Beauty is in The Hands of a Brazilian Plastic Surgeon

It finally arrived. I'm 40 years old. It's funny how it took 40 years to get here and it feels like nothing changed. Or so I thought. For many people, reaching the big 4-0 is a milestone, something to celebrate in a special way. Almost like the odds got beaten. So, aren't we all supposed to reach 40? At first, I didn't notice anything special about it. Until I saw something in the mirror that grabbed my attention. A little white hair on my eyebrow that wasn't there the night before I turned 40. That made me think that even our bilogical clocks must be made in Switzerland. How could my system be so precise as to pop a little white hair in the middle of the night, knowing that by the time I went to bed I was one year younger than 40. And then to figure out, by the time I woke up, that 40 years have passed and it's time for some of the parts to start malfunctioning. Does that mean that, with the exception of the biological clock, everything else is made in China?. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but I guess that's something else all 40 year-olds do. Truth be told, other than the occasional back pain for no apparent reason, I feel pretty good in my own skin. If I could change anything about myself, I would probably seek more spiritual tweaks than physical ones. An old bumper sticker I had said "unless you're a cheese or a wine, age is not important".

But I recognize that not everyone is like me. As we age, some of us start looking for ways to turn the clock back. We start thinking about those extra hours we exposed ourselves to the sun while enjoying the beach. Or those french fries that could have been avoided but were included in the double cheeseburger meal, so let's clean the plate. We can think about it. The body may even forgive, but it doesn't forget and it will show you signs that the engines just do not work the way they did fresh out of the factory. But why worry when the solution is just around the corner? At least for what's visible on the outside. Plastic surgery evolved so much over the last 30 years, it has become more popular, more affordable and it's no longer one of those top secret procedures no one was supposed to talk about. Back in the 80''s I knew someone that traveled to a distant town for a nose job. When I saw her with the bandages, shortly after the surgery, I asked her what happened. "I was in a car crash", she answered. I wondered what kind. How do you manage to be in a car accident where you hit your nose so hard that changes its shape – for the better may I say –  while the rest of your face is absolutely intact? The whole thing sounded so absurd that even in my teenage innocence I quickly realized I wasn't supposed to ask anything else. "I'm so sorry about your accident. I'm glad you're ok" was all I could mumble.

Times have changed and having breast implants, liposuction or a total body lift have become prized medical procedures. And Brazil has become a sought after destination for those looking for a new me. And that's why Brazil Preview editors chose this as the central theme of its August issue. Our correspondent, Anna Arias, talked to doctors and patients about the cosmetic surgery industry in the country of soccer and Carnaval and found out that, although Asia is still ahead in number of foreign patients treated yearly, Brazil is gradually becoming an industry powerhouse. Our August issue also shows a comparison between procedure costs in Brazil and the US and gives our readers all the tools to research and prepare for a possible make-over trip to the most fascinating destination in South America.

Look for the August issue of Brazil Preview on Friday, August 6th in the Miami Herald. Or go to www.brazilpreview.net to get a free subscription. Brazil Preview is distributed the first Friday of each month in the Miami Herald and online at www.brazilpreview.net