Medical tourism is taking off. According to Treatmentabroad.net, a specialist website, 50,000 Britons headed overseas last year to have private medical or dental work at knockdown prices. The savings can be huge – more than 60 per cent off the cost of common procedures, with travel and a beach break included.

Websites such as RevaHealth.com and Treatmentabroad.net list hundreds of providers. In Croatia, dental implants start at £550 each, more than £1,000 off the average price at home. In Belgium, a facelift costs about £3,000, including flights and hotel, saving £4,000. In India, meanwhile, a heart bypass is £5,000 all-in, saving a hefty £10,000.

Keith Pollard, of Treatment-abroad.net, says that most medical tourists do not have private medical insurance and cannot get the treatment on the NHS when they want it, if at all. The appeal of a quick, cheap, fix in the sun is obvious. But the British Medical Association (BMA) urges caution, so what are the hidden costs?

A first spanner in the works is that standard travel insurance does not cover medical tourism. Exclusions target preexisting conditions, nonemergency dentistry and cosmetic surgery. Uninsured travellers face costs of tens of thousands of pounds or more in the event of disaster.

Paul Walker, of Essential Health, the specialist broker, says that finding cover is “very problematic”. However, he says that some small insurers will cover minor procedures close to home – a nose job in Western Europe, for example – for £30 to £40 on top of a basic travel policy. Bigger names, such as Direct Line, may cover travel risks that are not connected to the procedure, if notified. Mr Walker adds that medical tourists should not expect life insurance to pay out in the worst-case scenario. “Insurers would see that as an avoidable risk.”

Reducing the risk takes research. Mr Pollard says that medical tourists should check that a surgeon or dentist is registered to his or her country’s equivalent of the General Medical Council (GMC) or General Dental Council (GDC). Contact details of these bodies are listed on his website.

But Hamish Laing, of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, says that credentials alone are of limited value as no operation is risk-free, however competent the surgeon. His concern is that medical tourism deals do not offer the levels of pre and postoperative care that are standard in the UK. For example, some firms offer a chat with a salesman in place of a consultation.

The BMA and British Dental Association advise medical tourists to speak to their GP or dentist before booking treatment. Corrective work can cost more than an initial botched procedure. The NHS will step in for an emergency, such as an infected wound, but it will not touch up cosmetic work that does not meet expectations. The level of redress from overseas clinics varies. Consider the cost and hassle of legal action in a foreign system if the provider fails to deliver.

There are no wide-scale studies on medical tourism risks. However, research published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery indicates that in the six months to November last year at least 50 people were seen at NHS plastic surgery units in the Thames area with complications after cosmetic work overseas. Most were emergencies requiring inpatient treatment.

Websites, such as Treatment-abroad.net, list average treatment costs with flights and accommodation. But other expenses, such as meals, visas and inoculations, could bump up costs. Many procedures also incur standard follow-up expenses, such as check-ups and maintenance. You should research these and consider whether you will be able to travel abroad, or face a number of full-rate bills at home.

The State may pay for essential treatment in Europe for those who cannot get it in the UK, or who experience “undue delay” with the NHS. For details, see the E112 form and “article 49” on the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk .

Checklist

Speak to your GP or dentist before considering medical tourism. He or she should be able to offer initial advice.

Compare clinics at websites such as Treatmentabroad.net and RevaHealth.com . Don’t forget to check the competition in the UK – it may be no more expensive.

Ask to speak to previous patients.

Check qualifications and registration with the relevant bodies.

Establish exactly what the quoted prices cover. Will there be follow-up costs? Is there redress if the surgeon or dentist fails to deliver?

The BMA advises patients to have an advance consultation with the surgeon who will operate. If this is only possible abroad, you may have a wasted trip – a good practitioner may advise against work.

Contact a specialist insurance broker, such as Essential Health (0870 4281005), for advice on cover.

Do not be afraid to drop out at the last minute, even if it costs you money.

The “tourism” side should be a bonus. Do not put standards of nightlife or cuisine before quality of care.

CASE STUDY: Prague gamble paid off

Anthony Elflain, of Bedford, was shocked when he saw the photographs of his and Arthur Sullivan’s civil partnership ceremony in December 2005. “I looked knackered,” he says The 49-year-old human resources consultant decided that a facelift, necklift and eyelid surgery would help, and set to comparing prices in the UK and abroad. He found that prices at home ranged from £9,000 to £13,400. Unimpressed, he did some research online and decided that the Czech Republic offered a safe, cheap, alternative. He compared clinics at Treatmentabroad.net and checked credentials with the Czech Medical Chamber.

In August he travelled to Prague, paying £4,400 for flights, accommodation and surgery at the Beauty in Prague Clinic. He bought standard travel cover with the understanding that his insurer would not pay out if the operation went wrong. The surgery was a success and Mr Elflain was able to enjoy the rest of his 23-day stay in Prague. He says that his GP was happy with the results and there have been no complications. “I would definitely recommend it,” he says.

Here and there

Breast augmentation

UK ........................................... £4,350

Poland ..................................... £1,920

Tummy tuck

UK ........................................... £4,810

Czech Rep ............................. £2,009

Hip replacement

UK ........................................... £8,000

Malaysia ................................. £3,205

Dental implants

UK ........................................... £2,000

Turkey ........................................ £988

Source: Treatmentabroad.net, comparing average prices in the UK with prices abroad including flights and hotel accommodation