Growth of Medical Tourism in India from 1987-2004

Dr. Vijay SharmaDr. Vijay Sharma
PresidentPresident
Federation of Restorative & Cosmetic SurgeryFederation of Restorative & Cosmetic Surgery
Indian Association of Cosmetic SurgeryIndian Association of Cosmetic Surgery
MEDICALTOURISIM IN INDIAMEDICALTOURISIM IN INDIA
Beautiful Faces & FigureBeautiful Faces & Figure

GROWTH OF MEDICAL TOURISIMMEDICAL TOURISIM IN INDIA
www.changinglooks.com
Between Year 1987 to 2004

Cosmetic surgery is not exactly a 20th
century vanity. Although
many of its innovations are the product of only the last two decades, as
a field of medical practice cosmetic surgery dates far, far back – to the
times of the Indian surgical wiz, Sushruta, in fact. That’s the fifth
century B.C. and the Sushrut Samhita tells how he used a flap of skin
from the cheek and forehead to restructure a nose lost through
accident or punishment.
What’s new about cosmetic surgery is, its current popular
image. No longer are nose jobs and tummy tucks a preserve of the
affluent set or the glamour professions. Today, not just movie stars
and top-drawer models, but also company executives, housewives and
college students see the aesthetic ideal as one worth pursuing without
apology or guilt. An aesthetically pleasing appearance is today
considered a vital component of self-esteem, social image, even job-
worthiness! Television, slick advertising, the year-long whirl of beauty
pageants, even health considerations… all have contributed to
creating a new but expanding global community of body-worshippers.

In India, the process has been nudged along by several specific
social trends. While, in earlier times, the joint family used to offer a
haven to those who were disabled or who suffered from a congenital
abnormality that compromised their chances in the social, job and
marriage arenas, today this familial crutch has all but disappeared. And
in so doing, it has provided the impetus for those whose physical
impediments might have stood as lifelong barriers to acceptance, to do
something about their defects of appearance. Cleft palates, jutting jaws,
bulbous noses, scar-pocked faces… all these and many more
imperfections can be dramatically transformed today with a deft scalpel.
And more and more Indians are thinking, why not?
A totally different kind of impetus has come from the promise
and possibilities held out by the burgeoning glamour industry. Thus, the
series of Indian triumphs on the international beauty stage in recent
years has proved to be a major fillip as thousands of want to-be queens
look to cosmetic surgeons to create for them those ‘winning’ looks and
figures!

World History of Cosmetic Surgery
The virtual run on cosmetic-surgery clinics that has been brought
on by these and other pulls and trends is however a relatively recent
phenomenon. For long centuries, the field of cosmetic surgery lay in
dormant neglect. The pioneering steps that led to its modern avatar can,
in fact, be traced to less than a century ago…
The first medical paper on cosmetic surgery was published in
1906 by Miller, an American surgeon. It described the “excision of bag-
like folds of skin from the region about the eyes”. Miller also published
another paper which carried the first photograph showing the line of
surgical incision. However, Miller has been described as an unethical
practitioner, and in fact many operations in those days were carried out
by unscrupulous surgeons who used newspaper advertisements to recruit
their patients.
In 1911, Kolle, another American surgeon, wrote a book titled,
“Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery”, incorporating descriptive procedures.

In 1919, Bonguet, an ophthalmologist, described the small
crescentric or angular type of incisions used in blepharoplasty.
In the same year, Passot published a paper describing the various
types of excisions and incisions used in the removal of specific areas of
skin excess.
In 1920, the surgeon, Bettmen, also presented a paper on the
facelift procedure, including “before” and “after” photographs of a
patient who had been operated upon.
In 1926, Hunt and Noel published books on cosmetic surgery in
which Noel emphasized the psychological aspects of cosmetic surgery.
Operations to correct nasal deformities had become more quickly
accepted because many of these deformities were associated with
functional problems, such as difficulty in breathing, which called for
correction for health reasons.
Still, some surgeons of these early decades of the 19th century
were unqualified; and the procedures themselves often risky. Paraffin,
injected sub-cutaneously, was used until the late 1920s to smooth out face
wrinkles though it resulted in endless complications such as the migration
of the inorganic material and the occurrence of paraffinomas.

