Self-improvement was once the last thing on people’s minds when they booked a holiday. Whether travelling for pleasure, excitement or any other type of edification, holidays are usually a chance to let your hair down and return to the daily grind invigorated – or at least that is the plan. But now, due to the increasing popularity of cosmetic medical procedures, many people are booking a flight and returning, quite literally, a different person.
The rise of Dubai’s cosmetic surgery sector has broadly mirrored the growth of the emirate itself. As the towers on Sheikh Zayed Road climbed skywards, so did Dubai’s reputation as a destination for aesthetic surgery. With the establishment of Dubai Healthcare City and its tough clinical and regulatory standards, however, cosmetic surgery has only gone from strength to strength, argues Sam Bahsoun, from DHCC’s American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital (AACSH). The secret to its success, he believes, is that medical tourism – and especially aesthetic procedures – chimes with much of the Dubai masterplan to grow its reputation as a major tourist destination. “Medical tourism is a global trend and many countries all over the world have tried to develop it,” he says. “But I am convinced that Dubai is the best place for medical tourism – it is a crossroads for cultures and is a very well established travel destination, whether for business, leisure or shopping,” he says. “Medical tourism comes as a complement to the others types of tourism already established and working in Dubai and the region.” That may well be the case, but Dubai, like the rest of the world, has not been immune to the global downturn. While tourism is now picking up again, the strain on disposable income will surely have halted the ascent of cosmetic surgery.
Not so, says Bahsoun. “Demand has actually increased with the financial crisis, contrary to the widespread opinion,” he says. “Surgical procedures have increased since the financial recession started – perhaps because after all the stress and hard work people are thinking about themselves again.” Indeed, for those who are considering undergoing elective procedures and want to combine it with a luxurious break then facilities such as AACSH, which also contains a boutique hospital, are likely to prove appealing – and convenient. After all, Dubai certainly does luxury well. “AACSH is very much similar to the other activities Dubai has developed,” says Bahsoun. He points to the sheer number of high-end hotels and restaurants in the emirate, or facilities like the Atlantis or Ski Dubai, as evidence that Dubai continues to attract high-spending tourists. “Dubai is a dream for a lot of tourists to come and enjoy and this has helped develop the concept of medical tourism in parallel to all other activities of the city.” In the past, medical tourism was mostly a one-way stream for Dubai. It may have been able to attract small numbers to specialist clinics, but in general more people were leaving Dubai for medical treatment than visiting. Not any longer, he says. “People from Europe turned their eyes to Dubai for a medical solution of their problems instead of travelling to the US,” he says. “Same thing has happened with people from the Middle East – today we can see at the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital more and more visitors choosing Dubai as the destination for medical trip instead of Lebanon.” Of course, you don’t have to be a tourist to enjoy the services on offer at DHCC. Indeed, many Emiratis and long-term Dubai residents have been medical tourists in the past. Bahsoun hopes that the availability of Joint Commission International-accredited facilities within the emirate itself will keep patients away from the airport.
He also believes Dubai has the potential to act as a cosmetic surgery hub for the region. “More and more citizens of the United Arab Emirates and the surrounding region – such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain – can now find the specialists for their health problems just next door here in Dubai,” he says. “They no longer have to travel to other countries for treatments.” And it is not just major surgical procedures that are proving popular, either. Indeed, many people still consider the idea of elective surgery somewhat beyond the pale. While most of us will have issues with our appearance, few will take the active steps to seek – and pay – to have them attended to. That however, is starting to change, says Dr Antonio Armani, from the Alvi Armani clinic. Armani’s clinic specializes in hair transplants, and, as they are not covered by national health plans anywhere, Armani says they are proving extremely popular.
“As the intervention has become better in quality with more natural results it has become much more popular,” he says. “It is likely that it is the number one procedure for men in cosmetic surgery.” The procedure is attracting a lot of attention from patients from outside of the UAE, he adds. “50% of our patients come from Europe, GCC states, Saudi Arabia, India and other Asian countries.” And Armani agrees with Bahsoun that many individuals are looking to combine holiday plans with aesthetic surgery concerns. “Dubai has truly become a new tourist spot as our European patients, when given a choice, prefer to come here than to our North American clinics,” he says. “In fact, we also see some North American patients who prefer Dubai rather than our own North American centers in Toronto and Beverley Hills,” he says. Armani dismisses the idea that Dubai is blooming as a cosmetic surgery center as it is more affordable. “The main driver is definitely quality as our procedures range from $20,000 to over $100,000 per procedure.” The change in patient-flow has also been reflected in the clinical community. “Even the direction of the physicians has changed,” says AACSH’s Bahsoun. “Today Dubai and the UAE gather all top specialists in the medical field here on a regular basis as they are attracted by conferences and workshops and the opportunity to pursue continuous medical education and medical research.” It is clear, then, that Dubai looks set to continue flourish as a destination for cosmetic surgery – and will surely stem the flow of patients leaving the emirate for treatment. So whether you’re booking a flight from overseas, or a taxi from down the road, Dubai has plenty of options for a bit of nip tuck.
