Searches for “problems of surgery in South America” return long lists of dangers, often with no sources. This guide takes a more careful route. It shows what the main medical societies and health agencies say about cosmetic surgery abroad, what the data show about South America in particular, and where the evidence stops. It is not a verdict on any country or on its surgeons.

Key takeaways

  • Latin America is a major destination: ISAPS reports Brazil first in surgical procedures worldwide, and Colombia and Mexico among the countries with the highest share of foreign patients.
  • I found no study that compares complication rates by country, so there is no evidence to call South American surgery more or less safe than surgery elsewhere.
  • The documented risks (infection, revisions, missing follow-up, clots after flights, insurance gaps) apply to any cosmetic surgery abroad, so the checklist matters more than the country.

Why do so many people travel to South America for surgery?

The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) publishes a yearly survey of procedure numbers. Its press release for the 2023 survey, issued in June 2024, reports that the United States performed the most procedures worldwide (over 6.1 million), followed by Brazil with 3.3 million, which was first in surgical procedures with 2.1 million. It also says that on average the countries seeing the highest proportion of foreign patients are Colombia, Mexico, Turkiye, Syria and Thailand.

That tells you the region has very large procedure volumes and many international patients. It does not tell you about quality or safety in any single clinic. Volume and outcomes are different things.

Is surgery in South America more dangerous?

I could not find any study that supports that claim. I searched for comparisons of complication rates by country and found case reports and news stories, but nothing that compares South American countries with others or with surgery at home. A single case report is not evidence of a trend, so I have not used one here.

What the sources do say is that the risks tied to cosmetic surgery abroad are similar wherever you travel. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Yellow Book chapter on medical tourism states:

  • Infection is the most common complication among medical tourists, and cosmetic surgery abroad has been linked to an outbreak of surgical site infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria in the Dominican Republic. That outbreak is in the Caribbean, not South America, but it shows how infection risk is handled in the literature.
  • Patients may need surgical revisions for unsatisfactory results, which adds to the initial cost, and contour abnormalities can occur after cosmetic surgery.
  • Some overseas providers charge substantial fees for follow-up care on top of the base price.
  • Air travel and surgery each raise the risk of blood clots, and the ASPS recommends waiting 7 to 10 days after the procedure before flying for facial procedures including nose surgery.

ISAPS makes a point about rules, quoted in the same press release: regulation and safety guidelines differ significantly from place to place, so patients should choose a board-certified, specialized plastic surgeon trained and experienced in the procedure.

What do the sources advise before travelling?

Two sources are practical. The ASPS article on medical tourism (13 January 2023) suggests checking that a surgeon holds the local equivalent of board certification, making sure a follow-up system exists for when you return home, and asking questions such as whether you will need someone to care for you after the operation and whether travel after surgery carries risks. It also lists red flags, including not meeting the operating surgeon before the day of surgery and receiving no post-operative instructions.

ISAPS has a page on post-surgery considerations abroad. It suggests asking:

  • Are you affiliated with any clinics in my home country that I can go to for follow-up care?
  • Who will pay for secondary or revision procedures?
  • Do I have insurance that covers complications?
  • How long should I wait before travelling home?

The CDC adds that you should ask for copies of your overseas medical records in English and that the American College of Surgeons advises obtaining a complete set of records before returning home. It also says you should check what your own health plan covers outside your country, and consider extra cover such as medical evacuation insurance.

Do beauty standards differ by region?

They can, and that is worth discussing before surgery. In a survey of more than 13,000 plastic surgeons and lay people in 50 countries, plastic surgeons from Latin America and the Caribbean overall preferred smaller, narrower noses with more projecting tips, lips and chins. The response rate was 9.6% and the survey used images of one model, so it shows that preferences differ, not that any region produces a specific look.

If you travel for nose surgery, bring clear photos of the result you want and of faces you do not want to resemble. Ask the surgeon to explain what is realistic for your anatomy. Our guide to nose types can help you describe what you are aiming for.

What should you ask before you book?

Use the same questions for any country, including Turkiye:

  • Who will operate, and can I speak with that surgeon before I pay a deposit?
  • Which board or national society certifies you, and where can I verify it?
  • Which facility is the surgery in, and what emergency capacity does it have?
  • What does the quote include (surgeon, facility, anaesthesia, medication, follow-up, revision), and in which currency?
  • What follow-up will I have after I return home, and who pays for revisions?
  • Does my travel or health insurance cover complications?
  • How long should I stay before flying, and how do I get my medical records?

Our guide to travel after nose surgery explains how to plan the stay, and the guide on finding a rhinoplasty surgeon explains how to check credentials. For a comparison with the other country this site covers most, see why Turkiye ranks high in aesthetic surgery.

Sources

All pages were opened and checked on 10 October 2026.