Rhinoplasty provides a chin-up to tourism

The medical tourism market in India is currently estimated at over $300 million. According to figures released by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), it is expected to become a $2 billion sector by 2012. The Incredible India! website offers such services as hair implants, scalp reductions, rhinoplasty (reshaping or re-contouring of the nose), face-lift, cosmetic eyelid surgery, brow lifts, sub-metal lipectomy for double chin, chin and cheek enlargement, lip reductions to various types of breast surgery / reconstruction and liposuction.

The international marketing team for new-age healthcare chains like Apollo, Fortis and Escorts are tying up with hospitality industry and service providers to help tourists improve their looks in five-star comfort.

From India, the AIIMS, Christian Medical College, Tata Memorial Hospital, Indraprastha Medical Corporation, and Escorts Hospital and Research Centre are part of the venture.

While Erco Travels has tied up with Apollo Hospital in New Delhi for various cosmetic procedures like liposuction, the Leela Palaces and Resorts hospitality chain has announced a tie-up with UK-based Globe Health Tours to offer cosmetic surgeries in Kerala.

India competes in the area of cosmetic surgery with like Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, South Africa, and Thailand.

About 153,000 foreigners availed of the comparatively low-priced medical services last year. The numbers are estimated to grow multifold in the next five years, as cosmetic surgery procedures expand across states.