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We crossed the world for surgery

YESTERDAY we revealed how dentists from Hungary have set up surgeries in inflatable tents around the UK in a bid to lure Britons to their country for further treatment.

An estimated 40,000 Britons already head abroad for dental treatment and a further 75,000 will seek medical treatment overseas this year alone. Experts predict this will rise to 200,000 by the end of the decade, creating a so-called health tourism market worth an astonishing £886 million.

Here SADIE DODDS asks patients about their 'health holidays'

Both my hips were
replaced in Mumbai

DENIS, 48, is a construction worker and lives near Edinburgh with partner. He paid £8,000 for a double hip replacement in India.

FACED with either a three-year wait for a double hip replacement on the NHS or a £16,500 bill to have it done privately, I had the operation in India instead. Before, I could barely walk or work due to the pain.

I'd first had problems in my early 30's but was told I was too young for surgery and that I must struggle on. By last summer I could struggle no more. Then, during extensive Internet research, my partner Heather found that the surgeon who pioneered what's known as the Birmingham hip resurface method of replacement had worked for 20 years in the UK and was now in a private hospital in Mumbai. So we called and asked to arrange to have him carry out the surgery.

Two days later we had Indian visas and within three weeks we were on the plane. When our chauffeur-driven car took us out of the airport and passed slums, we were terrified at what we d let ourselves in for. But the hospital was astonishing.

We had our own huge private suite with a computer, TV, DVD player and even a mini bar. I had a dedicated team of nurses, the surgeon was incredible and cleaners came in every few hours.  

I had my hip replacements separately four days apart then two weeks of intensive physio. The aftercare was so effective that I was well enough for us to extend our stay and have a three-week holiday, first in Kerala and then in Goa.

The entire Indian trip and surgery cost just £8,000.

I had a breast
op in Malaysia

NATASHA 31, lives in Nottinghamshire. She had her breasts enlarged from 34B to 34DD on a three-week trip

DESPITE saving for the surgery for years, the lure of clothes and holidays meant I constantly raided my bank account and never reached the £4,000-plus needed to get my boobs done in this country. My mum's similar operation five years ago had cost £3,500.

So when a chance came up to get my boobs done and have an exotic holiday abroad, all for just £1,000,1 couldn't resist.
The only catch was that I had to be filmed for a TV show

I was apprehensive about surgery abroad but my dad said: "If you're worried about anything, get the first plane home." I didn't need to.

I flew to Penang in Malaysia alone and two days later had the operation, so I had little time to ponder. It took more than two weeks to recover. My mum's surgery meant I knew more than most about the procedure but it wasn't until I met the consultant the day before the op that I was 100 per cent sure I was going through with it. His easy confidence reassured me.

The operation took less than 45 minutes and when I peeled off the bandages a day later, my breasts looked so natural, so full - perfect!

I had just two thumbprint bruises at the sides and two incisions below.

The great thing about surgery on holiday is that no one need know.  And I came back with more confidence than I've ever had.

Ideal dentist
in Budapest

Julie, 50 is a journalist from North London. She travelled to Budapest for her dental treatment

I MET the two dentists who would be treating me in London for an initial consultation. It costs £25 to £45 but that is refunded if you go ahead with treatment.

All the company's dentists are registered to practice in Britain. This was very reassuring as I could go to their central London clinic if I had any problems on return from Hungary.  All the work is guaranteed.

I wouldn't sign up to a practice that wasn't registered, but I have to admit that I hadn't even thought about whether I would have been able to claim on my travel insurance if anything had gone wrong during the trip

In Budapest I was greeted by the same two dentists I had met in the UK. The facilities were outstanding. There were eight high-tech, spotless surgeries staffed by highly skilled dentists and assistants. Everyone spoke excellent English. I was told 98 per cent of patients are from the UK.

Once I was in the chair, the dentist went through everything once more and questions were welcomed. On the first day I had a normal cleaning with a hygienist and then closed curettage periodontal surgery, which is essentially deep cleaning.

Although it doesn't hurt, it numbed my face terribly for three hours. The cost was £179 compared to £480 in Britain.

The following day I had an implant inserted, which cost £629 compared to a UK price of £2,100. He drilled into the bone and put the implant in and then stitched me up. I was given antibiotics, painkillers and an ice-pack in case of swelling. Although I was numb, I asked if I could go sightseeing and he agreed, as long as I took my ice-pack. Fortunately, I didn't experience any major swelling

The following day I was checked over to see if everything was OK before I went home. I was also given an appointment to have my stitches removed the following week in London.

It was cheaper - the flights were less than £100 - and I'm certain the treatment was just as good.

Eyes lasered by
Tunis surgeon

Former lawyer LINDA BRIGGS, lives in Norfolk, with husband Michael,  She has had numerous cosmetic and medical procedures abroad.

After being diagnosed with a blocked aorta in 2002, my quality of life deteriorated rapidly. With the blood supply to my legs severely restricted I could no longer enjoy daily walks with my husband or play with my grandchildren.

Walking was possible only with crutches and much of the time I had to use a wheelchair.

Although doctors told me the condition required surgery, it was nine months before they even put me on an NHS waiting list for a bi-femoral bypass.

Six months later I got a date for the surgery and two weeks after that the NHS cancelled it due to "unforeseen circumstances". By this time it was August 2005 and when I still hadn't received a new date a month later, I'd had enough. But to have the surgery privately in the UK would have cost us up to £25,000.

I found out about a company  which organises surgery in India, and I had a telephone consultation with one of its doctors. Three weeks later we were on a plane to New Delhi.

I had extensive medical tests and three days later, once they'd treated me for diabetes that I didn't know I had, I had the operation. For five days I was in intensive care but Kenneth was by my side as he was allowed to sleep in my room with me.

The private hospital was scrupulously clean and everyone from the cleaners, who scrubbed my room three times a day, to the senior surgeons was so friendly and professional. I even had one-to-one nursing care.

After two weeks in hospital, Kenneth and I spent a week in a first class hotel so I could recover for the flight home. The entire experience including flights and hotel cost just £7,500.