Best Country for Plastic Surgery | Top Countries for U.S. Travelers (Feb 2022) (2024)

What is the best country for plastic surgery? Brazil, Mexico, The United States, or Thailand.

You want to get rid of those fat rolls, you want a tummy tuck because your kids wreaked havoc on your body up or maybe you’ve had small tata’s your entire life and finally decided you want bigger boobs.

It doesn’t matter why you want to have plastic surgery – you must do your research and decide the best country for plastic surgery which will meet all of your needs.

These are the top eleven countries for plastic surgery, according to statistics from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

According to The International Medical Travel Journal, some of the top destinations for medical tourism include Thailand, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States.

When it comes to cosmetic procedures, in particular – Mexico, Brazil, and the United States take the top spots.

If you are researching the best country to have your plastic surgery procedure I suggest going with countries that have been ranked as the best because of their hospitals and medical professionals.

Plastic surgery is growing in popularity each year, with almost 18 million surgical procedures taking place in the United States annually. Women are no longer the only people having cosmetic surgery.

Men are contributing to the boom in procedures as well and the following are the 10 most common plastic surgery procedures.

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Top 10 Cosmetic Procedures are the following:

1. breast augmentation
2. liposuction
3. nose reshaping
4. eyelid surgery
5. tummy tuck
6. facelift
7. breast lift
8. forehead lift
9. Gynecomastia Treatment
10. breast reduction

Body-sculpting procedures such as buttock augmentations, which improve the contour, size, or shape of your butt, and thigh lifts, which reduce excess skin and fat of your upper legs, also saw an increase.

The Top Eleven Countries for Plastic Surgery Procedures

1. Mexico

Another relatively low-cost medical tourism destination, Mexico has seen a marked increase in its number of plastic surgery centers.

Tijuana and Cancun are extremely popular medical tourism destinations because of their proximity to the United States, and most of the plastic surgery centers in Tijuana and Cancun are located near resort areas.

Mexican hospitals often have plastic surgeons who are certified to do procedures in the United States which means they are U.S. board-certified.

A California woman died and two others were hospitalized after they all received plastic surgery on the same day at a clinic in Mexico, according to a report.

Keuana Weaver, a 38-year-old mother of two, died on the operating table at Art Siluette Aesthetic Surgery in Tijuana on Jan. 29,the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Weaver’s friend Kanisha Davis said both of them had scheduled liposuction and tummy tucks for that day with the same doctor.

It is important to make sure your doctors are certified whether you are in the U.S. or any other country.

While deaths do happen I still believe Mexico is by far the best country for plastic surgery in my opinion.

2. The United States

With over 3 million procedures performed annually, the United States accounted for the most cosmetic enhancements for the second year in a row.

Cosmetic procedures, both surgical and nonsurgical, “have also become more affordable,

Plenty of financing options exists, from medical credit cards and personal loans to payment plans offered by doctor’s offices.

Health insurance typically only covers cosmetic procedures due to a medical reason — such as breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.

I had my last procedure done in Nashville at the Plastic Surgery Center of Nashville which is a Female only Plastic Surgery Center.

Dr. Mary Gingrass and Dr. Melinda Haws are board-certified plastic surgeons directing the Plastic Surgery Center of Nashville.

Both have been prominently featured in the local and national media for their expertise in the plastic surgery industry.

In addition, each has been honored with the RealSelf 500 award, a prestigious award given to the top 500 doctors in the world who have provided valuable insight and advice on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery for patients and consumers.

3. Malaysia

Malaysia treats more than half a million people from other countries thanks to its low costs of cosmetic surgery and modern infrastructure.

In fact, the infrastructure in Malaysia is considered better than what’s found in places like India, and English is also spoken more widely in Malaysia than in other Asian countries like Thailand.

4. Brazil

Brazil is second in the world, after the United States, in terms of the number of cosmetic procedures performed annually, and Rio de Janeiro is considered the “World Capital of Plastic Surgery.”

Brazil is known for its innovative ideas in the field of cosmetic procedures, as well as its protocols to ensure patient safety.

You can find highly trained doctors and your procedures could cost substantially less than what you would pay in Western nations which makes Brazil one of the best countries for plastic surgery.

