Did you know that every year, approximately 140 million people travel to other countries to receive medical care?
-Medical Tourism Association (MTA)
Gone are the days when people struggled to access superior healthcare due to limited infrastructure facilities, high medical costs, and inexperienced medical professionals! Today, the world has become a global village, thanks to fast connectivity, easy communication, and cost-effective options that help patients receive the best medical facilities without burning a hole in their pockets! The concept of ‘medical tourism’ has been making headlines as more and more patients travel to other countries to seek high-quality, affordable medical treatment.
Recently we’ve been reading a lot about medical tourism Mexico. You might think that people travel overseas only to treat life-threatening surgeries but the real picture is quite different!
Patients often travel out of the country to seek superior healthcare services at minimal cost for procedures like bariatric surgery, cosmetic treatments, dental work, oncology, fertility treatments, and orthopedic treatments. Medical tourism to Mexico, Singapore, Korea, and Thailand has been a rage and this scenario brings up a lot of questions like
What could be the growth drivers of medical tourism?
Why is aesthetic medical tourism gaining popularity?
What are the top destinations of healthcare tourism?
Let’s find out!
The Rise of Aesthetic Medical Tourism – Key Factors & Growth Drivers
The global medical tourism market was valued at 24.14 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach 137.71 billion by 2032.
-Report Published in Fortune Business Insights
In the last few decades, there has been a remarkable growth in aesthetic medical tourism. The rising healthcare cost and easy access to destinations have led to a sudden boom in wellness tourism especially in the domain of aesthetics procedures that include lip augmentation, correction of hip dips, buttocks augmentation, calves rejuvenation, gluteal fat grafting, Brazilian Butt Lifts, and more! Other factors, such as the globalization of health services have initiated a lot of interest among people, which means that medical treatments are combined with wellness retreats to recuperate in a relaxing environment. A sudden boom in Mexico medical tourism is a perfect example that sums up these factors. Apart from this, here’s what we found out-
- Affordable, Quality Care: One of the major driving factors for the growth of aesthetics is the low cost of treatment. While fixing wrinkles from your forehead or contouring your jawline might cost a bomb in your home country, you can easily get these aesthetic enhancement procedures done in another country at minimal cost with state-of-the-art facilities. Plus, an opportunity to explore and travel to a new destination!
- Privacy & Anonymity: Many people prefer to keep their decision to undergo aesthetic treatments private simply to avoid judgements from friends and family. They choose another country, undergo the treatments discreetly, and get back with the desired results!
- Easy Access to Advanced Treatments: Medical tourism allows people to avail the best of services and cutting-edge treatments that are not yet available or approved in their home country. Places that offer top-notch medical facilities and conform to international accreditations and certifications are highly preferred!
- Less Waiting Time: Unlike their home countries where there is a long waiting line of patients to get a single treatment, other countries allow patients to choose the time as per their convenience. They can go for different aesthetic procedures like Buttock augmentation with HA dermal fillers, hip dips correction, etc.
Medical Tourism Landscape
The medical tourism landscape is diverse as countries from every region – Asia (India, Thailand, Singapore), Latin America (Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil), and Europe (Turkey, Hungary, Poland) are leading the charts as the top health tourism destinations. The need for desired medical outcomes takes people to places even across borders, which are not limited to a specific region but spread across the globe. Here are the top destinations for aesthetic procedures.
Top Medical Tourism Destinations for Aesthetic Procedures
People’s perception of an ideal body image pushes them to explore new options that help them achieve their desired looks. Here is the list of countries that are popular for medical tourism.
Mexico
Medical tourism in Mexico is stealing a lot of attention as patients are opting for different types of aesthetic procedures in the country namely buttocks augmentation, hips dips correction, body contouring, etc. According to ISAPS Global Survey 2023, Mexico was among the top counties with foreign patients.
Mexico's health tourism is on the rise as the country offers top-class medical facilities that focus on affordable aesthetic enhancement procedures in addition to special travel plans for international patients. Major cities in Mexico like Tijuana, Baja California, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Guadalajara offer myriad healthcare options. These cities are famous for excellent doctors and hotel accommodations that offer special packages for international travelers. Medical tourism Tijuana Mexico is popular for bariatric surgery and plastic surgery.
Quick Fact:
In 2023, approximately 1,714, 952 aesthetic procedures were performed in Mexico and among these 782413 were non-surgical procedures.