The rise of Dubai’s cosmetic surgery sector has broadly mirrored the growth of the emirate itself. As the towers on Sheikh Zayed Road climbed skywards, so did Dubai’s reputation as a destination for aesthetic surgery. With the establishment of Dubai Healthcare City and its tough clinical and regulatory standards, however, cosmetic surgery has only gone from strength to strength, argues Sam Bahsoun, from DHCC’s American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital (AACSH). The secret to its success, he believes, is that medical tourism – and especially aesthetic procedures – chimes with much of the Dubai masterplan to grow its reputation as a major tourist destination. “Medical tourism is a global trend and many countries all over the world have tried to develop it,” he says. “But I am convinced that Dubai is the best place for medical tourism – it is a crossroads for cultures and is a very well established travel destination, whether for business, leisure or shopping,” he says. “Medical tourism comes as a complement to the others types of tourism already established and working in Dubai and the region.” That may well be the case, but Dubai, like the rest of the world, has not been immune to the global downturn. While tourism is now picking up again, the strain on disposable income will surely have halted the ascent of cosmetic surgery.
Not so, says Bahsoun. “Demand has actually increased with the financial crisis, contrary to the widespread opinion,” he says. “Surgical procedures have increased since the financial recession started – perhaps because after all the stress and hard work people are thinking about themselves again.” Indeed, for those who are considering undergoing elective procedures and want to combine it with a luxurious break then facilities such as AACSH, which also contains a boutique hospital, are likely to prove appealing – and convenient. After all, Dubai certainly does luxury well. “AACSH is very much similar to the other activities Dubai has developed,” says Bahsoun. He points to the sheer number of high-end hotels and restaurants in the emirate, or facilities like the Atlantis or Ski Dubai, as evidence that Dubai continues to attract high-spending tourists. “Dubai is a dream for a lot of tourists to come and enjoy and this has helped develop the concept of medical tourism in parallel to all other activities of the city.” In the past, medical tourism was mostly a one-way stream for Dubai. It may have been able to attract small numbers to specialist clinics, but in general more people were leaving Dubai for medical treatment than visiting. Not any longer, he says. “People from Europe turned their eyes to Dubai for a medical solution of their problems instead of travelling to the US,” he says. “Same thing has happened with people from the Middle East – today we can see at the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital more and more visitors choosing Dubai as the destination for medical trip instead of Lebanon.” Of course, you don’t have to be a tourist to enjoy the services on offer at DHCC. Indeed, many Emiratis and long-term Dubai residents have been medical tourists in the past. Bahsoun hopes that the availability of Joint Commission International-accredited facilities within the emirate itself will keep patients away from the airport.
He also believes Dubai has the potential to act as a cosmetic surgery hub for the region. “More and more citizens of the United Arab Emirates and the surrounding region – such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain – can now find the specialists for their health problems just next door here in Dubai,” he says. “They no longer have to travel to other countries for treatments.” And it is not just major surgical procedures that are proving popular, either. Indeed, many people still consider the idea of elective surgery somewhat beyond the pale. While most of us will have issues with our appearance, few will take the active steps to seek – and pay – to have them attended to. That however, is starting to change, says Dr Antonio Armani, from the Alvi Armani clinic. Armani’s clinic specializes in hair transplants, and, as they are not covered by national health plans anywhere, Armani says they are proving extremely popular.
“As the intervention has become better in quality with more natural results it has become much more popular,” he says. “It is likely that it is the number one procedure for men in cosmetic surgery.” The procedure is attracting a lot of attention from patients from outside of the UAE, he adds. “50% of our patients come from Europe, GCC states, Saudi Arabia, India and other Asian countries.” And Armani agrees with Bahsoun that many individuals are looking to combine holiday plans with aesthetic surgery concerns. “Dubai has truly become a new tourist spot as our European patients, when given a choice, prefer to come here than to our North American clinics,” he says. “In fact, we also see some North American patients who prefer Dubai rather than our own North American centers in Toronto and Beverley Hills,” he says. Armani dismisses the idea that Dubai is blooming as a cosmetic surgery center as it is more affordable. “The main driver is definitely quality as our procedures range from $20,000 to over $100,000 per procedure.” The change in patient-flow has also been reflected in the clinical community. “Even the direction of the physicians has changed,” says AACSH’s Bahsoun. “Today Dubai and the UAE gather all top specialists in the medical field here on a regular basis as they are attracted by conferences and workshops and the opportunity to pursue continuous medical education and medical research.” It is clear, then, that Dubai looks set to continue flourish as a destination for cosmetic surgery – and will surely stem the flow of patients leaving the emirate for treatment. So whether you’re booking a flight from overseas, or a taxi from down the road, Dubai has plenty of options for a bit of nip tuck.
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