A tourism boom through cosmetic surgery?

In last week’s column, we had the first part of this two-part series on the Philippines’ potential as the next medical tourism haven in these parts. Heck, it could be a major player globally in fact, considering the costs involved, the quality of our home-grown medical practitioners and support staff, and the rest and recreation facilities and sites available during recuperation.

The alliances involved, as I mentioned, are plenty and varied. For the most part, the tourism industry plays a large role as competent travel agents who will market this new phase of tourism must be thoroughly knowledgeable and updated on the cutting edge technology of cosmetic enhancement if they are to market it well. The hotel and resort industry must be able to meet not only the demands of a surge in occupancy but to be able to offer competitive standards and prices. Too, they must be able to cater to this new breed of guests, convalescing and in need of proper nutrition, hygiene and meticulous sanitation, and the total ambience such recuperation entails. Resorts, especially the five-star ones, may have the edge here because of the personalized service they usually offer their guests. Guests can request for special dietary requirements, and therapeutic massages are made available at any time. Domestic travel, of course, will also be a significant part of the business alliances involved in this endeavor and efforts should be made to cater specifically to the convalescents by making available wheel chairs, masks, etc. After all, this endeavor will be a health and wellness travel package and attention to details such as these will spell the difference.

By this time, the big hospitals and institutions have become aware of the potentials of medical tourism. Actually, the term entails a larger picture of medicine, not just limited to cosmetic enhancement. Because our doctors are well-trained, even patients with life-threatening or serious medical problems can, with peace of mind, avail of RP’s excellent medical resources. While the US, Europe, Canada and Australia and some Asian neighbors like Japan may have the edge in technology here, the difference in prices can make the relatively less critical procedures more interesting for some patients who cannot afford the high cost of surgery and convalescence in those countries.

It is difficult, though, to go into the price schemes for these medical procedures. Cosmetic enhancement procedures, on the other hand, have become more competitive. A few years back, a simple rhinoplasty (nose lift) was not so simple. It cost somewhere around P40,000, for doctor’s fees alone, and the doctor would sometimes recommend overnight confinement to monitor the patient’s condition. On top of that, one had to pay the anesthesiologist whose fee would be 10 percent of the surgeon’s, pay the operating room fees which was around P10,000, and still cough up the money for the various antibiotics and pain killers that the patient would have to take for a week. Roughly, that would total to more than P60,000.

Today, such simple procedures as rhinoplasty and blepharoplasty (eye bag/drooping eyelid correction) are now mall services. They cost about half of what they used to, perhaps because more cosmetic surgeons have joined the practice, and they have determined that with proper home care, these simple procedures do not require confinement. Because they are safe, simple and considered common procedures, these can even be performed safely in clinics, not in hospitals anymore, and without the benefit of an operating room. In fact, a simple dentist’s chair would be sufficient.

In Singapore, they advertise a nose job, nostril size reduction (which can really be part of the package, depending on the doctor and which costs about P30,000), a chin implant (which locally costs around P40,000) and a double eyelid operation (which could be had for another P30,000 to P40,000) for $12,500. Take note that convalescence and R&R are not part of the package. Locally, these same combo of procedures would cost anywhere between P110,000 to P130,000, depending on your choice of doctors. In dollars that would be around $2,400 for professional fees. If marketed well and packaged with hotel and/or resort rest, the patient could still save a lot. Do your math.

In India, breast reduction is advertised at $5,600. Whew! That’s P280,000, when it can be had locally with excellent results as well for about a third of that amount. Their face lift costs $2,500, as boldly advertised, while locally, a full face lift can be had for about P80,000. Even the common nose lift costs $1,000 over there, while breast augmentation costs $2,500. Locally, this can be had for about P80,000 to P90,000.

In Toronto, Canada, breast implants (breast augmentation) are advertised at Canadian $5,600 using saline solutions while the procedure making use of cohesive gel costs Canadian $7,400.

I must say here that prices of cosmetic procedures are generally competitive in Thailand with our own local prices. They are almost similar, maybe even slightly lower for some procedures, but for Filipinos looking for a bargain, the cost of airfare and hotel accommodations alone would be a big deterrent. Upper or lower eyelid surgery costs only $300. Forehead lift (amazing how this procedure can add a few years to an aging face) is at $1,000, while an eyebrow lift costs about $850. A full face lift costs $ 3,000, and here is where we are much much lower. A temporal lift (they pull the immediate skin around the outer eyes towards the temple) costs about $875, whereas locally, this simple procedure costs just a little less. There are other simple procedures which do not cost much in Thailand like cheek lift which costs $1,125, and lip collagen filling which costs $450. Incidentally, some parlors boldly attempt to try this procedure on their own, without the benefit of a licensed medical practitioner. The results can be disastrous. Be forewarned.

Still in Thailand, cost of breast augmentation costs a little more than in the RP, at $2,125, while a breast lift (this procedure is surprisingly more complex than breast augmentation) costs as much as $4,000. My friend Dr. Jim Sanchez says this procedure does not cost as much in the Philippines. A very simple nose tip procedure costs $500. Locally, that could cost only about P18,000, while a chin augmentation using the patient’s own bone could reach as high as $3,000. Hair transplant starts at $1,250.

Speaking of hair transplants, our very own Dr. Jim who pioneered in "nerve blocking" in the Philippines has perfected his own brand of hair transplant. Dr. Jim has been a by-word in cosmetic surgery in the Philippines, known not only for his skill and professional integrity as a cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon but also for his socialized prices. He supplied most of the prices I quoted here. Dr. Jim is also much appreciated for his benevolence, giving regularly his time and professional services for free as part of the Operation Smile where they do reconstructive surgery on hare-lipped patients. He has devoted his life to the creation of beauty, and his socialized approach in the practice of his chosen profession (call his secretary Irene at 0915-5400878 if you wish to verify any of the above) has endeared him to many of his patients and has earned the respect of his colleagues in the profession. I salute this gifted man.

The foregoing should give you a fairly good idea of how the cost of our professional services alone can be a good rallying point in our drive to make the Philippines the next haven for medical tourists in this part of the world. The youthful Secretary Ace Durano of the Department of Tourism has set his eyes in the right direction with the creation of the first ever Philippine Medical Tourism Congress/Grand Expo. His untiring efforts will surely translate into mega dollars for the country. It will be an exponential surge, and not only the medical profession (doctors, nurses, care givers, therapists) but the travel/ hospitality industry (hotels, resorts, pension houses, and restaurants) as well will reap the benefits from this endeavor. The is well-known and much-sought after when it comes to care-giving. Maybe, with a good machinery going, our licensed care givers need not leave the country anymore in search of dollars to send back home.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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