Singapore
According to the Medical Tourism Index, Singapore stands in 2nd position for high-quality healthcare facilities and services. The country has state-of-the-art multi-specialty centers that work in collaboration with the centers of excellence worldwide and offer a multitude of aesthetic enhancement procedures and oncology treatments.
There are a lot of multi-specialty medical centers in Singapore that collaborate with centers of excellence across the world and offer excellent services that make Singapore tourism at par with Medical tourism Cancun Mexico.
Quick Fact:
Singapore has set up International Patient Service Center (IPSCs) that help smooth the travel process between international patients and healthcare providers.
Japan
Leading the chart as a country with the most developed healthcare system in the world, Japan is a hub for tourists who are looking for minimally-invasive procedures in aesthetics and orthopedics. The country offers top-notch healthcare services with low-cost care! Just like Mexico health tourism, Japan promises high-tech healthcare services and well-designed infrastructure that attracts patients from across the world. The cost of cosmetic surgery like rhinoplasty or butt lifts is comparatively less than countries like the USA.
Quick Fact:
Japan is world-renowned for offering specialized treatments in oncology, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular disease, infertility, and cosmetic surgeries.
Dubai
Renowned for its skyscrapers and modern architecture, Dubai is a popular destination of medical tourism for cosmetic, dental, and fertility treatments. The world-class infrastructure and international doctors with a multitude of specialties make Dubai a hot spot for patients looking for a variety of aesthetic procedures like face lifts, eyebrow lifts, buttock augmentation, or face contouring procedures.
Dubai has several renowned hospitals and also offers innumerable options to enhance your travel experience. The luxury shopping, ultra-modern architecture, and unique experience add cherry on the top!
Quick Fact:
Dubai is ranked as the top medical destination in the Arab region. The city receives medical tourists from neighboring Gulf countries, Asia, Europe, and Africa.
-Medical Tourism and Index
South Korea
Also called as the ‘Plastic surgery capital of the world’, Korea is the best place to seek surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures like facial contouring, buttock augmentation, lip flips, and more! The country’s advanced infrastructure, state-of-the-art technology, and skilled doctors along with rich culture, amazing culinary scene and make it a perfect medical tourism destination!
Quick Fact:
Korea's aesthetic market size is estimated to reach USD 8.53 billion by 2031. In 2023, the market size was valued at 2.38 billion.
-Data Bridge Market Research
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Medical Tourism Destination
There are numerous factors that come into play when choosing a destination for your aesthetic procedures. Here are some things to consider-
- Cost: Once you zero in on the procedure, start comparing the cost of treatment in different countries. If the cost is approximately 50% to 70% less than that in your home country, go for it!
- Language and Cultural Considerations: As patient-doctor communication is crucial, make sure that you are familiar with the language so that you can communicate your expectations clearly and understand the doctor’s advice on a treatment plan and before and after care!
- Quality & Safety Standards: While cost plays an important role in choosing the destination, quality and safety are equally important. Do thorough research and verify if the doctors are well-experienced and the medical facility follows all the international safety guidelines.
Safety and Risk Factors in Aesthetic Medical Tourism
You must be aware that opting for a medical procedure overseas might have certain benefits but there may be potential risks for both patients and providers. It may happen that the patient is not satisfied with the outcome because of the language barrier, improper before and after care, and other cultural differences.
Doctors, on the other hand, may have to cope with the competition in the industry and have to offer treatment at a competitive cost.
Legal and Ethical Aspects to Remember
Before taking the plunge, understand that you might face challenges in terms of privacy, safety, or any malpractice from the practitioner. So make sure to inquire about the legal documentation required and if the medical facility follows the same guidelines as your home country. Check the accreditations & certifications of the clinic, qualifications and experience of your doctor, and if possible take feedback from previous patients to have a better understanding if the doctor follows all the safety protocols and infection control guidelines.
Conclusion
With a boom in aesthetic procedures, people are open to experimenting with their looks. Facelift, buttock augmentation, and correction of hip dips are common. For this, they look for cost-effective, easily accessible, and quality healthcare and go for medical tourism destinations that offer them the privacy and freedom to undergo these procedures without any judgment. The surge in aesthetic medical tourism is opening a new horizon for the aesthetic industry.
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