Knee Replacement in Tijuana - Things to Consider

Knee problems can arise for a variety of reasons including injury, disease and ageing. If you are among the tens of thousands of Americans who suffer from chronic knee problem, you may be considering knee replacement surgery. If cost, however, is a factor inhibiting you from obtaining ultimate knee health, then knee replacement in Tijuana, Mexico might be for you. When traveling to Tijuana for knee surgery, you should consider many different factors to help you come to your final decision.

Should I get Knee Replacement Surgery in Tijuana?

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, there are more than 100 types of rheumatism. Some of these types may lead to acute knee problems that require surgery. If this is the case or if you have other knee problems requiring immediate attention, and you are thinking about going to Tijuana for knee surgery then here are some things to think about:

·         Will I get quality care in Tijuana? If you decide to get knee surgery in Tijuana, you might be wondering if you are compromising the quality of care you will receive. There are many bad and good doctors everywhere in the world, including Tijuana. If you do all the necessary research, you should find a highly educated doctor with the required experience who will give you positive results.

·         Are the medical facilities up to par? If you visit a clinic or hospital recommended by previous patients, it is possible to get your knee surgery in Tijuana in a comfortable, state-of-the art facility.

·         Will it be fast? In the United States and elsewhere, patients often have to wait weeks or even months to get an appointment with a knee doctor. However, if you go to Tijuana for knee replacement surgery, you can get your surgery done often within a matter of days.

·         Will I have problems being in a foreign country? While yes, Tijuana is part of a foreign country, since Mexico is America’s southern neighbor, traveling there is not a problem. Firstly, Americans are not even required to have a passport to visit. Secondly, there is a high saturation of Americans traveling to Tijuana on a regular basis. This will make it familiar enough that while you may feel you are in a foreign country, you will still feel comfortable. 

·         Will I really save that much money? If you travel to Tijuana, Mexico for knee replacement surgery you will definitely save money, probably even thousands of dollars.  The total amount you save depends on the facility which you visit, where you are from (the farther away from Tijuana you are from, the more it will probably cost to fly there), and so on. However, it is true that you will reap the benefit of extraordinary savings. 

·         How will I have follow-up visits with the doctor? Many patients wonder about aftercare. Knee replacement surgery does require regular physical therapy, which you can have done by a physical therapist in your home town. For your quarterly checkups, you can return to Tijuana or find a local doctor. In many cases, returning to Tijuana for check up appointments will be cheaper than finding an American doctor to follow up.  However, if you do choose to have follow-up appointments in America, you shouldn’t face any problems in sending him the medical documents and receiving complete care.

  

These are just a few things to think about before you finalize your trip to Tijuana for knee surgery. Before you get knee surgery, think carefully about all of your options and make the decision that is right for you.

Affordable Knee Replacement Options

If you have chronic knee pain, then there is a chance that you might need a knee replacement. This can be a costly procedure in the West, which is why so many patients are traveling abroad for knee replacement surgery. Many Americans choose to get knee replacement in Tijuana or elsewhere in Mexico. Costa Rica is also an option available to them if they do not wish to travel to the other end of the world to avail low cost knee replacements. If you have already been told by a medical professional that knee replacement surgery is necessary for you to completely overcome your knee pain, but you don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on medical care, then medical tourism might be for you.

 

 

Going Abroad For Knee Replacement Surgery - What To Expect?

      Medical tourism for procedures like knee replacement surgery is a growing industry. As it grows to cater more westerners from America, Canada, Australia, and beyond, the industry refines itself, providing more and more quality options for patients in need of affordable medical care. If you are considering knee replacement surgery abroad you shouldn’t settle unless you: 

• Save between 40-65% over the price quoted by a doctor in your hometown. If you are going to get knee surgery abroad, you should save at least that much money in order to make the travel worth your while. 
• Get a top notch doctor. Whether you get a knee replacement in India, Costa Rica, or Mexico, it is easy to find a surgeon that has been educated in the West and has an impressive CV. Don’t settle for a third-rate doctor when you can find a doctor with ample experience and a degree from a first tier medical school. 
• Find a first class hospital or clinic. All over the world, there are many hospitals and clinics that are accredited by international bodies. It is best to try to seek medical attention at one of these facilities because they have a stamp of approval. If you can’t find an accredited hospital, at least find out as much as you can about the clinic or hospital before your surgery. Remember, if the best is available for a similar price, why settle for anything less?

