It is more expensive than ever to get medical and dental care in the United States. Before the pandemic about 20,000 Americans a year came to Colombia for dental work and cosmetic surgery, making it one of the best countries for medical tourism. Now, the industry is rebounding again, and here is why so many people make the trip!
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Guest Post: This post was written by Wesley Jacobs, founder of Apollo Medical Travel. It is not sponsored content, meaning there was no money exchanged for its publication nor do I have any affiliate or commission relationship with them. Wesley was kind enough to share his expertise on medical tourism in Colombia. If you’re interesting in coming to get dental work in Colombia or cosmetic surgery in Colombia, check out the services at Apollo Medical Travel. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Why consider getting medical work in Colombia?
Colombia is a world renowned destination for dental work and cosmetic surgery. After South Korea, Colombia’s plastic surgeons are the busiest in the world. In other domains, Colombia brings in A-list stars from Rappers to UFC Fighters thanks to innovative clinics and affordable prices.
While taking advantage of medical tourism in Colombia, it is important to understand the risks inherent in the procedure you are interested in and to understand the risks unique to medical tourism. It is important to look into the qualifications of your doctor yourself or with the help of a medical tourism facilitator like Apollo Medical Travel. Finally, it is important to purchase travel insurance like that offered by World Nomads.
If you think you’re ready to plan a trip for medical tourism in Colombia, whether it be for dental work in Colombia or cosmetic work in Colombia, read on to learn about some of the most popular and affordable procedures.
1. Getting Veneers in Colombia
Colombia has attracted some big stars from the United States for smile designs. Rappers Tekashi69 and Rick Ross are among those that have taken advantage of dental tourism in Colombia. This should come as no surprise since veneers in the United States can cost $925 to $2,500 USD per tooth. A smile design can cost as much as a new car.
Meanwhile, veneers in Colombia are much more affordable. While the stars likely got their new smiles for free, the rest of us are looking at prices starting at $70 per tooth for composite resin veneers and $260 USD per tooth for ceramic.
Getting veneers in Colombia take about 1 week, depending on the clinic, so many travelers use some of the savings to stay at a high end hotel while they relax and recover.
2. Getting Dental Implants in Colombia
Another popular procedure for dental tourism in Colombia is dental implants. Most insurance plans in the United States only pay 50% of the cost of dental implants with an annual cap of about $2,000 USD. At a cost of $4,000 USD per implant, abutment, and crown, a single implant can completely negate a year’s worth of dental coverage and leave the patient paying thousands out of pocket.
In Colombia, an implant, abutment, and crown starts at about $921 USD, 75% less than the cost in the United States. The catch is that dental implants in Colombia take two 1-week visits four to six months apart. The wait is necessary because it takes time for the jawbone to fuse with the implant in a process called “osseointegration.”
Anecdotally, the ability to work from anywhere has led patients at clinics like Dentist Cartagena, located in Bocagrande, to stick around in Colombia for the whole recovery process. Even if you don’t end up staying, dental implants in Colombia are undoubtedly cheaper than in the United States.
3. Filling Replacements
Silver amalgam fillings have been a staple of dentistry for over a hundred years, but the teeth they are designed to restore are left with an aesthetically unpleasant black mark. Moreover, the amalgam consists of a mix of tin, silver, mercury, and copper.
Many people combine their travel with a bit of dental tourism in Colombia, going to a dentist for a simple 1 visit procedure to replace the amalgam with composite resin, which blends right in with the teeth. One such clinic that specializes in this procedure is International Smiles in Medellin, Colombia. Dr. Adriana and her team use a specialized vacuum as well to ensure that the metals in the amalgam do not become aerosolized and inhaled during the swap.
4. Getting Plastic Surgery in Colombia
Colombia performs the 3rd most plastic surgery procedures in the world after Brazil and South Korea. Breast implants, Brazilian butt lifts, and tummy tucks are some of the most popular procedures for cosmetic surgery in Colombia due to the exceptionally high prices for these procedures at home compared to the much more affordable price of plastic surgery in Colombia and due to the high quality of work in Colombia.
Premium Care Plastic Surgery, located in Bocagrande, employs some of the best plastic surgeons in Colombia and hosts over 100 international patients a year, mostly from the United States and Canada. Interestingly, international patients coming for cosmetic surgery in Colombia get an average of 2.7 procedures each.
5. Teeth Whitening
Cosmetic dentistry in Colombia is also a great cost saving option. Teeth Whitening at a dental clinic in the United States can cost up to $650 USD, but it starts at just $100 USD per session in Colombia. The procedure itself takes about 1 hour and can improve the whiteness of the teeth by several shades in a single visit.
During a teeth whitening procedure, a dental dam is typically applied to protect the gums from the solution, the solution is applied and then photo-activated with a special light. The effects are immediate and you can hit the town right away with a radiant smile.
6. Invisible Aligners
Invisible braces are an increasingly popular procedure for travelers coming for cosmetic dentistry in Colombia since a year’s supply of aligners can be printed in a lab and then brought home. In Colombia, a year of orthodontic treatment with invisible aligners costs about 50-70% less than in the United States.
Within a week, a dentist can take impressions, and a dental lab can print several sets of aligners. Travelers can return home after their dental work in Colombia with everything they need for a straight and healthy smile.
While individual cases may vary, $2,000 – $2,500 USD is a good baseline.
7. BOTOX
Botox is one of the most popular aesthetic procedures in the world, and lots of people take advantage of getting Botox in Colombia for its lower prices. Botox is used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by relaxing the muscles of the face.
Botox is administered and priced in units. In the US, a single unit costs between $10-15 USD. Compare that to the price of Botox in Colombia, where the same procedure, applied by a doctor, costs about $5 USD per unit.
Botox takes place during a single session. According to the Mayo Clinic, the effects of the injections can typically be seen after 1-3 days and results can last for several months.
Dental and Cosmetic Procedures in Colombia – Conclusion
If you are looking to combine your travel with medical work, Colombia is home to reputable doctors and affordable procedures. Always look into the credentials of the doctor you are interested in using for your procedure, or consider using a professional medical tourism facilitator like Apollo Medical Travel.
Many thanks to Wesley for sharing his expertise on medical tourism in Colombia. Whether you’re considering coming for dental work in Colombia or coming to Colombia for cosmetic surgery, consider their services.
Cheers and safe exploring!
Planning a trip to Cartagena?
Be sure to check out the rest of the site to help you plan!
In particular, you might want to check out my complete guide to planning a trip to Cartagena, my guide to the best areas to stay, my list of over 75 things to do, my picks for the best Cartagena tours, the best day trips from Cartagena, my suggested packing list, my guide to the Rosario Islands, and my guide to all the beaches of Cartagena.
Hello, everyone! I hope you find this article very useful as you consider going to a dentist or surgeon here in Colombia.
Adam, I had a great time putting this piece together and seeing your editing process. Hats off to you- blogging is hard work!
Many thanks to you Wesley for putting it together!