The word is out. If you want to stay young and beautiful 's on a budget 's come to the Baltic states. Cosmetic surgery tours have been popular for some time. People from all over Europe are now coming to region for all their medical needs. The figures are incredible, one in 10 Finns or Swedes visits a dentist or doctor in the Baltics. Some people even move here for health care.Yet many Balts are being short changed by a lousy public health service. We take a look at the option of private health insurance.This week's industry insider is all about health care.
RIGA - When most people think of the Baltics, cosmetic surgery isn't the first thing that comes to mind.
Yet surprisingly, after joining the EU and updating surgical methods to fit with EU regulations, the Baltics have seen thousands of foreigners and locals looking to get a nip-tuck in the three states.
"When I think of surgery I think of going to a hospital and having to stay at home for weeks... cosmetic surgery is more of a fun thing, something you do because you want to," said Ilze, a young woman who had a breast augmentation last year.
The most common procedures in the Baltics are similar to the rest of the worlds. Liposuction, facial surgery and breast augmentation are the most popular procedures for women, and hair transplants being the most prevalent for men.
In Lithuania, eyelid surgery is the most common facial surgery procedure 's an operation whereby the eye is opened creating a more youthful appearance.
Strangely, the majority of people getting these procedures are under 40-years-old. There are very few people over the age of 50 who have ever had plastic surgery in the Baltics. The average age range for is 7-45 years old.
Balding men under 40 most commonly have hair transplants, a fairly quick and easy procedure.
Beauty trip
Cosmetic surgery in the Baltics has also seen the growing trend of medical tourism 's foreigners coming to the countries to get medical treatment (see story on Page 11).
The main reason that foreigners choose the Baltics as a destination for cosmetic surgery is the cost. On average, the price tag is 60-70 percent lower than in the U.S. or U.K. An operation that costs 10,000 euro in the U.K. would only run about 3,700 in Estonia 's a difference which is drawing would-be beauty queens to the region in ever larger numbers.
There are even a few doctors that cater specifically to the foreign market, and advertise in English only.
Estonia has so far proven itself to be the most popular destination. In a small poll conducted by The Baltic Times, the majority of respondents said they would prefer have surgery in Estonia than in the other Baltic states.
Julia, a Swedish citizen visiting the Baltics, said she thought Estonia "just seems more nice and friendly" than its neighbors.
The most common surgeries in Estonia however, are orthopedic rather than cosmetic in nature. Latvia is the cosmetic surgery destination, and specializes more in face lifts, ear surgery and eyelid surgery.
Despite the influx of cosmetic tourists, Latvian companies' customers are still mostly locals. Most offices are private, and located in residential areas. Many locals don't view cosmetic surgeries 's such as a nose job or breast implants 's as 'real' surgery.
Safety issues are a major concern for most people traveling to the Baltics for surgery. However, all doctors must practice according to EU standards, which become much more stringent in the past four years.
Most doctors received their training and a significant amount of work experience outside of the Baltics 's most commonly Sweden and Norway. As tourism grows, doctors are confident that the amount of people seeking beautification will also grow.
People have been going to India for years for their medical treatments 's including treatments that are considered experimental by EU standards. Far fewer people come to the Baltics, however, even though it is much closer than India and has higher safety standards.
Perhaps it is because of a general lack of knowledge that the Baltics offer the service, or perhaps it is a distrust of the smaller countries' ability to do a good job. And yet foreigners and locals alike are finally starting to see the Baltics as a cheap and safe place to try a look a little younger and sexier.
