Thailand’s plastic surgery prices

A French-based forum for plastic surgeons and dermatologists opined that the strongest global growth for aesthetic procedures will be in the Asian market.

BANGKOK: Thailand is aiming to become the regional hub for cosmetic surgery, a market that could help earn it an estimated RM20.4 billion (US$6.8 billion) over the next five years.

Thailand is already the leading country for medical tourism in Southeast Asia.

The country’s medical council and a number of plastic surgeons have urged the government to support their efforts to promote cosmetic surgery in Thailand.

Private hospitals, hotels and associations of dentists and physicians have also launched the Medical Tourism Association, which proposes special cosmetic surgery packages for medial tourists.

For example, a breast-surgery package being marketed in the UK would include return airfare, a stay at a luxury hotel in Bangkok and a shopping trip. Total cost will be around RM30,600( US$10,200).

A similar surgery alone in the UK would set the patient back by around RM51,000 (US$17,000,) the association said.

The global market for aesthetic procedures grew by 10%  in 2012 and is expected to grow at the same rate in 2013.

According to a report by IMCAS, a French-based forum for plastic surgeons and dermatologists, released in January 2013, the strongest growth will be in the Asian market.

It is predicted that the Asian market, where nose and eyelid surgeries, as well as breast augmentation and liposuction are popular, will see a 14% growth.

Currently, the global market for plastic surgery has a value of around RM18 billion (US$6 billion), the IMCAS report said.

Middle East market

In Asia, China has the highest number of people undergoing cosmetic surgery, followed by Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

In Thailand, rhinoplasty, double eyelid and sex-change operations are most popular among foreign visitors from Asia and neighbouring countries like Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Furthermore, a rising number of medical tourists from the Middle East is seeking cosmetic surgery in Thailand following a boom in demand in wealthy oil states such as the UAE, as well as in Lebanon and Iran.

The most sought-after procedures for this group in Thailand include male breast reduction, liposuction and rhinoplasty.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals are one of the main source markets for medical tourists to Thailand.

Of the 140,000 Arab patients visiting Thailand in 2011, 40% came from the UAE, and others mainly from Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar.

So crucial is this market that last year Thailand offered this group a visa fee exemption for medical purposes only.

Prices for cosmetic surgery in Thailand range from

Breast Augmentation: RM9,600 (US$3,200)

Breast Reduction: RM12,000 (US$4,000)

Breast Lift: RM9,600 (US$3,200)

Male Breast Reduction: RM8,400 (US$2,800)

Liposuction: RM5,400 (US$1,600)

Tummy Tuck: RM10,200) (US$3,400)

Body Lift: RM27,900 (US$9,300)

Full Facelift: RM21,600 (US$7,200)

Nose Reshaping: RM6,300 (US$2,100)

Nose Implant: RM 2,010 (US$670)

Eyelid Surgery: RM2,400 (US$600)

Botox Injection: RM1,200 (US$400)

Penile Surgery: RM4,500 (US$1,500)

Vaginal Surgery: RM2,490 (US$830)

Sex Change: RM27,000 (US$9,000)

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