For some, the best incentive to travel to a particular country is the clear sea, delicious food or shopping opportunities, while for others, highly qualified doctors and modern clinics. The latter is also called a medical tourist. The term “medical tourism” is used to describe international travel for medical purposes. It can be hair transplant surgery, dentistry or plastic surgery.
Medical tourism is a multi-billion dollar global market that continues to grow by about 10% each year.
According to the estimates for 2023, the number of medical tourists reaches approximately 14 million people. And the most popular destinations are Türkiye, Colombia and Mexico.
So what is the motivation of medical tourists and which countries are the most attractive for such travels?
Why are you going to another country for medicine?
In general, there are two main reasons that determine the flow of beauty tourism from around the world to certain countries.
Valerio Matano, President of Promoitalia, a global manufacturer of aesthetic medicine
“The first option is those who cannot find a specialist they can trust in their own country and are ready to devote a large budget to find a suitable specialist in another country. Second, on the contrary, budget optimization: when a country specializes in a particular type of service, competition is higher and prices are lower as a result,” explains Valerio Matano, President of Promoitalia.
Medical tourists seek services abroad for various reasons.
Perhaps these are the main advantages of medical tourism. However, there are also disadvantages to be aware of.
What are the risks?
Of course, among the main disadvantages of medical tourism can be distinguished the risk of encountering the professionalism of a doctor and the low quality of the services provided. For those who have never tried such trips before, it is difficult to choose a good clinic and doctor on their own, without the help of friends and specialists. But beyond that, there are less obvious risks.
Naira Mirzayeva, CEO, RE:Flex Lab Communications Agency
“First, traveling abroad for any medical purpose requires significant overheads: flight, accommodation, insurance, translation services and more. When summing up all the numbers, it turns out that such an operation is much more expensive than in Russia.
Second, the patient who accepts a surgery in another country always takes all the risks. If something goes wrong, you won’t have the opportunity to sue and get compensation because you’re a citizen of another country,” says Naira Mirzayeva, CEO of RE:Flex Lab communications agency.
Third, air travel. Flying after surgery can increase the risk of blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis. For example, people who have undergone aesthetic operations on their face, eyelids or nose should wait 7-10 days before flying.
The best countries for medical tourism
Türkiye
Today, one of the most popular destinations among medical tourists is Turkey. The most popular procedure here is hair transplantation using the seamless FUE (Follicular Unit Excision) method. But in addition to this, Turkey also performs weight loss surgeries (eg, liposuction), rhinoplasty and others. In general, it is worth saying that the popularity of this direction did not appear suddenly.
“An important role in the development and expansion of medical tourism in Turkey has been played by the government, which has invested more than 30 billion dollars in the sector,” explains Naira Mirzayeva.
For this reason, the flow of medical tourists is increasing every year. For example, Aiza-Liluna Ai recently went there for a hair transplant and then told us all the details of the operation.
We also spoke with Sergey to find out the details of the operation.
sergei kurachev
“In Turkey, you go to a specific doctor, not a clinic. Found this on the recommendation of a blogger. The procedure itself took three days. On the first day of arrival and in the evening collection of tests. The next day the operation takes place – first they inject anesthetic and remove the hair on the nape. And after a break they are anesthetized again and they are already starting to be implanted. In general, the entire operation takes about eight hours.
I’ve been to Turkey four times already. Not because I did it badly, but because I have such a hair structure and donor area, I had to do this several times for a quality result. Brunettes generally need less travel.”
The most popular procedures: hair transplantation, weight loss surgery, rhinoplasty, dentistry.
Mexican
Mexico is the most popular for Americans and the second most popular medical tourism destination in the world. This surge in medical tourism gained momentum as the US eased border restrictions with Mexico in late 2021. Costa Rica is the second most popular destination for US visitors seeking medical care in other countries.
Most people travel for dental and cosmetic work. Cosmetic surgery is just one of those procedures that are much cheaper in Mexico. North American patients go to Mexico for medical care primarily to save 50 to 70% of what they would pay for elective care in the United States.
The most popular procedures: breast lift, face lift, botox, dentistry, bariatric surgery (surgical replacement of stomach, intestines to reduce weight).
