Plastic Surgery Holidays in Thailand - What You Should Know
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Thailand is a very attractive destination for medical tourism. A wide range of plastic surgery procedures are available in the country, performed by highly experienced English-speaking doctors, many of whom have received training in Western countries.
With high quality medical facilities that are relatively affordable from a Western point of view, it’s no wonder tens of thousands of Australians, Europeans and North Americans look to Thailand every year to fulfil their cosmetic goals.
Having said that, going abroad for cosmetic surgery is always more than just a financial decision. There are quite a few things to consider in order to make sure your plastic surgery trip goes as planned and that the results are what you’d expect.
With that in mind, here’s what you should take into consideration if you’re thinking of travelling to Thailand for plastic surgery.
The Surgeon’s Technique
There are many different techniques used to perform plastic surgeries. The surgeon’s technique affects everything from size and location of the resulting scar to how long it takes to recover from your surgery.
For example, if you’re thinking about having breast augmentation surgery, there are four different types of incisions, and it may be difficult to pick the best one. If you’re thinking of getting breast augmentation with implants, you’ll also need to think about the implant type and size because these directly affect the surgical technique and the location of the incision.
It’s important to learn as much as possible about your surgery beforehand, since in plastic surgery there really is no one-size-fits-all solution; it all depends on individual factors and it’s important to manage your own expectations.
Always ask to see “before and after” pictures of similar procedures. Pay special attention to people with a similar body or facial structure to yours and the incision(s) used in the surgery. This will help you to have realistic expectations for the outcomes of your surgery.
Recovery Time
You’ll need to think about how long you will need to stay in Thailand after your surgery before booking your flights and accommodation. The recovery time for your surgery will dictate when you’ll be able to fly home. This can vary from a few days to a few weeks or more for complicated procedures.
For breast augmentation or Brazilian butt lift you should prepare to stay in Thailand at least 7 days after your operation. For tummy tuck surgery you’ll need to wait at least 10 days before flying home as there is a risk of blood clots in the legs.
While plastic surgery is generally very safe, all operations come with a risk of complications. Particularly when travelling abroad for surgery, you should always plan for the unexpected, which leads us to the next item on the list…
Be Flexible with Your Plans
First of all, don’t decide anything before seeing your surgeon face to face. If you’re flying to Thailand from abroad, it’s important that your plans allow for some flexibility. If the expected recovery time for your surgery is 3-4 days, always plan to stay at least a few extra days in case anything unforeseen happens.
Procedures with implants in particular always require careful consideration. For breast implants, you’ll need to think about the right size and shape for your figure, and you’ll probably want to consider the implant brand as well.
Sometimes patients will book breast augmentation surgery at our clinic and fly to Thailand with a certain brand and model of implant in mind. However, when they arrive at the clinic, they sometimes find out that there is a newer, more improved model available which makes them want to choose that one instead. It’s important to understand that the clinic may not always have every type of implant in stock and therefore in these cases, the implant may not be available straight away. If the clinic needs to order a new implant, it may take a week or more to arrive. Therefore, in order to get the best results, always be prepared to be as flexible with your itinerary as possible.
Availability of Silicone
If you’re thinking of flying to Thailand for breast augmentation surgery, you should be aware of the impact that Covid-19 has had on the global silicone market. Not only has the shortage of raw materials has resulted in higher prices, but the global pandemic has also interrupted supply chains which has impacted availability.
This means that if you book a breast augmentation surgery with silicone implants, the clinic may have to order the silicone implants ahead of your arrival in Thailand. At the consultation, the surgeon will consider your anatomy, and in some cases recommend that you opt for less volume than you originally had in mind. This can obviously lead to difficulties if the patient has already booked their flight home a few days after surgery and can’t wait for a new implant to be delivered.
It’s worth noting that in such cases the surgery can usually still go ahead, but the results may not be optimal. Although large implants aren’t necessarily a problem, they may become uncomfortable if they’re too big. Therefore, it’s always important to listen to the advice of your plastic surgeon when choosing breast implant size.
Which brings us to our next item…
Always Book a Virtual Consultation Beforehand
A virtual consultation is a great way to find out more about the cosmetic procedure you want to get done; it will also give you an opportunity to meet the plastic surgeon face to face, which is a very important step towards achieving optimal results from your surgery.
Any reputable private clinic or hospital in Thailand should be able to offer a complimentary virtual consultation for you. You should always aim to have a face-to-face call via Zoom or another video platform, but if this isn’t possible, at the very least you should arrange to speak with the prospective surgeon on the phone.
Prepare to discuss everything that you need on the call. Here are some important questions to ask your surgeon:
- Are you a board-certified plastic surgeon?
- Am I good candidate for this procedure?
- Where will the surgery be performed?
- What are the risks and complications associated with this surgery?
- Can I see “before and after” pictures of previous patients?
- How many appointments will be needed in total?
- How soon is it safe to fly home after the surgery?
- How many days will I need to stay in Thailand in total?
Visa
Tourists from 64 countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and EU citizens, can enter Thailand without a visa for a period of up to 30 days. If you’re not from one of the visa-exempted countries, you may qualify for a visa-on-arrival provided that certain conditions are met. For more complicated procedure, does your visa (or visa exemption) allow you to stay in Thailand for the entire duration including recovery? In any case, always check the latest visa rules and entry requirements from your local Thai embassy or consulate.
Wrapping Up
Thailand can be an excellent option for plastic surgery. As with any surgery anywhere in the world, you should make sure you obtain all the necessary details about the operation, recovery and costs in order to make your journey as smooth as possible, and to ensure you experience the best outcomes for your surgery.
If you’re considering plastic surgery in Thailand, contact Interplast Clinic in Bangkok. Our experienced staff are always here to help you.