Cancún Ranks Fifth in Mexico for Cosmetic Surgery Tourism

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Cancún ranks fifth in Mexico for medical tourism tied to cosmetic surgery, and specialists are pushing to strengthen the resort city’s international promotion to draw more foreign patients.

Arturo Ramírez, president of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), said Quintana Roo has the private hospital infrastructure, air connectivity and tourism services needed to grow this market. He spoke during the organization’s World Congress, held in Cancún.

Ramírez noted that cities such as Tijuana, Mexicali and Reynosa enjoy an advantage because of their proximity to the United States, while Cancún can pair private medical care with lodging and services for patients and the people traveling with them.

He added that medical tourism generates revenue across several sectors, including hospitals, nursing staff, hotels, restaurants and transport operators. Costs for procedures vary by procedure, hospital and the services contracted, he said, and do not necessarily differ significantly from one city to another.

Warning over fake specialists

Ramírez also cautioned about the risks of booking aesthetic procedures with people who promote themselves on social media without the proper training.

He recommended that patients verify a doctor holds the relevant specialty and a current certification, rather than choosing solely on the basis of advertising or prices offered online. Patient safety, he said, is essential to building trust in these services.

Establishing Cancún internationally in cosmetic surgery tourism, he added, requires both promotional strategies and guarantees of professional, safe care.