International research is prompting a re-think of the cosmetic surgery industry and the risks involved in having surgery overseas. Latest unofficial estimates show 15 000 Australians seek procedures overseas annually, with the numbers of female ‘cosmetic surgery tourists’ in their early 20s increasing.
Sydney Technical University ethnographer and cultural studies researcher Meredith Jones is part of an international team examining cosmetic surgery tourism. Their often surprising results are prompting a re-think of the industry and the risks involved in undertaking a ‘nip and tuck’ overseas.
"Most of us remember a time when cosmetic surgery was a weird, dangerous indulgence reserved for Hollywood stars and the severely vanity-inflicted," said Jones. "But in thepast 20 years it has become something many people think of as part of good grooming; another option in the suite of self-improvement procedures that include hair dye, teeth capping, dieting and gym work.
"Cosmetic surgery is apparent on faces and bodies everywhere. It is now, for many, simply ‘not a big deal’. There are complex reasons for its popularity, and they show no signs of waning. Firstly, ageing baby-boomers, the richest generation that has ever lived, have money to spare and are unwilling to age in the ways their parents did.
"Secondly, throughout the 20th century, the ways we viewed our bodies changed: The body morphed from being something ‘God-given’ into something we own and have the right to modify. A few years ago, reality television programs such as Extreme Makeover and The Swan made cosmetic surgery seem easy, necessary and glamorous.
"There is an increasing focus on the importance of personal appearance, and our exteriors have come to signify our values and our senses of control: Our bodies now help us to demonstrate we are ‘good citizens’ who are always undergoing self-improvement."
Jones is part of a multi-site, multi-disciplinary international team examining cosmetic surgery tourism. The Sun, Sea, Sand, Silicone project is funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council. Colleagues at Leeds and Leicester universities are looking at Britons who go to Poland, Spain and Tunisia, as well as Chinese people traveling to South Korea for surgery. Researchers at UTS and Sydney University are looking at Australians who travel to Thailand and Malaysia.
Statistics are scarce for cosmetic surgery in general and for cosmetic surgery tourism in particular. However, Jones estimates 15,000 Australian residents seek cosmetic surgery overseas annually, spending at least A$300 million.
Thailand is the most popular destination for Australian cosmetic surgery tourists (Malaysia is second), offering cosmetic surgery services at half or even a third of what they cost at home.
"When I first visited Thailand to interview Australians who were there for cosmetic surgery, I expected unhygienic conditions, poorly qualified surgeons and desperate customers," said Jones. "I could not have been more wrong. Most of the hospitals that foreigners visit in Thailand are highly accredited and world class. Many of the people I’ve interviewed over the last few years have spoken about how much cleaner, well equipped, and better staffed they think Bangkok hospitals are than Australian ones."
Understandably, Australian cosmetic surgeons are not happy with the rise of cosmetic surgery tourism. Their businesses are being threatened and they stand to lose customers and money. They like to contribute to scare campaigns about cosmetic surgery abroad, often saying they are constantly fixing up botched jobs done by foreign surgeons.
"What they fail to mention, however, is they are also constantly fixing up botched jobs done by each other," said Jones. "Again, statistics are not recorded, but I strongly suspect the possibility of cosmetic surgery ‘gone wrong’ is just as likely whether you have it in Sydney or in Bangkok."
However, people do not just travel for surgery. Cosmetic surgery tourism is often a luxury package that includes sightseeing, shopping and spa-type pampering.
A new breed of entrepreneurs who call themselves cosmetic surgery tourism agents or consultants have helped to create this seemingly incongruous combination of holiday and surgery.
Most agents are middle-aged women without tertiary qualifications but with a huge amount of experiential expertise – that is, they have been cosmetic surgery tourists themselves. These small businesswomen usually operate from home, often via the internet and online social networking, organising everything from flights to hospital bookings to wildlife park visits. Most never meet clients face to face.
Clients’ profiles are hugely diverse, but there has been an increase in the last couple of years in one particular demographic group: Women in their early 20s. They usually are travelling together, either with friends or in a group made up by an agent, and most of them have breast augmentations.
