Are Colombian, Brazilian and Dominican surgeons better?

To find a board certified plastic surgeon in your area, go to
the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website. There, you can find someone near you and look
at his/hers website to see if it’s someone you might consider for your
surgery. Financing and price can also be
discussed with the plastic surgeons. Good
luck!

Dear good surgeons in all three of those countries but no better than in the United States. Remember that a cosmetic procedure is more than just the operation. It includes preoperative evaluation, postoperative care, and management of potential complications.

    There are surgeons in the US who create great results though the results will cost more.  There are many reasons to do surgery in the US, and I think most people understand the risks associated with going outside of the US.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Board certified plastic surgeons are held to a high standard for optimal patient care and results. Your safety is always the number one priority. Years of specific training and continuing education are required to maintain this certification. While it may be tempting to travel for surgery you must also consider the important factor of complications. If you return from another country after having surgery and are having issues you may find it difficult to find a surgeon in the U.S. to help you. I encourage you to spend time researching board certified plastic surgeons near you through the ASPS website. I am confident you will find the right surgeon to help you achieve your surgical goals.

There are certainly fantastic plastic surgeons around the world, but outside the US, it can be difficult to be sure that you have selected one.  Many patients seek plastic surgery outside the US due to the lower cost, but that can be a risky proposition.  Different countries have different medical education and licensing procedures.  Traveling outside the US can increase your risk of acquiring an infection.  There is also a potential language barrier and you need to fully consider access to follow up care.  By selecting a physician inside the US, you have many methods to research your doctor's education, training and qualifications for the procedures you are considering.  Hopefully you won't experience a complication, but if you do, it is much easier to obtain the necessary follow up and treatment when you have surgery domestically.

There are skilled surgeons throughout the world.  The board certification process in the United States is extremely rigorous, so patients can rest assured that the surgeon they are seeing has met a high standard of care.  However, the real danger of traveling abroad comes in the preoperative evaluation and postoperative care.  These are as important as the surgery itself.  

Thank you for your question.  There are excellent surgeons all around the world delivering high patient satisfaction.  It is true that costs are lower outside the US.  One of the difficulties with surgical tourism is that travel in and of itself is a risk factor for postoperative complications. This is especially true if you are combining multiple procedures.  You also need to be sure to factor in the additional cost of caring for possible complications once back home should they occur.  It is also more difficult to determine whether you are making a good choice when travelling abroad.  If you buy local, it is more likely that your provider will be there to see you through any potential postop issues without additional cost.  Life is about choices!  All the best.

I'm Dominican, did my plastic surgery residence in Brasil, did a lot of international courses around the globe including USA. Am i better that the others just for that??? NO the answer is NO, it is know that some country's residency programs incline more to an aesthetic line than others, but that alone doesn't qualified me as better surgeon than some one graduated in the US, Do your research on each individual Plastic Surgeon and chose the one who fits your needs, see a lot of before and after pictures and the important thing, do your homework and research about the plastic surgeon you chose. Is he a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon?, does he/she perform the surgeries on an accredited facility?I hope to have answer your question on the most impartial way, as i know you will get really territorial answers here.Regards,Dr. Luis Redondo

No. I do not believe they are better than the surgeons you can find in the u.s and in your area. Typically you have to find other doctors to treat you after you've had surgery because the doctors abroad can't aid in your treatment once your home and there is a much higher incidents of infection and complication. If your desiring a shape you've seemed to find only by surgeons over seas, you should do a bit more research and schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who has produced the results that you are hoping for. Thank you for your question!

No, I would not say that plastic surgeons in any specific country are “better”; there is simply no way to make these types of generalizations. I would however encourage you to make your decisions carefully. Select your plastic surgeon based on the quality/safety record.  Ask to see lots of examples of his/her work and preferably communicate with some previous patients as well. Make sure you also consider factors such as follow-up and treatment of complications that may occur, even in the best of hands. Best wishes.