Aside from medical tourism, another area of growth in the medical industry involves the use of technology to provide virtual consultation to patients from foreign countries as well as patients within the country but from another state or region.

Park Avenue Smart Lipo, a cosmetic surgery company operating in New York city’s Upper East Side, has taken advantage of the digital age to allow its clients to consult with the surgeons at the clinic using iChat or Skype. By using these technologies, patients can consult with surgeons at the clinic without the need to go to the clinic. This service is particularly helpful for those who live outside the tri-state area (New Jersey, New York and Connecticut). The virtual consultation helps the Park Avenue Smart Lipo determine the eligibility of patients for surgery. Most of the clinic’s patients are from the age range of 22-38, the age range most comfortable with the use of computers and internet technologies.