International research is prompting a re-think of the cosmetic surgery industry and the risks involved in having surgery overseas. Latest unofficial estimates show 15 000 Australians seek procedures overseas annually, with the numbers of female ‘cosmetic surgery tourists’ in their early 20s increasing.
Sydney Technical University ethnographer and cultural studies researcher Meredith Jones is part of an international team examining cosmetic surgery tourism. Their often surprising results are prompting a re-think of the industry and the risks involved in undertaking a ‘nip and tuck’ overseas.
"Most of us remember a time when cosmetic surgery was a weird, dangerous indulgence reserved for Hollywood stars and the severely vanity-inflicted," said Jones. "But in thepast 20 years it has become something many people think of as part of good grooming; another option in the suite of self-improvement procedures that include hair dye, teeth capping, dieting and gym work.
"Cosmetic surgery is apparent on faces and bodies everywhere. It is now, for many, simply ‘not a big deal’. There are complex reasons for its popularity, and they show no signs of waning. Firstly, ageing baby-boomers, the richest generation that has ever lived, have money to spare and are unwilling to age in the ways their parents did.
"Secondly, throughout the 20th century, the ways we viewed our bodies changed: The body morphed from being something ‘God-given’ into something we own and have the right to modify. A few years ago, reality television programs such as Extreme Makeover and The Swan made cosmetic surgery seem easy, necessary and glamorous.
"There is an increasing focus on the importance of personal appearance, and our exteriors have come to signify our values and our senses of control: Our bodies now help us to demonstrate we are ‘good citizens’ who are always undergoing self-improvement."
Jones is part of a multi-site, multi-disciplinary international team examining cosmetic surgery tourism. The Sun, Sea, Sand, Silicone project is funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council. Colleagues at Leeds and Leicester universities are looking at Britons who go to Poland, Spain and Tunisia, as well as Chinese people traveling to South Korea for surgery. Researchers at UTS and Sydney University are looking at Australians who travel to Thailand and Malaysia.
Statistics are scarce for cosmetic surgery in general and for cosmetic surgery tourism in particular. However, Jones estimates 15,000 Australian residents seek cosmetic surgery overseas annually, spending at least A$300 million.
Thailand is the most popular destination for Australian cosmetic surgery tourists (Malaysia is second), offering cosmetic surgery services at half or even a third of what they cost at home.
"When I first visited Thailand to interview Australians who were there for cosmetic surgery, I expected unhygienic conditions, poorly qualified surgeons and desperate customers," said Jones. "I could not have been more wrong. Most of the hospitals that foreigners visit in Thailand are highly accredited and world class. Many of the people I’ve interviewed over the last few years have spoken about how much cleaner, well equipped, and better staffed they think Bangkok hospitals are than Australian ones."
Understandably, Australian cosmetic surgeons are not happy with the rise of cosmetic surgery tourism. Their businesses are being threatened and they stand to lose customers and money. They like to contribute to scare campaigns about cosmetic surgery abroad, often saying they are constantly fixing up botched jobs done by foreign surgeons.
"What they fail to mention, however, is they are also constantly fixing up botched jobs done by each other," said Jones. "Again, statistics are not recorded, but I strongly suspect the possibility of cosmetic surgery ‘gone wrong’ is just as likely whether you have it in Sydney or in Bangkok."
However, people do not just travel for surgery. Cosmetic surgery tourism is often a luxury package that includes sightseeing, shopping and spa-type pampering.
A new breed of entrepreneurs who call themselves cosmetic surgery tourism agents or consultants have helped to create this seemingly incongruous combination of holiday and surgery.
Most agents are middle-aged women without tertiary qualifications but with a huge amount of experiential expertise – that is, they have been cosmetic surgery tourists themselves. These small businesswomen usually operate from home, often via the internet and online social networking, organising everything from flights to hospital bookings to wildlife park visits. Most never meet clients face to face.
Clients’ profiles are hugely diverse, but there has been an increase in the last couple of years in one particular demographic group: Women in their early 20s. They usually are travelling together, either with friends or in a group made up by an agent, and most of them have breast augmentations.
