Nipping out for a tuck?

Having cosmetic procedures carried out in Spain may cost less than in the UK and means you can recuperate in the sun.

With a good selection of private hospitals and clinics, Spain makes a great choice for cosmetic surgery. While the Euro exchange rate means you won’t get such a great deal as you did a few years ago, you’re still likely to pay less than in the UK and with great service, post-op care and accommodation usually included in the price, it really does look like a good option.

If you’re thinking that Spain may be the place to go but are considering it alongside other countries, bear in mind that Spain is preferable to faraway places – there are lots of cheap flights and it doesn’t take long to get there. With long-haul destinations, being stuck on a plane for many hours and excessive time changes are not a great idea post-surgery. Besides, the large expat community means English isn’t such a problem in Spain as it can be in some other countries, and the hospitals have a great reputation.

Take our advice

Our tips should help you make the right decisions…

• Ask questions and get as much information as you can before making any decision. Find out about the surgeon – how many of these operations has he done before, can you talk to previous patients to find out about their experiences? The clinic should be happy to give you as much information as you need.

• Instant surgery For most surgical procedures, you arrive the day before and will have a pre-op check. Post-op you’ll stay in the clinic or hospital for a day or two and recuperate in your accommodation for seven to 10 days post-op, depending on your treatment. If the clinic doesn’t include accommodation in its price, see if it can arrange a discount at a local hotel for you.

• Ignore fancy marketing Anyone can spend money on an amazing-looking website. Likewise, be suspicious of too-good-to-be-true deals and discounts.

• Factor in the post-op care It’s important to take what you will need to do and how you’ll be feeling following the operation into account – when will stitches be removed? Will there be much pain? What will you look like? When can you resume normal activities?

• Find out the true cost – what is included in the price besides the op itself? Post-op care in the clinic and accommodation afterwards? Flights and transfers? Food while you’re in the clinic?

• You’ll find lots more tips and information at www.treatmentabroad.net, www.treatmentinspain.net and Linda Briggs – www.lindabriggs.co.uk; 01354 610638.

Clinics in Spain

Our round-up is by no means exhaustive and you still need to ask all the right questions to satisfy yourself that you’ve chosen the right place…

• Antiaging Group Barcelona (www.cosmeticsurgeryabroad.org; 020 7224 1010) is in one of Spain’s top private hospitals in Barcelona and is led by Dr Jesús Benito, providing state-of-the-art cosmetic surgery. Where possible, consultations are held in London or you can email or post photos to discuss your requirements. Popular UK procedures are facelifts and breast augmentation.

• Clinica Dr Mira (www.doctormira.net; 0034 963 205 010) is based in Valencia and has a small, expert team headed up by Dr Juan Mira who has performed over 15,000 cosmetic procedures since 1975. The clinic offers a full range of cosmetic treatments including liposuction and rhinoplasty (nose jobs!).

• Marbella Medical Group (www.marbellamedical.com; 0800 949 6750). Don’t let the name fool you, this group has access to clinics all over Spain and promises a ‘transformation vacation’. Call the freefone number for enquiries and book a free consultation in Manchester. If you go ahead, Marbella Medical can put you in touch with their UK travel agency partner who can help with travel and accommodation.

• Mills & Mills (www.millsmedical.com; 0871 218 2182) is based in Marbella. Book a free consultation with a surgeon in clinics in various UK cities to discuss any surgery options – including all the main cosmetic surgery and non-surgical procedures. Accommodation and flights can be arranged – and Mills & Mills offers corporate rates at some hotels and deluxe apartments – or you can do it yourself. Back in the UK you’ll have a follow-up appointment with the surgeon after three and six months.

• Molding Clinic (www.moldingclinic.com; 0034 902 506 060) is also in Marbella and is a palatial-looking clinic offering cosmetic surgery. However, its speciality is a non-invasive (no anaesthetic required) facial resurfacing treatment called Molding Mask. The results reduce the appearance of the skin by up to 20 years and last up to 20 years, depending on skin type. Treatment takes place over 10 days while you stay at the clinic and costs around £12,500.

‘I’m so pleased with my facelift’

For Elaine Tutin, 59, from Castlethorpe, near Milton Keynes finding the Mills & Mills clinic was by happy chance. “I’d decided to have cosmetic surgery,” she says, “and had provisionally booked a surgeon and clinic in Cyprus – I’d wanted to go abroad so recuperation was on holiday, in the sun. But I heard negative feedback and cancelled. Then I was online one day and saw a banner ad for Mills & Mills in Marbella and clicked on it. I was impressed by what I saw on the site and made an appointment for a consultation in London where I then booked treatment. The facelift cost around £5,000 and included everything except the flights, which I bought quite cheaply. I paid a little more for the hotel though, upgrading to one with room service as I was travelling on my own and didn’t want to sit in the restaurant with post-op bruises. I was met by a chauffeur and taken straight to the clinic for pre-op check-ups. They were all okay so I was back the next day for the op, which all went really well. The clinic is first-class. It’s better than some five-star hotels I’ve stayed in, I was so impressed and as I was there for two days after the op I made full use of the facilities. There was a lot of – expected – bruising but it was gone by the time I left Spain ten days later. I was so pleased with the results and would recommend it to those who are in two minds.’

• Elaine’s tip? “Be realistic. A good facelift will make you look fresher and younger but you can’t recapture your youth – any surgeon who promises anything so drastic is making false claims so be wary. And don’t forget that the ageing process continues after the facelift, you’re not going to stay that way forever.”

Popular treatments and approximate average costs*

• Actual costs may vary according to the specific needs of the patient and the current exchange rate