When I think of Mexico, I don’t necessarily think of plastic surgery. I might think of bad taxi drivers, poor air quality, and corrupt government, and I don’t really think of sanitary conditions as being a priority there. However, it is gaining popularity as a plastic surgery destination.

While Mexico is not Europe, it is far above other Third World countries, especially in the cities.

The University of Guadalajara has the best medical school in the country, and is where many American doctors receive their medical degrees. The prestigious Institute of Reconstructive Surgery, which has been training doctors from all over the world in the latest surgical techniques for over 35 years, is in Guadalajara.

There are almost 100 certified plastic surgeons just in Guadalajara, and most of the hospital facilities are superior. While most American doctors seem hurried to get their patients in and out the door, doctors in Mexico will spend time listening to their patients’ needs and assuaging their concerns.

Worried about the language barrier? Most Mexican doctors speak at least some English, and they took graduate courses or did internships or residencies in the US. Some of them are even Board Certified by agencies in the US.

Guadalajara is not the only city in Mexico where you can find quality plastic surgery. Mexico City and Monterrey also have many good plastic surgeons. There are clinics along the border with the US, but the risks at those clinics of a lower level of care quality are higher. If you plan on visiting a clinic on the border, make sure you investigate the doctors and facilities.

In Guadalajara, a facelift costs about $2500 US. Adding more services, including lifting the eyelids and forehead, raises the price to about $6000, including all costs of your hospital or clinic stay. Botox injections are also significantly less expensive.

You can arrange for transportation through companies such as Airlift, Inc., which is owned by a nurse, which will bring you down to Mexico and handle your accommodations while you are there, even negotiating your nursing and hospital fees for you.

In many cases, you can choose to recover in a scenic facility with 24-hour nursing care. This will give you the peace of mind to be ready to travel back home by the time your swelling and bruising have gone away.

There is one significant risk, however. Malpractice insurance is one reason that US care is so expensive. In Mexico, there are no laws governing malpractice; if something goes wrong in your surgery, you do not have the right to sue your doctor in Mexico. So, the cost is less, but the risk is significantly more.

However, despite the risk, thousands of people from all over North and South America rush to Mexico for face-lifts and other cosmetic surgeries.
Make sure you check out your doctor’s credentials, and get references. If possible, visit the city where you will get your operation, so you can meet your doctors, and tour some of the facilities available to you. Many of these cities have large expatriate communities from other countries, who will be willing to give you advice and references. These residents are often the most frequent consumers of cosmetic surgery.

So, if you are willing to accept some risk, and you want to save thousands of dollars on your plastic surgery, try out Mexico!

Injections with “dermal fillers” containing hyaluronic acid appear to stimulate production of collagen, a primary protein in the skin, and may partially restore the structure of sun-damaged skin, according to an article in the February issue of Archives of Dermatology.

Injectable skin fillers have become increasingly popular for correcting the lines and wrinkles associated with aging, as well as acne scars and other skin conditions, according to background information in the article. Hyaluronic acid, a compound that occurs naturally in the skin and connective tissue, is among the most widely used fillers in the United States. Its molecules bind to water in the skin, hydrating and firming its structure, and the loss of hyaluronic acid with aging is associated with skin dehydration and wrinkling. Because hyaluronic acid degrades rapidly in the skin, the commercially available version is cross-linked, or bound to itself chemically to increase stabilization.

Frank Wang, M.D., and colleagues at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, injected non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA), one of the most commonly used forms, into the forearms of 11 healthy volunteers (average age of 74 years). All participants were fair-skinned, and eight had moderate sun damage – visible as brown spots, drooping skin, wrinkles or uneven pigmentation – while three had mild to moderate damage. They received three injections of .7 milliliters of stabilized hyaluronic acid 2 to 5 centimeters apart in one forearm, and three injections of saline solution at the same volume and spacing in the other arm. Skin biopsy samples approximately 4 millimeters in diameter were taken from the site of the injection four and 13 weeks later.

It is commonly assumed that fillers achieve their effects by filling space in the skin; through examining the skin samples under an electron microscope, the researchers found that this appeared to be the case with stabilized hyaluronic acid. “To further investigate potential mechanisms for this filler’s long-lasting cosmetic benefits, we assessed the biological response of skin to NASHA,” the authors write. “We found that NASHA injections induce type 1 collagen production in photo-damaged forearm skin.” Because there is currently no evidence that skin on different parts of the body behave differently, it is likely that hyaluronic acid has the same effect on facial skin.

“Overall, our findings indicate that NASHA injections induce robust collagen production through several potential mechanisms, including the mechanical stretching of fibroblasts [cells that secrete collagen proteins], stimulation of growth factors and inhibition of collagen breakdown,” the authors write. “Of these, mechanical stretching may be the most important.” This physical stretching of the cells encourages them to produce compounds that both support collagen growth and suppress chemicals that break down cells’ structures.

These findings suggest that, in addition to its cosmetic benefits, hyaluronic acid may be beneficial in skin-wasting diseases that involve collagen deficiencies, such as those associated with HIV or steroid use.

Plastic Surgery  in Mexico is much more affordable. There are many great doctors who do excellent work, however, it requires due diligence to find the right ones.  One of the main problems with seeking plastic surgery outside in Mexico is that it is more difficult to check references and get the opinions from previous patients. This is where I come in.

I will assist you in selecting your Mexican plastic surgeon. The Mexican plastic surgeons I recommend have gone through a rigorous interviewing process and their before and after photos scrutinized carefully. I have also spoken personally to their clients to ensure patient satisfaction.  I deal with Mexican Plastic Surgeons who offer the best quality in terms of experience, safety, ethics, and patient satisfaction.

Depending on the type of procedure, you will also be required to take certain tests before hand (such as physicals, x-rays, photos, etc.) These tests can also be done in Mexico at a substantial savings.

Once you have decided to go forward with your plastic surgery in Mexico, you may decide you would like concierge service. As your concierge I will take care of all the logistics which include:

• Pre-consultations done virtually and or by telephone
• Setting up your consultations with Mexican plastic surgeons here in Mexico
• Help you with your travel arrangements
• Picking you up from the airport and checking you in to your accommodations
• Taking you to the Mexican Plastic Surgeon offices for your initial consultations
• Helping you to fill out the proper medical history forms
• Taking you to the testing facilities for your pre-surgery tests
• Scheduling your surgery
• Arranging for your procedure payment
• Deliver you to the hospital the day of your surgery and return you to your room afterward
• Hospital visits if necessary
• Communicate with family members as to your progress
• Provide you with a cell phone and laptop with internet
• Personal shopping, errands, food, etc. services.
• Regular visits to your room to check on your progress
• Transportation to the airport at departure time

You may opt for all or some of my services. Its up to you.

Why go to a consultant? A consultant will give you an unbiased opinion of what procedures and skin care regiment you really need. Your friends and loved ones probably will tell you that you look fine the way you are and your plastic surgeon may tell you that you need what ever it is he is specialized in.

Consultation Service Includes:

• Help in defining your  goals for your plastic surgery
• A plan for choosing at least three plastic surgeons for your initial plastic surgery consultations
• An assessment of your present skin care and fitness programs and suggestions for going forward
• Instructions on how to keep a journal of all the information you receive from the surgeons of your choice
• Techniques for dealing with the varied reactions your decision to have plastic surgery will evoke from your friends and family