Treatment abroad: Mexico 

Mexico is a burgeoning destination for medical tourism, offering top-notch healthcare services in fields such as dentistry, cosmetic surgery, and fertility treatments, all at competitive prices.

Due to the increasing cost of surgery and healthcare in the UK and US, there has been a significant increase in the popularity of surgery and healthcare abroad in countries like Mexico. As popularity has increased, the quality and safety of healthcare abroad has increased accordingly.

With travel from the US being particularly convenient, many people from the US are travelling to Mexico to combine surgery with a much needed vacation.Medical tourism in Mexico also provides an affordable option for people from Europe or other international destinations looking to save money and enjoy a holiday in a vibrant and interesting culture.

Why consider Mexico?

One of the biggest draws for the medical tourist to Mexico, other than the very affordable private treatment prices, is the friendly welcome from English speaking medical staff. With Americans able to literally walk over the border if they choose, Mexican clinics have quickly adapted to meet the needs of this lucrative market, combining the highest quality facilities with a traditional warm Hispanic hospitality.

Mexico has not, however, become entirely westernised. Although you will easily find English speakers in most of the cities and major tourist resorts, the country still takes pride in its rich culture and complex history. Mexico has no less than 31 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, placing it fifth in the world, and much like Cairo in Egypt. Many of these sites lie within easy reach of the modern Mexican cities.

While these mighty civilisations have come and gone down the ages, Mexican wildlife has continued undisturbed, leaving the country with a remarkable range of animals and birds. Home to over 200,000 species, Mexico has the most reptiles and the second most mammals of any country, and these can all be enjoyed at no less than 64 national parks and 34 special ‘biosphere reserves’.

For patients undergoing more major procedures, the beaches and tropical climate are the main lure that brings them to Mexico. Where better to rest and recuperate than on a pristine white sand beach, enjoying the warm sunshine and fresh air of the Pacific Ocean, in Acapulco or along the Baja California Peninsula?

You don’t even have to stay in Mexico to enjoy the significant discounts available on a huge range of procedures. US border towns, such as Tijuana, are packed with high quality clinics that allow you to make a day trip from the United States, combining your treatment with a holiday in California or Texas.

If you are looking to combine medical treatment, cosmetic surgery or cosmetic dental work with a truly spectacular holiday, then Mexico has much to offer.

Reasons to choose Mexico

Low cost treatment close to the US

The healthcare tourism destination you can walk to

Most doctors trained in the United States

Friendly, English speaking staff

Wide range of medical and dental treatments available

Superb place for a holiday while you’re there

The healthcare system in Mexico

Healthcare in Mexico is generally of a very high standard, with clean clinics and hospitals equipped with the latest technology. Public access to healthcare is, however, remarkably complex, with three different national systems and further sub-systems operating in each individual state. For example, state workers receive their healthcare from a completely different body to workers in the private sector. However, one way or another, every Mexican citizen is entitled to some form of either free or subsidised treatment, resulting in a healthy population with a long life expectancy.

Private treatment also plays a significant part in Mexican Healthcare, with upwards of 3000 private clinics and hospitals across the country. Much of this is due to the huge demand for healthcare tourism from across the border in the United States, with many thousands of US citizens visiting each year to receive everything from basic dental care to major orthopaedic surgery. With Mexican dental prices at around half those in the United States, and other treatments even cheaper still, some American health insurance companies actually insist that their clients cross the border for treatment.

One advantage of this for medical tourists who speak English well is that the vast majority of clinics and hospitals have English speaking staff, not only in the frontline doctors who meet and treat you, but also throughout the nursing and ancillary staff. Other European languages are spoken but less frequently. Many Mexican doctors, cosmetic surgeons and dentists actually undertake their training and continued professional development in the United States or the UK, so they understand US/European culture and expectations.

The typical price for a dental implant in Mexico is around €720 while rhinoplasty (a nose job) costs under €2400.

To meet the US demand, a large proportion of private hospitals and clinics are based near the American border in cities such as Tijuana. The capital, Mexico City also boasts a selection of world class hospitals, while many private clinics and treatment centres have sprung up around the main tourist resorts, such as Cancun and Acapulco, combining a top class beach holiday with low cost treatment.

Transport and accommodation in Mexico

An alternative route is to fly to a location in the southern United States, such as Houston in Texas, or San Diego in California, and hire a car to drive across the border. With the popularity of medical tourism from the USA, you’ll find a huge choice of clinics within easy reach. The drive is around 750 miles from Houston and 475 miles from San Diego, both on excellent freeways.

Driving within Mexico is simple, with a comprehensive road system of major roads and motorways, although many main routes involve toll roads and the costs can quickly mount up. What’s more, if you plan to venture beyond the 22 mile border zone, you will need to arrange permits and other paperwork. It is unlikely that your US car hire insurance will cover you in Mexico, so make sure you check this and purchase extra insurance if you need it.

Being such a large country, it can often be cheaper to travel by air around Mexico, and the country has a wide network of airports and budget airlines to choose from. For a more authentic South American travel experience, try the many buses and coaches that link the main towns and cities. Mexico also has an extensive rail system, including fast inter-city trains, which are being improved all the time, with new super-fast routes nearing completion.

As you would expect in a modern capital, Mexico City has a cheap metro system of underground and overhead trains that connect all parts of the city and beyond. There are also excellent rail links from Mexico City to Acapulco on the nearby south coast and to Guadalajara, Mexico’s second biggest city in the centre of the country.

About Mexico

Sharing a border of almost 2,000 miles with the USA to the north, and forming a link between North and South America, Mexico is one of the largest countries in the world, with one of the fastest growing economies. It’s also one of the most visited, with around 21 million tourists every year, placing it in the top ten destinations.

It’s easy to understand why. Mexico has everything the modern tourist demands from unique national cuisine to colourful fiestas, from thriving modern cities to the now silent ancient ones. Add in tropical beaches, stunning wildlife and awe-inspiring landscapes and you have a very special location that makes for a once in a lifetime trip.

The capital, Mexico City, provides a microcosm of Mexico, combining a bustling cosmopolitan metropolis with ancient ruins such as the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Here you can taste authentic enchiladas, burritos and tacos; taste traditional Hispanic culture at Plaza de Toros, the world’s largest bullring; or experience the South American passion for football at the breathtaking Aztec Stadium the third largest in the world.

Head south to the beautiful beaches of Acapulco, where the tourist industry is in full swing and the party simply doesn’t stop. Or for a quieter coast, head through the crowds of American students in Tijuana and enjoy mile upon mile of unspoilt, empty beaches along the Baja California Peninsula.

To experience Mexico at its most authentic, Guadalajara is a must. Here tequila and Mariachi music mix with theatres and museums, to create a true picture of Mexican culture at all levels. Alternatively, to get a feel for Mexican culture in times gone by, head for the Yucatan Peninsula, once home to the mighty Mayan civilization, or visit Teotihuacan, just north of the capital, to see Mexico’s largest ancient city.

Whatever your idea of the holiday of a lifetime, you may well find it in Mexico. The country also offers remarkable prices for cosmetic surgery, medical procedures and cosmetic dentistry in first class clinics and private hospitals. More people are opting for this exotic location for their private treatment as the savings almost pay for the holiday.