Treatment abroad: Bolivia 

Bolivia, a rising destination for medical tourism, offers exceptional healthcare services in fields such as dentistry, ophthalmology, and cosmetic surgery, with its skilled professionals and affordable treatment options attracting patients from around the world.

Bolivia’s growing reputation as a preferred health and medical destination sees it welcoming visitors from around the world seeking remedies for a range of medical needs and for cosmetic surgery.Boliviaoffershigh standards ofcosmetic surgery at a fraction of the cost available in the US or leading centres in Europe. It’s an excellent location to consider for affordable cosmetic surgery.

Why consider Bolivia for cosmetic surgery?

Bolivia is located in central South America and boasts contrasting Andean and Amazonian landscapes as well as the highest capital city in the world. Once most famous for silver mining Bolivia’s more recent incarnation is as plastic surgery hot spot with visitors flocking from the US for a makeover, and people from much wider range of countries are now taking advantage of very affordable cosmetic surgery . And why not, with breathtaking scenery, warm hospitable people, world-renowned surgeons who study for a rigorous 15 years in order to qualify and advanced medical technologies, the medical tourist can combine a wonderful holiday in an exotic Latin American location with substantial savings on their required procedure.

Prices for cosmetic surgery are very low in Bolivia but quality is top class. ‘Makeover Travel’ in Santa Cruz for example has been awarded several prestigious prizes for quality, service and organisation and some of their clients include Miss World contenders.

In Bolivia you could pay under €2,000 for a tummy tuck and only €1,200 for Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping). Equally, the bill for a complete face lift will be €2,200 and, what’s more, all of these prices include 10 nights accommodation in a five star hotel.All things considered there is little wonder that ‘Beauty tourism’, as it has become known, is growing at a rate of sixty percent each year. Along with low prices, modern medical equipment, highly qualified surgeons who are world renowned, and the use of modern technologies and materials, the pound stretches even further in Bolivia as accommodation, travel, food and shopping are also inexpensive.

The official language in Bolivia is Spanish, but Quechua, Aymara and Guaran are also spoken. Bolivia has a wide range of climates due to its varied geography – you can experience stifling humidity one minute then heat or arctic cold weather conditions the next.

The best time to visit for medical tourism is during the winter months (May to October) to enjoy dry, clear days. During the summer (from November to March), it is the rainy season so expect relentless downpours, humid conditions and plenty of mud. Air tickets are the most expensive between late June and early September, when Bolivia’s major fiesta season takes place. The climate in Santa Cruz is semi tropical with average temperatures of between 29 to 35 degrees Celsius in the spring and summer, dropping down to around 21 degrees Celsius in the winter.

Currency in Bolivia is the Boliviano and €1 is approximately 9 Bolivianos.

Reasons to choose Bolivia

Growing reputation as a health and medical destination

High standards ofcosmetic surgery at low prices

Healthcare tourism growing by 60% per year

Inexpensive accommodation, travel, food and shopping

Varied geography from the Andes to Amazonian rainforest

Exotic location in central South America

Cosmetic surgeons and doctors in Bolivia : Accreditation and Training

Surgeons study and train the US, Europe and Brazil and are recognised around the world for their experience and expertise. Plastic surgeons must go through rigorous and lengthy training after their Medical Degree. To obtain the title of Surgeon and to practice his/her specialty a surgeon must take and pass a series of required certification exams and complete a minimum of two years of medical residency. It takes six years to graduate as a General Doctor from Medical School, and this is followed by two years of rotatory residency, three years General Surgery postgraduate degree, and three years Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial postgraduate. Altogether, it takes on average 15 years to become an accredited specialist and qualified member of the Bolivian Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The hard graft doesn’t end there as each and every plastic surgeon must be involved in national and international courses, fellowships, congresses and seminars to expand and broaden their career as well as periodically update their accreditation and ensure they are abreast of new techniques and developments in their field of specialty. As with other Ibero American countries, plastic surgery is ruled by a common code of ethics and all plastic surgery boards affiliated to theIbero-latinamerican federation of Plastic Surgery(FILACP) must abide by these. (FILAP is the organisation which unites all the plastic surgeon societies and boards in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries).

You can also check the surgeon’s accreditation with organisations such as theInternational Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons(ISAPS), theAmerican Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery(ASAPS), the Bolivian and Brazilian College of Surgeons, and the Ibero Latino American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Travel and accommodation costs for cosmetic surgery in Bolivia

The main international airport in Bolivia isLa Paz(El Alto) International Airport, but Santa Cruz (Viru Viru) is also a popular entry point from Europe. There are several other international airports: Santa Cruz (El Trompillo and Salvador Ogaya airports), Tarija (Oriel Lea Plaza), Pando and Cochabamba.La PazInternational Airport is located 14km south west of the city. There are regular coach services (as well as minibuses and taxis) into the city centre with a journey time of around 20 minutes. The services from the city to the airport leave from Plaza Isabel La Catlica. Santa Cruz (Viru Viru) is located 16km from the city centre and there are taxis available at arrivals.

You can enter Bolivia from any of the neighbouring countries by road (the best routes are from Argentina or Peru as routes from Brazil and Chile are poor and those from Paraguay would need a 4WD). Drivers require a ‘hoja de ruta’ (circulation card) from the Servicio Nacional de Trnsito at the frontier.You can also travel by train from neighbouring countries as there are rail connections to La Paz from La Quiaca and Pocitos in Argentina, from Arica in Chile, and from Coroba in Brazil.

