Psychological Screening Gains Traction in Colombia’s Booming Plastic Surgery Market
Before you even think about going under the knife, a Colombian surgeon is insisting patients look inward. It’s a radical shift in a country that’s become a magnet for cosmetic procedures, and it’s sparking a debate about whether emotional readiness should be a prerequisite for aesthetic surgery.
Dr. Alonso Cuello, a plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeon, has developed a digital psychological test designed to vet potential surgery candidates. The tool isn’t a formality; it’s a clinical instrument intended to determine if someone is truly prepared for an intervention, both emotionally and mentally.
“It is a simple tool and seeks to enter the patient’s head, where I can understand their diet, their self-esteem and see if they are fit to face surgery,” explains Dr. Cuello. He believes not everyone desiring plastic surgery is actually ready for it.
A Counter to ‘Express Surgeries’
This approach directly challenges the proliferation of “express surgeries” and heavily marketed packages often seen on social media. Dr. Cuello emphasizes that the time before surgery is just as crucial as the outcome. After completing the test, patients engage in a direct conversation with the specialist to discuss expectations, risks, limitations, and potential emotional impacts.
“We seek to ensure that people are happy and prepared to undergo surgery, we seek to make the patient aware of what could happen,” he says. His stance is firm: “If you don’t pass these tests, I won’t do the surgery.”
Dr. Cuello’s innovative diagnostic approach recently earned him recognition from the International Organization for Medical Training and Research (IOCIM), which annually recognizes top health professionals in Latin America. His project was the only digital one honored, and he was the sole surgeon to receive the award, highlighting the pioneering nature of his work.
The screening tool is now integrated into his practice in the Caribbean region, at the Doral Clinic in Barranquilla and the CEDES Clinic in Riohacha. Patients travel from across Colombia and internationally to undergo the assessment. Many find the test to be a pivotal moment of self-reflection, revealing that their desire for surgery stems from external pressures, a troubled body image, or unresolved emotional issues.
In Colombia, where concerns persist regarding malpractice, unauthorized surgeries, and unrealistic expectations, Dr. Cuello’s model offers a different path: plastic surgery that prioritizes mental health alongside physical transformation.
What is the key to modern plastic surgery? True modernity, according to Dr. Cuello, isn’t just about new technologies or dramatic physical changes, but about the ethical responsibility to honestly assess whether surgery is the right course of action for a patient.
Ultimately, he argues, it’s not simply about changing a body, but about caring for a life and acknowledging the story behind every scar and every decision made in front of the mirror.
