Yahoo Finance recently asked Dr. Frank Agullo about medical tourism, for a piece on Americans traveling to South Korea for discounted health screenings. Given that the practice sits about forty minutes from Ciudad Juarez, Dr. Agullo fields a surgical version of this question regularly.
Comparing Prices Fairly
“A quote from our practice folds in the surgical facility, anesthesia, and a defined postoperative period, all in one number,” Dr. Agullo says. “A quote from abroad often covers just the operation, with everything else priced separately or left out.” Before comparing two numbers, the practice recommends confirming exactly what’s inside each one.
What’s Actually Driving the Decision
For most patients, the deciding factor isn’t the price gap, it’s speed: an appointment in two weeks instead of five months. Dr. Agullo doesn’t discourage that reasoning, he just wants patients making the decision with complete information.
The Real Risk Sits in Aftercare
“Complications often show up after a patient is already home,” Dr. Agullo says, “and by then the operating surgeon is on the other side of a border.” Whoever manages the complication locally has no operative report and no knowledge of what was actually done, which is the real risk in medical tourism, distance and timing, not surgical skill.
Five Questions to Ask Before Booking
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the operating surgeon’s individual credential verified? | Clinic marketing isn’t the same as a verified credential |
| Is there an itemized quote in writing? | Confirms what’s actually included in the price |
| Who pays for a complication, in writing? | Establishes the revision and complication policy upfront |
| Is a physician lined up at home before traveling? | Avoids searching for care during a crisis |
| Is extra recovery time built in before flying? | Travel stress on a healing body is its own risk |
The Practice’s Approach
Southwest Plastic Surgery treats patients navigating this decision regularly, given its location. Dr. Agullo, who completed his plastic surgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic and serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for thirteen consecutive years.
Ready to Talk?
Whether you’re considering surgery here or weighing options abroad, our team can walk you through the same questions either way.
Call (915) 590-7900, text 1-866-814-0038, or book online at agulloplasticsurgery.com/appointments. #StayBeautiful.
@RealDrWorldWide on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, @Agullo on X, or @AgulloPlasticSurgery on Facebook.
Cross-links
- Editorial version on drworldwide.com: “Before You Book Surgery Abroad, Ask These Five Questions” (link once live)
- Patient-facing version on agulloplasticsurgery.com: “Considering Surgery Abroad? Read This First” (link once live)
