From Beverly Hills to New York City, you’ll find thousands of cosmetic and plastic surgery centers that offer some of today’s most innovative procedures.  Many come with a hefty price tag, an expense that few Americans are willing to pay for out of a savings account.  While financing plans are available for many U.S.-based procedures, many people are heading to exotic destinations to cash in with more affordable rates.   

According to Paul Johnson of GoSculptura.com, rising health care costs in the Western world is encouraging people to travel to India, Argentina, Costa Rica and Mexico for more affordable options (Source: HealthNews-Stats). Some countries reportedly offer procedures at 25% of the U.S. price, which means a tummy tuck in Argentina could cost only $3,250 - a far cry from the average tummy tuck price of $13,000 in Camarillo, CA.    

Where should you go for a medical tourism experience on a budget? Consider these affordable destinations for your mini-makeover:  

Argentina for Affordable Cosmetic Surgery

The style-conscious country of Argentina boasts dozens of qualified plastic and cosmetic surgeons who are trained to perform breast augmentation procedures, tummy tucks, facelifts and laser surgery. Boutique clinics are a rising trend in the city, and foreigners can book hotel packages with an appointment to the clinic to manage their travel plans with ease.  Argentina is deemed a budget-friendly destination for cosmetic surgery by The Guardian of the U.K. and the tourism boom in recent years is only spurring the trend (Source: The Guardian).  

Affordable Cosmetic Surgery in Costa Rica

From liposuction to cosmetic dentistry, it’s now possible to find quality cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures at several medical facilities in Costa Rica.  Surgeons here boast prices at over 50% off the U.S. equivalent, so you can book that liposculpture procedure and face lift without going over budget.  

India for Affordable Cosmetic Surgery

Heading to the Far East for your extreme makeover could help you stay within your means – even with an expensive plane ticket. Plastic and cosmetic surgery centers in India can offer procedures at up to 90% off the U.S. equivalent, and medical tourism is already thriving year round. From beach resorts to hotel packages, India is catering to the pennywise globetrotter.  

Affordable Cosmetic Surgery in Mexico

Guadalajara has become one of the most popular medical tourism hotspots in recent years, and surgery centers are teaming up with travel tour operators to create attractively-priced packages for all budgets. Many procedures are priced between 25 – 40% of the U.S. equivalent, which means a cheap ticket to Mexico with your surgery package could keep you well under budget.  

Thailand for Affordable Cosmetic Surgery

Hospitals and clinics in Thailand now offer several advanced treatments in cosmetic laser surgery, plastic surgery and natural wellness. Professional staff members at locations such as the Crystal Laser center in Klongtoey and the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Center in Dindaeng, Bangkok are trained both in Thailand and the USA. You can choose from procedures including breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty and skin rejuvenation at a fraction of U.S. prices.  

As trends in medical tourism continue to rise, some U.S.-based employers are even extending their insurance plans to employees who want to travel for surgery. Still, many plastic surgery professionals encourage patients to research and learn as much as possible about the center, the doctor and patient experiences – especially when there’s a plane ticket involved. Making sure the plastic surgery center or hospital has professional, licensed staff members on the team, and ensuring the facility is safe does present some challenges for the traveling patient; still, the extra effort can pay off, especially when you are saving over 75% on standard treatment costs.  

Learn more about your preferred cosmetic or plastic surgery procedure in our information guide, or read about the trends in medical tourism to find out if traveling abroad for your treatment is a viable plan for you.