South Korea
South Korea is the perfect place if you need a rhinoplasty, facelift or intimate area whitening. Seoul boasts more plastic surgeons per capita than anywhere else on the planet – twice the US and 150% more surgeons than Brazil, the second highest number.
The real number of Russian tourists who went to South Korea for treatment in 2021 was around 6.4 thousand people. A total of about 145,800 foreigners arrived in South Korea as medical tourists that year, a significant drop from previous years due to restrictions related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Today, South Korea is one of the main suppliers of devices for aesthetic medicine, injectables, cosmetics and substances. It is clear that for effective sales there must be cases, a methodology and training centers should be created. This gave a great impetus to the development from general medicine to aesthetic medicine” explains Valerio Matano.
The most popular procedures: face lift, thread lift, rhinoplasty, breast aesthetics, blepharoplasty.
Colombia
Colombia is also becoming an increasingly popular destination for plastic surgery. There are several reasons why people choose Colombia for plastic surgery. One of the most important is the quality of medical care. Colombia has highly qualified surgeons and well-equipped medical facilities that meet international standards. The country has a number of board-certified plastic surgeons who are members of the Colombian Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (SCCP). Another reason to choose Colombia for plastic surgery is the cost, which can be significantly lower than in the United States and other developed countries.
The most popular procedures: abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), Brazilian hip lift, rhinoplasty, liposuction.
Russia
In 2018, the World Tourism Organization at the UN UNWTO ranked Russia in fifth place in the world in terms of attractiveness of medical and health tourism.
“This applies to Russia: excellent medical traditions, deep basic training and continuing professional development. Russian doctors tour other countries, receive a lot of positive feedback and are known for their deeply integrated approach and excellent aesthetic taste. Of course, we can talk about such “tour” conditions. Filled contour plastics, botulinum treatment, rope liftingas well as consultations in the field of nutrition,” says Valerio Matano.
“They’re going to Russia. IVF procedure. Working with the nation’s largest reproductive centers, we see how the demand for “fertility tourism” is increasing year by year,” Naira says. “Many clinics have already set up dedicated departments to work with foreigners planning an IVF procedure (IVF).
Naira, “Why Russia?” Any woman can cross a married couple, it is possible to use donor material. It is much more difficult legally in European countries. Second, the price. In the United States and some other countries it becomes unaffordable for most people, as insurance does not cover IVF and its commercial cost is tens of thousands of dollars. Even taking into account the flight and residence in Russia, the IVF protocol is significantly inferior. Third, Russian specialists have had great success, with positive results reaching 87% in some clinics.”
Also, people go to go to Russia. laser vision correction. “There is no doubt that the founders of the technologies are experts from Germany and they continue to protect the leaders of the industry. But because of the geographical proximity, many neighbors from the CIS go to Russia for ophthalmological treatment,” says Naira.
And of course people go to Russia for beauty. Obviously, the most popular areas of inbound tourism are cosmetology, cosmetology and elective surgery. It is difficult to imagine a country that can bypass Russia in terms of quality of service and level of service in the field of beauty.
The most popular procedures: IVF, laser vision correction, cosmetology.
Brazil
Brazil is the world capital of medical tourism in the field of plastic surgery. While Mexico is America’s most famous country for foreigners seeking medical care, Brazil stands out as one of the region’s most developed destinations. Looking good and feeling sexy is important in Brazil, so it’s no surprise that there are so many plastic surgeons in this country. Most often they come here for plastic surgery and aim to lose weight.
The most popular procedures: breast aesthetics, liposuction.
Source: People Talk
I’m Roger Gritton, and I’ve been writing for the The Fashion Vibes for over 5 years now. My specialty is beauty news; I’m passionate about covering the latest trends, products, and innovations in the industry. In my time there, I’ve become known as an authority on all things beauty-related.
I love discovering new experts to interview, researching up-and-coming ingredients and techniques that are making their way onto our beauty shelves and highlighting people who are making a difference in the world of cosmetics. My work has appeared not only on The Fashion Vibes, but also several other publications including the New York Times Magazine, Allure Magazine and Refinery29.
