Cosmetic tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic: Dealing with the aftermath

BACKGROUND: Despite government restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, cosmetic tourism continued to occur. The authors present the impact of cosmetic tourism on their plastic surgery unit. METHODS: Retrospective case note review of two cohorts was performed: COVID-19 (March 2020–April 2021) and a pre COVID-19 comparator (January 2019–February 2020). Patients presenting with complications from cosmetic tourism were included and their hospital notes were reviewed. RESULTS: Seven patients were identified in the COVID-19 cohort compared with four patients in the comparator. In the COVID-19 patient group, six underwent their procedure overseas. The final patient was operated on in the UK by a visiting surgeon. Cases consisted of two abdominoplasties, two breast augmentations, two gluteal augmentations, and the final patient had a hernia repair. The most common presenting complaint in the COVID-19 cohort was a post-operative wound infection (n = 5), of which two had deeper associated collections, with two further wound dehiscences. In the pre-pandemic group, four patients underwent their procedure overseas. Cases consisted of an abdominoplasty, a blepharoplasty, a breast augmentation and a gluteal augmentation. Two patients presented with a wound infection, and two with simple wound dehiscence. CONCLUSION: Cosmetic surgery tourism is a growing industry with an increasing number of patients presenting with complications to NHS services. These patients are a potentially vulnerable group who exhibit risk-taking behaviours, such as going abroad amidst a pandemic and acceptance of not having appropriate follow up care.