Would you consider traveling to Mexico or India for a
less-expensive rhinoplasty or breast augmentation procedure? Many
Americans are doing just that -- and the trend is having an impact on
the market for cosmetic plastic surgery, according to an article in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery -- Global Open®, the official open-access medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Share This: The paper, by ASPS Member Surgeon Dr. Kevin C. Chung and Lauren E. Franzblau of the University of Michigan, discusses "the rise and transformation of the medical tourism industry, foreign and domestic forces that influence cosmetic surgical tourism, and the pros and cons for all involved parties." Chung and Franzblau write, "The rapid globalization of the industry also marks a fundamental shift in the world's perception of elective procedures: patients are becoming consumers and these medical services are being viewed as commodities."
Figures vary, but there's a consensus that medical tourism is growing rapidly: India alone may have more than one million medical tourists per year. Other countries with growing medical tourism industries include Mexico, Dubai, South Africa, Thailand and Singapore.
Prices for cosmetic surgery in these countries are typically much lower than at home. For example, a breast augmentation procedure that would cost $6,000 in the U.S. can be done for $2,200 in India. Even after the costs of airfare are factored in, having an operation overseas can be much less expensive.
In many countries, governments are working actively to foster their medical tourism industry. Some destinations even market procedures performed in resort-like settings, encouraging patients to combine a vacation with cosmetic surgery. Traveling abroad also lets patients recuperate privately, without anyone at home knowing that they've had plastic surgery.
"Because the practice of medical travel does not appear to be going away in the foreseeable future, plastic surgeons must understand the international market and learn to compete in it," Chung and Franzblau write. Since U.S. surgeons may find it hard to compete on price, effective strategies may include emphasizing superior quality and safety of care, or developing "niche markets" of procedures that can be profitably performed at home.
The authors emphasize that medical tourism "is not purely good or bad" -- neither for patients nor the countries involved. Patients may be drawn by lower costs, but must consider the potential risks of undergoing surgery in a foreign country, as well as traveling after surgery. ASPS provides information for patients considering travel abroad for cosmetic surgery, including risks and follow-up care.
For the U.S. and other developed countries, medical tourism means fewer patients and less revenue -- but may also bring increased opportunities for collaboration with rapidly modernizing countries in other parts of the world. Chung and Franzblau conclude, "To retain patients and be competitive in a global market, U.S. plastic surgery must be vigilant of the changes in medical tourism and must adapt accordingly."
Medical Tourism is a growing phenomenon as the developing countries have been in the substantial rise in the number of tourists from the West for health and medical purposes. Medical tourism is referred to as a travel activity that certainly promotes the wellbeing of the tourists or the activities that involves any medical procedure. According to the OECD that medical tourism as the main component of international trade in health services has been attracting the attention of many medical profession, trade and tourism promotion agencies, health analysts, and public policy makers.
The internet has played an important role in the overall development of SEO Strategy in medical tourism. One of the most benefits of Internet Marketing Strategies is that it can give you an increased ranking on the leading search engines like Google through the use of search engine optimization. Through the use of keywords, inbound links, and strong strategies will certainly increase the rank of the medical tourism site.
The higher your medical tourism website ranks, the more visibility it holds to the online users. The more visibility means more online users will click to your medical tourism site over your competitors with similar keywords ranked under the same business category. More visitors can result in a more lead generation. The best internet marketing strategy will take you in an increase in leads and transform them into an increase in sales, thus boosting your business rates. An effective campaign provides other beneficial results like increasing the exposure of your company. This will then result to an increase number of tourists coming for the purpose of medical care.
Share This: The paper, by ASPS Member Surgeon Dr. Kevin C. Chung and Lauren E. Franzblau of the University of Michigan, discusses "the rise and transformation of the medical tourism industry, foreign and domestic forces that influence cosmetic surgical tourism, and the pros and cons for all involved parties." Chung and Franzblau write, "The rapid globalization of the industry also marks a fundamental shift in the world's perception of elective procedures: patients are becoming consumers and these medical services are being viewed as commodities."
More 'Medical Tourists' Are Traveling for Cosmetic Surgery
Traveling for medical care is nothing new -- but in the past, people were more likely to travel from poor countries to obtain higher-quality care in wealthier countries. Today, prompted by the ease and relatively low costs of travel, more patients from the United States and other western countries are traveling to the developing world to access less-costly medical and surgical procedures. Because cosmetic plastic surgery procedures aren't covered by insurance, they make up a major part of the burgeoning medical tourism market.Figures vary, but there's a consensus that medical tourism is growing rapidly: India alone may have more than one million medical tourists per year. Other countries with growing medical tourism industries include Mexico, Dubai, South Africa, Thailand and Singapore.
Prices for cosmetic surgery in these countries are typically much lower than at home. For example, a breast augmentation procedure that would cost $6,000 in the U.S. can be done for $2,200 in India. Even after the costs of airfare are factored in, having an operation overseas can be much less expensive.
In many countries, governments are working actively to foster their medical tourism industry. Some destinations even market procedures performed in resort-like settings, encouraging patients to combine a vacation with cosmetic surgery. Traveling abroad also lets patients recuperate privately, without anyone at home knowing that they've had plastic surgery.
Raising Potential Concerns Over Safety and Quality
The growth of medical tourism may have a significant impact on the cosmetic surgery market in the U.S., but also raises concerns over physical safety and legal protection. Although destination countries promote the quality and safety of their procedures and facilities, there is often little evidence to support these claims."Because the practice of medical travel does not appear to be going away in the foreseeable future, plastic surgeons must understand the international market and learn to compete in it," Chung and Franzblau write. Since U.S. surgeons may find it hard to compete on price, effective strategies may include emphasizing superior quality and safety of care, or developing "niche markets" of procedures that can be profitably performed at home.
The authors emphasize that medical tourism "is not purely good or bad" -- neither for patients nor the countries involved. Patients may be drawn by lower costs, but must consider the potential risks of undergoing surgery in a foreign country, as well as traveling after surgery. ASPS provides information for patients considering travel abroad for cosmetic surgery, including risks and follow-up care.
For the U.S. and other developed countries, medical tourism means fewer patients and less revenue -- but may also bring increased opportunities for collaboration with rapidly modernizing countries in other parts of the world. Chung and Franzblau conclude, "To retain patients and be competitive in a global market, U.S. plastic surgery must be vigilant of the changes in medical tourism and must adapt accordingly."
SEO Strategies for Medical Tourism
Contact : seopramod@gmail.comMedical Tourism is a growing phenomenon as the developing countries have been in the substantial rise in the number of tourists from the West for health and medical purposes. Medical tourism is referred to as a travel activity that certainly promotes the wellbeing of the tourists or the activities that involves any medical procedure. According to the OECD that medical tourism as the main component of international trade in health services has been attracting the attention of many medical profession, trade and tourism promotion agencies, health analysts, and public policy makers.
The internet has played an important role in the overall development of SEO Strategy in medical tourism. One of the most benefits of Internet Marketing Strategies is that it can give you an increased ranking on the leading search engines like Google through the use of search engine optimization. Through the use of keywords, inbound links, and strong strategies will certainly increase the rank of the medical tourism site.
The higher your medical tourism website ranks, the more visibility it holds to the online users. The more visibility means more online users will click to your medical tourism site over your competitors with similar keywords ranked under the same business category. More visitors can result in a more lead generation. The best internet marketing strategy will take you in an increase in leads and transform them into an increase in sales, thus boosting your business rates. An effective campaign provides other beneficial results like increasing the exposure of your company. This will then result to an increase number of tourists coming for the purpose of medical care.
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