Cosmetic surgeries a driver for tourists to Dubai

Dubai - Liposuction and breast surgery are the most desired procedures

The rapid growth and wide availability of world-class facilities have firmly put Dubai on the map of global destinations for cosmetic surgery, according to local experts.
The Dubai Health Experience (DXH) for example, lists several cosmetic surgery comprehensive packages on its website.
Dr Jeehan Abdul Qadir, executive chairperson of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital (AACSH) in Dubai, said that cosmetic surgery is inextricably linked to medical tourism.
"There are several factors that have led to the growth of the cosmetic surgery industry in Dubai over the past few years. Foremost amongst these is the rapid growth of medical tourism in the country, which has led to an increased focus on further developing the medical offering in the region that match international standards and beyond, positively impacting the aesthetic medicine industry as well," she said.
According to Dr Jeehan, at AACSH, liposuction and breast surgery are the most desired procedures, accounting for 46 per cent and 18 per cent of all patients, respectively. Other high-demand treatments include abdominoplasty, cosmetic gynaecology and rhinoplasty. 
"These findings show that patients in Dubai or travelling to Dubai to avail cosmetic surgery procedures are in line with global trends," she said.
Dr Jaffer Khan, the founder and medical director at Aesthetics International and Nova Clinic by Aesthetics, also noted he has seen that non-invasive procedures have begun to rise, both for local patients and medical tourists.
"We have seen a rise in non-invasive treatments, such as VelaShape, Cool Sculpting and HydraFacial MD, which provide innovative and cutting edge approaches to wellness, anti-aging and rejuvenation," he said. Dr Khan added that many medical tourists at his facility come after word spreads.
"We've seen this trend at Aesthetics International over the years. A growth in patients coming to our clinics from abroad. The majority of these have been word of mouth referrals, who have requested consultations with our surgeons," he said. "With this in mind, we have designed several special packages to attract medical tourists."
According to the "UAE Healthcare Sector Outlook 2020" issued by RNCOS, the UAE's healthcare industry is expected to grow seven per cent between 2015 and 2020.
"Medical tourism is one of the key factors for driving this growth, and cosmetic procedures are among the fastest growing and the most popular among medical tourists in Dubai," Dr Jeehan said.
She added 13 per cent of all patients at AACSH come from the Mena region.
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- Dubai's advantages as the new medical tourism hub
- A patient's journey from abroad to Dubai
- bernd@khaleejtimes.com

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