The Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (ZMG) has become a magnet for patients seeking cosmetic surgery.

“Procedures related to plastic surgery, for aesthetic purposes, have been increasing for some years,” said Ignacio González García, president of the College and Society of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Jalisco.

Currently, Guadalajara occupies second place nationally in these types of procedures, only behind Mexico City.

According to the specialist, around 30% of the interventions carried out throughout the country are performed in Guadalajara.

Women predominate in this type of treatment with 70 percent.

The main aesthetic interventions for women are breast augmentation, liposuction and rhinoplasty. In the case of men, rhinoplasty, reduction of the double chin, abdominoplasty and liposculpture.

The main cities in the country that perform the most aesthetic operations, in addition to Mexico City and Guadalajara, are Tijuana, Mexicali, Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and cities in Coahuila and Tamaulipas.

Due to the growth of the sector, the certification of doctors and regulation by the authorities is also increasingly necessary in the Entity, given the increase in cases of people who take advantage of this situation and offer their services without the corresponding accreditations. .

Cosmetic surgery procedures have increased year after year in the country. THE INFORMATOR/Archive
Mexico, world paradise in cosmetic surgeries

According to statistics from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), in 2021 in Mexico one million 270 thousand 605 interventions were performed, 11.3 percent more than the 794 thousand 567 in 2011. Mexico is located in fourth position with the most procedures, below the United States, Brazil and Japan.

“It has grown a lot, we are among the five countries with the most cosmetic surgery procedures in the world,” said Arturo Ramírez Montañana, president of ISAPS.

The specialist said that depending on the age group, the type of operations varies. For example, the youngest people most often have nose surgery, from 25 to 35 years old it is the bust, older people have abdomiplasty, people over 50 years old ask for facial rejuvenation such as eyelid bags or neck. In men, the nose, then the hair, then the eyelid bags and the double chin. Worldwide, Mexico is the second country with the most medical tourism procedures. Many people come from the United States, Canada and countries in Central and South America.

“Evidently the border with the United States helps us a lot because it is a very large border, the United States economy is good and that allows them to travel by car to cities like Tijuana, Mexicali, Ciudad Juárez, Matamoros, Reynosa and Laredo, all those cities. “They have a lot of work for medical tourism.”

According to the Ministry of Finance, medical tourism represents 29 billion pesos, and is only 30% of the total procedures performed.

“This has an impact on hotels, restaurants, they use taxis, public transportation, supplies from hospitals and clinics and doctors, nurses, they are distributed among many people who collaborate in medical tourism.”

According to the specialist, in Mexico there are more than 2,100 certified plastic surgeons, of which the majority belong to the Mexican Association of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, and the Mexican Council of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery.

“It is very important and for the health of all patients, that they are treated by certified plastic surgeons, because they are the ones who comply with the law, they are the ones who have the preparation and are trained.”

These are the prices of the main treatments

Breast augmentation: 65-110 thousand pesos.
Rhinoplasty: 45 – 90 thousand pesos.
Abdominal surgery: 50-95 thousand pesos.
Liposuction: 50-110 thousand pesos.
Eyelid surgery: 40-70 thousand pesos.
They have aesthetic clinics in their sights

These are the points monitored by the Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks of Jalisco (Coprisjal)

To carry out any surgical procedure, professionals require a certificate issued by the competent authority, they must have a current specialist certificate.
That the professional has an ID, title or certificate, which states that he or she has the respective knowledge.
Establishments must have an operating notice.
The premises or physical area where the service is offered must comply with health legislation for the protection of patients and workers.
Coprisjal carries out dissemination actions on health matters and verification visits.
Verification visits are also carried out in response to a complaint, by public denunciation or by sign.