Undergoing plastic surgery in Thailand is a popular option for those who want to improve their looks. It’s a top destination for beauty tourism due to the internationally trained doctors, advanced facilities, and lower costs in many of its hospitals.

If you’ve decided on having work done on your body, we’re here to help you out! We’ll be providing an in-depth guide on how to start your plastic surgery journey here, as well as some tips to minimize the risks of the procedure. Read on!

How do I get plastic surgery in Thailand?

1. Decide which procedure you want to undergo in Thailand

When setting out on a journey, you should probably know what your destination is. It’s especially true when talking about your plastic surgery journey! 

Once you’ve accepted the possible risks you might run into and know how to minimize them, it’s time to sit down and decide what kind of work you want to get done on your body.

The most common plastic surgery procedures done in Thailand are usually done to augment a person’s physical qualities. They can either introduce improvements or completely modify physical characteristics.

Trusted plastic surgery hospitals have reported the following to give you an idea of what you might have in mind and what it’ll cost you when having it done in Thailand.

Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures in Thailand

These prices only reflect the cost of undergoing just one of these procedures at a time. It’s common to undergo multiple procedures in one go to achieve a certain effect, which may affect the total cost of the operation.

An example of this is a “mommy makeover,” a combination of procedures like breast augmentation and liposuction to help women who’ve undergone pregnancy and childbirth to recapture their good looks prior to bearing their child (having a baby in Thailand).

Remember, it’s always important to talk to your doctor about what effect you want to achieve, so that a plan can be drawn up to pinpoint the areas that need to be operated on.

2. Research and select the Thai hospital and doctor for the procedure

Once you know what you need to have done on your body, it’s time to select a hospital in Thailand that performs plastic surgery. Choose wisely, as you’ll be working closely with them to work towards getting your ideal new look!

These are some of the most respected hospitals in Thailand that perform plastic surgery. What they all have in common are international credentials, advanced facilities, and transparent communication.

During your research, you might find that another hospital not listed above might seem to be the right one for your needs. If that’s the case, see if they have the following qualities as they’re the foundation of a reputable medical institution:

JCI Accreditation

When choosing a hospital for your procedure, it’s important to select one that’s been accredited by an international institution that enforces strict standards of safety and quality.

We’re talking about hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International, or JCI. A JCI accredited hospital is one you can trust to keep you in good hands during the procedure.

Of the many healthcare facilities in Thailand (medical treatment in thailand), only 59 of them have earned the JCI’s accreditation. And among those 59, only a select few offer personnel and facilities capable of performing plastic surgery.

Each of the hospitals we’ve listed above are JCI accredited. We highly recommend sticking to accredited institutions since that takes out a lot of guesswork from verifying if your hospital will take good care of you when you go under the knife.

Sanitary Facilities

Whenever possible, asking for a tour of the hospital grounds – including the operating room and accommodations for recovery – is a good idea. The doctor or other representative showing you around will help you get an idea of how your stay might go.

Be sure to always ask questions when touring the facilities. You’ll always want medical staff ready to entertain any questions you might have. It’s a good sign that they take their relationship with their patients seriously.

At this point, if the personnel or facilities put you off, then trust your gut. It’s a good sign that this particular institution might not be the right partner for you. It’s best to look again for another hospital instead of sticking with a place you’re not entirely confident in!

Responsive Medical Staff

Communicating with doctors and nurses regarding plastic surgery is hardly a concern – most staff assigned to speak with you will be highly fluent in English these days. Instead, we want to talk about how transparent hospitals are when transacting with you.

If your chosen hospital is willing to accommodate you on things like personalized quotes for your planned procedures, that’s a green flag. This means that the hospital treats you not just as a customer, but also as a partner in your journey towards a new look.

This also extends to how transparent doctors are with their credentials. Plastic surgeons usually keep highly detailed records of their credentials and before-and-after records of previous patients.

If a surgeon is iffy about letting you in on these pieces of information, that’s not a good sign. The best practice is to find another doctor that’s more willing to be open with you. 

It may seem like a small thing, but your health and beauty is on the line here, after all.

3. Discern if you want to go with a medical tourism company

A fairly recent option that’s become popular when planning to undergo plastic surgery in Thailand is to work with a medical tourism company. These companies can help link you up with a number of the best and most trusted Thai hospitals.

Because of their connections, planning a trip to Thailand for the purpose of getting a procedure done becomes that much easier. They’re there to take some burden off your shoulders by guiding you through your options for what you want to do.

