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In The Capital Of Plastics, Ubá Daily Receives Women From Brazil And Abroad, Attracted By Liposuction, Breast Augmentation And Tummy Tucks Up To 50% Cheaper, Paid Even In Cash. Consortia Promise To Operate Without Drawings, And Care Homes Are Crowded. Processes, Infections And Failed Medical Guidance Reveal The Real Cost Of Cheap.
The Capital Of Plastics of Ubá, in Minas Gerais, was portrayed in a report published after reporters from BBC News Brazil went to the city to understand how cheaper aesthetic procedures began to attract women from various parts of the country and even Brazilian women living abroad.
During the investigation, the BBC reports that the fame was boosted by TikTok videos and details a contrast that became evident in interviews and documents: while some patients leave satisfied, others report infections, lack of assistance and regret, in addition to a history of lawsuits against local doctors, including services described by the team in December 2024.
How Ubá Became The Capital Of Plastics On Social Media
With about 100,000 inhabitants, Ubá started circulating on social media as the “Capital Of Plastics” after videos and accounts from recently operated women, still in binders and drains, began to gain millions of views. The trigger, according to interviewed patients, was the combination of price and virality.
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One of the examples cited is Dulcineia Luz, 47, who left Rondonópolis (MT) and spent two days on a bus heading to Ubá after learning about the city on TikTok.
She said she decided to seek surgery after seeing results online and viewed the trip as the realization of a dream linked to self-esteem.
Prices Below Capitals And “Package” Procedures
What sustains the reputation of the Capital Of Plastics is mainly the final value announced for popular surgeries. The report describes that in Ubá, it is possible to find:
“X-Tudo” Surgery For R$ 18,000, described as a package that may include breast lift, removal of back fat with excess skin and fat removal from the abdomen, and possible buttock augmentation.
Mastopexy For Under R$ 11,000, with hospital and anesthesiologist included.
Tummy Tuck For Under R$ 9,000, noted as more than 50% below the average in capitals such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte.
Depending on the professional, payment may be required in cash, according to the report itself.
Consortia, Credit And The Effect On Care Homes
The local economy starts to revolve around this flow of patients, with a network that includes specialized drivers, hospital supply stores, physiotherapists, and recovery homes.
In The Capital Of Plastics, The Post-Operative Is A Central Service Of The “Ecosystem”.
A highlighted example is Pag Crédito Ubá, presented as a scheduled financing option. The person in charge, Lucilene Queiroz, stated that she receives more than 80 messages per day from interested individuals and described the model as similar to a consortium: the client chooses a plan, pays installments, and already knows when she will operate, without bids and without drawings.
According to her, it is possible to join even with a negative name, with amounts between R$ 5,000 and R$ 100,000 and fixed installments that can reach 120 times.
She claims that in holiday months, the average is 40 women undergoing surgery per month via the plan, in addition to those paying with their own resources.
The care homes mentioned include Casa das Irmãs Condé, run by Ana Paula Condé (nurse) and Juliana (physiotherapist), who report having a waiting list in some months.
The report also mentions Casa de Cuidados Shekinah and Spa de Cuidados Fernanda Varella, whose representatives expressed no interest in talking.
WhatsApp, Guides In PDF And Strategies To Carry Money
In the Capital Of Plastics, pre and post-travel organization also appears as part of the phenomenon. The report describes dozens of WhatsApp groups with names of surgeons, usually without their presence, where the following circulate:
- Before and after photos
- Experience exchanges
- Service recommendations, such as care homes
- Estimates
- PDF files with information about doctors
There are also reports of patients carrying cash in improvised ways, such as bills hidden in diapers or pouches, and even notifying the bank in advance to withdraw large amounts upon arriving in the city.
Ana Paula Condé states that she does not recommend doctors but guides exchanges in the group and mentions having created a guide with the work of the professionals, so that each woman can choose based on the conversations and images shared.
Lawsuits In Court And The History Of Two Pioneers
The report indicates that in the city, at least six plastic surgeons perform procedures daily. Two names cited as pioneers, Maurino Grossi and Júlio Cesar Ferreira, have each accumulated more than 30 lawsuits.
Regarding Júlio Cesar Ferreira, the report claims to have found around 40 actions, mainly concentrated in alleged medical errors, especially in breast augmentations.
