The pandemic created a 16-month surgery hiatus, meaning patients old and new have been unable to access cosmetic treatments and procedures. Many individuals in the public eye have travelled abroad to have their procedures administered – including Katie Price who recently opted for red-list destination, Turkey, to undergo liposuction. This is indicative of how patients are eagerly seeking cosmetic treatments after months of clinic closures, shedding light on the patient demand which now stands at over 3 million Brits seeking treatment in 2021, research from Uvence cosmetics reveals.

Practitioners warn that the risks are heightened when travelling abroad for surgical procedures. A report from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) revealed a 70% increase in requests for cosmetic consultations in 2020, and this boom in patient demand has led to many opting for surgery in other countries. Additional factors come into play which complicate the process and intro more risks, such as being far away from the surgeon who administered the procedure, and limited recovery time and aftercare when having to travel back home.

Leading cosmetic surgeon and CMO of Uvence, Dr. Olivier Amar, discusses the risks involved with travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures:

“Historically, the media has reported high profile individuals travelling abroad to have cosmetic treatments administered. While there are a plethora of risks involved in this, the pandemic has complicated this further, as travel to red-list countries is strongly advised against. Although I have noticed that this is occurring less frequently in the last few years as the options available here in the UK have significantly expanded, clinic closures during the pandemic have led to resurgence in this trend.

I would advise patients against travelling abroad for surgery due to the risks involved, especially in the wake of the pandemic as the preexisting risks have been intensified. The relationship between patient and practitioner is a key part of having any cosmetic treatments administered, and geographical distance plays a part in making the aftercare of surgeries abroad difficult to maintain. I always advise my patients to do their research and only have treatments administered from trusted, qualified professionals. Ensuring patients are kept safe is a key priority for myself and my peers in the industry.

The pandemic also led to a boom in research and development within the industry. With a whole new body of treatments now available – such as the Uvence treatment – practitioners can safely offer patients a new wealth of options. There has been an increasing number of patients seeking treatment, especially after the difficulties we have endured through the pandemic. If you are considering treatment, my advice would be to not to rush into anything, and wait for a sufficient amount of time to weigh-up whether treatment is the best option for you.”