Getting a Canthoplasty in Mexico: What to Expect
If you’ve recently noticed the skin around your lower eyelid sagging or drooping, you might have considered a canthoplasty. This surgical procedure can tighten sections of your eyelid, helping to make your eyes look more youthful and changing your whole face’s character.
Finding reasonably-priced canthoplasty plastic surgeons in the US, however, is becoming increasingly challenging. Prices, it seems, are going up and up.
More and more patients, therefore, are considering getting treatment in Mexico, just across the border. Fees here are far more affordable, yet the quality of care is the same, if not better, than that available back home.
Why Go To Mexico For A Canthoplasty?
Medical tourism is becoming increasingly popular around the world. People leave their country of origin and travel to a foreign destination where local conditions mean that the service price is much lower.
Mexico is the ideal place to get a canthoplasty for a variety of reasons.
The primary motivation is economic. Compared to the USA or Europe, Mexico is an incredibly affordable country. Wages here are substantially lower than they are in other western countries – and that has knock-on effects on everything else. All overheads are much smaller here, from the electricity to power the lights to the cleaning staff’s wages.
Furthermore, regulations are not as stringent as they are in places like the USA or Europe. Mexican clinics don’t have to comply with arduous red tapem unlike those in rich countries. So they don’t have to pass on high costs to patients.
We estimate that the cost for the average procedure in Mexico is around half what it would be in the US, Canada, UK, or other major European countries. Given the low cost of international travel, many people find that it is much better to travel to Mexico for treatment, instead of getting it back home.
At the same time, the facilities for canthoplasty are equal to, if not better than those you’d find in western countries. The idea that facilities in Mexico are basic and dirty is a myth. The opposite is true. For instance, our surgical facility is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), the first clinic in Mexico to achieve international accreditation. Furthermore, all our surgical staff acquired their qualifications in western countries at top institutions. They are equally, if not better, qualified to carry out canthoplasty than surgeons back home.
Finally, when you go abroad to a place like Mexico for canthoplasty, it is usually easier to get an all-inclusive service. Many clinics market themselves as a one-stop-shop for all your cosmetic needs, allowing you to get more done on a single trip. These establishments offer comfortable, stylish recovery suites where you can get hospital-quality treatment in hotel-like surroundings.
What To Consider Before Getting A Canthoplasty In Mexico?
Before traveling from the USA to Mexico for a canthoplasty, what should you consider?
The Qualifications Of The Surgeon Carrying Out The Procedure
A canthoplasty is a serious undertaking and requires an expert hand. Going to an amateur can have disastrous results, including a loss of sight. Therefore, you must check to ensure that your canthoplasty surgeon has all the necessary qualifications to carry out the procedure. Investigate their background to see whether they have experience and education in providing adjustments like this. And be sure to examine their review scores online. Never go to a plastic surgeon who does not have the requisite qualifications to carry out the operation.
Your Medical Insurance Policy
Before getting a canthoplasty, you need to make sure that you’ve got back up, just in case the procedure doesn’t go how you would like. The need for insurance applies whether you plan on getting treatment in your home country or Mexico. Make sure that your insurance arrangements provide sensible, adequate cover.
The Canthoplasty Procedure Itself And What It Involves
You’ll also want to find out as much as you can about the canthoplasty procedure itself and what it entails.
The term canthoplasty derives from the word canthus, a medical description of the area of the outer eyes where the upper and lower eyelids meet. As people age (and sometimes when they get sick), this area of the eye can start to droop. Eventually, it sags to the point where some individuals feel uncomfortable about their appearance.
Canthoplasty typically involves repositioning the canthus to create more almond-shaped eyes, perhaps with a slight upturn at the canthus. However, surgeons also use the procedure to reduce the appearance of bags that occur with aging and correct lower lid position problems.
Canthoplasty surgery is extremely delicate and requires an expert hand. A lateral canthoplasty involves cutting the lateral canthal tendon, shortening it, and then reattaching it to the lateral orbital rim – a segment of tissue toward the outside of the eye. This procedure typically results in the so-called “cat-eye” appearance. Another type of procedure, called an epi-canthoplasty, reshapes the inner corners of the eyes.
Most operations take between one and two hours. The surgeon numbs the eye area using a local anesthetic and then places a plastic shield over the eyeballs to protect them. Once the canthus’s repositioning is complete, the surgeon stitches up the incision and removes the protection. Recovery typically takes between two and four weeks.
Whether The Surgeons Speak English
If you are a canthoplasty patient, you probably have several questions you want to ask your plastic surgeon before going through with the procedure. At the very least, you want a consultation to understand what will happen next.
Therefore, it is a good idea to check whether your surgeon is an English speaker before you travel. Ideally, you should be able to fluently communicate with them about your needs and the quality of service you expect.
Your Travel Insurance
Many people like to combine getting a canthoplasty in Mexico with a vacation. Travel insurance, however, may not cover planned elective surgery. Therefore, you should check the details and buy separate insurance if you’re not covered.
Wrapping Up
Traveling to Mexico from the USA for a canthoplasty offers excellent value, but you need to be careful. Only choose accredited clinics with western-trained surgeons. Never go to an amateur.
Are you ready to take the next step? Schedule a Free Virtual Consultation here or call us at +1(619) 738-2144
Dr. Alejandro Quiroz
Dr. Quiroz is our board-certified Chief Plastic Surgeon at VIDA Clinic in Tijuana. He specializes in Facial Rejuvenation, Neck lift, Buttock Augmentation, Breast Augmentation, Body Contouring and more. He is member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, San Diego Plastic Surgery Society, the Mexican Society of Aesthetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and the Mexican Council of Aesthetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, to mention a few.