Invasive vs. non-invasive procedures
Wellness travelers may seek care characterized as non-invasive: alternative therapies and wellness treatments; most dental treatments; some non-invasive cosmetic surgery procedures like Botox, facial fillers, spot liposuction, and fat injections; acupuncture therapy; ayurveda; mineral spas; colonic cleansing; most executive check-ups. It is critical to make a distinction between invasive and non-invasive procedures. Insurance companies that issue medical travel insurance are clear about this. Medical travel insurance – different from travel medical insurance which covers tourists for accidental, unplanned medical treatment while on vacation – insures against complications of invasive procedures. The U.S. government defines surgical and other invasive procedures as “operative procedures in which skin or mucous membranes and connective tissue are incised, or an instrument is introduced through a natural body orifice.” Invasive procedures encompass a range of services, including:
• Minimally invasive dermatological procedures (e.g., biopsy, excision, or deep cryotherapy for malignant lesions)
• Extensive multi-organ transplantation
• All procedures classified as surgery
• Procedures such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and cardiac catheterization
• Minimally invasive procedures involving biopsies or placement of probes or catheters requiring entry into a body cavity through a needle or trocar