The economic recession has affected hundreds of thousands or businesses and millions of residents across the world. It’s effects are even being felt in the plastic surgery market where an ever growing crowd of would-be beauties are considering traveling abroad on cosmetic surgery “package holidays” to save money and boost their confidence in this time of economic slowdown.

It’s easy to see their reasoning why not combine their annual holiday with a cheap boob job to boost their cup size? Or magically take a few pounds of fat away through liposuction? The internet has opened up a whole market of potential customers to overseas cosmetic surgeons, and in places where costs are lower they can afford to offer cheaper procedures. But at what risk?

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons – BAAPS – issued a press release nearly five years ago warning UK citizens about the dangers of going abroad on cosmetic surgery holidays. They outlined how these holidays are advertised in the back of woman’s magazines and given seeming credibility by agents who meet potential patients locally.

Cosmetic surgery has been around long enough now to be considered relatively safe, although of course there will never be a zero risk of complication, but BAAPS are keen to make sure those considering plastic surgery are aware of the aftercare if any, and understand that these surgeons are not BAAPS accredited.

One of the bigger concerns of these plastic surgery holiday packages, is that of countries that offer significantly discounted treatment and the level of expertise, technology and aftercare one can expect to receive.

With an impressive 650,000,000 pounds spent on plastic surgery last year by Britons, the promise of looking good and feeling great has the potential to outweigh sensible research on cosmetic surgery, and the pressures of the economic recessions only add to this understandable desire to save on the price.

When times are tough people often reach outside of themselves to feel better about what’s going on inside. Cosmetic surgery can beautify and produce feelings of well-being and self-confidence, but the money saved by doing it in a potentially unsafe environment in a foreign country is not worth the risk. In addition to possible complications, one follow-up appointment will wipe out the amount that was saved in the first place.

In times of financial uncertainty, it’s only natural that people should seek ways to feel good. Cosmetic surgery can make people look and feel fantastic, and even change people’s lives for some. The question is, is the risk of a potentially unsafe environment abroad really worth risking your health for?