Medical tourism numbers are messy. Market reports disagree by a factor of five, governments count arrivals differently, and a lot of statistics online are repeated without a source. I have only included figures I could open at the original source, and I say what each one measures.
Market size: why the reports disagree
For 2025, commercial research firms put the global medical tourism market anywhere between $34.0 billion and $172.0 billion. They define "market" differently, so do not average them.
| Publisher | 2025 estimate | Forecast | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand View Research | $34.0 billion | $126.2 billion by 2035 | 14.1% CAGR (2026-2035) |
| Precedence Research | $43.51 billion | $292.55 billion by 2035 | 20.99% CAGR |
| Mordor Intelligence | $93.72 billion | $258.32 billion by 2031 | 18.41% CAGR (2026-2031) |
| IMARC Group | $172.0 billion | $770.2 billion by 2034 | 18.12% CAGR (2026-2034) |
Every publisher forecasts strong growth. The direction is consistent even though the totals are not.
How much is cosmetic
- Grand View Research puts cosmetic treatment at 24.2% of revenue in 2025.
- IMARC puts it at around 23.9% of market share.
- Grand View estimates that about 32% of Turkey's medical tourism activity is cosmetic.
- Grand View reports Turkey's share of global medical tourism revenue at 13.5%.
Global cosmetic demand (ISAPS)
The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery counts procedures, not travellers, but it shows how large the underlying demand is. From the ISAPS 2023 survey:
- Up to 34.9 million surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures worldwide, up 3.4% on the year before.
- More than 15.8 million surgical procedures by plastic surgeons.
- More than 2.2 million liposuction procedures.
- The US performed more than 6.1 million aesthetic procedures; Brazil 3.3 million.
The ISAPS 2024 survey reports more than 17.4 million surgical procedures and 20.5 million non-surgical, a 42.5% rise over four years. Brazil led the world in surgical procedures at 2.3 million.
Destinations
India. Grand View reports 507,244 foreign nationals arriving for medical treatment in 2025, around 5.5% of foreign tourist arrivals, compared with 182,945 in 2020. IMARC cites more than 1,600 accredited hospitals.
Thailand. Mordor reports a target of 3.1 million medical tourists in 2025, up from 2.6 million in 2024. Bumrungrad International Hospital treats around 600,000 patients a year from 190 countries.
Mexico. IMARC estimates 1.4 to 3 million medical tourists a year, with 40% to 60% coming from the US. These are estimates, not official counts.
Turkey. Strong in cosmetic surgery, as above. I could not verify a country-level patient count from an official source, so I have not quoted one.
I could not verify numbers I was willing to publish for the Dominican Republic, Colombia, South Korea or Tijuana. If you see precise figures for those elsewhere, check the source.
Savings claims
- Grand View reports that cross-border care can save approximately 55% to 70% on medical costs, and cites cosmetic procedures in Mexico as up to 75% cheaper.
- Mordor cites savings of 40% to 70% on complex procedures, including airfare.
- Precedence cites a US cosmetic surgery price range of $4,500 to $12,500.
These are headline claims from market reports. For real mommy makeover quotes and what is and is not included, see how much a mommy makeover costs abroad.
Safety guidance
The CDC names cosmetic surgery among common medical tourism procedures and warns about wound infections, bloodstream infections, hepatitis B and C, HIV and drug-resistant infections. It recommends:
- A pre-travel consultation at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure.
- Delaying air travel for 10 to 14 days after major surgery.
A Mordor-cited 2024 survey reports that 62% of US orthopaedic surgeons said they declined follow-up care for surgery performed abroad. That figure comes from a secondary source, so confirm it before repeating it. Either way, arrange aftercare before you go. The recovery guide explains what that looks like.
For the mortality and complication evidence on the surgeries themselves, see the mommy makeover death rate statistics.
Where to look next
Browse clinics by region on the procedures page or go straight to Mexico or Turkey. If you want a shortlist, tell me what you are planning and I will match you with accredited clinics.
This page is information, not medical advice. Last reviewed October 2026.
