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If you're planning to jet-set out
of the U.S. to save money on surgery or medical procedures,
you're not alone. In fact, increasing numbers of people are
doing the same thing. It's called medical tourism. And as
our guests will explain this morning, you don't have to
travel very far to get the same top quality surgical or dental
procedures at a fraction of the cost. Meet Dr. Eric Adler of
Adler Facial Plastic Surgery & Wellness Center, and dentist,
Pedro Rodriguez, of International Smile Designers.
Both out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Good morning. Thank you
for having us. Did you like that rolling Puerto Rrrrrico. Yeh,
that's how it is. And the Pedro Rodrrrriguez. Buenos dias. Thank
you so much for being here. Gentlemen, I was reading a
survey here and I'd like to share this with you. It's out of
the Medical Tourism Association. I was a little bit surprised.
69% of respondents expressed an interest in traveling overseas
for medical procedures. Are you seeing that trend Dr. Adler? I
am totaling seeing in the last 20 years of being in private
practice in Puerto Rico. I have in the last 5 years seen a very
high number of people coming from New York, Los Angeles,
Miami, Chicago, visiting for different types of surgeries.
Dr. Rodriguez? We have the same trainer dental office, you know,
a lot of people coming from the states looking for, you know,
trimming in Puerto Rico. So if somebody's thinking of going to
Puerto Rico, which happens to be part of this country, of course,
because it is part of this country, and not too far, for
that matter, what should one consider when, let's say, taking
on a cosmetic procedure? Well, I believe that the most important
thing is selecting the right person to do your procedure.
Second, after that is making sure that the person is working
in a prepared environment. So the clinic the consultation area
has to be impeccable, and I think that another thing that
you, that patients need to look at is the recovery time for
whatever given procedure they're gonna have. And something doctor
that I think our viewers are not aware of, is doctors like
yourself in Puerto Rico, have to abide by the same healthcare
standards as doctors, let's say in New York, for that matter.
Yeh, definitely, we have the same healthcare and legal
standards. So you know, like in my case, in dentistry, you know,
a dentist in Puerto Rico have to be U.S. Board Certified. So it's
the same preparation. So the treatment you will receive by a
doctor in the mainland or in Puerto Rico is the same. And Dr.
Adler, speaking of New York, you were schooled there. Yeh, I went
to medical school in New York and I did my specialty training
at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. And when I went to
Puerto Rico years later, I had double board certification so,
not everybody has board certification in the states or
in Puerto Rico, but it's another nice thing to have, which means
you went an extra step in your education process. So let's talk
about some of the most common dental procedures that patients
are doing in Puerto Rico, and kind of compare apples to
apples, if you will. What are you doing there and compare the
costs. OK, well let's say like probably the most sick treatment
is the dental implants. So in the mainland will be probably
between $2500 to $3000 per implant. In Puerto Rico will go
from $1100 to $1200, you know, per implant. It's probably 40 to
60 percent the cost. That's huge. And when you multiply that
times 3 or 4 implants, because sometimes people need more,
that's a good amount of money. That's a lot of change right
there. What about cosmetic surgery? When we talk about my
patients that come from the mainland, mainly are coming for
hair transplants in Los Angeles. Maybe they can pay for 3000
grafts like $30-40,000. Wow! In San Juan, Puerto Rico we're
looking at $10-15,000. In New York, maybe a rhinoplasty in New
York is like $15-20,000. That's a nose job? Yes a nose job. In
San Juan, Puerto Rico it's between $7,500 and $10,000. So,
there's, we're talking about more, sometimes more than 50%
savings. What about a facelift? I'm just curious. A facelift in
L.A., I have heard people charging as high as $50-60,000
and in New York maybe $25-30,000. In San Juan, Puerto
Rico, between 12 and 15. And again, top notch quality care?
Yeh yeh. Sure. By a top notch quality doctor. That's right.
Same equipment, same treatment, just half price. Something I
think is important to note also is the fact that, again, it's
not too far, it is part of this country again. You don't need a
passport to get there. And I'm just gonna have to say that the
island is beautiful and the weather is great! That has to be
another plus! Yeh, that's the, you know, it has been studied
that being on a tropical ambience, you know, no stress is
good for healing. Right? Completely. You know, many
studies have been put out and they have looked at wound
healing and people with no stress in a relaxed environment
heal, you know, maybe 30-40% quicker. Well, I'm getting so
convinced I might be considering my facelift in the future with
Dr. Adler. We'll be waiting for you. We'll be waiting. Thanks.
But I don't think you need much so. Thank you doctor, so sweet
you are. Just go to Puerto Rico, have your surgery or your dental
treatment done and have a vacation. It's the best. We go
to Bayamon every year. That's nice. Very nice area. So we love
Puerto Rico. Doctor, for our viewers out there who'd like
more information, what's the website? They can visit our
website it's starhealthcarepuertorico.com.
Thank you so much for your time. Thank you for having us. I'll be
calling you maybe in about 10 years? Ahh I don't know. Call me
in 5 and I'll let you know. Just kidding. I love this man. You'll
be fine. Oh my gosh. I love honesty. And of course if you'd
like more information, again, the website
starhealthcarepuertorico.com. And remember to visit our
website, thebalancingact.com. He's looking at my neck. I can
see it.