In 1932, the German surgeon, Hollander, described the face-lift
surgery that he had performed in 1901. In contrast to the earlier practice of
excising isolated pieces of skin, Hollander claimed his technique was the first
to use what has now become the classic “around-and-under-and-above-the-
ears” incision that ‘lifts’ virtually the entire facial skin off its base!
Meanwhile, other surgeons were performing remarkable
transformations with World War soldiers who had been facially disfigured.
The War, in fact, marked a turning point in this field: ‘reconstructive’
surgery was leading inevitably to what we all know today as ‘aesthetic’
surgery for almost 40 years i.e. 1932 to 1973.
In 1973, Rees and Woodsmith reviewed the history of cosmetic
surgery in considerable detail.
In 1979, Anthony Erian of England opted to practice aesthetic
surgery as an independent and exclusive speciality. He is a master of
rhinoplasty; and he used a revolutionary laser technique for his face-lifts.
During the same era, Ziya Sylan of Germany, Melvin Shiffman,
Julius Newman of the U.S., Katsuya Takasu, Tetsuo Shu of Japan, Julio
Ferrarro of Argentina, Pierre Fournier of France, Georgio Fischer of Italy,
Eduardo Kurlig of Venezuela, Cao Min Zing of China also opted to specialise
practice exclusively in cosmetic surgery.

History of Cosmetic Surgery in India
In 1987, the Cosmetic Surgery Center of India was started in
Bombay by author Vijay Sharma as a speciality clinic. Currently, it
continues to offer only aesthetic surgery procedures, including the face-lift,
eyelid surgery, nasal surgery, facial contouring, ear correction, double-
chin correction, liposuction, lipectomy, breast implants, breast uplift,
breast reduction, Chemical Peeling, botox injections and several more
In 1997, the Center also started advance computer simulation
software and Sculptography, which uses a Plaster of Paris cast to obtain a
mould that provides a three-dimensional view of a patient’s face; this helps
the patient get more involved at the future planning stage of the surgery.
Worldwide, cosmetic surgery constitutes about 20 to 70 per cent of
the practice of renowned plastic surgeons. India is no exception, and in
terms of aesthetic sense Indian surgeons are at par with those anywhere
else in the world. On the basis of 15 years of a thriving independent
practice, I can confidently state that the time is overdue for young Indian
plastic surgeons to opt for cosmetic surgery as an independent specialty.

Common Cosmetic Surgery done in India
• Rhinoplasty
• Face Lift
• Breast Implant
• Liposuction
• Scar Revision
• Chemical Peel
• Eyelid Surgery
• Gynacomastea
• Tatto Removal
• Face Balancing
• Chin Balancing
• Hair Transplantation
• Dermabrassion
• Auto Fatgrafting
• Botox Injections
• Laser Surgery

Cosmetic Surgeries During the Year 1987 100%
www.changinglooks.comwww.changinglooks.com
100 %

Cosmetic Surgeries During the Year 1988
104.56 %
www.changinglooks.comwww.changinglooks.com 4.56%

133.33 %

141.66 %

156.66 %

168.66 %

196.66 %

233.33 %

280.54 %

333.33 %

386.40 %

433.33 %

483.33 %

533.33 %

593.50 %

611.16 %

647.36 %
www.changinglooks.comwww.changinglooks.com 547.36 %

672.15 %
Cosmetic Surgeries During the Year 2003 572.15 %

Responsible Factors
In India we observe that the attitude towards the cosmetic
surgery depends on the several factors as follows:
1. Life style
2. Awareness
3. Socioeconomic
status
4. Professional need
5. Phases of the life
6. Important events
7. Self Image
8. Availability
9. GLOBALISATION

1. LIFE STYLE:
People of India, who are aware about how to earn and how to
invest money and get the best out of life. In other words, those
who know how to balance the disciplines of life and progress, are
the major group who opts for cosmetic surgery.

2. AWARENESS:
Awareness among the Indians and availability of cosmetic
surgery goes hand in hand. The author has experienced, when he
immigrated from England not many people knew about cosmetic
surgery, but with the beginning of first cosmetic surgery centre
of India, people started opting for facelift, nose shaping, breast
augmentation, liposuction, chemical peel and till now we have
observed a 600 folds growth in the cosmetic surgery between
1987 and 2004.
After everyAfter every Radio talk, TVRadio talk, TV
shows, magazine write-up,shows, magazine write-up, launchinglaunching
bookbook oror new web-sitenew web-site, author, author
experiences there is an up rise in theexperiences there is an up rise in the
number of enquires from so-callednumber of enquires from so-called
""hidden potential clientelehidden potential clientele" is a good" is a good
observation landmark aboutobservation landmark about
awareness among Indians.awareness among Indians.

3. SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS:
Though India is a developing
country with mixed economy but
she has many maharajas &
inherited rich monarchs, century
old traders, entrepreneurs and
modern people. So the socio
economic status varies a lot and has
a large range of people with a
varying paying capability for
cosmetic surgery, but still the cost
of Cosmetic Surgery in India is less
than one third of international
price.
Enough reason to attract people for
medical tourism in India.

4. PROFESSIONAL NEED:
In India the effect of globalization has motivated Indian people
to be more presentable specially at international business
convention, meeting and the beautiful Indian women winning
successively four Miss World and two Miss Universe crowns has
boosted the women of India to be more presentable and to opt for
cosmetic surgery.
Miss Universe and Miss World

5. PHASES OF LIFE:
In India the majority of people love being in the joint family.
Hence the common reasons for cosmetic surgery are as follows;
3. After marriage husband bringing his wife for a pair of breast
implants, either due to the hidden desire to have a better breast,
which she could not express to her parents or post multiple
deliveries sagginess of the breast.
1. Grandfather going for a face
lift before his retirement to
have a second boost of life,
2. Young girl correcting her
humpy nose before joining
college accompanied by her
parents,

6. IMPORTANT EVENTS:
The phenomenon is noticed by author among Indians to get the
cosmetic surgery done is enhanced around special events like
birthdays, anniversaries, Diwali, Christmas, Eid, children
holidays, national holidays or summer and winter holidays.
• Birthday,
• Anniversary,
• Diwali,
• Christmas,
• Eid,
• Holidays
• Completing
Decade,
• Beginning of
the Millennium

7. SELF IMAGE:
Indians are very conscious about themselves, to maintain their
physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Hence you will find
yoga, asanas, massage, meditation and other traditional practices
run in the family besides health Spa’s.
Indian film industry is a land of Superstars, so thousands of
actors and actresses exist in Bollywood, who love their self Image
and opt for cosmetic surgery and become an epitome of "good
looks" to be followed by common man.

8. AVAILABILITY:
Since 1987 Cosmetic Surgery Center of India, is providing world
class services as follows:
• Everything ‘To Improve Appearance &
Revert the Signs of Ageing
• Recapture Your Youthful Image by..
“Face Lift”
“Nose Shaping”
“Cheek Implants”
“Ear Shaping”
“Breast Shaping”
“Chin Correction”
“Wrinkle Protofiling”
“Hair Transplant”
“Chemical Peeling”
“Auto Fat Grafting”
“Fat Suction”
“Botox Injection”

9. GLOBALISATION :
India has come up on the world map as premiere to provide
quality medical care and finance doctors in the world.
A . People from 137 countries, they visit India to get more than
10,870 varieties of medical treatments.
B . India is the most economic and reliable when it comes to the
advance medical procedures like.
• Cardiac bypass
• Organ transplant
• Cosmetic Surgery
• Various Surgical Procedures
• Medical Treatments
• Health Checkups

C . 40 % of the National health services of USA and UK comprises
the doctors of Indian origin trained in Indian medical colleges, who
are serving the people of America and England.
D . 68 % of the quality medical care provided in India are the
doctors who have been trained in England, America, Germany and
France.
E . Medical community in India is very aggressive in seeking
knowledge and are at par with the rest of the advance countries and
in some fields even better than the advance countries.
F . Potentially India has now the infrastructure in four of private
hospitals to provide quality medical care in rest of the world.

Nose Shaping
Before After Before After

Cheek & Chin Implants

Face Balancing

Breast Shaping

Fat Suction

Fat Suction of Chin
Before After

CONCLUSION
The need of medical care among the people looking good among Indians
exist irrespective of race, cast, colour, geographical distribution or socio
economic status as else anywhere in the world. There is an up rise in the
number of people coming to India getting medical treatment done by 600
folds.
MEDICAL TOURISIM IN COSMETIC SURGERYMEDICAL TOURISIM IN COSMETIC SURGERY

Definitely there is more emphasis upon youth, beauty and
success among modern Indians as anywhere else in the world.
The media plays a great role about awareness of cosmetic
surgery and Indian media is very aggressive about highlighting
anything about cosmetic surgery.
The current growth of 600 folds in Cosmetic Surgery in India
between year 1987 to 2004 is all due to the above mentioned factors.

Thank You
Dr. Vijay Sharma, M.D.
Mumbai, INDIA
Welcome Medical Tourism, IndiaWelcome Medical Tourism, India
Beautiful Faces and FiguresBeautiful Faces and Figures

Growth of Medical Tourism in India from 1987-2004

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