In the USA
$10,000
Gets You:
- ✓ Liposuction (1-2 areas)
- — Or breast augmentation alone
- — Or partial tummy tuck
NOT Included:
- • Post-op recovery care
- • Compression garments
- • Lymphatic massage
- • Follow-up appointments (beyond 1-2)
In Medellín
$10,000
Gets You:
- ✓ Full Tummy Tuck
- ✓ Breast Lift with Implants
- ✓ Liposuction of Flanks
- ✓ Round-trip flights
- ✓ 14 nights recovery house
- ✓ 24/7 nursing care
- ✓ All meals included
- ✓ 10 lymphatic massage sessions
- ✓ Compression garments (2)
- ✓ All transportation
- ✓ Post-op medications
The comparison is almost unfair. In the US, $10,000 barely covers a single procedure—and you're on your own for recovery. In Medellín, it covers a complete mommy makeover plus everything you need for a safe, supported recovery.
Breaking Down the Medellín Budget
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tummy Tuck + Breast Lift/Aug + Lipo (Mommy Makeover) | $7,000 |
| Round-trip flights (from Miami) | $350 |
| Recovery house (14 nights @ $90) | $1,260 |
| Lymphatic massage (10 sessions) | $500 |
| Compression garments (2) | $200 |
| Medications, labs, insurance | $400 |
| Airport transfers | $70 |
| TOTAL | $9,780 |
The US Equivalent Cost
That same mommy makeover—tummy tuck, breast lift with implants, and liposuction—in the United States:
Surgeon's Fee
$15,000-$20,000
Anesthesia
$2,000-$3,500
Facility Fees
$3,000-$5,000
Implants
$1,500-$2,500
US Total (surgery only)
$25,000-$42,000
*Does not include compression garments, lymphatic massage, or post-op care
More Budget Comparisons
With a $6,000 Budget
In the USA:
Breast augmentation (implants only, no lift)
— Or you're $2,000 short of most procedures
In Medellín (all-in):
BBL + Lipo 360 + flights + 10 nights + full care
With a $15,000 Budget
In the USA:
Tummy tuck alone
— Or breast aug + lift (no tummy work)
In Medellín (all-in):
Full mommy makeover + facelift + flights + 3 weeks recovery house + all care
With a $20,000 Budget
In the USA:
Basic mommy makeover (tummy + breast, no lipo)
In Medellín (all-in):
Everything above + companion's flights + luxury recovery house + extended stay + shopping money
Why the Difference?
The gap isn't about quality. It's about economics:
- US malpractice insurance: $50,000-$200,000/year per surgeon
- US facility fees: American ORs cost $2,000-$5,000/hour
- Insurance billing overhead: 15-20% of US practice revenue goes to coding/billing/denials
- Real estate & staff: Operating a clinic in Miami costs 3-5x what it costs in Medellín
- Labor costs: Nurses, techs, and admin staff earn more in the US
Colombian surgeons use the same implants (Allergan, Mentor, Motiva), same equipment, same techniques. They're trained to the same standards. The difference is the cost of running a practice—not the quality of the work.
The Bottom Line
$10,000 in the US gets you one procedure and you're on your own for recovery. $10,000 in Medellín gets you multiple procedures, flights, 2 weeks of professional care, and everything you need to heal properly.
It's not about "cheap surgery." It's about what your money actually buys you.