Ivo Pitanguy Clinic

Exterior view, Ivo Pitanguy Clinic

Dr. Ivo Pitanguy, considered a founding father of plastic surgery, established his world-famous clinic in 1963 after first studying in the US and England. The clinic also houses the Pitanguy Institute, where plastic surgeons from 40 countries learn Pitanguy’s techniques during a three-year master apprentice study program.

In Brazil, 80 percent of all plastic surgery is cosmetic. In a country with a surplus of plastic surgeons, Pitanguy stands out. The clinic specializes in cosmetic surgeries, including those of the face, nose, and ears, in addition to body contouring and hair transplants. Reconstructive surgeries include scar revision, as well as skin grafts, skin expansion, and breast reconstruction.

The Pitanguy Clinic is the only known center where two patients receive surgery (even different procedures) simultaneously in the same operating room. Despite this, infection rates are low. Only local and regional anesthetics are used, and it is not uncommon for patients to converse during their surgeries.

It is a paradox that the most prominent treatment center in Latin America, serving celebrity patients, is situated in one of the largest and poorest shantytowns in Brazil. The crime rate is high in Rio de Janeiro, and the Pitanguy Clinic is located in a dangerous neighborhood.