Treatment abroad: Italy 

Italy is a sought-after destination for medical tourism, offering renowned expertise in fields such as cosmetic surgery, orthopaedics, and fertility treatments, amidst a backdrop of rich cultural heritage and picturesque landscapes.

Italy is a beautiful and fascinating country with excellent health care facilities and unrivalled possibilities for sightseeing and tourism.

Why consider Italy for treatment

Bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, Italy is a beguiling country with classical origins, a warm Mediterranean climate and charming people. The peninsula of Italy stretches from the Alps in the north to the sun-drenched beaches on the Mediterranean shore and boasts an artistic legacy from the Renaissance period along with fascinating archaeological monuments and architecture. Since Italy is synonymous with art, beauty and culture it’s not surprising that according to UNESCO, it hosts more than half the world’s historical and artistic heritage. Fashion and food are also national specialities; think healthy Mediterranean cookery and an array of delicious pasta dishes from spaghetti to ravioli, as well as pizza, ice cream and olive oil. Italy is also one of the largest producers of wine.

Looking good has always been a high priority for the Italian men and women, and the country is now becoming a popular centre for hair transplant surgery. With just a short flight from the UK you can be visiting a country with breathtaking beauty and an outstanding healthcare system and receive excellent medical advice and treatment for hair restoration which is competitively priced. Some of the doctors work regularly in the UK and offer high quality care at affordable prices. At Laser CosMedics, a trichology clinic in central Italy for example it costs between £3,000 and £4,000 for up to 2,000 grafts in one session.

Medical tourists can visit cathedrals, churches, monasteries, palaces, castles and convents and enjoy train journeys taking in the stunning scenery and hills of Tuscany or Umbria, marvel at ancient sites and monuments or simply enjoy sipping espressos in some of the world’s finest people-watching squares like Piazza San Marco in Venice or Piazza di Spagna in Rome. The capital, Rome, is an art enthusiast’s delight. The Vatican City, (the Pope’s home), houses the magnificent Michaelangelo Sistine Chapel ceiling. Other city must-sees include the ancient remains of the Pantheon, the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Many a tourist will throw coins in the famous Trevi Fountain to fulfil the myth that they will return to Rome some time soon.

Other major cities include Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples and Verona and there are a handful of airlines (scheduled and “no-frills”) flying to these destinations, making Italy a very accessible choice for treatment. The islands of Sicily, a fertile but mountainous island with its famous volcano, Mount Etna, and Sardinia boasting fine sandy beaches and rocky offshore islands are popular summer holiday destinations and during the winter the Alpine regions, the Po Plain and the Ligurian-Etruscan Appennines, Piedmont and Val d’Aosta contain some of the highest mountains in Europe so are great for winter sports.

The climate in Italy is Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers, although it gets colder in the north with snow on the mountains. The best time of year to visit Italy is between April and October, avoiding August which is the busiest and most expensive month due to the influx of tourists at this time.

Reasons to choose Italy

Highest ratio of doctors per capita in the world

World class medical facilities in Milan and Rome

Leading centre for hair restoration surgery

Excellent transport links with Europe and the US

Beautiful countryside in Tuscany and Umbria

Classic cities including Rome, Venice, Pisa and Genoa

Cosmetic surgery in Italy : Doctor accreditation and qualifications

Italy has the highest ratio of doctors per capita in the world and has a very developed private sector and medical reputation; both Rome and Milan are considered excellent medical centres. After graduating from medical school (which takes six years of study), doctors undertake their area of specialty and train to become surgeons, for example, hair transplant surgery. The post graduate study takes a further three to four years and includes formal academic and practical training and assessment.

Professional bodies/organisations

Doctors and cosmetic surgeons should be registered with the National Association of Doctors (Italian site only), and have membership with medical associations such as the Italian Society of Cosmetic Medicine and Surgery (SIES) and the Italian Society of Plastic Surgeons. Other medical associations relative to hair transplant surgery include the Italian Society of Trichology, the International Society of Hair Restoration (ISHRS) which provides continuing education to physicians specialising in hair transplant and restoration surgery, and the European Society of Hair Restoration (ESHRS). The Institute of Trichologists is the leading professional organisation for trichologists around the world and is the largest provider of training in Europe.

The Italian Ministry of Health inspects, oversees and assesses all clinics and hospitals in Italy and the Instituto Superiore di Sanita (ISS) is the leading technical and scientific public body of the Italian National Health Service whose activities include research, control, training and consultation in the interest of public health protection. The National Association of Doctors works in association with the government.

Travel and accommodation

Italy has over 30 airports, with international airports located at: Bologna Marconi, Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Naples, Pisa, Rome Leonardo da Vinci and Venice Marco Polo. There are plenty of airlines flying from the UK, including scheduled airlines like British Airways and Alitalia, along with various budget and charter airlines including Ryanair, Jet2, Thomas Cook, My Travel and First Choice.

Ryanair flies from London Stansted, London Luton, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Glasgow Prestwick, East Midlands and Liverpool. Look out for Ryanair’s special deal flights from just £9.99 one way. Easyjet flies from London Gatwick and Stansted to Roma Campi, Milan, Bologna, Venice, Naples, and to Rome from Bristol. BMI British Midland flies to Milan from London Heathrow.

