They reveal a significant decrease in cosmetic surgeries in Colombia in 2023

The latest survey by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) reveals that the number of surgical and non-surgical interventions for aesthetic purposes performed in Colombia during 2023 had a sharp drop. While in 2022 some 732,783 of these procedures were performed in the country, in 2023 the number was reduced to 447,268, a drop of more than 40%. The figures were delivered at the most important congress of that organization, which takes place this week in Cartagena.

Despite that, said the woman from Cali Lina Triana, president of ISAPS, Colombia continues to be in the top 10 of the countries that performed the most liposuction (39,744) and abdominoplasty (20,195) surgical procedures. In addition, the country is a leader in the proportion of foreign patients who visit it looking for certified and experienced surgeons, in what is known as “medical tourism”. Most of these people are from the United States, Venezuela and Ecuador, and they mostly come to cities like Bogotá, Cali and Medellín. (Can see: Invima seizes more than a thousand fraudulent medications and meat products)

“We have to continue working with discipline and without pause, showing the quality of both the plastic surgeons and the surgical centers in the country, because without a doubt Colombia is a safe destination for Plastic Surgery, because we have international standards and we are a strong country in Patient Safety” noted Triana, who was also president of the Colombian Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery. Since 2014 he has been on the board of directors of ISAPS, an organization that brings together thousands of plastic surgeons from more than 100 countries around the world and which meets annually at a large congress.

The country is also included in the Top 10 for non-surgical hair removal procedures. The total number of interventions on the face and head was 93,304. Eyelid surgery was number one with 24,932 procedures, followed by rhinoplasty with 16,809. Other notable procedures include facial and periorbital fat grafting to increase facial volume (13,711), lip augmentation (10,701), neck lift (6,306) and facelift (8,259). Additionally, brow lift, ear surgery, and facial bone contouring had a total of 6,284, 4,081, and 2,222 procedures respectively.

Regarding plastic surgeries performed on the body and extremities, the total was 104,485. Of these, 39,744 were liposuctions, ranking first. Additionally, in 2023, some 73,081 breast surgical procedures were performed in Colombia. Among these, the increase stood out with 28,606 procedures, followed by breast lift with 18,173 interventions. Breast reductions were 12,465, while explantations totaled 9,406. Additionally, 4,430 gynecomastia procedures were performed. (Can see: Supersalud findings in intervened EPS).

Triana defended that plastic surgery in Colombia is a specialty that is practiced with safety and innovation, and in the face of malpractice and clandestinity, he recommended applying what he called a safety diamond with four pillars: first, certification. The doctor emphasized the importance of ensuring that the plastic surgeon is certified in that specialty and has authorization to operate from the respective national authority, which means, in the case of our country, he is registered in the Single National Registry of Human Talent in Health (Rethus).

This is a record of Ministry of Health enabled for public consultation, in which it can be established whether the person who is going to perform a procedure is a health professional. It must be remembered that the country has a Human Talent Law, 1164 of 2007, which establishes criteria for the exercise and performance of human talent in health. On other occasions, ISAPS and the Ministry of Health have insisted that a general practitioner does not have the authority to perform plastic or aesthetic surgeries.

In Colombia, in addition to plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, there is the specialty of aesthetic medicine, lasting 3 years, whose professionals do not have surgical skills, but are trained to perform non-surgical aesthetic procedures.

The second pillar of that diamond that Triana explained revolves around the facilities. Procedures must be carried out in accredited and authorized facilities by the corresponding health authorities, that is, by the Health Secretariats. These facilities have the necessary equipment and follow strict protocols to ensure patient safety during and after surgery. In Colombia, clinics are obliged to guarantee the suitability and competence of the specialists who perform procedures in their facilities. This means that if a space is enabled for consultation, it has to be a place only for consultations and not for any other procedure.

The third pillar has to do with the comprehensive evaluation of the patient. This means that the specialist doctor must make a complete and personalized medical evaluation before any intervention. This includes a thorough review of the patient’s medical history, as well as physical examinations and additional tests that are necessary to ensure that the patient is a good candidate for the procedure and that the risks are minimized. Finally, and as a fourth pillar, there must be a surgical plan or treatment plan in which the patient is listened to and the expectations that the patient has with the operation are evaluated.

This plan must be detailed and realistic, and the doctor must provide the patient with all necessary information about the procedure, possible risks and expected results. “No surgery is risk-free and the patient must know everything that can happen.“says Triana, who points out that what this diamond seeks to guarantee is to keep these risks to a minimum. It is essential that anyone who wants to undergo any of these procedures has a clear understanding of what the surgery entails and that their expectations are appropriately managed from the beginning.

Expectations are one of the elements that generate the most tension in these procedures. Triana stressed that surgeons should take the time to listen to their patients’ concerns and wishes, providing an honest assessment of the results that can be expected. A vital part of the consultation, she says, is educating patients about the entire process, from preparation for surgery to postoperative care, and making sure they understand all stages.

Big picture

The United States performed the most procedures worldwide with more than 6.1 million procedures, followed by Brazil with 3.3 million, which leads in surgical procedures with 2.2 million. The United States and Brazil are estimated to have the largest number of plastic surgeons, followed by Japan, India, China and South Korea. As in 2022, liposuction was the most common surgical procedure in 2023, with more than 2.2 million, followed by breast augmentation, blepharoplasty, abdominoplasty, and rhinoplasty. (Can see: Expecting too much from medical cannabis)

All facial and head procedures show notable growth from the previous year, with more than 6.5 million procedures and an increase of 19.6%. The majority of augmentation mammoplasties (53.7% of the total) and rhinoplasties (65.8%) were performed in people aged 18 to 34, while botulinum toxin injections were most popular among those aged 35 to 50 (49% of the total). total).

Although 85.7% of the total surgical procedures for aesthetic purposes are performed on women, “procedures performed on men see a may increaser, explained mainly by the increase in surgical procedures for men on the face and head,” said Gianluca Campiglio, Editor of the Global Survey and plastic surgeon in Italy. Blepharoplasty (also known as eyelid surgery, a surgical procedure intended to improve the appearance of the eyelids) is the most popular surgical procedure among men, replacing liposuction.

“Considering that medical procedures abroad (‘medical tourism’) are increasingly popular and that regulation and safety guidelines differ significantly from place to place, we encourage patients to choose a certified and specialized plastic surgeon, trained and experienced in the procedure. At ISAPS, we are working to inspire and promote excellence in education in surgical and non-surgical procedures for aesthetic purposes worldwide,” said Dr. Fabián Cortiñas, director of the ISAPS Communications Committee and plastic surgeon in Argentina. More than a thousand attendees from ninety countries gathered in Cartagena to discuss the latest scientific research, innovations and patient safety issues in aesthetic plastic surgery.