It's time once again for end-of-year promises and New Year's resolutions - which means self improvement and image repair. Consumers seeking cosmetic or plastic surgery to help restore breasts through breast augmentation or breast lifts, or those hoping to lose weight through liposuction, body sculpting or obesity and weight loss surgery such as bariatric surgical procedures, lap bands, gastric bypass or other techniques will be looking for cheap options to meet their goals. However, remember that cheap isn't always the bottom line when it comes to cosmetic surgery procedures. Yes, medical travelers can save thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars on cosmetic surgery in foreign destinations, not because standards or quality is lower, but because of different health care systems, lower malpractice and liability premiums and methods of practice in locations like Argentina, Turkey and Thailand, just to name a few. Choosing a qualified plastic surgeon is of vital importance. The surgeon you choose should be a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or a Society of Plastic Surgeons in the country of origin. Surgeries should be performed in an accredited facility by certified surgeons experienced in their specialty. Physicians and surgeons should be willing to inform potential clients of their training, experience and education, and offer proof of such, no matter the foreign destination that is chosen. When it comes to cosmetic surgery, follow the same practice you would in your home country: ask for qualifications, experience and success rates. Don't be shy. After all, it's your body.

Laparoscopic surgery is also known as keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The technique enables surgeons to view, access and remove sections or entire organs through very small incisions rather than large incisions that cause extensive tissue damage, longer healing processes and greater risk of infection. Today, more facilities and surgeons utilize such techniques to perform a variety of surgeries, from liposuction to heart valve replacement. Individuals undergoing laparoscopic surgeries have shortened recovery times as well as less postoperative pain. Smaller incisions decrease the chance of complications such as infection and offer decreased mortality rates. The fiber-optic instruments and video cameras attached to the laparoscope enable surgeons to view the surgical area on a monitor while utilizing special instruments that avoid surrounding tissue damage of the surgical area. Hand access devices in laparoscopic surgery enable surgeons to perform a variety of functions, such as pancreatectomy and liver resection procedures. Advancements in technology are increasing capabilities of single port entry techniques for more complex surgical procedures. Laparoscopic techniques are used in orthopedic, obesity and bariatric surgical procedures, cosmetic surgery fields, cardiac or heart care and chronic disease treatments, among others. Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, groin hernia repair and laparoscopic inguinal or ventral hernia repair are just a few of the procedures performed through laparoscopic surgical techniques. Facilities such as Laparoscopic Solutions in Coahuila, Mexico or the world-renowned facilities of Jordan Hospital and Medical Center in Amman, Jordan make good use of such procedures to enhance patient care and reduce surgical and post-surgical complications.

You wouldn't trust your body to just anyone when it comes to plastic surgery, would you? You want to be sure that any surgeon who performs any type of procedure on your face or body is highly trained, certified, accredited, experienced and knowledgeable regarding the newest state of the art equipment, technology, and procedures.
Women seeking anything from face lifts to liposuction to tummy tucks to breast augmentation or reduction should take the time to carefully research any plastic or cosmetic surgeon and facility regardless of its location. Unfortunately, most cosmetic and plastic surgical procedures in the United States are not covered by medical insurance. This leaves many women seeking plastic and cosmetic surgery or facial reconstruction or body lifts in international locations.
One of the most famous and well-known travel destinations in the world, located in Cancun, Mexico, is also home to one of the most well-known plastic or cosmetic surgical and medical spa facilities in the area, called, naturally, Perfection Medical Spa and Plastic Surgery. As one of the most renowned cosmetic surgery center in Mexico, the facility offers some of the best plastic surgeons in Cancun, and affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in Mexico that also meets the highest standards in quality care. A leader in surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic treatments as well as being the home to one of the most luxurious yet affordable medical spas in Cancun, Perfection offers just that.
Women seeking quality, affordable and excellent facilities such as Perfection can access medical tourism portals such as PlacidWay, based in Denver, Colorado for up-to-date, reliable, and detailed information regarding certified and accredited cosmetic and plastic surgical procedures, surgeons and facilities around the globe.