British Airways flies from London Gatwick to Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Naples, Pisa, Rome, Turin, Venice and Verona. From London Heathrow British Airways flies to Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa and Rome. It also has flights from Birmingham to Milan Malpensa, Bristol to Milan Malpensa, Manchester to Milan Malpensa and London City to Milan Malpensa. Fares with British Airways to Italy start from £34 to Verona and Pisa one way inclusive, Rome from £45 one way inclusive and to Milan from £49.

To and from the airport

Getting to and from any of the airports is relatively straightforward. Public transport is good and there are airport buses, trains and taxis. In Rome for example a new fixed fare taxi is in operation at the Fiumicino Airport, near exits A, B and C and the cost of the taxi service is €40, inclusive of luggage, for a maximum of four passengers. The “official” taxis are white with a TAXI sign. The “unofficial” taxis will try to charge more money.

Arriving by boat and train

There is an extensive network of roads, railways and ferry lines in Italy and road/rail links cross into the country from France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The train journey from London is straightforward. Take the Eurostar from London Waterloo and a direct overnight sleeper train from Paris to Milan, Verona, Venice, Bologna, Florence or Rome. Prices start from £59 on the Eurostar and between £25 and £52 for a single fare from Paris to Italy. For more information on prices visit Seat 61 or Rail Europe.

Italy’s principal ports are Ancona, Bari, Brindisi, Cagliari, Catania, Civitavecchia, Genoa, Livorno, Messina, Naples, Palermo, Pescara, La Spezia, Trieste and Venice. There are ferries from Greece to Italy departing from Corfu and Patras to Brindisi. A number of car and passenger ferries operate throughout the year linking Italian ports. Additionally, there are regular ferry and hydrofoil services to the islands of Capri, Elba, Giglio, Sardinia, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands.

Travelling within the country

The best way to get around the country is by train. Italy has almost 16,000km (9400 miles) of rail track and the Italian State Railways runs a reliable and reasonably priced nationwide network, calculated on the actual distance travelled, with many beautiful journeys passing lakes, countryside and mountains. The Trenitalia Pass rail card is available to visitors to allow four to 10 days unlimited travel within a two-month period during which time any train in Italy can be used (except for Eurostar Italia services where a small supplement is due) as well as some discounts on Italy-Greece ferry routes and hotels. Trenitalia has lots of information about train travel in Italy including national, Eurostar and Intercity trains.

Car travel

Italy has over 6000km (3700 miles) of motorway (autostrada) which link all parts of the country and having a car is a great way to see more of the country, but not an ideal mode de transport in the cities due to the limited parking opportunities and the reputation of Italian drivers! The usual car rental companies are located at the airports and in most cities and resorts, but hiring a car can be quite expensive in Italy due to the cost of the rental itself and the price of petrol. Small local firms offer cheaper cars but these can only be booked locally.

Road signs are international in Italy and on the motorway tolls are charged at varying distances and scales, except for the SalernoReggio Calabria, PalermoCatania and PalermoMazara Del Vallo stretches, which are toll-free. Secondary roads are also excellent and require no tolls. More information on the Italian motorway network is available from the Societ Autostrade. Driving is on the right.

Public transport

Good coach services also run between towns and cities and there are extensive local buses on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia but in remote areas buses will connect with rail services. Domestic flights can be taken with national airline Alitalia. Most of the Italian cities have good reliable public transport systems with bus and metro services. Getting about Rome is best done by bus, Milan by Metro and much of Venice will be traversed either by foot or water, via a Vaporetti (water bus), Gondola or water taxi.

In Rome the average cost for a double en suite room in a three star hotel with breakfast is between €60 and €100.

Italy is GMT + 1 and the currency is the Euro.

About Italy

Italy is a country that really does have it all. From the magnificent mountains of the Alps and the Dolomites, to the stunning beaches of Capri and the Italian Riviera; from ancient Roman ruins to the timeless rolling countryside of Tuscany. Whatever you want from a destination, you’ll find it here.

Italian’s have a real joy of living, and it’s easy to see why. Great cooking, delicious wines, unrivalled sartorial style and a laid back approach to life makes for good living from the mountainous industrial north to the unspoilt beaches of the south. It is no accident that some of the world’s top fashion houses, most exciting sports cars and most inspiring art can all be found in Italy; this is not a country that does anything by halves.

While most countries have one or two iconic cities to visit, Italy has literally dozens. Florence, Genoa, Naples, Pisa, Turin and Venice all conjure images of spectacular renaissance architecture and chic style and they’re not even the best! Italy’s capital, Rome, is a city like no other, with incredible Roman ruins such as the Coliseum, sitting alongside chic boutiques and some of the world’s finest restaurants. Rome was once the capital of the known world, and it shows. For many, it is still the centre, with the Papal State, a unique country within a country and home to the Catholic Church, lying in the heart of Rome itself.

History is everywhere in Italy, with Roman ruins and an intriguing mix of other influences on show at every turn. The grand St Peter’s Square and ancient canals of Venice are a must, as is the famous ‘Leaning Tower’ in Pisa. However, while Italy has countless historic sites and attractions, nothing comes close to Pompeii, the Roman city immaculately preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. Here you can walk back through time along the original Roman streets, where the echoes of the bustling crowds see to still hang in the air.

There are so many sights to see, but Italy is about much more than sightseeing. Italy is about living, whether that’s hurling down a ski slope in the shadow of Mont Blanc, or stretching out in the sun in Sardinia. Best of all, you’re welcomed to join in with open arms. Italians have a warm, friendly approach to life and are delighted to share their country with visitors because they understand just why you want to be there.