Las Vegas is becoming a medical tourism destination

Las Vegas is becoming a medical tourism destination, particularly for cosmetic surgery.

Las Vegas is fast becoming a popular medical tourism destination, particularly for patients seeking cosmetic surgery. Local doctors are working to keep up with international trends and the latest innovations, particularly for Hollywood actors and actresses trying to look younger.

Douglas Geinzer of non-profit health association Las Vegas Heals says: “Although local statistics are scant, international and U.S. visitors do increasingly go to Las Vegas for cosmetic surgery. This is due to the convenience of services, the city’s entertainment options, the rise of internet research by consumers and expertise of local surgeons.”

For procedures that do not require hospitalisation, patients often book surgery and combine it with a gambling or entertainment visit. Some clinics are developing business relationships with limousine companies, airlines and hotels. There are also an increasing number of local independent medical tourism agencies offering packages to people from out of state.

The Bonati Spine Institute has created and developed advanced surgical techniques and instrumentation to treat back, neck and joint problems including bulging and herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, and pinched nerves. The centre expects to get many patients traveling to Las Vegas for this exclusive type of advanced minimally invasive spine surgery.

The city of Las Vegas is developing a medical district. The city plans to funnel $100 million in planned investment in the medical district beyond 2018.