Considering Cosmetic Surgery? Try Mexico

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures are performed in hospitals and outpatient facilities across the U.S.  It's wonderful news to hear that our nation is prospering in its growth of cosmetic surgeries, but that doesn't mean it is the only nation that hosts safe, successful cosmetic procedures.

For many years, the mainstream media have reported the rising trend of botched cosmetic surgeries performed overseas. Scripted television shows and nightly news specials often run stories about individuals who come back horribly scarred, deathly ill, and slightly deformed from cosmetic surgery done abroad. Should there be such fear surrounding this issue?  I believe not.

In fact, if you follow the protocol you would in the U.S. of finding the safest facility, choosing an extensively experienced surgeon and orchestrating a well-planned recovery plan, there is no reason why getting surgery abroad should be concerning or alarming.  These horror stories you'll hear are about people who were foolish enough not to do the research it required to choose a qualified surgeon or facility.

Oftentimes, people choose to have their cosmetic surgeries performed in the U.S. simply because they are eager to get the procedure done, need to get back to their daily lives right away, or aren't aware of all the viable alternatives available to them, such as getting surgery outside the U.S. in places like Mexico or Canada.

Over the years, a growing number of people from the U.S. have been heading north and south to Canada and Mexico to pursue cosmetic surgeries and have often found that it is not only extremely safe to do so, it's also much more affordable.  For those of you who are considering surgery abroad, consider these three reasons why getting a cosmetic procedure performed in Mexico might be the best option for you.

Procedure Affordability

A lot of people overlook the affordability of surgery in Mexico simply because they fear that the standard of care will go down by leaving the U.S.  That is not the case at all, in fact.  Plastic surgeons in Mexico often attend school in the U.S. only to come back to Mexico to open practices.  Furthermore, with the right amount of research, some procedures can be found at half or less than the price of one in the U.S.  Facelifts, for instance, range between $5,000 to $6,000 in the U.S., but the same procedure runs around $2,000 to $2,500 in Mexico.  A breast reduction is the one procedure where people often see the most savings.  A breast reduction usually runs at a costly $9,000 in the U.S., but is usually found for about $2,500 in Mexico.  So if saving money is one of your concerns, then Mexico would be a great option to consider.

Proximity to the U.S.

For those of you who are absolutely terrified about being too far away from a U.S. hospital, there could be no better place to travel than to Mexico to get your surgery.  Many of the cosmetic facilities are often only miles from the border, and though it is unlikely, if something were to go wrong, you'd be close enough that you would be able to get back to the U.S. for care.  Can you imagine if something was to go wrong and you were somewhere overseas or thousands of miles away? Yes, it's unlikely, but if that's a concern on your mind, then choosing Mexico would be the wisest location choice outside of the U.S. For peace of mind, perhaps consider tracking the miles your surgery facility is to the closest U.S. hospital.

Lower Travel Costs

Sometimes people get so excited by the low cost of procedures abroad that they start scheduling surgeries, booking plane tickets, scheduling hotel stays, etc.  Let me be clear about this point: Your surgery is not a vacation.  Surgery is not to be taken lightly, and it's unlikely that'll you want to go out to eat, run around, and take photos after having a procedure done.  Furthermore, the costs of traveling overseas may actually cost more than a procedure in the U.S. in the end.  Mexico, however, is a cheap surgery destination.  You might consider cheap flights or even driving to get there, and the good news is that you'll save a lot more money than you would have if you traveled somewhere else.

Whenever you're considering surgery outside of the U.S., it's important to thoroughly consider whether it's right for you.  If you find yourself trying to pick a destination, Mexico is a feasible alternative for an endless number of reasons.

Today's guest post comes courtesy of Amelia Wood, who often writes about medical billing and coding certification and welcomes your responses at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .