If you're tired of looking tired, or find that no amount of high-quality makeup is enough to detract from your jowls, deep wrinkles, or other facial imperfections, you may be considering cosmetic surgery to help you achieve a more youthful appearance. However, with most insurance plans excluding cosmetic surgery from coverage or even preventing out-of-pocket funds spent on cosmetic surgery from applying toward your annual deductible, you may find that the cost of this surgery places it outside your financial reach. Can cosmetic tourism allow you to enjoy a tropical vacation while having your facelift performed at a lower cost than in the U.S.? Read on to learn more about the benefits (and potential dangers) of cosmetic tourism, as well as some facelift technologies and alternatives that can provide you with the same result without these risks.

What is cosmetic tourism? 

With costs of care in the U.S. continuing to rise, many residents are turning to medical, dental, and cosmetic tourism as a means to kill two birds with one stone -- having medical or dental work performed in a country with socialized health care for a fraction of the cost as the same procedure in the U.S., while also enjoying a vacation in a tourist-friendly destination. Some travel agencies even specialize in booking these trips, helping ensure that you'll have a seamless trip from the airport to the doctor's office, then first-class transportation back to your hotel to recover. Depending upon the exchange rate and the availability of local labor in the country you're planning to tour, you can arrange to have round-the-clock nursing care to assist you during the first few days of your recovery.

Is cosmetic tourism a good idea if you're seeking a facelift?

While many medical, dental, and cosmetic tourists have nothing but praise for their experience, this process is not without risks. One of the reasons U.S. medical care is more expensive than similar care in other countries is the higher malpractice insurance premiums required to help protect American physicians and hospitals against lawsuits. If you're injured or made ill by a medical procedure in another country, you may have little recourse under foreign law -- and could find yourself paying even more money to have these issues repaired back in the U.S. 

You may also find that after you've factored in the cost of airfare, hotel accommodations, and the procedure itself, you'll wind up paying more than the average $6,550 (plus anesthesia costs and physician fees) for a full surgical facelift performed in the U.S. While there is the added benefit of a foreign vacation, if you're already dealing with budget constraints you could find that cosmetic tourism winds up costing you even more in the end, and the pain you're dealing with during recovery can prevent you from fully enjoying your relaxing locale.

How can you reduce the cost of a facelift performed in the U.S.?

If you've decided that cosmetic tourism isn't worth the risks to your health or budget, you may be wondering how you can achieve a younger look without paying the cost of a full facelift. A mini lift is one way to improve the skin tone of your forehead, jaw, or eyes. Unlike a full facelift, which requires that you be placed under general anesthesia, undergo a number of relatively large incisions, and spend at least one night in the hospital for observation, a mini lift involves only a couple of tiny incisions and is performed on an outpatient basis, allowing you to go home as soon as you've woken up from surgery. A mini lift is also significantly less expensive than a full facelift as it won't require a hospital stay or significant anesthesia.

For more information about your facelift options, contact a clinic like My Plastic Surgery Group.