Plastic surgery safe in Thailand but authorities advise caution

Currently, hundreds of doctors do plastic-surgery services at about 80 clinics and hospitals across the country. This is in addition to many providers who are not authorised to perform such services but lure customers with lower prices. 

Numaphorn Tatpongthorn, a lawyer at the non-government organisation iLaw, disclosed that 15 people had turned to her outfit for help after undergoing plastic surgery that apparently went awry. 

“Of them, 12 are now in the process of negotiating for compensation,” she said. “Three others have decided to file lawsuits against the doctors involved.” 

This information from iLaw is very likely just the tip of the iceberg. Stories about bad plastic-surgery cases have popped up in the media every now and then.

Samatchaya Kasornsiri’s case is one of these. Last year, she underwent a “nose job” at a clinic in Bangkok in hope of improving her physical appearance. “But my life has changed for the worse because of it,” she lamented to The Nation.

Instead of getting a beautiful nose, Samatchaya ended up with serious health problems. She now has to breathe through her mouth, and her doctor has refused to take any responsibility.

“Sometimes, I almost wanted to end my own life,” she said. 

Before distress dragged Samatchaya deeper into a suicidal mode, Surasit Khamyan of www.dodeden.com stepped in to provide counselling. This website has compiled information on a variety of issues but prominently displays plastic-surgery advertisements and stories.

“I want to help her. I believe I can introduce her to a good provider of [counselling] services,” Surasit said.

He is confident that despite the high-profile cases about plastic-surgery operations going wrong, people who want such procedures will still go ahead with them.

“It’s just that they should seek more information about possible [side-] effects,” he said.

Medical Council secretary-general Dr Sampan Komrit said cases with negative effects were rare. He believes that plastic surgery in Thailand remain safe.

Commenting on reported cases of disabilities or deaths, he said there were many factors involved, including patients’ health condition, doctors’ ability and equipment on hand.

Sampan explained that the two recent deaths were the result of allergies to anaesthetic agents. According to the Medical Council, at most 1 out of 50,000 patients develop such allergies, and the ratio could be as low as 1:200,000.

“This is one of the risks of using anaesthetics, ” he said. 

However, he said that if doctors were well experienced and facilities well equipped, there was a chance of saving patients’ lives as soon as allergic reactions appeared. 

When asked if a general-practice doctor could perform plastic surgery, Sampan answered, “For now, yes.” But he disclosed that the Medical Council is planning to require GPs to take specialised plastic-surgery training before starting to provide such services from next year onwards. 

“There will be various training programmes for different types of surgery, each taking between six and 12 months,” he said.

Sampan said that when the Medical Council’s new rule comes into effect, the list of qualified plastic surgeons would be made available on the council’s website for consumers to check.

But until then, Sampan said customers should always seek services from providers with at least 10 years of experience. 

He added that follow-up appointments with doctors should be made 30 to 90 days after the operation to check for any unwanted effects.

Health Service Support Department director-general Boonruang Triruangworawat said his agency had strictly monitored registered medical facilities, and patients receiving plastic surgery from licensed providers should be safe enough.

“We immediately order the temporary closure of any medical facility that fails to abide by our standards,” he said.

He said such closures could last up to 60 days, and medical facilities had usually made efforts to comply with standards laid down by his department.

Commenting on the use of anaesthetics, Boonruang said the presence of qualified anaesthetists would reduce risks of deaths and disabilities.

Sampan revealed that the Medical Council now planned to ask the Public Health Ministry to reserve anaesthetics for major operations only. 

Boonruang reckoned that more laws could be introduced in the future to protect plastic-surgery patients. However, he urged consumers not to rely on authorities alone when it comes to protecting their rights and their lives.

“I strongly recommend that you check the background of doctors and medical facilities you plan to receive services from. This is a must. For example, you must know whether the clinic you go into has properly registered with my department,” he said. 

 

80 clinics, hospitals offer plastic surgery

 

There are some 80 clinics and hospitals offering plastic surgery in Thailand. Sixty are located in Bangkok and two are private hospitals.

The Medical Council has issued a plastic-surgery certificate to 335 doctors and a certificate on facial-reconstruction surgery to 456 doctors.