Around 15,000 Australians are heading to Thailand for cosmetic surgery every year and it all adds up to over AUD$300 million for medical procedures alone.
Thailand is a tourist place known for its beautiful temples, amazing islands, and authentic Thai food. In recent times, it has also emerged as one of the most affordable medical tourism destinations that offer advanced medical treatment, high-class services, and high-quality care to patients.
It is especially a place of choice for people who are looking for cosmetic surgery options to change their appearance.
With a whopping US$4.3 billion estimated earnings and a staggering 2.5 million foreign patients per year, Thailand has become one of the leading medical tourism destinations in the World.
The government has been strategically developing this industry since 2004.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has started actively campaigning for foreigners to take advantage of Thailand’s world-class treatment and wellness centers for a fraction of the cost compared to Australia, US, Canada, and other European nations.
What is Cosmetic Surgery and Why is it Needed?
Cosmetic Surgery is a type of elective surgery that a person may choose to have to change their physical appearance for aesthetic rather than a medical reason.
What are the Popular Cosmetic Surgeries Performed in Thailand?
1. Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty, commonly known as a “nose job,” is surgery to change the shape of your nose by changing the bone or cartilage.
People undergo rhinoplasty to correct their noses after an injury, to correct breathing problems or birth defects, or because they are not satisfied with the shape of their noses.
Changes your surgeon may make to your nose with rhinoplasty include:
- A change in size
- A change in angle
- Straightening of the bridge
- Reshaping of the tip
- Narrowing of the nostrils
If your rhinoplasty is being done to improve your appearance rather than your health, you should wait until your nasal bones are fully developed.
For girls, it develops around the age of 15. In the case of boys, bones might still be growing until they’re a bit older. However, rhinoplasty can be performed at a younger age if you’re getting surgery because of breathing impairment.
2. Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
It is also known as “blepharoplasty” or "eye lift". It is a cosmetic surgery that changes the skin on your eyelid and around your eyes. It can be done if you want to improve the look or functioning of them.
Eyelid Surgery Can:
- Tighten the loose and/or sagging skin that creates natural creases in the eyelids, and disturbs the natural contour of the eyelid.
- Remove the excess fat deposits that make the eyelids appear as puffy.
- Remove under-eye bags and tighten drooping lower eyelids that reveal the white of the eyes below the irises.
- It can help remove excess skin, wrinkles, eye bags, and other unwanted skin issues in the upper and lower lids.
- It can improve skin elasticity in the eye area to correct droopy eyelids.
3. Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is also known as mammoplasty augmentation, or "boob job". It is an elective cosmetic surgery procedure designed to enlarge or bring symmetry to your breasts.
Breast augmentation can be performed either through the transfer of fat from an area of your body or through surgically inserting breast implants.
4. Liposuction
Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes unwanted fat deposits from your body. Liposuction can help in case the fat won’t budge even after diet and exercise and can help you attain a smoother body shape. Liposuction surgery isn’t a weight-loss procedure.
5. Fat Grafting (Face)
Facial fat grafting utilizes a patient's own fat cells harvested via a cannula during liposuction for injectable fat transfer into predetermined areas of the face.
Why Should You Choose Thailand For Plastic Surgery?
Among foreign citizens, Thailand has emerged as a popular destination for getting plastic surgery. Most of the candidates who avail the various types of plastic surgeries are reported to return satisfied, which is why the thoroughfare of foreign tourists keep on increasing every year.
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Multi-Speciality Healthcare Units - Most hospitals in Thailand are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI). JCI is an international organization that promotes adherence to standards of care in more than 90 countries around the world. Therefore, international tourists who want to experience the standard treatment of licensed clinics at affordable prices can travel to the country.
Thailand offers advanced technology options such as robotic surgery in some cases. Robotic surgery is one of the newest additions in the last two decades and only in recent years. However, keep in mind that while traditional plastic surgery in Thailand is cheap, robotic surgery costs a little more. Bumrungrad International of Thailand (Bangkok) became the first hospital in Asia to meet these standards in 2002. -
Affordable Treatment - International hospitals in Thailand provide patients with high-quality services at lower prices than any other country in the West.
So you can get surgery within your budget and you can still look the way you always wanted. Compared to Western countries, you can save thousands of dollars by choosing to have your cosmetic surgery done in Thailand. -
Highly experienced Doctors - Plastic surgeons in Thailand have decades of experience.
Doctors, medical staff, and many Thai people who speak good English will guide you in whatever language you are comfortable with during your stay.
Many doctors have received their training in Western countries and many Western doctors have moved to Thailand for its beautiful atmosphere and cheap lifestyle. So you can rest assured that you can get the best treatment from the best doctors in Thailand. -
Beautiful Tourist Spots - Finally, the beautiful tourist spots in Thailand make the medical tour for cosmetic surgery a recreational trip too. You can enjoy your treatment and return home healthy and refreshed.
