American Medical Tourism Blogger has Major Emergency Surgery in Colombia

I never thought it would happen to me.  As I write, research, and promote medical tourism in Colombia, who could guess  that I would soon have a 'as-serious-as-it-gets' experience as an emergency patient. I speak barely enough Spanish to say I am in pain, and not enough to know what the doctors were saying was wrong with me.  But the nine days I spent in the hospital I will write about for the world to read.  And hopefully my experience will help others needing medical treatment and cannot receive it, for more reasons than just financially.  I am only 2 1/2 weeks out of surgery and recovery is going very well.  My surgeon is a wonderful man who speaks better English than my Spanish abilities, and will make his second house visit Friday.  The tomography picture above shows my kidney on the left normally.  The right kidney (looking like a hot dog) is smashed by the 10 cm abscess behind it.  My large intestine was also half blocked which caused me to become severely dehydrated.  I had started with a bladder infection and as we are reminded to 'always finish ALL the antibiotic prescription' I consciously did not.  I now know why this is impertinent; I learned the hard way.

Eyelid surgery costs in U.S. and Colombia

From ColombiaMedicalTourism.blogspot.com

Eye lift cost comparisons

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty or eye lift) is a popular cosmetic plastic surgery to remove excess skin, fat or muscle from droopy upper and lower eyelids. Blepharoplasty improves baggy skin under the eyes, sinking upper eyelids or drooping eyelashes that impair vision. The surgery can also treat a medical condition called ptosis (drooping eyelid), which is caused by poor muscle tone or nerve damage. Ptosis causes the eyelids to hang very low and block vision.

In the states, the total fees can range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the extent of the procedure. In 2007, the national average for plastic surgeon fees for blepharoplasty was $2,480, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In Santa Marta, Colombia, our specialists quote was 2,600 pesos, or about $1,457.05 USD with today's currency exchange rate. With all the options available in Santa Marta, or Colombia, as a whole (Bogota is the 4th best location for all plastic or as I like to say, improvement surgery) many patients combine services to get the most for your money. I am working with a group of family doctors here, to have the blepharoplasty and total veneers for my husband and I. My molar implant is almost complete, and then we will be ready for the veneers, which take about a week. The eye lift is a pretty quick surgery and recovery is a breeze, according to my mother, who had it done last year. Thanks Mommy, for that gene, and lousy teeth genes too! <3 You Mommy!!! She said it feels like paper cuts on the eyelids, and stitches are out after five days. I am a veteran orthodontic patient, and hated dentist visits more than my fear of bugs, which ranks at totally petrified. So keep checking for updates to these maintenance visits we will be undergoing. After we have completely healed and look absolutely fabulous we certainly will be posting our photos here, and just about everywhere I can online, so look out facebook, all my profile pics, linkedin.....

Colombia, USA, and others Comparative Costs on Popular Surgeries

Taken directly from http://www.globalbenefitoptions.com/facts_about_medical_tourism.html

In 2007 alone 750,000 American’s traveled abroad for medical care. Medical Tourism is a real option for high quality medical care at reduced costs. By opening the door to the Global marketplace the patient has increased their options. Wait times for procedures are no longer a concern.

The Joint Commission International (JCI) is the health care industry’s official accreditation institution. JCI represents the highest quality standards. As of 2008 JCI has over 220 approved foreign medical sites.
The savings on procedures is significant – see the chart below from Deloitte a Cost Comparison of U.S. vs. Foreign Surgical Procedures.

Medical Tourism Sample Surgery Cost Chart

Surgery	USA	Colombia	Costa Rica	India	Jordan	Korea	Mexico	Singapore	Thailand
Heart Bypass	$144,000	$14,630	$25,000	$8,500	$10,000	$24,000	$20,000	$13,500	$24,000
Angioplasty	$57,000	$7,106	$13,000	$8,500	$5,000	$19,600	$16,000	$7,500	$7,000
Heart Valve Replacement	$170,000	$10,450	$30,000	$1,200	$12,000	$36,000	$30,000	$13,500	$22,000
Hip Replacement	$50,000	$8,360	$12,500	$8,000	$8,000	$16,450	$13,125	$11,100	$14,000
Hip Resurfacing	$50,000	$10,500	$12,000	$8,000	$8,000	$20,900	$12,800	$12,100	$16,000
Knee Replacement	$50,000	$7,106	$11,500	$7,000	$7,000	$17,800	$10,650	$10,800	$12,000
Spinal Fusion	$100,000	$14,500	$15,000	$12,000	$10,000	$17,350	$7,000	$18,300	$11,000
Dental Implant	$2,000-10,000	$1,672	$1,000	$700	$500	$3400	$910	$2,900	$3,000
Lap Band	$30,000	$6,500	$8,500	$7,500	$5,000	$9,500	$8,430	$12,000	$12,000
Breast Implants	$10,000	$2,600	$3,500	$4,500	$3,000	$11,000	$8,000	$5,400	$3,700
Rhinoplasty	$8,000	$1,677	$5,500	$3,500	$2,500	$4,000	$4,165	$2,700	$3,400
Face Lift	$15,000	$3,305	$5,900	$7,000	$3,000	$3,000	$7,200	$4,000	$6,600
Hysterectomy	$15,000	$1,845	$5,500	$5,500	$2,500	$9,000	$6,675	$4,000	$5,000

Updated July 2009

Transplants:	Asia	Latin America	United States
Kidney Transplant	$43,550	$30,000	Up to: $150,000
Liver Transplant	$134,000	$75,000	Up to: $315,000

Updated July 2009