{"title":"The impact of cosmetic tourism across one year on an NHS breast surgery unit","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.bjps.2024.10.036","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This is a review of patients managed by our single-site breast surgery service for complications of cosmetic surgeries performed abroad and within the UK, across September 2022–2023.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective review of outpatient clinic and emergency theatre lists was used to identify patients; data was collected from their electronic records.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>25 patients (23 female) were identified, 20 had surgery abroad. Turkey was the most common destination that patients travelled to (n = 15), with bilateral breast augmentation being the most common procedure (n = 15). Post-operative infection and wound dehiscence (n = 10 and n = 8, respectively) were the most common complications; 72% (n = 18) of patients presented within 8 weeks of their surgery. There was incomplete recording of surgical details including precise date (recorded for 48%), clinic name (8%), and name of the surgeon (0%). 17 microbiological samples were sent, with 11 resulting in a named organism - Staphylococcus aureus was most common (n = 5). 17 (68%) cases were treated conservatively, without radiological or surgical interventions. When surgical management occurred (n = 6), it was for removal of breast implants (n = 5) or evacuation of haematoma (n = 1). The cost of managing these complications was at least £37,000.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Complications from cosmetic tourism present more commonly to the NHS than those resulting from private surgery performed in the UK. This has significant financial implications for the NHS. More accurate recording of relevant data, engagement in audits, and disseminating findings may help raise awareness of the risks and complications of cosmetic surgery performed abroad.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50084,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1748681524006909","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"SURGERY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
This is a review of patients managed by our single-site breast surgery service for complications of cosmetic surgeries performed abroad and within the UK, across September 2022–2023.
Methods
A retrospective review of outpatient clinic and emergency theatre lists was used to identify patients; data was collected from their electronic records.
Results
25 patients (23 female) were identified, 20 had surgery abroad. Turkey was the most common destination that patients travelled to (n = 15), with bilateral breast augmentation being the most common procedure (n = 15). Post-operative infection and wound dehiscence (n = 10 and n = 8, respectively) were the most common complications; 72% (n = 18) of patients presented within 8 weeks of their surgery. There was incomplete recording of surgical details including precise date (recorded for 48%), clinic name (8%), and name of the surgeon (0%). 17 microbiological samples were sent, with 11 resulting in a named organism - Staphylococcus aureus was most common (n = 5). 17 (68%) cases were treated conservatively, without radiological or surgical interventions. When surgical management occurred (n = 6), it was for removal of breast implants (n = 5) or evacuation of haematoma (n = 1). The cost of managing these complications was at least £37,000.
Conclusion
Complications from cosmetic tourism present more commonly to the NHS than those resulting from private surgery performed in the UK. This has significant financial implications for the NHS. More accurate recording of relevant data, engagement in audits, and disseminating findings may help raise awareness of the risks and complications of cosmetic surgery performed abroad.
期刊介绍:
JPRAS An International Journal of Surgical Reconstruction is one of the world''s leading international journals, covering all the reconstructive and aesthetic aspects of plastic surgery.
The journal presents the latest surgical procedures with audit and outcome studies of new and established techniques in plastic surgery including: cleft lip and palate and other heads and neck surgery, hand surgery, lower limb trauma, burns, skin cancer, breast surgery and aesthetic surgery.