Many of the physicians offering cosmetic surgery procedures in Bangkok are either professionally poorly qualified, or they are concerned with making maximal profits to an extent where it negatively affects the quality of their work. It is my definite opinion that a cosmetic surgeon should like his profession, and not just view it as the fastest route to a great income.
Because character-deficient physicians are plenty in Bangkok, it would be easier to make a list of the outfits that I consider poor choices, rather than to make recommendations.
My favorite plastic surgeon in Bangkok is Dr. Pramote Manurangse who operates at the Yanhee hospital. Yanhee Hospital is the largest cosmetic surgery hospital in Thailand, and it is rather famous among Thais.
In general, I also think that is the venue to
be preferred by foreigners, even though for many procedures, they do have the impolite habit of charging foreigners a higher price than Thai patients (not for hair transplants). But at least they have price lists for Thais and foreigners, and don't assess Yanhee foreigner prices by looking at a person and calculating how much he might be willing to lose.
I consider Dr. Pramote Manurangse the best option in town for foreign patients because he is prepared to discuss operations with a potential patient, and to even advice against them if he feels that the potential patient has exaggerated expectations.
He is also willing to listen to what a patient wants. Consultations are free of charge, and I never had the feeling that he was under time pressure.
A further aspect speaks in his favor: Because of the small but cruel risk of anesthesia awareness, I prefer cosmetic surgeries under local anesthesia, not full anesthesia (even though many physicians prefer patients fully anesthetized, as they are then easier to handle). Dr. Pramote Manurangse has always been willing to do even major cosmetic surgery like facelifts and a minor tummy tuck under local anesthesia, which is possible as cosmetic procedures are primarily superficial, in which case local anesthesia works well.
I also had two hair transplantations done at Yanhee,
through Dr. Prasert Seesillapachai. While hair
transplantations are rather time-consuming, the do not
require as stringently controlled operating rooms as do
facelifts.
For this reason, the hair transplantation clinic of Dr.
Viroj Vong, which is not located inside a hospital, is also
a viable option. I have been at his clinic for a
consultation which was competent and free of charge.
Both Dr. Prasert Seesillapachai at Yanhee Hospital and Dr.
Viroj Vong were willing to do a transplantation of just 500
hair at a time and at both venues, the price was 80 baht
per graft, with no difference made between Thai nationals
and foreigners.
All other hair transplant clinics in Bangkok imposed a minimum charge that was equivalent to 1000 or more grafts.
While such a policy is understandable, it is not to the advantage of the patient. In some cases, 500 grafts is all that is needed, for example to cover scars.
I have had two hair transplants made in Bangkok, one for 2000 grafts and the previously cited follow up of 500 grafts.
The transplant of 2000 grafts was the one cosmetic surgery with the most unpleasant after-effects among all cosmetic surgery procedures I have ever undergone. Not only resulted the initial heeling process in discomfort for several days. My face also was terribly swollen from the edema resulting from the initial heeling process.
Thus, while hair transplantations of 2000 or more grafts may have a dramatic effect on the appearance of a person, I would discuss with a physician doing this in steps.
Practically all plastic surgeons in Bangkok that target the foreign market speak English well. Thus, the level of English spoken isn't an important criteria. In my opinion, the first criteria should be personal integrity. I would not want a surgeon who has an attitude like a Thai taxi driver, seeing a foreigner first of all as an opportunity to overcharge somebody.
However, while physicians in Bangkok clinics who are offering cosmetic surgery procedures typically speak English well, the same is not the case for nurses and administrative staff.
PAI has an English-speaking Thai counter staff, who was rather arrogant when I visited their office (twice). Yanhee, on the other hand, has Philippine nurses and Philippine administrative staff (Carmen Rivera and Nomar Sanchez) who are all very friendly, and do have time for patients and potential patients. When calling Yanhee locally or from abroad, just ask for 'Carmen'. My own experience has been repeatedly that the telephone operator puts you through directly, so there will be little waste of money, trying to get to a competent person.
