Thailand's Booming Medical Tourism Industry

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind for most of us when we think of traveling to an exotic location like Thailand, but medical tourism is a booming business that is growing rapidly in Thailand. While most people who travel to The Land of Smiles come to enjoy the tropical weather, beautiful beaches and rich culture and history, there is an increasing number of people who come to Thailand for cosmetic surgery or other medical procedures.

Leading the way is Bangkok's Bumrungrad International Hospital, known for treating more international patients than any other hospital in the world. Doctors at Bumrungrad treat as many as a half million foreign patients from over 190 countries each year. The staff of Bumrungrad Hospital include doctors and nurses that are fluent in both English and Japanese, board certified in countries like America, Germany and Great Britain. Patients from all over the world come to have common cosmetic surgeries like breast implants, breast reduction, face lifts and liposuction, because it is more affordable than having the same procedure in their home country.

When it comes to cosmetic surgery, Thailand is world renowned for pioneering procedures such a sex change operations and gender reassignment surgery. The Preecha Aesthetic Institute in Bangkok is the practice of Dr Preecha Tiewtranon, who is Thailand's leading gender reassignment surgeon, credited for preforming more than 3500 sex change operations over a period of 30 years. Most of Dr Preecha's patients are men from places like America, Australia, Europe, China and South Korea, that have their hearts set on becoming women. Dr Preecha proudly claims that over 80% of his patients receiving male to female gender reassignment surgery never lose the ability to experience climax during sexual intercourse. As impossible as it may seem, it would appear that Dr Preecha really can change a man into a woman?

The quality of medical care in Thailand is truly world class, for those who can afford treatment at private hospitals. The cost of health care and medical procedures and treatments at Thailand's private hospitals is relatively affordable in comparison to the United States and other foreign countries. Every major tourist destination in Thailand will have private hospitals with world class facilities and doctors catering to foreigners and medical tourism.

Those tourists traveling to Thailand to have cosmetic surgeries will also enjoy the same things that attract so many traditional tourists year after year. While recovering from a surgical procedure, patients can experience the beautiful scenic beaches, the warm and friendly hospitality of the locals, and the rich history and culture of Thailand's many Buddhist temples. The number of annual visitors to Thailand is growing at an amazing rate, and the number of medical tourists coming to Thailand is also increasing every year.