Journey is transformative—for the thoughts, the soul, and, with the newest rising pattern in tourism, for the physique too. The somewhat sinister-sounding “Beauty Tourism” (or the friendlier-sounding “Medical Tourism”) combines the proper trip with magnificence remedies or surgical procedure, starting from tooth veneers and hair implants to cosmetic surgery and tummy tucks.
Having “Turkey Enamel” has turn out to be synonymous with having a Hollywood smile, main Turkey to rise within the ranks of Europe’s hottest locations. Istanbul and Antalya alone welcome over 1.2 million vacationers yearly who’re searching for to show their trip right into a beautification. And you may wager your hard-earned {dollars} that LGBTQ+ vacationers make up a large portion of that quantity. It’s not simply Turkey both—Colombia, Thailand, and South Korea are simply a number of the nations holding their very own within the more and more common world of beauty tourism.
However is there something actually improper with killing two birds with one immaculately curated stone? Magnificence remedies are costly, and the reality is, you simply can’t beat the costs provided overseas. The mixed value of a bundle vacation—typically together with accommodations, flights, and the beauty enhancement of alternative—totals far lower than the surgical procedure alone would elsewhere, definitely within the U.S., U.Ok., and Australia.
As for whether or not the consequences of beauty tourism on a rustic are good or unhealthy, it’s a hotly debated matter, nevertheless it undeniably pumps cash into their economies—in Turkey’s case, across the equal of over $2 billion yearly. So, in the event you’re seeking to mix some TLC with a bit of glow-up, these are the highest 4 locations to get your repair… so to talk!
Turkey – Istanbul or Antalya
The undisputed king of hair transplants and dental makeovers, clinics in each Istanbul and Antalya have quickly turn out to be well-oiled machines, attracting purchasers worldwide for his or her experience and affordability. Frequent procedures embody hair transplants, tooth whitening, dental veneers, crowns, orthodontics, and dental implants, amongst others. Some clinics—particularly in Antalya—provide all-inclusive offers made up of airport pickups, resort stays, pre-op consultations, and aftercare.
For instance, veneer remedies can take round 3–6 days—greater than sufficient time to discover the culturally wealthy, “East Meets West” metropolis of Istanbul, or benefit from the golden seashores and historic ruins of Antalya between remedies. Sadly, Turkey is just not essentially the most gay-friendly nation on the planet—Grindr is blocked, for instance—however there’s a surprisingly energetic homosexual nightlife scene in Istanbul to indicate off your luscious new hair or set of choppers.
South Korea – Seoul
Turkey would be the rising starlet, however South Korea is the unique beauty surgical procedure diva—particularly its capital metropolis. Seoul’s magnificence business is known, setting international traits with its natural-looking, “untouched” aesthetic. Many guests come for budget-friendly surgical procedures like rhinoplasty, jawline contouring, and tummy tucks, along with tooth and hair remedies.
Simply as in Turkey, vacation packages exist inside many clinics, including cultural excursions as a part of their offers, together with tucking in (excuse the pun) to Seoul’s meals market scene or visiting its many temples and palaces. Keep in mind that larger procedures are likely to take every week or two to get well from, so culturally based mostly actions are a a lot wiser alternative than hitting up Seoul’s modest homosexual scene—though you could possibly definitely try this just a few days earlier than.
Thailand – Bangkok
Bangkok is properly often known as an inexpensive vacation spot for Westerners, and its magnificence remedies are additionally budget-friendly—much more so than these in South Korea. These costs may make some doubtful, however Thailand’s beauty business can be identified for its professionalism, with clinics specializing in the whole lot from physique sculpting to facial enhancements.
That’s to not say there aren’t any unhealthy eggs on the market, so guests ought to be cautious to decide on their clinics from respected areas like Sukhumvit. Botox, fillers, and liposuction are a number of the commonest procedures carried out in Thailand, with bundle holidays together with the same old airport pickups, accommodations, and generally flights. Luxurious choices may additionally add complimentary post-procedure spa remedies and distinctive experiences similar to Chao Phraya River dinner cruises and guided buying journeys.
The wild facet of Bangkok has its temptations, with a legendary homosexual nightlife scene centered round Silom Soi 2, however a better option post-procedure could be a visit down the coast to paradisiacal seashores like Hua Hin.
Colombia – Medellín
Medellín in Colombia is thought for its personal spectacular makeover. As soon as ruled by drug cartels and gang violence, it’s now seen as a worldwide function mannequin for city innovation and the most well-liked vacationer vacation spot in Colombia.
It’s additionally Latin America’s rising magnificence haven, providing top-notch beauty procedures at unbeatable costs on that facet of the Atlantic. Colombian surgeons are famend for his or her meticulous consideration to element in liposuction, physique sculpting, and non-invasive facial remedies like microneedling and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) remedy.
Medellín additionally gives the proper setting for recuperation, being nestled superbly within the Andes mountains, surrounded by tropical greenery, and having an all-year spring local weather. Medellín’s LGBTQ+ credentials are good, with a visual group and legal guidelines in place to guard them.
Journey packages to Medellín typically throw in cultural experiences like salsa dance courses and metropolis excursions. Pure Colombian tradition may be found in Medellín by means of bohemian areas like Comuna 13—you’ll want to trip the massive outside escalator operating by means of its middle—and the well-known Guatapé rock is a simple day journey away. Nonetheless, chorus from climbing its crisscrossing stairs after any main surgical procedures.
Beauty Tourism Suggestions
After deciding in your process and placement of alternative, the subsequent step is discovering the suitable clinic and bundle. As with the whole lot today, analysis is vital. Analysis the highest clinics on-line, learn opinions, and confirm credentials. Follow clinics with worldwide accreditation for peace of thoughts, from organizations just like the Joint Fee Worldwide (JCI).
Most clinics provide all-inclusive packages that care for the whole lot from lodging to post-op care. Evaluate offers to get the perfect worth. You would additionally simply e-book the process and plan your personal vacation preparations in the event you favor. Schedule digital consultations to debate your objectives and guarantee your chosen clinic is an effective match. A good clinic will reply all of your questions—irrespective of how detailed.
Most significantly, allocate additional trip days for downtime, whether or not on the seaside, taking sluggish walks in native parks, or having fun with Netflix marathons in your resort room. Be real looking: you in all probability gained’t be hitting the golf equipment after a significant operation!
From the mountains of Colombia to the temples of Bangkok, magnificence is discovered in all places on the planet—and, in fact, it’s utterly subjective. However in terms of ourselves, what issues most is that we really feel stunning on the planet. There’s nothing improper with giving nature a serving to hand occasionally. Whether or not that’s by means of crafting a Hollywood smile or getting a nostril job, so be it—and all the higher if it comes on a price range with a trip connected.
Featured picture by Triggermouse from Pixabay