Thailand Emerges as Mecca of Medical Tourism

Defining Elective Surgery

Fading are the days when the doc decides when and where a patient goes for surgery.  Today, in cases which are not urgent medical emergencies requiring surgical intervention, the patient has a say in the matter.  More commonly known as “elective surgery,” non-essential procedures are helping to fuel medical advances in just about every aspect of health care.  Nowhere is the progress more impressive, however, than in sex-reassignment.  Changing a man to a woman (or vice versa) is the ultimate testament to our mastery of DNA.  However, this great leaps and advancements are taking place in Switzerland, MIT, or even Hollywood.  If you feel like a woman trapped in a man’s body or a man trapped in a woman’s body, it is to the land of smiles that you should direct your attention. 

Why Thailand Is the Preferred Destination

The cost of female to male surgery and vice versa in most countries is prohibitive.  Cashing in on this, Thailand’ medical tourism industry offers world class procedures at extremely low costs.  With a long history of sexual-reassignment surgeries, Thailand also offers world-class surgeons who have literally mastered the art of this type of procedure.  Just a walk down Bangkok’s streets will reveal an impressive spectrum of transgendered individuals; most of whom are more attractive than the real McCoy.       

Affordable Cost of Female to Male Surgery

Falling in the realm of cosmetic or elective surgery, sex change surgeries are seen as a last resort by patients suffering from gender dysphoria, gender identity disorder, or associated conditions.   

The cost of female to male surgery is about US$22,000 in Thailand.  The time taken for the entire procedure varies as different patients opt for different kinds of surgery.  But a complete sex change operation is done in four stages, with a three to six month gap between each stage.  Also each stage can take up to fifteen days in the hospital.  So if a sex change is on the table, you might consider spreading everything out over a solid 15 months just to be safe.