What the CDC Just Said About Plastic Surgery Abroad

About this episode

The CDC just reviewed 10 years of medical tourism data. Dr. Chris Lee, MD walks through what it actually found — and gives patients the honest picture the marketing never does.FULL SHOW NOTESThree million people a year travel for cosmetic surgery. The savings are real. The risks are also real. And the math is more complicated than the marketing wants you to know.In this solo episode, Dr. Chris Lee, MD walks through the CDC’s June 2026 report on travel-related cosmetic procedure complications — what it found, what it means, and what every patient should understand before making this decision.In this episode:The legitimate reasons patients consider surgery abroad — and why they deserve honest engagement, not reflexive dismissalWhat the CDC study actually found: 21 investigations, ~145 patients with serious adverse outcomes, 4 deaths, 12 nontuberculous mycobacteria outbreaksThe cost myth — what the real all-in number looks like vs. the advertised price, including the complication financial exposure most patients haven’t accounted forWhat makes some situations higher risk than others: procedure type, facility accreditation, surgeon credentials, and post-operative travel timingA six-point due diligence checklist for anyone seriously considering itWhat to do immediately if you’ve already had surgery abroad and something feels wrong───Dr. Chris Lee, MD is a plastic surgeon at Clareo Aesthetics in Chestnut Hill, Boston, specializing in aesthetic surgery of the face, breast, and body — as well as injectables, non-invasive rejuvenation, hormone optimization, and medical weight loss.clareoplasticsurgery.com · @ChrisLee.MDHonest Lee is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized medical advice. Results vary. Consult a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine what is appropriate for your individual anatomy and goals.