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If you are thinking about liposuction, breast augmentation or a nose job in Hong Kong, being well informed is the first step, and it is essential. Here is everything you need to know about plastic surgery in Hong Kong: risks and safety, common procedures, practitioners, costs and insurance cover.
Methodology: This guide does not aim to be exhaustive. It is informative only and based on our independent research.
A plastic surgeon is a medical doctor who performs operations, i.e. plastic surgeries, to alter the appearance or shape of the body, to correct and reconstruct tissues, and to restore normal functions of them. Although such surgeries are often known for their aesthetic effects, plastic surgeons actually do more than improving and reshaping appearance. They also perform reconstructive surgeries on patients injured in accidents or burn, or with congenital defects such as cleft palate.
Plastic surgery can be performed on all areas of your body:
Reproductive organ: such as vaginal rejuvenation
1. Endoscopic surgery
As suggested by the name, endoscopic surgery is conducted with an endoscope, a tubular probe that holds a minuscule camera and a bright light, to be inserted into a small incision. Images from the camera will be transmitted back to a screen so that your doctor can watch it closely when manipulating the endoscope inside your body. This device plays an important role in assisting your surgeon throughout the procedure.
2. Flap surgery
Flap surgery involves transporting healthy, intact tissue from one location of the body to another — often to areas that have lost skin, fat, muscle movement, and/ or skeletal support for repair.
3. Laser Surgery
Lasers used in plastic surgery often are there for accuracy to provide for minimal bleeding, bruising and scarring. There are a variety of laser types to be utilized, consult your doctor to determine if this surgery, and which types, is most suitable for you.
4. Skin graft
A skin graft is often used to cover skin that has been marred and/or missing. In this procedure, healthy and live portions of skin are removed from one part of the body (donor site) to rebuild normal appearance and function of the damaged area.
5. Tissue expansion
The surgery involves inserting a balloon-like device called an expander under the skin. The expander will slowly emit liquid into the area to stretch and expand the skin, so that extra skin can be grown to repair nearby lost or damaged skin.
There are 64 registered plastic surgeons in Hong Kong. You can find the official list of registered plastic surgeons in Hong Kong here.
In Hong Kong, all plastic surgeons have to complete a degree of MBBS (medicine degree) which takes 6 years, followed by an additional 6-year specialist training program. This program comprises a 2-year fundamental surgical training and a 4-year professional clinical training. To be qualified as a plastic surgeon, doctors must pass an examination after completing their training. In addition, all registered plastic surgeons should be fellows of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine and the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong in the Specialty of Plastic Surgery. Note that it is a crime for a doctor to unduly claim him(her)self as a cosmetic surgeon or aesthetic surgeon.
Plastic surgery has gained substantial popularity worldwide, but should not be taken lightly. It is essential to properly inform yourself, ask questions and be advised by a trained professional.
Amongst others, it is important for you to consider the following risks when considering a possible plastic surgery:
The entire process can be nerve-racking, it is normal if you hit the blues, feel low and cranky during recovery. However, judging the results of your surgery too soon and getting restless and antsy as you wait to resume normal activities will only stoke up feelings of disappointment and frustration.
Realistic expectations are key. After the surgery, take the time to process what is going on and if additional follow-up surgeries may be needed to achieve your goals down in the line.
While recovery is on the longer side and you have to do it at your own risk, successful plastic surgeries can bring a host of rewards. Boosts in happiness or confidence, body satisfaction and weight loss are just a few to mention.
Apparently, many types of plastic surgery can result in better physical health besides aesthetic benefits, most prominently pain reduction. A case in point is breast reductions, they are often performed for women who have large breasts that cause back pain, neck pain, headaches and even limb numbness.
Another important yet overlooked benefit is improved breathing. A rhinoplasty, known as a “nose job”, is the only fix to a deviated septum, which takes place when the wall between the two nasal passages and the septum becomes unaligned or deviated, clearing up breathing difficulty, pain frequent sinus infections, excessive dryness and swelling. It can also correct abnormal nasal structure or any sort of nose blockade.
Other direct benefits include reduced skin irritation through excess skin removal, weight loss, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, improved eyesight due to the reduced amount of sagging skin around the eyes.
Weighing the risks vs. the rewards
Everyone’s “worth-it” threshold is different. While many plastic surgery patients find the results of plastic surgery life-changing, there are also many who wish they could backtrack and undo it, or at least wish they had done more preparation because of the high cost, lengthy recovery times, or risks of complications. Educate yourself by doing your homework well.
Plastic surgery is permanent. If there are any takeaways from the occurring incidents, it would be going into surgery in the best health possible. Don’t let the price and desire for the surgery be the foremost determining factor that overshadows any serious health considerations.
Because of the potential risks of plastic surgery, it is of paramount importance to clarify every detail of your procedure. Here are essential questions you should ask and for which you should get satisfactory, understandable answers from your plastic surgeon before going ahead.
At present, there is no specific law in Hong Kong that regulate plastic surgeries despite the occurrence of several accidents. That being said, the government proposed a regulatory framework for medical devices in 2017, including those used in cosmetic procedures. Certain medical devices can only be operated by registered medical professionals or under their supervision. The bill has not yet been passed and we are hoping for better patient protection in the years ahead.
In Hong Kong the cost of plastic surgery in the private sector varies greatly depending on the procedure, doctor, location, and facilities.
Here are examples of costs for common procedures:
For a comprehensive list of average cosmetic surgery costs in Hong Kong, click here.
Please enquire at your clinic of choice for the specific costs.
*All amounts are in HKD. No responsibility is accepted for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. It is always best to call ahead to make sure the information is still up-to-date.
To make it easier for you, here is a list of Hong Kong plastic surgeons and specialized clinics.
Clinics
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Details
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Address: Room 602, Manning House,
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Address: Room A, 4/F, Bright Growth Medical Centre,
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Address: 19/F, Humphrey Plaza,
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Address: Room 413 Pacific Centre,
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Address: Room 615, Bank Of America Tower,
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Address: Room 706, Argyle Centre Phase I,
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Address: Room 601, Prosperity Tower,
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Address: Suite 1201, Bank Of America Tower,
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You can search for Plastic Surgeons according to their locations here.
According to Alea, plastic surgery consultations and procedures are only reimbursed by insurance when arising from an accident or medical illness. These medical fees are reimbursed under the surgery and doctor specialist fees. Generally, high-end medical plans will reimburse such consultations in full without any sub-limit whereas local plans usually have doctor specialist limits. As for purely cosmetic or enhancing consultations and treatments, these are explicitly excluded from health insurance policies and therefore not reimbursed.
For any health insurance questions, contact an Alea advisor at [email protected].
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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