It is very much possible to get some of the best treatment in the world for a small percentage of the price when you travel abroad for knee replacement surgery or any other procedure. If you take the time to research and find a renowned doctor and hospital, you will have a great experience abroad.

 

Saving On Your Knee Replacement Surgery Trip

      In addition to the cost of knee replacement surgery, you will also incur basic travel expenses along the way. In order to minimize your overall expenses, you should:

• Book your flight tickets well in advance. You will usually get the biggest savings if you book 4-6 weeks in advance.  
•  Stay in a hotel that is relatively close to your clinic. This will cut down on your daily travel expenses within the country. 
• Choose to get your knee surgery in a country that isn’t too far from your home country. The closer the country is to your hometown, the more likely it is for you to find a reasonably priced air ticket. If you are from the US, knee surgery in Mexico or Costa Rica is a good option. If you are from Australia, knee surgery in Thailand or India is a feasible option.

These small tips will really add up and contribute to your overall savings during your knee replacement surgery abroad.

Knee Replacement in Tijuana - A Low Cost Option

Knee replacement in Tijuana is a worthwhile alternative for those seeking to get respite from debilitating knee pain without emptying their coffers. The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons reported that there were a total of 800,000 hip and knee replacements in 2003 in the US. Majority of knee replacements take place in patients above 50 years of age who suffer from some type of arthritis. Younger patients who require knee replacement have usually had an injury to the knee such as falling while playing a contact sport. People travel to get knee replacements in Tijuana, a Mexican border town, to avoid the exorbitant price of surgery in a US medical facility. 

Going to Tijuana from California

The majority of American medical tourists seeking knee replacements in Tijuana come via California. You can reach Tijuana by land from San Diego in just a few hours, which includes the time spent at border control. If you are considering knee replacement in Tijuana, many patients opt to fly to San Diego and then drive across the border. You can travel by private car or take a bus across the border. Some rental car companies allow you to rent a car and drive across the border.

What Will I Need to Cross the Border?

You will not need a passport when traveling to Tijuana for knee replacement surgery but you will need to carry a photo ID such as a driver’s license. If you are bringing a child under 16 of years of age who doesn’t have a passport, you will need to carry his/her birth certificate. If you are driving a private car, you should also carry your vehicle registration.

 

Benefits of Traveling to Tijuana for Knee Replacement

Cost is the biggest factor pulling medical tourists to get orthopedic surgeries and even weight loss procedures such as lap band and gastric bypass in Tijuana. Even if you are coming from another state, your overall expenses including airfare and stay will still be less than if you were to get the surgery in a US hospital or medical clinic. 

In addition to affordable medical care you can expect:

·         Hospitable staff

·         Educated doctors

·         Clean facilities

·         State of the art technology

·         Modern practices

·         Western-friendly environment

Many facilities in Tijuana cater to medical tourists. Don’t be surprised if as many as 90% of the patients are also Americans or Western Europeans. Because these facilities specialize in treating Western patients, they keep a high standard of medical treatment. 

Other Nearby Alternatives

Other cities in Mexico also offer extensive service to medical tourists seeking surgery such as knee replacement. Some of the more popular cities for medical tourism in Mexico include:

·         Cancun

·         Guadalajara

·         Monterrey

·         Mexicali

If you decide to get knee replacement surgery in Tijuana, you can have a great experience.  Ensure you have the best surgery possible by doing all of the necessary research about your doctor and medical facility. Also, do not forget to bring all of your previous medical records, including those listing any pharmaceutical allergies so that your doctor can fully understand and assess your case to give you the best surgery possible.