By Moa Karlberg– After Brazil, Colombia is the Latin american country performing most plastic surgeries: about 500 000 per year. As the country becomes a safer place to travel to, surgeons hope – and feminists fear – that medical tourism will be a new trademark for Colombia. Moa Karlberg followed Brenda Fuentes from Puerto Rico during her package trip to Bogotá. For 10 000 US dollar (an amount significantly lower than in the US and Europe) Brenda got a liposuction, breast lift and adjustment of the calves of her legs, post-op treatment as well as an apartment with a maid who took care, cooked and cleaned for her full time during the two weeks she was there.
Brenda Fuentes describing what she later would like to adjust in her face.Brenda Fuentes just before getting anesthetized at Medical Spa clinic.Dr Julian Morales examining Brenda's body before starting the surgery.The days after the surgery, Brenda Fuentes' body is aching and she needs help from her nurse Norma and her driver Camilo to go to the clinic for post-op treatment.Dr Morales clinic Medical Spa in a fancy area of northern Bogotá.Brenda Fuentes waiting to entry the surgery room. She is determined and not worried at all.Brenda Fuentes just before getting anesthetized at Medical Spa clinic.Dr Morales during the first part of the operation: the liposuction.Dr Morales and his crew performing the liposuction.Dr Morales and his crew performing the liposuction.5000 milliliters of liquid (fat, blood and water) is being sucked out of Brenda's body.Patient's room at Dr Morales clinic Medical Spa.Norma Caper Bulaños is contracted as a house maid for Dr Morales patients. For two weeks she is living with Brenda Fuentes in her rented apartment, where she helps to cook, clean and keep Brenda company.For the liquids to leave the body and the skin to heal faster, the post-op treatment is very important. Every day after the surgery, Brenda goes back to the clinic to receive her massage.Dr Morales and his crew performing the liposuction.Dr Morales and his crew performing the liposuction.Brenda Fuentes waiting to entry the surgery room. She is determined and not worried at all.After the surgery, Brenda Fuentes needs to wear a girdle/corset for several months.As part of the post-op treatment, Brenda Fuentes needs to sit in a capsule one hour a day, to rehydrate the skin and make it heal faster.Dr Morales and his crew performing the liposuction.Dr Julian Morales examining Brenda's body before starting the surgery.There is not much for Brenda to do in the apartment (which is included in the package trip she bought from Dr Morales) but watch TV and be on the internet. Before the operation she needs to rest, and after her body hurts too much to go out discovering Bogotá.Norma Caper Bulaños keeps Brenda Fuentes company 24 hours a day. Here, she is showing photos of former patients of Dr Morales to Brenda.Brenda Fuentes describing what Dr Morales is going to adjust on her body: lift the breasts and remove fat from her whole body.
