Medical tourism: Cosmetic surgery

Medical tourism is a growth industry. In 2006, some 50,000 Brits opted out of the NHS to be treated on foreign soil. State-of-the-art clinics are springing up across Europe and throughout the rest of the world. The choice is vast and savings can be huge - so you can even get a luxury holiday into the bargain.

Cosmetic surgery
Cutting the cost of plastic surgery has never been easier. If you have a boob job in the Czech Republic it would be the equivalent of a two-for-one deal. In less than a decade the number of clinics in Prague offering plastic surgery has ballooned from just one to more than 100. South America is another hotspot for cosmetics. Brazil and Argentina are both at the cutting edge, packed with scalpel-wielding plastic surgeons.

All the usual treatments are available including liposuction, tummy tucks, boob jobs, eyelid lifts and rhinoplasty (nose jobs). The clinics in Europe and further afield are well equipped and well staffed. In Prague, for instance, many surgeons are registered with the British General Medical Council.

More than 30 per cent of Argentines have "work" done. In fact it's not unusual for parents to give boob jobs to teenagers as birthday presents. Recife in Brazil is known as the plastic surgery capital of the world. Because of transport costs it's really only an option if you're going to combine it with a holiday. But just imagine debuting your new 36DDs on Copacabana Beach.

A boob job in Prague will cost around £2,100, compared with £4,350 in the UK - that's a whopping 50-per-cent saving. A facelift costs around £7,000 in a UK clinic, but can be had for a little as £2,000 in Prague. A nose job costs £1,600 in Prague, but will set you back up to £4,000 in the UK. South America is, surprisingly, more expensive at around £2,600 for a boob job.

Links: Bodies Beautiful Ltd | Cosmetic Vacations
Be there: Prague | Recife
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