When first contacting a medical tourism company, they’ll want to meet with you to discuss your goals. They do this to get to know what procedure you want to undergo, what price range you’re working with, and other preferences you might have.

From there, they’ll assist you with all sorts of preparations like securing visas, setting up communication with your selected hospital, and reserving accommodations for your stay in Thailand. It’s not all too different from working with a normal travel agency.

If you like the idea of getting help with juggling the paperwork and communication involved in planning a plastic surgery procedure in Thailand, definitely consider working with a medical tourism company.

To get you started, here are some highly rated medical tourism companies that have helped travelers like you get their new look:

4. Secure the right visa for your stay in Thailand

The 30-day visa-free entry policy available to most foreign nationals will be enough for most travelers going to Thailand for a procedure. Thirty days are usually enough to have your surgery done, recover, and still have time leftover for sightseeing (things to do bangkok).

However, if you anticipate that you’re in for a longer recovery period due to the complexity of your procedures, then consider applying for a visa that allows you to stay for longer.

Tourist visas can give you up to either 90 days (single entry visa) or 270 days (multiple entry visa) to stay in Thailand. If you’ve decided you need the visa for the extra time, make sure to arrange for one at your local Thai embassy.

Of course, if you’re already in Thailand through other visas like an Elite Visa, you’re free to have your procedure done for as long as it’s valid!

If you’re working with a medical tourism company, see if they can help you secure a visa. These companies are often well connected, so visa work might be another thing they can help you with.

5. Straighten out the payment details and methods

Hospitals in Thailand usually charge the full cost of the agreed upon quote for the procedure before any operations begin. Because of that, it’s wise to think about how you plan to cover your costs as early as now.

Via Local Payment Methods

Since you’ll be billed in THB, paying through channels that deal in Baht should be no problem. If you have access to things like a Thai credit/debit card, or a local bank account, you’ll be able to cover the bill without hassle.

Via International Payment Methods

If you plan on paying with a credit card issued from your home country, be aware that you might have to pay fees charged by banks and currency changers on top of your bill.

It’s also a good idea to notify your financial institution that you’re about to make a large transaction abroad in Thailand. Big sums of money moving across international borders can come under scrutiny by authorities, so it’s best to let them know what’s up.

Can insurance cover plastic surgery procedures in Thailand?

It’s likely your insurance policy won’t be able to foot the cost of your procedure. Policies like life insurance usually only cover medical costs that are deemed necessary as a result of being in an accident.

Insurance companies treat plastic surgery as a voluntary or non-essential procedure for aesthetic purposes only. In other words, insurance coverage won’t apply because the companies don’t see it as something you need.

A possible exception could be made for procedures to repair disfiguration suffered through an accident. Still, it’s best to consult with your provider to be sure about that.

What are the risks of getting plastic surgery in Thailand?

Before you even think of what you want to get worked at which hospital by which doctor, you should understand the risks associated with the journey you’re about to undertake. Be sure you understand that no surgery – especially plastic surgery – is risk free.

The most common risks of getting plastic surgery in Thailand include the following:

• Miscommunication because of a language barrier
• Complications from improper recovery
• Deceptive claims made by shady doctors
• Being upsold on fad treatments 

These risks can be mitigated by being vigilant and diligent with your research and planning. Look out for the telltale signs and red flags that tell you to steer clear of whatever you’re looking at!

Tips to Minimize Risks on Your Plastic Surgery Procedure in Thailand

Use online resources to do some research

As always, the internet is a great resource to utilize, so look up online communities for people looking to undergo or have undergone plastic surgery in Thailand. Their discussions and testimonies can give you an idea of what to expect.

For example, Thailand Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Support Group on Facebook is a community dedicated for women to share their plastic surgery experiences. They do this since they know it can be helpful to someone doing their research (like you!)

They’ll also be more than happy to answer questions you might have regarding your concerns. Members always uphold the policy to be respectful and non-judgmental – they’ve all been in your shoes before, so ask away.

Stick to well-trusted hospitals, doctors, and companies

It may be tempting to go off the beaten path and try getting work done at a clinic that’s under the radar, but you’re going through insane levels of risk doing so. It’s best to go on the safe side and stick to the hospitals and doctors people trust.

This might be obvious, but it’s worth saying out loud: well-known hospitals have earned that trust for a reason. There’s simply no replacement for well-experienced doctors and highly-rated hospitals.

All in all, there’s a lot you can do to minimize the risk of being on the wrong end of a botched job. A little common sense goes a long way.

FAQs about Plastic Surgery in Thailand