Recent reports show that there have been an increase in cosmetic surgery procedures being done in the United States this year. In fact, a 5 percent increase has been experienced from very low numbers in 2009, with 13.1 million coming in for minimally-invasive and surgical cosmetic procedures. This is year breast augmentation still leads the list for the most popular procedure, followed by liposuction, nose reshaping and tummy tuck.

This is very good news, especially coming from the very dismal state of the cosmetic surgery industry in 2008 during the height of the recession. Experts are even saying that this could be an indicator of a slowly recovering economy. Adding that more people are getting comfortable spending money on what otherwise would be considered indulgent during the recession.

And it’s not just happening in the United States, Asia is also fast capitalizing in this very recent upturn. Currently, there are several rising cosmetic surgery hubs in Asia which boasts of cheaper rates, US Certified Doctors, and technologically advanced facilities, all in a tropical paradise with warm weather all-year round.

So whether you’re looking for cheap liposuction, breast augmentation or scar revision, here are some of the cosmetic surgery hubs in Asia you should check out.

THAILAND. More than 15 million tourists visit Thailand every year and not all of them are there for the beaches. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is very aggressive in promoting their 700 government and 300 private hospitals that more or less carries cosmetic surgery procedures. They efficiently combine cost-effect health care services and a luxurious travel experience.

INDIA. Although India is much better known for more serious surgeries such as heart bypass surgery, this mystical land is slowly beefing up their cosmetic surgery industry to cater to the ever growing patients coming in from the United States or Europe seeking for a cheaper alternative. In fact according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), it has performed 5.2 percent of all procedures done worldwide or 894, 700 cases of surgical and non-surgical procedures.

KOREA. Even though, Korea is starting late in the cosmetic surgery game, it is very hopeful. The country is expecting its current 80,000 medical tourists to blow up to 1 million in 2020. Health experts in Korea says that the recent “Korea Wave” is also helping in boost this market in foreign countries.