CDC Warns About Risks Of Traveling For Cosmetic Procedures – What To Know

This month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reiterated that safety should be of the utmost concern for both American patients traveling for cosmetic procedures and their clinicians.

Data collected between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2024, included a review of over 2,000 CDC consultations regarding investigations into adverse reactions among Americans after domestic or international travel for cosmetic procedures. Of that figure, 34 of those patients traveled for medical care. The negative response to a procedure could have been due to an infection or another complication. Four consultations cited a patient death. Additionally, “Researchers identified 21 reports involving approximately 145 patients with adverse outcomes.” The types of cosmetic procedures reported that Americans traveled for included liposuctions, breast and gluteal augmentations (respectively), and more.

The CDC published the information in its peer-reviewed, monthly-released Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. The study had some limitations, including the omission of consultations for cosmetic procedures that occurred in the patient’s home state.

What Else Should Travelers Know?

The report noted that while the number of those who travel for cosmetic procedures is unknown, it’s “predicted to increase as demand for low-cost procedures rises, and services that enable destination-based medical care expand.”

Additionally, when outbreaks of negative reactions to cosmetic procedures occur, it can be difficult to get answers. An abstract explained that, “Outbreaks of adverse events related to such procedures often involve multiple states and geographically separated patients, making outbreak detection and investigation challenging.”

Do Cosmetic Procedures Count As Medical Tourism?

Traveling for cosmetic procedures does fall under the umbrella of medical tourism. Cosmetic work can include procedures – such as surgeries – and injectables. Reasons why travelers may seek treatment include getting dental enhancements, implants, Botox, facial balancing with fillers, and more. As for why people travel for cosmetic procedures, the reasons vary. They may be seeking more affordable treatment or what they assume will be better medical service. Moreover, travelers may want to experience culturally aligned or alternative healthcare and services. That could look like the patient’s medical providers speaking their preferred language or specializing in treatments not yet available in the U.S.

Some popular international destinations Americans visit for cosmetic procedures include Türkiye, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and South Korea. Social media continues to drive medical tourism, with travelers vocal about their experiences across various platforms, whether good or bad.

Regardless of where someone goes for a cosmetic procedure, the patient should thoroughly research their provider and ensure the medical professional is adequately certified in that location.

“More and more people are getting medical procedures outside the United States, but there are risks,” said lead author of the study and a CDC nurse epidemiologist, Kiara McNamara, DNP, BSN, AGPCNP-BC. “It is essential for patients to be informed and prepared before making decisions about seeking cosmetic surgery abroad.”

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