CARACAS — Venezuela's afterglow of winning yet another Miss Universe crown has not only illuminated national pride in its Latin beauties -- but also its women's widespread recourse to cosmetic surgery.
Surgical enhancement to the body has become such a norm in the South American nation that it has emerged as a top destination for "scalpel tourism" by foreigners looking for a lift or new contours at a cheaper price.
"There are patients who come from Colombia, the United States, Ecuador, the Caribbean islands... They have surgery and then spend a few days on vacation," explained Rosi Oyon, head of a French subsidiary selling silicon brest implants.
For non-Venezuelans visiting to improve their neckline, the difference in cost can be significant. In Caracas, breast enlargement goes for around 2,500 dollars, compared to several thousand more in other countries.