Cosmetic procedures are some of the most popular reasons for medical tourism. Going outside the United States not only ensures that the procedure will be less expensive, but the quality of work is comparable to more expensive procedures done nationwide. Cosmetic surgery procedure and affordable plastic surgery is designed for people who not only would like to improve the appearance of their face, breasts, buttocks, and abdomen, but those who require plastic reconstructive surgeries caused by accidents, genetic defects and other injuries.
Most Popular Cosmetic/ Plastic Surgery Procedures:
* Breast Augmentation
* Breast Reduction
* Breast Lift
* Facelift
* Nose Lift Surgery
* Tummy Tuck Surgery
* Liposuction
* Chemical Peel
* Eyelid Surgery
* Facial Implants
* Skin Resurfacing
* Ear Surgery
Undergoing cosmetic surgery
not only makes a person feel more confident and raise their self-esteem, but it also helps those who have undergone traumatic events to feel like themselves once more. Men and women both undergo cosmetic surgery to feel youthful, since those who show signs of aging faster lose confidence in their professional life, as well as their personal life.
Cosmetic procedures in Brazil have been a popular medical tourism destination due to high quality attention and low cost treatments. Check out the Center of Plastic Surgery & Rehabilitation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for their state of the art treatment facility and resort like accommodations. This medical facility speaks many languages, including Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, and Italian.

Much attention has been fixed on the potential needs of the "baby boomer generation" which will be reaching its maturity in about the year 2013. Baby boomers are those described as having been born between 1946 and 1964, considered to be the largest generation in decades. Healthcare providers around the world concerned about the ability of current healthcare systems to take care of their medical needs.
Baby boomers are likely to face a multitude of health and medical issues, the most common including:
* Orthopedic - hip and knee problems
* Obesity - weight related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke
* Preventive care and maintenance - cancer screening, mammograms, diagnostic testing
* Anti aging issues - cosmetic and plastic surgery, anti aging and aging maintenance
* Mental health - stress management, depression
* Cardiac care
Health Care Providers Face Growing Demands
Baby boomers are naturally concerned about the availability of healthcare services in the future. Rising healthcare costs, longer wait times, higher deductibles, and an increasing number of physicians hesitant to add new patients to their already overburdened patient rosters leave many seniors facing a health care dilemma. Health care providers are already overwhelmed by the demands of today's consumers, and face shortages in nursing, general practice physicians and service providers not only in the United States, but around the world.
Large parts of elderly populations around the world don't seek medical care because they are either uncovered by medical insurance or there and not enough service providers to provide for their growing and sometimes complex needs. However, the health tourism industry is an option available to seniors today and well into the future.
Health and Wellness Tourism
Health and wellness tourism is a growing trend in the medical and health care industry, as it offers individuals choices and options regarding quality and affordable care in a variety of international destinations around the world.
International medical care has become nearly synonymous with vacation travel to many state-of- the-art, world-class, and famous tourist destinations around the world. Formerly limited traditional medical destinations such as India, Thailand and Singapore have blossomed with growth in the 21st century with newer, high-tech, and world-class facilities located in destinations from the Ukraine, Turkey, and Jordan, to South Africa, the Mediterranean, Switzerland, South America, and new Asian destinations such as South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia.
Big Savings
Baby boomers traveling to international destinations may save tens of thousands of dollars on the same treatments performed in the U.S., Canada and Britain, while it the same time receiving state of the art, high-tech and qualified care. For example, single heart bypass surgery, depending on severity, may cost an average of $25,000 to 40,000 dollars in the United States, while an individual traveling to destinations such as India may receive such care for approximately $10,000. A knee replacement in the United States may cost 35,000 to $40,000 per knee, while knee replacement surgeries and procedures in destinations such as Costa Rica, charge 1/4 to 1/2 same price, all the while providing certified, accredited, state of the art equipment and experienced and highly trained surgeons, and high-tech facilities.
As baby boomers face retirement and increasing health costs, they're looking for affordable and timely healthcare options. Nearly 150,000 Americans traveled abroad in 2007 for international medical care, and numbers drastically increased throughout 2008 and 2009. According to the Medical Tourism Association, an estimated 23 million Americans alone will travel overseas for their medical care by the year 2017, with expenditures of nearly $80 billion dollars. The numbers of Britons, Canadians, and Middle Eastern citizens of countries such as Iran and Iraq, as well as Afrikaans, are seeking international medical destinations in Turkey, the Ukraine, India, and Thailand for affordable and quality medical care.
Anticipating a dilemma and growing dissatisfaction by consumers in the ability to provide adequate and quality health care to millions of aging Americans, a growing number of health insurance companies in the United States are offering Consumer Driven Health Plans (CDHP) and benefits enabling policyholders to travel to foreign destinations for their medical care in the hopes of relieving the burden on domestic health care. Medical tourism is the wave of the future, and the health and wellness tourism industry is able to meet the challenges of growing numbers of seniors seeking medical care in a multitude of fields.