1
|
Rahmani B, Escobar-Domingo MJ, Park JB, Foppiani JA, Lee D, Mahmoud AA, Lin SJ, Lee BT. Navigating Aesthetic Pursuits: A Google Trends Insight into Cosmetic Tourism. Aesthetic Plast Surg 2024:10.1007/s00266-024-04108-9. [PMID: 38858244 DOI: 10.1007/s00266-024-04108-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The popularity of cosmetic tourism may increase unnecessary risks for patients as postoperative care is variable. However, little is known about the current trends and public perception of this growing phenomenon. This study compares interest in cosmetic tourism in popular medical tourism destinations relative to the US. METHODS Google Trends was queried from October 2017 to September 2023, examining trends over the full period and dissecting changes between 2017-2020 and 2020-2023. Search volume data were retrieved for the top international countries and the US for each of the top five cosmetic procedures, according to the ISAPS 2022 Global Survey. A p value < 0.05 was used for statistical significance. RESULTS Searches for liposuction, blepharoplasty, breast augmentation, mastopexy, and abdominoplasty were compared between the US, Mexico, Turkey, Thailand, and Colombia. Google Trends data mirrored the prevalence of the two most common procedures, liposuction, and breast augmentation. Differences in interest regarding liposuction were greatest in Mexico, Thailand, and Turkey compared to the US (p < 0.05). Medical tourism for blepharoplasty had the highest search interest scores for Turkey and Thailand from 2017 to 2023 (p < 0.05). Significant differences were also consistent across all time intervals for breast augmentation, mastopexy, and abdominoplasty, with higher interest in Mexico and Turkey (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Google Trends analysis serves as an insightful tool for understanding cosmetic tourism. Changing trends bring the potential to assess worldwide versus country-specific procedure interest. These observed trends may foreshadow future international aesthetic procedure trends. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Rahmani
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Maria J Escobar-Domingo
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - John B Park
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Jose A Foppiani
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Daniela Lee
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Amir-Ala Mahmoud
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Samuel J Lin
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Bernard T Lee
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Robertson EM, Moorman SWJ, Korus LJ. Why Do Canadians Travel Abroad for Cosmetic Surgery? A Qualitative Analysis on Motivations for Cosmetic Surgery Tourism. Plast Surg (Oakv) 2021; 30:353-359. [PMID: 36212104 PMCID: PMC9537712 DOI: 10.1177/22925503211019607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Canadians are increasingly engaging in medial tourism.
The purpose of this study was to review Canadians’ experiences with travelling
abroad for cosmetic surgery, including primary motivations for seeking care
outside of Canada. Methods: A qualitative analysis was conducted
using semistructured interviews following a pre-determined topic guide. People
who had undergone cosmetic surgery outside of Canada were interviewed. The
interviews were transcribed and coded to determine motivational themes. Patients
were recruited until thematic saturation was achieved. Results:
Thematic saturation was achieved after recruitment of 11 patients. The most
common motivational themes identified in this study for seeking cosmetic surgery
outside of Canada included cost, post-operative care provided,
marketing/customer service, and word-of-mouth. Member checking and theory
triangulation were validation techniques used to verify identified themes.
Mexico was the most common location for cosmetic tourism. The most common
procedures were breast augmentation, mastopexy, and abdominoplasty. Participants
gathered pre- and post-operative information primarily through pamphlets and
contact with surgeons’ offices. Follow-up was only available for half of the
participants in this study, and only 5 of the participants felt that they had
received informed consent. Conclusions: The majority of
participants engaged in cosmetic tourism due to cost reasons and the level of
post-operative care provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilie M. Robertson
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of
Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada
| | - Scott W. J. Moorman
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada
| | - Lisa J. Korus
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of
Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada
- Lisa J. Korus, Division of Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and
Dentistry, University of Alberta, 205-12020 104th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada, T5K0G6.
| |
Collapse
|