Iraqis from all walks of life are turning to cosmetic surgery according to a report from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The report says Iraqis are the top nationality receiving plastic surgery in Lebanon. In addition, the report stated that 0.3\\% of cosmetic operations in 2016 were carried out in Lebanon. In Iraq, the Ministry of Health is shutting down unlicensed beauty salons and massage parlors operating in Baghdad according to a report by Al-Hurrah News. The report said more than 52 salons in Baghdad were closed on Nov. 17th when the Ministry of Health began the operation. The unauthorized salons are a response to the growing demand from Iraqis of all social classes for cosmetic surgery.
The editor of the All Beauty Guide website, which evaluates Baghdad's beauty salons, told Al-Monitor that “Hundreds of beauty salons have spread in Baghdad and other provinces over the past couple of years. Iraq has become a cheap and convenient destination for plastic surgery, with many patients coming from neighboring countries.”
According to the Tajmeeli website, which provides information on cosmetic procedures, tummy tucks are very common in Iraq and carried out by qualified specialists starting at $750 per operation.
In Baghdad, a wide variety of institutions advertise for beauty services and treatments. Chinese and Turkish massage and sauna centers promise weight loss, cellulite treatment and fat control through massage or steam treatments. These facilities also promise treatment for back pain, muscle cramps, headaches and tension. Some even offer hair transplants, cosmetic dentistry, skin whitening and reduction of age spots as well as minor surgery such as Botox and stem cell injections. These operations are often unauthorized.
Abdul Hadi Mohan al-Saadawi, a member of the parliament's committee on health, told Al-Monitor that beauty salons run by certified professionals can be a positive thing, explaining that they can “help improve people’s health [if] they are run by specialists who treat important cases like obesity.” He also pointed out that victims disfigured by accidents and terrorist attacks go to salons for minor operations. Saadawi noted, however, that the burgeoning industry is marred by murky credentials and malpractice lawsuits.
Saad Maan, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, told Al-Monitor, “Stopping sketchy and illegal places is necessary to distinguish such facilities from legal ones, which would increase the level of trust in health centers.”
(This story originally appeared on al-monitor.com)
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