ARGENTINA: Argentina - the newest cosmetic surgery holiday hotspot

Tourists flock to Argentina for bargain nip and tucks. Florida resident Eve Galati is one of the many taking advantage of Argentina's tourist industry as well as the less expensive surgical procedures. In Buenos Aires, a city renowned for the beauty of its architecture and its women, the cosmetic surgery business is booming. Breast implants, chin tucks, face lifts and nose-reconstructions are so commonly-accepted here that many of the top health plans offer one free cosmetic surgery procedure a year as part of their regular coverage. Argentina now has one of the top ten highest volumes of surgeries in the world, from a list led by the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. But it is not only the locals that are feeding the nip-tuck business, but thousands of tourists who fly in each year to take advantage of an attractive exchange rate in a country still recovery from a deep 2001/2002 economic crisis. Eliana Lindner works for Plenitus, a company that organizes surgery-on-vacation packages for overseas tourists. It's an all-inclusive service, and she is waiting at the Buenos Aires' international airport to personally receive one of their latest customers. "My job is to assist the passengers that come to have operations here in Argentina or to have any kind of treatment. And now we are waiting in Ezeiza (international airport) waiting for a patient to arrive with her husband," Linder said. This time, Lindner is here to accompany Eve Galati who is flying in from Florida. Galati will be having three procedures done on her month-long trip -- including her second breast augmentation. But she said she also wants to fit in sightseeing and a church mass at one of Argentina's famous Catholic cathedrals. "First of all, Buenos Aires is a beautiful, beautiful city and not only am I am going to have my dreams come true as far being able to look younger which will make me feel younger which in turn will make me feel better about myself," said Eve Galati. But why not just get the procedure done at home and then travel later? On the ride to her pre-booked hotel, Eve said it's to do with service and price. A face lift that might cost 15,000 US dollars in the United States costs roughly 5,000 US dollars in Argentina, or a breast implant and liposuction combination might cost 3,700 US dollars. "The doctors in America are very impersonal and by that I mean you're just a number, in other words there is nothing personal about I, you're on a list and then you're a number and that is very different from the way you do things here. Besides the personal touch, which is very important to me, the prices are unbelievable," she said. Eve is just one of thousands of tourists who in from overseas to book surgeries just like a hotel reservation. The Buenos Aires boob-job boom began after a 2002 financial collapse and currency devaluation that made visiting the country cheaper. Several new companies offering surgery-and-holiday package tours have now opened. But Plenitas' company director Roberto Gawianski said he was choosey about the terminology used to describe his business. "We do not agree with the denomination that has been given to this industry. In general, it is called "medical tourism" or "tourism medico". We prefer the denomination "medical care overseas", because it doesn't sound like it is linked to tourism," Gawianski said in his Buenos Aires office. No matter what you call it, Plenitas -- and the dozens of other companies like it -- are doing good business. Since 2004, 1500 patients have walked through Plenitas' doors, and enquires go up by 20% every month. Last year, the company made 4 million U.S dollars. Word is spreading mostly by word-of-mouth, and by patients like Everett Condon from Canada. Condon contracted Plenitas for 18 days to get a full face lift, nose job and chest reduction. He said he was so pleased with the results, he now wants to get some dentistry work done. "So I said I have to get stitches out Monday and I leave here Tuesday. And maybe I will be back again with someone else, maybe so more of my family will come up," Condon said. Like, Condon and Galati, most international patients plan their trips upfront with at least two procedures in mind. "The most common procedures in plastic surgery are liposuction, rhinoplasty, mammary implants, facelifts and the rest of the common plastic surgery procedures. And the people use the opportunity to get more than one thing done," Gawianski said. Despite its obvious popularity, however, the concept of medical tourism has come under fire for the risks it poses. Horror stories of mutilated faces and dangerous complications have surfaced in the media. Reuters spoke to one 34-year-old woman -- who did not want to appear on camera - who said she had to have a nine-day hospital stay in Texas after a botched breast lift and tummy tuck in Argentina. Medical authorities suggest patients should check surgeons' certification, consult references, and communicate directly with doctors, instead of just via a travel agency. "You have to take into account that there are companies that hire plastic surgeons and set-up plastic surgery businesses in the United States. And the patient comes and doesn't know who is going to operate on them," said Dr. Alberto Abulafia from the Buenos Aires Society of Plastic Surgery who also treats some foreign patients that are directly referred to him Eve Galati, however, said she was recommended directly to Plenitas. Still at the start of her trip, she has some high expectations, but said she is also hoping to enjoy herself. "I would like to see as much as possible as much as time permits and as far as being physically able to get up and walk around after the surgery and just see a beautiful country," Galati said. By the time she gets back home to Florida, Eve also expects to not only look younger, but to have gone up a whole new bra size.

ITN Source | November 5, 2007

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