Tummy tuck in Dr. Saad Barhoum

Dr. Saad Barhoum runs a plastic surgery practice in Cali, Colombia. The practice has two offices: the main consultation center in Cali and a second location in Pereira. Consultations happen in private office settings, but all surgeries take place at a licensed fourth-level clinic. This is the highest tier of care in Colombia, with emergency services, intensive care, and inpatient wards.

Academic Recognition and Certifications

The clinic holds accreditation from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). In 2025, Dr. Saad Barhoum won a Bronze award at the ISAPS Olympiad in Singapore for a study on autologous breast explant techniques. The surgical unit has been registered in REPS, Colombia's national health provider registry, since 2006. The facility includes a dedicated sterilization center and an on-site pharmacy.

Specialized Breast and Body Reconstruction

The practice focuses on complex reconstructive and aesthetic procedures. Dr. Saad Barhoum graduated as a physician in 1992 and specialized in plastic surgery in 2003. He has practiced in Cali for over 20 years.

The medical team also includes Dr. Hamilton Gonella, who has 34 years of experience, and Dr. Salim, a specialist anesthesiologist. The surgeons use specialized programs to manage both operations and recovery.

Breast Surgery Programs

The clinic is known for breast explant surgery. This procedure removes implants and rebuilds breast shape using the patient's own tissue in one operation. The team uses the Closed Fist technique for these reconstructions.

Specialists also perform breast implant exchanges, starting with a diagnostic ultrasound at the ten-year mark. Augmentation and lifts address either volume loss or drooping based on individual needs.

Biopolymer Removal and Body Reshaping

Biopolymer removal is a multi-stage reconstructive surgery. First, surgeons remove the material through open surgical steps. Then they reconstruct the area using tissue flaps. Fat transfer refinement follows at least 3 months later.

For body reshaping, the clinic distinguishes between standard liposuction and liposculpture. Liposculpture redistributes fat across the whole body to add fullness to areas like the buttocks.

Abdominal and Facial Procedures

The clinic treats several conditions during body contouring surgeries:

• Umbilical and incisional hernias – identified via pre-op ultrasound and repaired during tummy tucks
• Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) – including muscle plication to close abdominal separations
• Blepharoplasty – eyelid surgery with monthly video follow-ups for international patients
• Gynecomastia correction – combining fat removal with gland excision via a 2.5 cm incision

Facial surgeries also include mini-facelifts, otoplasty, and brow lifts. Surgeons use ultrasound diagnostics in the operating room to plan abdominal repairs before making the first incision.

Safety Protocols and Anesthesia

Safety checks happen before every surgery to verify the anesthesia plan and preoperative evaluations. A specialist anesthesiologist stays with the patient throughout each procedure to manage pain and vital signs. Dr. Saad Barhoum and the anesthesia team have worked together since 2003.

Patients undergoing breast explant surgery don't need lymphatic drainage massages to reduce swelling in their specific recovery pathway.

Services for International Patients

The clinic offers structured coordination for patients traveling from Europe and other regions. The process includes an in-person consultation in Cali followed by surgery. International patients should stay in Cali for at least 12 days to complete initial follow-up visits. The clinic provides medical travel authorizations and guidance for long-haul flights, such as hydration tips and calf muscle exercises.

Postoperative care follows a strict schedule to monitor wound healing. For breast and tummy tuck procedures, follow-up visits occur on days 4 and 8. Stitch removal happens at 15 days. Patients abroad continue recovery with monthly video consultations until the third month. The clinic recommends trusted local transfers and recovery houses near the Cali office.