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Would you get Plastic Surgery in Thailand?

I had a conversation with a young friend of mine recently about plastic surgery in Thailand. We talked about the obvious advantages of being able to get your girlfriend or wife some procedures done at a cheap price. But once the conversation shifted to plastic surgeries for men, my friend immediately branded the entire idea as being “gay.” He isn’t the only one to think this and I find it particularly interesting that people use that same word, “gay,” to describe male plastic surgery. If a man’s intent is to attract hotter women and more women so he can bang them, I just think “gay” describes the exact opposite of those intentions. I’m 10 years away from needing to think about it, but I’m not quite sure I’d be opposed to it given the right circumstances. Is it vain to want to look your best? I’m not sure I really care if it could mean hotter women and more women as I get older.

Keep in mind that most procedures in Thailand go for 25%-50% of the cost of getting the same work done in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and in Western Europe, and some procedures are even cheaper than that. There are people who come to Thailand specifically for a surgery knowing that the savings will dwarf the cost of the plane tickets and hotels. If you already live in Thailand or visit frequently you save even more than they do.

Some people immediately dismiss the option of getting work done in Thailand because they don’t feel it’s safe and they’re concerned that the quality of work won’t be as high as it would be in their home country. There are always risks involved with any plastic surgery, but I don’t believe Thailand to be any riskier than anywhere else and in fact I could make an argument that it’s actually a notch up in certain respects. Thailand is basically the plastic surgery capital of the world; so the doctors with a decent reputation do high volume at low prices. When it comes to quality; experience is everything in plastic surgery and the doctors here have tremendous experience. A doctor I spoke with in Pattaya, who specializes in rhinoplasty (nose jobs), 2-3 surgeries in a day. He charges anywhere from 12,000 Bht to 30,000 Bht depending on the scenario. A doctor in a suburban town in the U.S. will do 2-3 per week at about the same 12,000-30,000 range, except now we’re talking U.S. dollars! If I had the choice I’m going with the guy who does 10X the # of procedures. Nothing against the best surgeons in the U.S., those guys are the best in the world; but they have beautiful offices in Beverly Hills and in New York City and charge celebrity rates for their work. I’m not going to compare that quality of doctor to the ones in Thailand because it’s unrealistic that any of us could afford that option anyway. Meanwhile the average doctor who charges the average price in the U.S. isn’t necessarily any better than the average plastic surgeon in Bangkok, and chances are the doc in Bangkok has done far more procedures if they’re around the same age. For every horror story you’ve heard about plastic surgery in Thailand, I’ll show you 10 in the U.S.

Here are the procedures you can look into:

1) Breast Augmentation – It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Nothing says commitment like a pair of fake tits! You enjoy them and if you ever want to break up with the girl you got them for, your parting gift is already there. 60,000 from a solid doctor; and that’s about a 75% discount.

2) Hair Transplant – Not everyone is a candidate; but if you have thick hair around where your head meets the back of your neck, they can probably transplant those hairs around your scalp with success. The hair transplant is a surgery where the doctors really have to earn their money as they have to individually sew each hair into your head. The results are permanent but it’s a bit risky since many of the hairs might not actually “take” and since the pattern along the front of your hairline may come out looking strange. The inconsistency in results is no more common in Thailand than in Western Countries. This is a procedure where about 1/3 of people are generally not happy with the results across the board. Prices vary depending on the amount of hair you want but you can expect to save 50% in Bangkok and 65% in Chiang Mai or Pattaya.

3) Botox - I had to have a birthmark removed that was freaking me out and while in the waiting room I noticed that many of the people in the waiting room were men. I asked the doctor if they were all there to get birthmarks removed as well, and to my amazement he said that most men come into his office for Botox procedures! When Botox works, it works well; it can reduce 5-10 years of age and you can see the results after a few days. Of course those results are temporary so people go in 2-4 times per year for maintenance. Botox isn’t terribly expensive anywhere, but in Thailand you can safely assume you’ll save about 50%. Botox is a little dangerous so you should study up on the risks. I know someone who had a bad reaction and their face became a disaster zone for about a week until the swelling subsided. Yea and Grammy winner Kanye West’s Mother died from a Botox complication, so there’s that.

