Plastic surgery as a sign of family unity: Colombia, Verónica Aspice, her parents, aunts and uncles, and $68,000

Family vacation? Yes. But with a scalpel included? That's right . Influencer Verónica Apice went viral on TikTok after posting a video documenting how she and four members of her family underwent plastic surgery during a trip to Colombia. The total cost: more than $68,000 . But for this half-Colombian, half-Italian family, the operating room is nothing new: it's tradition.

"My mom has always had surgeries. Since I was little, I saw her packing to go to Colombia. It's part of our normality," Verónica, 27, who grew up in Miami, told People . "My grandmother, my aunts, my cousins—they've all had surgery at some point. I grew up with the idea that this was normal."

Colombia wasn't a random destination. It's her mother's homeland, but that wasn't the only reason. "We love Colombian plastic surgeons; they're the best," said Damaris Pauline, Verónica's mother, 65, who began her surgical career with a tummy tuck and ponytail lift almost two decades ago.

This summer's trip was the second time the family embarked on a "surgical vacation" together. On board were mom, dad, aunt, uncle, and Veronica. This time, the procedures included a facelift, liposuction, breast reduction, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and a BBL (buttock) reduction for Veronica, who explained that she was "ready to go down a notch."

"Having surgery together gave us peace"

For many, the idea of undergoing cosmetic surgery in another country is already risky. Doing it with your entire family is unthinkable. But for Verónica and her family, it was quite the opposite.

"Harry, my uncle, felt calmer knowing we were all there. He wasn't afraid at any point," he says. "Being accompanied changes the whole experience."

"Feeling supported during recovery made all the difference," added her aunt Luz. "It was like a retreat, but with support, drainage, and family laughter."

Viral influencer with visible and emotional scars

Verónica, who lost more than 150 pounds thanks to a gastric sleeve in 2019, acknowledges that the surgeries have transformed her body, but also her way of perceiving herself.

"Now when I walk into a place and someone looks at me, I don't know if it's because they want to get to know me or because they noticed my curves," she confesses. "Cosmetic surgery changes a lot of things, but it doesn't always prepare you for the emotional impact."

He also reveals that in 2024 he nearly died from sepsis after surgery in Miami. "It was a powerful wake-up call. But it didn't stop me completely."

Would you do it again?

Yes. Although Veronica's father, Vincent, who paid more than $68,000 for the operations, jokes, "I'd do it again... but not if I have to pay for everything again."

This family, an explosive mix of a Colombian mother and an Italian father, lives life their way. "My mom is the most striking person in the room; she loves being the center of attention, and my dad simply says, 'Do what makes you happy,'" says Verónica. And so, between surgeries, affection, and tropical glamour, they continue to write their viral story... scalpel and all.