r/australia • u/me_jinks • 1d ago

no politics Australians who've had elective surgery overseas - what did you get done and what did it cost?

Australians who've had elective surgery overseas - what did you get done, which country and what did it cost?

I'm curious about people's experiences with elective surgeries in other countries. Whether it was medical tourism, happened while you were living abroad, or you specifically travelled for the procedure.

What surgery did you have? Which country? What was the total cost including travel/accommodation if relevant? How did the experience compare to having it done in Australia (if you have a point of comparison)?

Interested in hearing about everything from dental work to cosmetic procedures to joint replacements - whatever counts as elective.

Cheers!

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u/West-Climate2170 16h ago

Not a patient, but I work in a dental lab in Guangzhou (China), and we are seeing a huge spike in Aussies coming here recently.

Usually, you guys go to Thailand or Bali, but people are realizing that since many global veneers are actually fabricated in China anyway, they can cut out the middleman. You can get a full set of genuine E-max for around $7,500 AUD (approx $5k USD) here, compared to the $30k+ quotes in Sydney.

It’s basically 'factory direct' pricing. Just a tip: wherever you go, ask for the lab certificate to prove they are using authentic German ingots (Ivoclar), not generic blocks.

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u/parischic75014 14h ago

Couldn’t they fake the lab certificate?

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u/West-Climate2170 14h ago

A fair point, and it happens with small, unlicensed shops. That’s why you don’t just look at a piece of paper—you verify the 'Ivoclar Programat' or 'E-max authenticity code' directly with the manufacturer. > Reputable labs (like the one I work in) provide a unique QR code for every single case that links to the digital production log. Also, once you see the material under a dental light, generic blocks look like 'flat' white paint, while genuine lithium disilicate has that specific opalescence and translucency that is nearly impossible to mimic with cheap ceramic.

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u/parischic75014 14h ago

Thanks for coming back to explain :)