Travelling within the country

Long distance journeys in Bolivia are generally done by air – or bus with the faster option obviously being by air, but be aware that delays, cancellations and general unreliability do still occur. Domestic flights are served byLa Paz(El Alto) and Santa Cruz (Viru Viru) airports and airlines operating internal flights are AeroXpress, Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB) and TAM Airlines. Bolivia’s national airline is AeroSur.

If you are planning on travelling around the country and flying to several locations then the ‘Visit South America Pass’ is a good option and is valid within Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines include Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, LAN and Qantas. The pass must be bought outside South America and allows unlimited travel to 34 cities with a minimum of three flights with no maximum amount of flights. The cost depends on the amount of flight zones you book, talk to your flight consultant for more information when buying your international ticket.

Major cities have inter-country train stations but train travel is not advisable as there are reduced services since privatisation and those that do run are slow and unreliable. Equally, cross country bus journeys connecting all of the country’s ‘department’s are long and mostly involve overnight trips. You need to arrive half an hour earlier than departure to ensure a seat and fares vary according to distance and destination.

Driving

There are the usual car rental companies at the airport and in major cities and driving is on the right. To hire a car you will need to have an International Driving Permit which can be obtained either from the Federacin Inter-Americana de Touring y Automvil (on production of a national licence) or better still before departure from your own country. The Pan-American Highway which links the Argentine Republic with Peru crosses Bolivian territory from the south to the northwest but driving in the rainy season is dangerous. During recent years, new roads have been developed and the principal highways are now well-maintained but the general road network in Bolivia is poor.

There are fixed rates for taxis and you may find yourself sharing a taxi with other passengers! Fixed route taxis are the ‘Trufi’ and ‘Trufibus’ – look out for the coloured flags depicting the different routes. The ‘truck’ is usually half the price of a bus, and usually more reliable, though slightly less comfortable. You can hire a taxi driver for a whole day for a remarkably low price.

Accommodation and vaccinations

Hotels in Santa Cruz are very affordable. You can expect to pay around €20 to €30 for a room in a four star hotel and around €10 to €25 for a three star. If you fancy a bit of luxury then a room in a five star hotel is still affordable, at around €40 a night.

Some vaccinations should be taken before departure: The Yellow Fever vaccination is recommended if you are planning on visiting tropical areas, check with your doctor or a travel clinic for detailed medical advice and while in the country remember to only drink the bottled water.

About Bolivia

Bolivia is the undiscovered gem of South America, with a population not much bigger than London or New York, living in a country bigger than France and Spain combined. Perhaps this explains why Bolivians are such a welcoming people, greeting tourists with genuine warmth, backed by a real pride in their nation and its rich traditions.

Bolivia is located south west of Brazil nestled between Paraguay and Argentina in the south, with Chile and Peru in the west. Officially known as the Republic of Bolivia, the country has a range of geographical regions and is an excellent location for trekking, fishing, jungle tours and mountaineering with most patients choosing to do their exploring and travelling pre-surgery so they can rest and recuperate afterwards.

Bolivia has two capital cities; La Paz (the administrative capital) and Sucre (home of the judicial branch of the government), while Santa Cruz de la Sierra, dubbed the tropical paradise of Bolivia, is the country’s largest city and where a big proportion of plastic and cosmetic surgeries are located. Bolivian highlights include the colonial town ofPotos- the highest city in the world – located in south-westBoliviaat 4070 metres above sea level and nominated a cultural asset of humankind by UNESCO. The Cerro Rico (the Rich Mountain) silver mine is also a must-see as it is where a wealth of silver has been mined since the sixteenth century (themines produced plenty of wealth for the Spanish empire but unfortunately the country went into decline when the price of silver dropped in the 1980’s).

Bolivia is a country of contrasts, with the relatively modern cities of La Paz and Santa Cruz bustling with industry and high finance, while other areas are slower and still show evidence past colonial glories and the stunning whitewashed architecture of days gone by.

This is also a country of geographical contrasts, from unexplored rainforest to the high Andes, from lush valleys to remote mountain desert plains. Wherever you visit, the scenery is spectacular. Take in the famous Lake Titicaca and you’ll be awed by the soaring, snow-covered peaks that surround you. Visit the Amboro National Park and you’ll be blown away by the diversity of the wildlife, with more bird species in the one park than the whole of the US and Canada put together.

Wherever you are in Bolivia make sure you sample some local specialities; dishes like empanada saltea (diced meats, potatoes, chives, raisins, a hot sauce and pepper baked in dough), or lomo montado, fried tender loin steak with two fried eggs, rice and fried banana are great washed down with a Cruzena, considered one of the best beers around.

Although the sabre rattling of the Bolivian president, Evo Morales, and headline grabbing stories of drug trafficking, have given Bolivia a poor image in the international consciousness, in reality, it is one of the safest countries in South America for travelling and tourism. It is also one of the cheapest, with tourism relatively new and prices yet to rise to take advantage. Staying and seeing Bolivia is significantly cheaper than its neighbours such as Brazil or Argentina. Factor in the lack of crowds at the big attractions, and the warm welcome offered to tourists, and you’ll find Bolivia is a brilliant way to get an authentic South American experience.

One thing is for sure; Bolivia is a colourful country, with many indigenous people whose way of life has changed little over the centuries. Rich in folklore and folk music, the mountain peoples of Bolivia have a unique culture all their own. If you get the chance to experience one of their traditional festivals, and there are plenty of them all year round, don’t miss it! It will be an unforgettable experience of sound and colour, dancing and excitement, and the endearing smiles will stay with you forever.