How many here in Brazil had cosmetic or dental medical treatment

@NewBrazil

Yeah I had a hip replacement. N also alot of dental work done.some dentists are good while others are shit Don't trust just one source for a dentist. My cousin recommended the guy n I had an implant  done. Guy did a shit job n had to get it more or less re-done. Cost was like 1k. My hip surgery  is had a great dr top notch. Paid for it in a few installments cus cash was a bit tight. I paid 55k rs. My older sister had to pay 35k back in Canada. There they make you get up right away n here I had to lay in bed for 3 or 4 weeks.

I had a total hip replacement done in Recife in December 2025. Total cost, inlcuding top-of-the-range titanium J+J prosthesis imported from the US, all doctors, 1 overnight hospital stay, operating theatre, initial consultations and follow-up ones, X-rays, etc, etc, was R$35,000 (less than our annual insurance was). Totally successful, highly recommend it, and as a result I cancelled our health insurance and will go private in the future if needed...

29 Apr 2026

Dental procedures are cheaper in Brazil than in the US.  The materials used are different - for example porcelain vs resin based crowns.  In the US, the costs are mainly driven by insurance companies and greed.

Re: success / failure of the medical / dental procedures - there are good and bad doctors and dentists everywhere.  But in Brazil, please get more than 1 recommendation.

In terms of my exposure so far, the technology and procedures are less advanced in Brazil than in the US but the patient experience is much better.

I would definitely do non-critical procedures in Brazil and keep the difficult or novel treatments in the US.

@NewBrazil

Dental care in Brazil is excellent. There are many highly competent dentists and specialists, and even top-level private treatment is internationally often only around 30–50% of the price charged in many other countries.

I had some complex microscopic root canal treatments done in Fortaleza — about R$3,000 per tooth, including three sessions of two hours each. The level of service and equipment was very high-end.

If you need a contact, I’d be happy to share one.

@Vincent Devalk

Can confirm, I had excellent dental treatment in Salvador, several root canal treatments and one implant. I even found a clinic which offers ´sedacao leve ‘ (laughing gas), if you like your treatments painless. Unfortunately the charge for that is very expensive (1700 R), but it’s worth it.

I do not pay for health insurance here. It is a racket and a scam IMHO. But, that's for another thread.

My wife OTOH pays Unimed some R$1.600 a month.

Private practice and medical/dental procedures here are cheap. 2 months ago my wife had invasive thyroid tumor tests done in probably the top oncological medical facility for this kind of thing. R$2.800 covered the anesthesiologist, the specialist doctor, and the OR, as well as two follow ups. She's fine. She paid privately because Unimed would have sent her to a third rate place hours away some 3 months in the future.

Our doctor charges R$400 for a 60-90 minute consult. She is licensed and degreed as a general practitioner, an endocrinologist, and a pharmacist. Teaches at UFRJ as well. Contacts you on What's App if she is going to be 10 minutes late on an appointment. Sends you prescriptions or other things by WA.

I need some cosmetic dental work. 10 veneers basically on the bottom. Going to shop around for a dentist next week. I'm expecting to pay R$10.000 or so versus 5X that amount or more, outside the country,

I was quoted R$2.000 a month by Unimed. In ten years I'd have paid them R$240.000 so they could deny claims and sponsor soccer teams on their jerseys. Invest that R$240.000 of premiums (or more) up front in a CDB earning around 13.5% (my historical 3 year rate) and in ten years it is worth R$980.000.......self insure yourself if you are in good health. If something critical happens SAMU and SUS will look after it initially anyways, and they are very good.