Thailand to evolve as plastic surgery hub
Thailand, already the leading country for medical tourism in Southeast Asia, is taking efforts to become the regional hub for cosmetic surgery, a market that could help earn it an estimated $6.8 billion over the next five years, the country’s medical council said.
The council and a number of plastic surgeons 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 offered in the UK that would include airfare, a stay at a luxury hotel in Bangkok and a shopping trip, would cost around $10,200, while such a surgery alone in the UK would set the patient back by around $17,000, the association said.
The global market for aesthetic procedures grew by 10 per cent in 2012 and is expected to grow at the same rate in 2013. It is predicted that the strongest growth in 2013, 14 per cent, will be in the Asian market where nose and eyelid surgeries, as well as breast augmentation and liposuction are popular, according to a report by IMCAS, a French-
Currently, the global market for plastic surgery has a value of around $6 billion, the IMCAS report said.
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.
Prices for cosmetic surgery in Thailand (examples, prices from)
Breast Augmentation: $3,200
Breast Reduction: $4,000
Breast Lift: $3,200
Male Breast Reduction: $2,800
Liposuction: $1,600
Tummy Tuck: $3,400
Body Lift: $9,300
Full Facelift: $7,200
Nose Reshaping: $2,100
Nose Implant: $670
Eyelid Surgery: $600
Botox Injection: $400
Penile Surgery: $1,500
Vaginal Surgery: $830
Sex Change: $9,000
Source: Hospital price lists
Thailand, already the leading country for medical tourism in Southeast Asia, is taking efforts to become the regional hub for cosmetic surgery, a market that could help earn it an estimated $6.8 billion over the next five years, the country's medical council said. The council and a number of plastic surgeons 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 offered in the UK that would include...
Thailand, already the leading country for medical tourism in Southeast Asia, is taking efforts to become the regional hub for cosmetic surgery, a market that could help earn it an estimated $6.8 billion over the next five years, the country’s medical council said.
The council and a number of plastic surgeons 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 offered in the UK that would include airfare, a stay at a luxury hotel in Bangkok and a shopping trip, would cost around $10,200, while such a surgery alone in the UK would set the patient back by around $17,000, the association said.
The global market for aesthetic procedures grew by 10 per cent in 2012 and is expected to grow at the same rate in 2013. It is predicted that the strongest growth in 2013, 14 per cent, will be in the Asian market where nose and eyelid surgeries, as well as breast augmentation and liposuction are popular, according to a report by IMCAS, a French-
Currently, the global market for plastic surgery has a value of around $6 billion, the IMCAS report said.
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.
Prices for cosmetic surgery in Thailand (examples, prices from)
Breast Augmentation: $3,200
Breast Reduction: $4,000
Breast Lift: $3,200
Male Breast Reduction: $2,800
Liposuction: $1,600
Tummy Tuck: $3,400
Body Lift: $9,300
Full Facelift: $7,200
Nose Reshaping: $2,100
Nose Implant: $670
Eyelid Surgery: $600
Botox Injection: $400
Penile Surgery: $1,500
Vaginal Surgery: $830
Sex Change: $9,000
Source: Hospital price lists
With the rapid increase in demand for cosmetic surgeries, the market for plastic surgery has become saturated. As a result there is much more competition among those who are providing these treatments, so that they can allure the maximum amount of clients.
http://www.pacificplasticsurgery.com/