Morocco becomes popular plastic surgery destination

Demand for cosmetic surgery in Morocco is growing steadily One of the most popular trends in plastic surgery is to visit Morocco and have procedures done at a very reasonable cost. The country hasn\'t been in the market long for cosmetic procedures but it is becoming a very popular destination.  Many are looking to visit Moroccan plastic surgery clinics because of the benefits that come from having work done abroad.
The financial benefit to having breast enhancement surgery while on a medical vacation in Morocco is that it is significantly cheaper than having work done in the United States or most of Europe. This means that those women that have previously thought it was too costly to have any of this work done can now comfortably afford to have the breast enhancement that they desire. The quality of the work is also very good. This is a primary reason why Morocco has become one of the most popular plastic surgery destinations in the entire world.
One sought after attraction of the country for plastic surgery is something that may not come to mind immediately but is quite obvious once one thinks about it. Morocco being an out-of-the-way destination still, offers a lot of privacy for patients. Many who want something done may be dissuaded not merely because of the outcome but the recovery time as well. The advantage to being in a foreign country is that you will be able to heal without anyone you know seeing you and in Morocco, you can take your time while experiences an exotic place with world class attractions. When it\'s time to go, you feel fresher and better acquainted with your new look having had a test run around the popular hangouts of the African country.
Morocco has a history of plastic surgery dating from the early 1950s and in recent years the country has become, along with North African neighbour Tunisia, an increasingly favourite destination for procedures.
Salaheddine Slaoui, a specialist in cosmetic surgery, said: “At the time when sex change operations were banned in Europe, they were practiced here. The demand for cosmetic surgery in Morocco is actually growing steadily. There are about 1,000 to 1,200 cosmetic surgeries per month in Morocco, and 10 to 15 percent of patients came from abroad,” adding that the number of plastic surgeries had also doubled in the last decade.
About 80 plastic surgeons – working in both private and public clinics – are operating in the country, mostly in Rabat and the economic capital Casablanca.
Surgeons say breast enhancement and liposuction are the most popular operations.
The head of Moroccan Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery (SMCPRE)Kamal al-Hussieny told Arab Today that women are the main clients, accounting for three-quarters of plastic surgeries.
But men are also increasingly turning to plastic surgery with one operation in particular, penoplasty, or penis enlargement, growing in popularity.
“I see dozens and dozens of patients every month for this kind of surgery,” Casablanca plastic surgeon Maria Reghai said.
As their social and economic status rises, they are more able to afford to change their physical appearance.
Their reasons for going under the knife vary.
Some women do it more now to prevent their husbands from cheating on them, others are influenced \"by the European look”.
Religious edicts do not seem to be a concern for many.
But plastic surgery is a controversial matter in what is still largely a conservative in a Muslim country.
The debate reflects how this North African kingdom is torn between modernity and traditional Islam, and its links to Europe and the Middle East.
\"The role of the body is more spiritual than these superficial inconveniences,\" says Islamic scholar Ahmed Boukilil.
\"It is forbidden in the Quran to change a part of the body for cosmetic purposes,\" he said.
\"People forget that their role on earth is not to be too obsessed by the body but more the spiritual side.\"
The most prominent example that cited a heavy debate in the Moroccan society was the Moroccan belly dancer Nour. It was reported that she was a man that had a transsexual operation. Although the Moroccan authorites refused to change Nour’s documents and identification, the society accepted her not only as a woman but also as a talented belly dancer.