5. Thailand

Thailand has a booming medical tourism industry and you can expect to receive a variety of high-quality treatments and plastic surgeries at more affordable rates than you can get elsewhere.

Cosmetic surgeon professionals in Thailand are trained in the U.S. and speak English. I recommend traveling to Bangkok if you want the best doctors in the country.

If Asia is on your bucket list you should definitely consider Thailand as it is also the best country for plastic surgery.

6. Colombia

In 2011, more than 1 million people visited the country, and insiders say at least 3 percent come for plastic surgery.

Colombia has become the fourth leading destination for foreigners seeking cosmetic surgeries, most of them Spaniards and U.S. citizens lured by the lower prices and the promise of maintaining a youthful appearance.

The South American country has a reputation for quality cosmetic surgeries at lower prices than elsewhere. A breast implant costs $3,000 to $4,000 in Miami but $1,500 to $3,000 in Colombia.

A liposuction that costs $4,000 to $8,000 in Miami costs $800 to $2,500 in Colombia.

7. France

France is in the top 10 countries for the number of procedures and represents 2.2 % of all procedures.

This is short of only the USA and Brazil whose percentage is in the teens. The most popular procedure in France is breast augmentation and liposuction followed by Facelifts (lifting) and rhinoplasty procedures.

Some of the best cosmetic surgery techniques actually originated in France, where many top surgeons and practitioners still come from all over the world to be trained in France.

The country’s reputation has suffered recently due to a recent scandal involving defective silicone gel breast implants manufactured by French company PIP (Poly Implant Prothese), which although approved by the French government were found to be substandard with a relatively high chance of bursting.

8. India

One of the leading destinations for low-cost cosmetic surgery. The country has world-class hospitals with far lower facility costs that translate to dramatically reduced cosmetic surgery costs.

India has 2,000 board-certified plastic surgeons compared to 5,700 in the USA, while the total number of surgeons in the 25 countries is 30,817.

Many Indian medical tourism destinations furnish vacationers with a beach or other high-end resort package, and while airline tickets can be quite pricey, patients often enjoy 90% savings on plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures as compared with similar procedures in America.

Indian surgeons performed 117,140 cases of liposuction, 109,580 of Breast Augmentation, 60,280 of Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping), and 54,720 of Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck).

9. Italy

Italy is probably not top of your mind when you think about the best country for plastic surgery. The recent reports have shown that Italy is among the top 5 countries for cosmetic procedures with 650,000 procedures in 2018.

10. Japan

Japan has thousands of patients traveling from overseas annually – mainly from other Asian countries – as it has great tourist attractions as well as high-quality medical care.

The Japanese government has realized the rise in the popularity of medical tourism and is now preparing to integrate medical tourism into its marketing efforts moving forward.

According to the Japan Tourism Agency, Thailand sees 1.2 million patients and Singapore sees 620,000 patients from overseas each year.

Japan is now aiming at becoming the top Asian destination for medical care by 2020, with an estimated 430,000 international patients annually.

11. China

China is looking to seriously develop domestic and inbound health tourism and domestic health tourism has boomed on the Chinese mainland over the past few years.

The ChineseNational Tourism Administration(CNTA) argues that advancing the integrative development of health and tourism could meet the practical needs of the national strategy and industry development.

The Chinese state sees the developing tourism industry as having a major contribution to the national economy.

The Benefits of Medical Tourism

The benefits of medical tourism can be substantial, particularly when you take the appropriate steps to prepare for your trip and the care you’ll receive abroad.

• One of the main benefits of getting plastic surgery overseas is getting high-quality medical procedures you need at a lower price.

• This is actually the number one reason why so many people are choosing to go abroad, as you can save anywhere from 30-80% when compared to the costs you’d incur in a country like the U.S.

• Even when you factor in the costs of travel, medical tourism might be the most affordable option.

• Most health insurance won’t cover plastic surgery, so medical tourism can give you access to the care you want.

• Even if your surgery is covered by insurance, you might find that the out-of-pocket costs associated with treatments in your home country are more than what it would cost to travel to another country for the procedure.

• You can recover in private. Many people prefer to have plastic surgery and other operations overseas, so they can recover comfortably at a hotel without family or friends dropping in during the healing process.

• Established global standards of medical care, combined with advancements in technology within the healthcare field, have improved health care throughout the world, giving patients more options.