Of the 16 lawsuits with a verdict, he would have been convicted in 7, with 4 dismissed by agreement or withdrawal and 5 judged unfounded.
About Maurino Grossi, the BBC also reports around 40 lawsuits. Of the 28 already sentenced, he would have been convicted in 5, with 2 unfounded and 21 dismissed for withdrawal or agreement.
The BBC states it sought both. Maurino Grossi was received in his office in December 2024. Júlio Cesar Ferreira did not accept an interview but sent a statement through his lawyer, with explanations cited throughout the report.
Satisfied, Regretful And The Risk Of “Cheap Is Expensive”
The Capital Of Plastics is not only described as a “dream” destination but also as a scene of frustration and suffering.
Talita, 25, from Niterói (RJ), said she accompanied a surgeon for 4 years and underwent breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and liposuction with buttock grafting, for around R$ 34,000.
She associated the decision with the impact of pregnancies on her self-esteem and spoke of a fresh start with healthy habits.
Claudineia Dias, 33, from Rondônia, traveled for more than a day, between plane and bus, to undergo a tummy tuck and breast augmentation with Maurino Grossi.
She said she dreamed of the procedure for two years, waited for her son to reach 1 year and 2 months, and stated that she would repeat the experience.
On the other end, Gelva Consuelo, 56, stated that a surgery performed in 2016 with the same doctor was not worth it, accusing him of an “ultra superficial” liposuction on her back.
She accepted a corrective surgery in 2017 but remained dissatisfied. The report cites hospital records with durations of 15 minutes for the first procedure and 25 minutes for the second and reports that there was an agreement for a refund of the invested amount.
When commenting on the case, Maurino Grossi said he does not remember the patient and stated that it is impossible for a back liposuction to have lasted only 15 minutes.
Regarding the lawsuits, he declared he has 20 years of profession and estimated he has performed almost 10,000 surgeries, defending that the definition of error depends on expertise. He also mentioned that today he performs one or two surgeries per day, whereas in the past he did a maximum of four.
The report also brings a case described as more serious: Rosimar Cordeiro Messias, 53, from Crucilândia (MG), about five hours by car from Ubá.
She reports being attracted by affordable surgeries before the fame on social media and says she operated on November 2 intending to be fit for a beach trip in January.
She claims to have paid R$ 6,400 for breast augmentation (removal of excess from the breasts) and tummy tuck, and that an inflammation evolved into a deep wound with yellowish secretion and clear signs of infection, leaving her bedridden for seven months.
According to the report, via email, a daughter sent images to the office and received guidance signed by a secretary, with recommendations for cleaning with gauze and saline and pain medication.
Rosimar says she returned four times to the office, facing 10 hours round trips, and claims to have followed the indicated care.
She also recounts that during one visit she was attended only by the nurse, who reportedly cut part of the tissue from the wound without the surgeon seeing her.
In the end, Rosimar reports that she closed the wound with laser sessions for regeneration and healing, spending a large part of her savings.
She also says she developed depression and that about a month after the surgery, she stopped eating and required treatment with saline.
The report states that Júlio Cesar Ferreira’s lawyer argued that stitches may open if the patient does not obey the resting guidelines at discharge or does not follow the care after returning home, and that follow-up requires return on pre-scheduled dates.
The lawyer also denies a statement attributed to the doctor about preventing the patient from going to court for having “many lawyers.”
What To Consider Before Surgery, According To Specialist
Doctor Marcelo Sampaio, vice president of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, pointed out essential factors to reduce risks. The logic is simple: price cannot replace safety.
He recommends seeking reliable referrals, understanding who referred and how the experience was in the pre and post-operative phases.
He also suggests confirming if the professional is qualified, with verification in the CRM or the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, as well as requiring the doctor to explain possible results and risks. If the professional only shows the good side, the guidance is to be suspicious.
Another point is to check where the surgery takes place: authorized hospital, with adequate structure and registered with Anvisa.
Warning From CFM And The Limit Between Economy And Risk
Consulted by the BBC, the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) stated that there is no ongoing administrative process against the two mentioned doctors.
Nevertheless, the CFM warned that attractive prices may occur with the suppression of minimum safety conditions and precariousness of structure, putting lives, health, and safety at risk.
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