For Toledo, OH plastic surgeon Peter Koltz, MD, the answer to the medical tourism challenges lies in the Midwest, an area of the country that is not often thought of as a plastic surgery hub. Dr. Koltz says to think again. “A lot of people in The United States fly to other places in America to have surgery outside of their hometown. Patients are looking for a more discreet atmosphere, a place where they feel safe, where they are comfortable with a surgeon, feel confident they can get a really good result, and can recover in an affordable, safe atmosphere.”
While many headlines often highlight the negative aspects of medical tourism abroad, Dr. Koltz says patients don’t have to have to leave the country to experience negative or dangerous results. “I’ve had several patients come here from Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Denver, Boston, Baltimore; patients from all over have flown to Toledo, Ohio, because it’s an easy place to get in and out of, and we really cater to out of town patients. We provide hotel and transportation arrangements, and patients can come to a place that’s probably a little less expensive, in a comfortable environment, and get a safe, great result.”
One of his out-of-town patients, HGTV Good Bones host Mina Starsiak Hawk says choosing to travel to the Midwest for her Mommy Makeover that included a tummy tuck and breast augmentation was a no-brainer. “I just felt comfortable with Dr. Koltz,” she says. “The doctor I talked to locally couldn’t/wouldn’t do the procedures I wanted in tandem, and Dr. Koltz felt confident he could perform my requests in a reasonable amount of time and completely safely.”
According to Hawk, she underwent her procedure in Toledo on a Friday morning, recovered in her hotel on Saturday and Sunday, went back for a follow-up on Monday, and returned to her hometown of Indianapolis later on that same day. “Dr. Koltz came to see me in the hotel over the weekend to check in, help change my dressing, and adjust my meds. It was truly an easy and amazing experience,” she says.
Dr. Koltz is widely sought out for his extensive training, skill, and commitment to beautiful results. “I completed my training and education at New York and Philadelphia Ivy League schools and completed a double fellowship training in plastic surgery,” he adds. “I feel my patients are willing to travel because they know they will leave with an exceptional result in the safest environment, something you cannot guarantee with many untrustworthy clinics that cater to medical tourism. Many times, those patients do not even know who will be operating on them until the day of surgery. What we offer patients here, in contrast, is safety, consistency and quality results.”
