cosmetic dentistry

If your teeth are worn, wonky or discoloured, consider cosmetic dentistry before any other work. 

Where to go: Hungary – it has more dentists per head of population than any other European country and one of the world’s first dental universities. The standard of work is considered so high that Germans regularly travel over the border for appointments. Clinics offer the latest reconstructive treatments, such as implants, as well as cosmetic modification at highly competitive prices.

Latest techniques: Replacing false teeth or a bridge with dental implants. 

Recovery time: Major treatment usually requires two visits, about a week apart. Recovery time is instant – you shouldn’t need any extra time off work.

Price guide: Full set of veneers in the UK from £10,000-£20,000; in Hungary £2,500-£4,000. Laser teeth whitening in Hungary is around £320; £500 in the UK.

 

Gynaecomastia

(Male breast reduction)

Removal of fibrous breast tissue that doesn’t respond to dieting or exercise.

Where to go: Italian, French and Spanish surgeons are good on body contouring techniques.

Latest techniques: In many cases, a small incision is made around the nipple and excess flesh is removed by liposuction, leaving almost undetectable scarring.

Recovery time: Usually done as a day case. You’ll wear a compression garment on your chest for up to eight weeks but can usually return to work in seven days.

Price guide: UK £4,400; France £2,800

 

Liposuction

A very fine canula is inserted under the skin to suck out excess fat deposits. Men tend to store fat around the abdomen, back and “love handle” area but it can also be used around the hips, thighs and bottom.

Where to go: Switzerland, France, Spain and Italy, or LA and New York.

Latest techniques: Smartlipo, which combines liposuction with radiowaves to break down fat deposits before removal helps to minimise bruising.

Recovery time: Usually done as a day case but you shouldn’t fly home for at least a week. You’ll feel sore and bruised but should be back to work after ten days. 

Price guide: UK £3,000; Spain £1,862 

 

Laser skin resurfacing

Laser treatments can smooth out acne scars and facial redness, and soften wrinkles. Mild treatments can be done in one appointment; deeper techniques require a course of six to eight.

Where to go: New York, LA, Geneva

Latest techniques: IPL (intense pulsed light) lasers are good for broken blood vessels and general reddening around the nose and cheeks. The newest lasers are known as “fractional”, as they pinpoint selected sections of the skin and leave others intact, stimulating collagen production but minimising downtime.

Recovery time: There’s no downtime with milder techniques, but if you choose a deeper technique for full skin resurfacing, such as a CO2 laser, skin will look red raw, and then peel, for up to two weeks.

Price guide: UK from £500 to £5,000; US from £300 to £3,000 (depending on number of treatments needed)

 

For general information about cosmetic surgery, see the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons’ website – baaps.org.uk

Loading comments...

Search Flight

See a whole year of Reward Seat Availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Be up-to-date
Magazine Subscription
To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below
Polls