• Many of the medical professionals who offer their services to patients from abroad are not only trained but also certified, in Western nations, including the U.K. and the U.S.

• There are also medical centers throughout the world that are accredited by international organizations to prove their excellence, and some are members of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Things to Consider Before You Get Plastic Surgery Abroad

Medical tourism can provide many benefits for patients, but there are also some risks that you need to consider before hopping on a plane and heading off to Mexico for that tummy tuck, Brazil for a nose job, or to Thailand for a facelift.

Generally, regardless of where you are traveling to receive your medical treatments, you should be aware of the following:

• There may be an increased risk of developing blood clots if you fly after having surgery.

• Therefore, always plan for an appropriate amount of recuperation time. Then, when you are on your flight home, make it a point to get up and move around often to keep the blood flowing.

• If you don’t speak the native language fluently and if you aren’t planning on traveling with someone who knows the language and can speak on your behalf, it could be difficult to communicate with your doctor and nurses in a foreign country.

• This could increase the risk of complications and misunderstandings regarding your care.

• Taking someone with you or arranging for a translator may be beneficial if you have concerns about language barriers–especially if your doctor is in high demand and the hospital staff may not have the same level of language skills as your doctor.

• In some nations, there is the risk that medications will be of poorer quality than what you would receive at home.

• Medications might even be counterfeit in foreign countries.

• You can avoid problems by getting your prescriptions from legitimate pharmacies (you can ask your country’s embassy to help you find one) and always asking for a receipt.

• Never shop from street vendors, open markets, or suspicious-looking establishments, and avoid medications that are priced super cheap.

• Also, closely examine the pills themselves and their packaging, especially if you know what the medications are supposed to look like.

• Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem all over the world, and it could be more widespread in countries where medical tourism is common.

• Bacterial strains that are resistant to antibiotics can result in complications that include serious infections.

• The right medical facility will order tests to determine the specific antibiotics that you need, as well as answer your questions regarding any antibiotic-resistant strains that they’ve dealt with in the past. When given antibiotics, always take them exactly as prescribed.

• There have already been outbreaks of infectious diseases amongst medical tourists who have returned home to the U.S.

• If you experience difficulties when you return home, be open and honest with your primary care physician and be sure to furnish all the records regarding the care you received abroad.

Paying for Plastic Surgery in Other Countries

Another thing you need to consider when you become a medical tourist is how you will pay for the treatments you will receive and the procedures you will undergo.

Make sure you get a quote for exactly how much you will be expected to pay and consider the costs of traveling to and from your destination, as well as the cost of your hotel during your stay.

Know exactly what you’ll be paying even if you won’t be having your procedure for another 6 months.

A clear price point is vital for making the best possible decision.

I created a list of some of the most popular cosmetic procedures in North America, with their respective costs in the US.

For your convenience, we also included the average price in Mexico.

Conclusion of the Best Countries for Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is a $16 billion-dollar industry in the United States with 17.5 million cosmetic and minimally-invasive procedures performed in 2017, according to statistics from theAmerican Society of Plastic Surgeons.

By traveling abroad, you can save up to 80 percent for plastic surgery, depending on the procedure and the country.

Brazil, Japan, Italy, and Mexico are among the top international destinations of choice for cosmetic surgery I have had procedures done in Mexico and so has my BFF and we were completely satisfied with our results.

Find a reputable doctor you trust

Research! Research! and do more Research! Seek care from a skilled board-certified plastic surgeon who will prioritize your care and listen to your needs.

Be specific about what you want to be different

By understanding what you’re seeing and hoping to improve, the surgeon can hopefully match a procedure that’s safe, as well as one that meets your desired goals.

Be realistic, please!

Doctors “aspire to improve your overall baseline look, not a shortfall from perfection.

Plastic surgery is medicine, not magic so don’t expect to look like an entirely different person.

Ready to plan your trip, grab myFREE Vacation Plannerto help you plan your trip in the time it takes to watch your favorite TV show!

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I have come to the end of my guide to the best country for plastic surgery! Which country are you thinking about going to for plastic surgery?

I would love to hear about the best countries for plastic surgery and if you have had cosmetic surgery out of the country where did you go. Leave me a comment onFacebook,Twitter,orInstagram.

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