Mexico
Liposuction
Step over the border and the price of tumescent liposuction is roughly half that of the U.S. But buyer beware: In 2023, a Houston woman died from fungal meningitis following a treatment in the town of Matamoros.
Colombia
Butt Lift
For those seeking that dramatic Kardashian-like waist-to-hip ratio, Bogota may deliver. The Colombian technique typically entails a more aggressive liposuction of fat at the middle to graft to hips and bum. But remember that aggressive lipo can lead to excessive bleeding and more.
Trinidad
Tummy Tuck
The island has become a popular locale for this procedure, but complications can happen. “A patient came to see me about two or three weeks after having this surgery abroad, lifts up her shirt, and [the skin] was completely black, like necrosis, from the belly button to pubic hair,” says NYC plastic surgeon Dr. David Shafer. “We went right into surgery and eventually everything was OK, but she paid for two procedures.”
Brazil
Breast Augmentation
In São Paulo, it’s not uncommon to see aesthetic clinics that offer everything from Botox to yoga classes to new breasts. Of course it’s become a destination for augmentation: The nation pioneered the teardrop gummy bear breast implants which look — and feel — hyper-natural.
Poland
Fat Lipolysis Injections
Much like how Kybella works to reduce a double chin, lipolysis injection treatments popular in Eastern Europe aim to sculpt the body, reducing small pockets of fat on upper arms, abs, lower back, knees, and more, however the substances commonly used are not FDA approved.
Japan
Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty won’t necessarily cost less, but you will find some of the most skilled surgeons in the world, since double-eyelid surgery has been practiced in Japan since 1896. Western techniques are gaining popularity, and many clinics have English-speaking surgeons.
South Korea
Jawline Resculpting
If you desire a sharper chin a lá Jennie from Blackpink, head to one of the 400 aesthetic clinics in the Gangnam district of Seoul. Many perform V-line surgery, which involves facial contouring by shaving bone. But this isn’t exactly a tweakment. “They’re really radical surgeries,” Shafer warns.
Hungary
Deep Plane Facelift
It may seem attractive to cut the cost of the Rolls Royce of plastic surgery — which can run upwards of $50K — but consider how much you’ll spend on travel and lodging. With swelling, bruising and draining, “you’re not getting on a plane for at least two weeks after,” Dr. Shafer says.
Turkey
Hair Transplant
Long the follicle transplant capital for men, Istanbul boasts a booming aesthetic tourism industry. And for obvious reason: The procedure will set you back a whopping 80 percent less than if you choose to have it in the U.S. But you may get what you pay for, according to Dr. Shafer. “I’ve had patients go over there to get it, some with great results and some with not so great results.”
Singapore
Rhinoplasty
Clinics on the South Pacific island specialize in “functional rhinoplasty,” meant to improve breathing (but touted to leave “beautiful, face-balancing” results), with prices that can be significantly lower than a nose job in, say, NYC, where cosmetic rhinoplasty can run up to $30,000.
