Travelers: Ever had dental or plastic surgery work done overseas?
Jan 31, 2002, 3:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Annandale, Va
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Travelers: Ever had dental or plastic surgery work done overseas?
The $ cost for dental work and cosmetic surgery keeps going up in the USA. Has anyone combined a milage run with a trip to an overseas Dentist or Doctor? Maybe you could save so much money that the trip will be basically free with FF miles?
Any advice or stories?
Any advice or stories?
Jan 31, 2002, 4:18 pm
#2
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Interesting topic. I just completed a run last week related to the topic. Working on a trip report now... 
Jan 31, 2002, 5:54 pm
#3
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Yes, I've had dental work in Canada. I've also seen doctors in foreign countries (unplanned visits) and it was soooo much cheaper. I get medications in other countries sometimes too. My husband had his eye surgery in Canada and I have some friends who had some plastic surgery in the Brazil.
I get a sailing magazine that includes a lot of trip reports from cruising families and couples who are just sailing their way around the world. Often, these people have medical problems that require care wherever they might be and because most of them are on tight budgets they have no medical insurance. I've heard some remarkable stories of the wonderful and inexpensive care received around the world.
I get a sailing magazine that includes a lot of trip reports from cruising families and couples who are just sailing their way around the world. Often, these people have medical problems that require care wherever they might be and because most of them are on tight budgets they have no medical insurance. I've heard some remarkable stories of the wonderful and inexpensive care received around the world.
Jan 31, 2002, 6:27 pm
#5
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In Indonesia I visited the Emergency Room. It was unplanned and not recommended. I paid an extra $1.25 for a new needle for the I.V. and asked (in Indonesian) that they open it in front of me. They didn't. Chances are fair that they just reused a needle and someone made an extra Rp12,000 that day. 
As soon as (and again six months after) I got Stateside I had a battery of bloodwork and tests and everything came back negative.
I knew many American expats who had medical treatment (including giving birth) in Singapore and had no complaints.
As soon as (and again six months after) I got Stateside I had a battery of bloodwork and tests and everything came back negative.
I knew many American expats who had medical treatment (including giving birth) in Singapore and had no complaints.
Jan 31, 2002, 6:34 pm
#6
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I had a friend who booked a trip to Montreal from NC for lasik - the whole trip, including the procedure, costs less than having it done here and she got a great weekend in Montreal! There are travel agents advertising packages for it now...
Jan 31, 2002, 6:56 pm
#7
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Having dental/medical/eye procedures done in Costa Rica is popular. Typically the doctors are US trained, facilities are good, and the cost is a fraction of US prices. This website will probably have some info, or you could post a question there.
http://discoverypress.com/
I've also heard Cuba has special hospitals for foreigners that are like country clubs, and they have state of the art care. Of course, it's a little more difficult to get to, but people do it.
http://discoverypress.com/
I've also heard Cuba has special hospitals for foreigners that are like country clubs, and they have state of the art care. Of course, it's a little more difficult to get to, but people do it.
Jan 31, 2002, 7:16 pm
#8
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My brother-in-law is a dentist in London. He's astounded by the fees charged in Canada and the U.S. even when compared to his practice's charges to private dental insurers. I think he hypothetically worked out what his practice would charge for some non-dental surgery work and it would be cheaper to buy a ticket to London from RNO.
[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 01-31-2002).]
[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 01-31-2002).]
Jan 31, 2002, 9:30 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: new brunswick, new jersey and farmington, conn. USA
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by HKG_Flyer1:
Some hospitals in BKK cater specifically to foreigners seeking elective surgery and offer all-inclusive travel packages including airfare.</font>
Some hospitals in BKK cater specifically to foreigners seeking elective surgery and offer all-inclusive travel packages including airfare.</font>
i had a tooth filling fall out in the East Midlands. unbeknownst to me, i had another cavity. for those of you who believe you can't get top-notch dental care in the UK, you're wrong.
the cost for both fillings, including removal of the faulty one, was $117 less than it would have been for just one cavity in the US. i have dental again now....but i must admit that if i have any more, i'd almost pay cash for the understanding, smart, caring, deliberate service i received in the UK.
of course, tooth troubles are not what are taking Americans to Thailand.
Jan 31, 2002, 10:30 pm
#11
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by gwendolynaoife:
for those of you who believe you can't get top-notch dental care in the UK, you're wrong. </font>
for those of you who believe you can't get top-notch dental care in the UK, you're wrong. </font>
How does the ordinary consumer know the dental care in the UK is top notch? It doesn't hurt any more? It looks acceptable to the untrained eye?
Reminds me of buying a handmade rug in Istanbul. I have to believe there is much more to the story.
Jan 31, 2002, 10:41 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: STL, MO, USA;BCN, Spain;LGW, UK
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It may well be that the top docs in the following countries are every bit as good as the top docs in the US but you will certainly pay more for them than you will using your health insurance in the US:UK, Canada, Italy, Spain, Australia, and China. For anything other than minor urgent care one is better off in the US in terms of quality of medical care.
[This message has been edited by Mvic (edited 01-31-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Mvic (edited 01-31-2002).]
Jan 31, 2002, 10:44 pm
#13
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I've added the link to one of the better known hospitals geared towards foreigners in Bangkok:
www.bumrungrad.com
I believe if you contact them directly, they can arrange discount airfares in connection with your hospital stay.
www.bumrungrad.com
I believe if you contact them directly, they can arrange discount airfares in connection with your hospital stay.
Jan 31, 2002, 11:51 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Blacksburg,VA
Posts: 71
Brazil is a very good place for both. Plastic surgeons and dentists there are considered as good as any 1st world country.
And to add the miles part, I did use last fall a ticket with my miles on United to go there and did have some dental work done (but my parents live there also, so that obviously would be the main reason to go there).
And to add the miles part, I did use last fall a ticket with my miles on United to go there and did have some dental work done (but my parents live there also, so that obviously would be the main reason to go there).