Few Places That You Can Visit in Thailand -
- The Grand Palace
- Bangkok’s Floating Markets
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai
- Chiang Mai Night Markets
- Sukhothai Old City
Medical Facilities
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Guidelines - The government has issued specific guidelines for healthcare professionals and facilities to follow to uplift the quality of services they provide.
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Accreditation - With the help of the Joint Commission International, hospitals and medical professionals in Thailand strive to provide world-class services that adhere to standards set in the United States and in other Western Countries.
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Hospitals - As in any other country, there are thousands of hospitals in Thailand and even on its islands. Most of them are public hospitals operated under the government’s supervision, the Ministry of Public Health.
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Short Waiting List - Due to the high availability of health care in Thailand, waiting lists for surgeries and other procedures aren’t as long as you would expect.
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Highly Affordable Treatment Options - With the stiff competition as well from other top-caliber hospitals in Bangkok, it is clear as to why prices for cosmetic surgeries still remain highly competitive and affordable.
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Cost-effective and High-Standard Accommodation - Depending on your budget and the selected cosmetic procedure, you can freely choose a hotel-like hospital bedroom inside an international-standard healthcare facility right in the middle of Bangkok and still save hundreds of dollars when it comes to paying your medical bills.
How Much Does Cosmetic Surgery cost in Thailand?
Here are some examples of commonly performed cosmetic surgeries in Thailand -
| Procedure | Price (USD) |
| Breast Augmentation up to 400 cc | |
| Tummy Tuck less than 80kg | |
| Breast Lift | |
| Full Face Lift | |
| Nose Job | |
| Neck Lift | |
| Upper Eyelid Surgery | $616 |
| Lower Eyelid Surgery | $3362 |
Note- The cost for the treatment may vary depending on the type of treatment, facilities and hospital opted by you.
Top Cosmetic Surgery Hospital in Bangkok
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Vejthani Hospital Bangkok, Thailand - Vejthani Hospital, established in 1994, is one of the leading private international hospitals in Thailand that provides JCI-accredited quaternary health care services.
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Bangkok Hospital - Established in 1972, the Bangkok Hospital is one of the first private hospitals in Thailand to get accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI).
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Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Bangkok - It is the first Hospital outside Japan to be accredited with the Japan Council for Quality Health Care (JCQHC) award.
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Sikarin International Hospital, Bangkok - Sikarin International Hospital is one of the foremost tertiary care multidisciplinary facilities in Bangkok.
The hospital is internationally accredited and certified by reputed organizations like JCI, ISO, HAACP, HA - Hospital/Healthcare Accreditation for its management and excellent clinical quality. -
Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok - Established on 17 September 1980, the Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok is a global pioneer in giving the best international standard healthcare services and one of the largest private multi-specialty hospitals in South East Asia with patients coming from over 190 countries annually.
Top Cosmetic/ Plastic Surgeons in Thailand
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Dr. Krairit Tiyakul - Dr. Krairit Tiyakul is a well-renowned plastic surgeon having more than 30 years of expertise. Services provided by him include eyelid uplift surgery, chin advancement and implant, facelift surgery, mandible angle reduction, nose augmentation, nose lift, and many more.
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Dr. Kamol Pansritum - Dr. Kamol Pansritum is one of the renowned Plastic Surgeons in Bangkok, Thailand, having 27 years of experience.
His areas of expertise are gender reassignment surgery and face feminization.
He performs more than 2,000 male-to-female sex reassignment surgeries each year. -
Dr. Bhumsak Saksri - Dr. Bhumsak Saksri is a senior and an internationally trained Cosmetic Surgeon with +35 years of experience.
His area of expertise lies in aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries such as blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, rhytidectomy, facial rejuvenation, nasal valve surgery, otoplasty, septoplasty, Botox injections, cleft lip, and palate repair, lip surgery, surgeries for congenital facial anomalies and many more. -
Dr. Preeyaphas Nilubol - Dr. Preeyaphas Nilubol is one of the most reputed Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons having 57 years of rich experience.
His area of expertise lies in Skin Grafting, Breast Implant Revision Surgery, Breast Lift Surgery, and Breast Augmentation. -
Dr. Jaturong Ninnagara - Dr. Jaturong Ninnagara is a renowned Cosmetic Surgeon with over 31 years of expertise.
He performs procedures like Cosmetic Rhinoplasty, Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Breast Augmentation, and Liposuction.
Conclusion -
If you desire to enhance your physical appearance but you don't know where to get the best service and an affordable price, Thailand can offer you the best and budget-friendly medical services at highly reputed and accredited Hospitals
Hope this guide helps you in making the decision best suited for your needs.
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