4) Face Lift- This is a risky surgery because if it’s not done properly you can look strange. I’d rather look old than look strange, but that’s just me. If a doctor botches a breast implant job, they can easily go at it again and fix it, but touching up a face lift isn’t so easy. This one above all others really warrants a very careful decision making process. The savings in Thailand on a facelift can be massive. Some save up to 90% on a facelift and savings of 75%+ are very common. If you want one, finding the right doctor should become your job for a month. This might be one of the most important decisions you make, because the success or failure of this story will have a large impact on the way you’re going to look going forward. It’s risky business; but I can’t rule the option out because the success stories make it seem very tempting.

Here are just a few more notes. I have paid for plastic surgeries for women in the U.S. and in Thailand; I gave them as Birthday and Christmas presents. My experiences in Thailand were superior and not just due to price; the post-op care and the results were better as well. If a girl wants a tummy tuck I’d say, “OK hop in the car,” and then I’d drive her to a local gym and throw a red bull at her and tell her to get to work. A girl can’t exercise her nose or stop her tits from sagging, so those procedures I would consider for the right girl, but always with the understanding that in time it’s very possible that some other guy will be enjoying the work I paid for.


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About ParadiseCity

M. Schwartz is an expert in all things Thailand. Having seen and done it all, there is nobody more equipped to teach about a successful ex-pat transition to Thailand. He wrote the cult classic guide book for men in Thailand called, How to Get the Most Bang for Your Buck in Thailand

10 Responses to Would you get Plastic Surgery in Thailand?

  1. Max Maxis January 9, 2014 at 7:01 am #

    Totally agree about the experience 🙂
    I am planning to undergo otoplasty in asia this summer 2014. When it comes to experience, Asia is number 1 among other countries. Plus if an Asian doctor belongs to American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, that’s a win win situation money wise and quality wise.

  2. Diana Amsterdam June 10, 2014 at 3:04 am #

    Been following your posts since I started living in Bangkok and I’m planning to have Face Lift surgery with Dr. Pichet of Bangkok Plastic Surgery Clinic in few months. Yes, you are right about plastic surgery field here. I have found many of skillful and well-known Thai surgeons to operate various types of plastic surgery. The cost is cheaper and the quality is premium that’s what I like about plastic surgery clinics and hospitals here.

    • Chris June 11, 2014 at 1:00 pm #

      thanks for the report.

    • debi April 14, 2016 at 8:40 am #

      Diana how did you like the results of your face lift. I am looking for the best D.r to do my face lift in May.

    • Dee October 23, 2016 at 7:59 am #

      Hi Diana, did you get your face lift done and if so, are you happy with it and the surgeon that performed it? Am thinking of going there to have same done.

  3. 123 November 14, 2014 at 7:09 pm #

    But how much are they cheaper compare to Korea? Aren’t plastic surgery in Korea better since it’s a normal thing for women there?

  4. anneke February 16, 2015 at 3:15 pm #

    I made surgery in Elvira Aesthetics with Dr.Panya. He was very professional with this procedure and very professional with his consultation. He made me trust that he can help me out with my problem and feel comfortable talking with him.

    Now, it’s totally different. I feel so much better about myself and shape. It was a very pleasant surgery “Tummy Tuck in Thailand“.

  5. Samantha July 24, 2016 at 3:37 am #

    Thailand has become one of top destinations for cosmetic surgery for decades. You can find many of well-known and certified Thai surgeons for full cosmetic services from Breast Augmentation to SRS surgery with affordable price. Plus the hospitality service of post–surgery that they offer is a premium one. Check the leading Plastic Surgery providers, such as PAI, Bangkok Plastic Surgery Clinic, Yanhee Hospital, Bumrungrad Hospital. Those are one of the forefront plastic surgery clinics / hospitals in Thailand with long-term experience in service.

  6. Yohan January 13, 2017 at 3:30 pm #

    I’m planning to have my face-lift done in Bangkok this year but still looking for the right surgeon for me. Any recommendation or suggestion on this field? I know the well-known ones like Bumrungrad, Yanhee, PIAC and Bangkok Plastic Surgery Clinic. Maybe there are more that I haven’t heard of yet. Still doing research so anyone feels free to advise me. Thanks a lot!

  7. Scarlett September 7, 2017 at 4:37 pm #

    Hi, just came across your blog when searching for plastic surgery info in Thailand. I’m planning to have my Rhinoplasty done in Bangkok and currently checking surgeon names.

    Have anyone of you had reviews of Dr. Preecha of PAI, Dr. Pichet of BKK Plastic Surgery Clinic and Dr. Kamol of Kamol Cosmetic Hospital? Would appreciate if anyone can share info of these surgeons with me.

    Thanks!

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