Are you thinking about getting some work done? Plastic surgery offers you an avenue of self-improvement for your body under professional care. Plastic surgery procedures like breast augmentations and rhinoplasty are pricey investments in your new you.
You can expect to drop thousands of dollars on a single procedure. The cost of the surgery depends on several factors. These factors include the reputation of the doctor and their clinic, as well as the destination country of your surgery.
Many people are looking outside of the United States and the UK for other countries offering affordable plastic surgery rates while maintaining world-class standards of care and outstanding results. Medical tourism involving plastic surgery procedures is a thriving market.
Thailand and Malaysia are two of the leading international destinations for plastic surgery for westerners. Which one of them offers you the best experience and results while being kind on your budget?
This post unpacks everything you need to know about choosing Thailand or Malaysia for your plastic surgery procedure.
What Is Medical Tourism?
The fact is that medical care is expensive in the United States. The US spends the highest amount on its healthcare of any developed nation. The costs of medication and hospital care continue to skyrocket, including the cost of plastic surgery procedures.
Cosmetic surgery isn’t available through your medical insurance, and you’ll end up paying for your procedure out of your pocket. So, it would be best if you had a balance of the best clinic and doctor you can find, along with a reasonable price.
That’s just not going to happen in the US. So, medical tourism is the practice of visiting international destinations outside of the US for medical care. The reality is, there are plenty of capable, talented, experienced, and renowned plastic surgeons in countries around the world.
However, the difference is that the price is way less than what you’ll pay for the procedure at home. So, medical tourism is popular with individuals seeking expensive operations unavailable in their home country.
Thailand and Malaysia offer you two premium international destinations for your plastic surgery requirements.
Why Choose Malaysia and Thailand for Your Plastic Surgery Destination?
With the borderless expansion of cosmetic surgery throughout the globe, South Korea became one of the most sought-after destinations for medical tourism. However, as years went by, many British tourists started looking into surgery options in southeast Asian locations like Thailand and Malaysia.
The region is popular with British, Australian, and American medical tourism, providing world-class facilities and some of the most talented cosmetic surgeons in the world. Thailand and Malaysia offer you the right balance between quality results and price.
World-Class Medical Facilities and Expertise
Thailand and Malaysia invested heavily in infrastructure to support medical tourism over the last decade. Cosmetic surgery is one of the fastest-growing industries in the southeast, with highly educated, expertly-trained, and experienced plastic surgeons available throughout a network of world-class private clinics.
Malaysia has at least 60 top-shelf private clinics, and Thailand offers more than 280-centers across the main cities in the country. You get the best medical professionals and teams and the latest medical technology for your procedure.
Government Regulation and Industry Support
Both Thailand and Malaysia are members of the “Asia Medical Travel Council” (AMTRAC). This organization collaborates with Asian medical ventures associations promoting medical tourism in the countries.
Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), founded by the Malaysia Ministry of Health, assists with developing a medical tourism strategy for the country.
The MHTC serves as an integrated source for obtaining information about procedures and treatment. It promotes and coordinates strategies and activities for the country’s healthcare providers.
Certified Quality
Thai and Malaysian hospitals and private plastic surgery clinics have accreditation through the Joint Commission International (JCI). This international body reviews and accredits every American hospital in the country, and they apply the same procedures and standards to Malaysian and Thai hospitals as well.
This accreditation process has the most extensive list of qualifying criteria for members, with over 350 points of consideration before certifying the hospital or clinic. Malaysian hospitals also have JCI-accreditation.
However, they also comply with the Healthcare Standards set by the Australian Council and local Malaysian Society for Quality. As a result, medical tourists to Thailand and Malaysia experience the same level of care as they would from the best clinics in the United States.
The surgeons based in Thailand and Malaysia are members of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). These stringent regulations on the industry give medical tourists the confidence they need to book their appointment with a clinic in Thailand or Malaysia.
Which Offers You the Most Affordable Plastic Surgery Destination – Thailand or Malaysia?
Several factors go into the cost of the procedure. The quality of your implants, skill, the reputation of the surgeon and clinic, and the nature of the surgery all play a role in its cost. Both Thailand and Malaysia offer you a much more affordable plastic surgery experience than the US or UK.
On average, you’ll pay between $2,685 to $4,200 for breast augmentation in Thailand or Malaysia. Compare that to the $10,000 to $15,000 in the Us (or more), and you can see why medical tourism is so popular for westerners.
While Thailand and Malaysia are similar in the quality of care and the cost of procedures, Malaysia is the more experienced nation in medical tourism. The country is the first between the two to receive innovations in the plastic surgery space, and they have a deeper talent pool of surgeons in the country.
Plastic Surgery Thailand – What are the Pros?
- You get world-class surgeons and facilities.
- More affordable than procedures with US doctors and clinics.
- Enjoy a vacation in an exotic destination.
- Get the results you want and lasting results.
Plastic Surgery Malaysia – What are the Pros?
- More innovation than Thailand.
- A deeper talent pool of high-level doctors ad surgeons.
- More English-speaking than Thailand.
- Home to multi-award-winning Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre.
The Verdict – Make Malaysia Your Plastic Surgery Destination
We recommend getting your plastic surgery in Malaysia. The International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) awarded Malaysia “Health and Medical Tourism: Destination of the Year” 2015 and 2016. The IMTJ summed Malaysia’s medical tourism as “accessibility, affordability, and quality.”
The Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre is one of the country’s leading private clinics.
The organization received the “International Cosmetic Surgery Clinic of the Year” 2015 and 2016. This award-winning medical center specializes in world-renowned doctors and aftercare and a range of cosmetic procedures.
Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre received numerous local awards, including the BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands in Health & Beauty – Specialist Medical Centre category in 2013 and 2014.
Reach out to the Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre and inquire about an appointment to discuss your cosmetic surgery requirements.
