Despite America’s sluggish economy, more Americans than ever are getting plastic surgery. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), more than 13 million procedures were performed last year. That’s 5% more.

The most common surgeries are breast augmentation at 318,123, liposuction at 289,016, and blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery at 152,123.

So why is cosmetic and plastic surgery in such high demand, and what risks do people take to get it?

The most obvious reason is that people want to look good and looking younger always helps to look good. Plastic surgery increases self-confidence. It not only improves the appearance of a person, but also improves their attitude about themselves. Employers are more likely to hire them and others will find them attractive. If a person is also overweight, weight loss surgery can help them regain their youthful leanness faster and more permanently than diet alone.

In today’s culture, aging has no credibility. When so many billionaires in Silicon Valley are under 30, getting older doesn’t even mean getting wiser or more prosperous. In a recent study published by ASAPS, people who had cosmetic surgery had no problem being identified by college students as 10 years younger than their actual age.

However, even with today’s technological advances, plastic surgery is still not a piece of cake. It is a surgery and that comes with automatic risks, such as:

• blood clots
• excessive or unexpected bleeding
• infection
• tissue death
• paralysis
• loss or change in sensation
• incomplete healing
• anesthesia dysfunction
• pneumonia
• secondary surgeries
• no satisfaction with the results
• nerve damage
• obsession for more surgeries
• high debt or bankruptcy due to cost

The latter should not be discarded. Although cosmetic surgery can be popular, a typical facelift costs between $4,000 and $10,000 and a breast lift between $3,000 and $6,000 in the US. Unless associated with an accident or illness, most of employer insurance does not cover plastic surgery. Even countries that have government health insurance do not cover plastic surgery that is for cosmetic reasons only.

Savings on plastic surgery costs in Mexico

One way to cut costs considerably is to travel to Mexico. Places like Tijuana, Mexicali, Ciudad Juárez and Puerto Vallarta are very easy to reach from the US and receive foreign patients.

Bad news has been reported about charlatans in Mexico promising miracle cures or offering unbelievably low prices. However, Mexico also has very professional and highly competent hospitals and doctors that can match the quality and standards of any in the US Many are affiliated with US hospitals.

The costs of plastic surgery performed by highly competent surgeons, in clean and modern hospitals, with state-of-the-art equipment can still be up to 90% lower than the cost of cosmetic surgery in the US in many cases , hospitals organize the collection and delivery of patients to and from the border, as well as airports or other transportation sites. Comfortable resort areas for recovery, away from violent or dangerous areas, can also be part of the package.

For those who believe they deserve to look as good as they feel, and have checked the risks with their own doctors, traveling to Mexico can make plastic surgery worthwhile financially.