Pursuit of beauty and ‘surgeons from hell’


As the meditourism boom grows, so does the controversy. Critics allege that tour operators are simply cashing in on the relatively cheap medical rates in South Africa, and that operators load the prices so they can pocket a greater slice of the price. Others claim that greedy surgeons are trying to act as their own tour operators, leading to botched travel arrangements, and worse, botched operations. Private clinic operators are accused of misleading clients on prices.
There are also disturbing reports within the industry of several malpractice lawsuits against local “plastic surgeons from hell” for ops that have gone disastrously wrong. While the Medical Council stays mum on these allegations, one legal source says these suits run into millions, with one current lawsuit totalling R19-million. Operators say private doctors who lure patients to South Africa often carry out procedures in their own rooms, or in other inadequately equipped locations. On the other hand, doctors say that tour operators are not concerned about the qualifications or background of the specialists they include in their lists, as long as the doctor pays enough to get on the list.
From all accounts it appears the underlying problem is a lack of a set of standards for the industry. At the moment, medical tourism is an open shop and a sharp operator is free to conduct his or her business in any way they wish.
The businesswoman who pioneered medical tourism in South Africa, Lorraine Melvill, last year’s Businesswoman of the Year, says that critics often don’t understand the concept of medical tourism. “Plastic or other major surgery can be a life-changing experience and is frequently a very stressful time for the patient.
“What we do is take care of all the travel arrangements, the pre-op meetings between surgeon and client, accommodation and post-op recuperation. Recuperation is an important part of the procedure, and most of our patients would prefer to see wildlife and other attractions during this period rather than sit in a room staring at TV.”
Melvill started her company, Surgeon & Safari, in the late 90s, and it is already an internationally-recognised brand. Given the trend towards niche markets in the tourism industry, Melvill realised she could harness the unusual synergy between the demand for tourism, and for cosmetic surgery that is affordable, high-quality and offers the client anonymity.
Most of Melvill’s clients undergo cosmetic surgery, with half from the United States and the other half from the United Kingdom. While clients from the UK tend to opt for reconstructive surgery and are more conservative about how many procedures they will undergo, their American counterparts “come with a shopping list,” jokes Melvill. Each client is assigned a personal assistant to give them all the support they need and arrange their outings and post- or pre-operative holidays. During their recuperation, patients are visited by body care clinicians for massages and other treatments to speed up the healing process.
Melville agrees that the business is not without risk – “All surgery is high risk. But we are dealing with elective surgery. People have to take responsibility for a procedure they elect to undergo. This is not about computer-generated, before-and-after pictures. This is about human hands, the work of an artist, on one’s body.” Surgeons will not automatically operate on everyone wanting surgery. People who are anorexic, obese or mentally unstable, for example, will be turned away.
Melvill believes the impact of medical tourism on the country’s tourism industry in general is enormous. People who visit – usually newcomers to South Africa - are unaware at first of the treasures the country has to offer, and are amazed at the first-world service and hospitality. “They return again and again,” says Melvill.