Australians officially spend more on cosmetic surgery than Americans, spending more than $1 billion a year and with a smaller population!
Now quite socially acceptable and fuelled by the acceleration in social media use, celebrity culture, and a combination of the two by way of social “influencers” and popular celebrities themselves, cosmetic surgery has become hugely popular.
Not only is it popular, but cosmetic surgery has also become much less of a taboo and more mainstream with many of us talking about cosmetic surgery at home with our families, around the dinner table, or with workmates. Thanks to the development of different technologies and the pioneering of non-invasive treatments, we can even go out of work at lunchtime or at the end of the day to undergo simple procedures and then talk about it the same afternoon or the next day!
Cosmetic Surgery Industry in Australia
Over $1billion per year spent by Australians on cosmetic surgery procedures
500,000 procedures carried out in Australia every year
30,000 liposuction procedures
20,000 breast augmentation procedures
$350million spent on Botox treatments alone
Sources: The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (2018) In addition to these statistics, there here is also an increase in Australian men also undergoing cosmetic surgery procedures.
Medical Tourism
What is medical tourism?
We have offered the Ultimate Cosmetic Surgery Holidays in Thailand – Solo and Group Tours.
People choose to travel overseas to seek medical or surgical treatment that is unavailable in their home country. Australians spend about $300 million a year on cosmetic surgery tourism alone.
Around 15,000 Australians travel overseas for healthcare services every year, sometimes on Group Tours.
Australians mostly opt for Thailand, India, Malaysia, although other destinations include Turkey, Spain, Mexico and Brazil, and South Korea.
As a provides of premium international Cosmetic & Plastic surgery procedures in Thailand for over a decade, we have coordinated thousands of safe and affordable procedures with extraordinary results for our clients.
With over 13 years working in the medical tourism industry, working with top International Hospitals and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons in Thailand as a medical tourism agency, we know the industry well and can refer you to the best.
Our consultations are available world-wide, inviting discussion and inquiries as to the many procedures available, with all procedures performed at accredited, recognized hospitals, closely situated to idyllic holiday locations for peaceful and private recovery. The entire holiday (flight, accommodation, procedure, and recovery) is still a fraction of the cost of undertaking the procedure in your home country.
Our goal is to provide information on all things cosmetic surgery both in Australia and in Thailand based on our experience working with the top International hospitals and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons for over 13 years.
Our role is to give people information, advice, and recommendations when traveling overseas for cosmetic surgery and dental, as well as in Australia. And help with their decision on choosing the right surgeon for their procedure.
We recommend and coordinate both surgical and non-surgical procedures along with their travel (flights and hotel accommodation) and holiday for the client for the “ultimate cosmetic surgery holiday “ in the paradise of Phuket and Bangkok!
We have successfully organized hundreds of happy, successful clients of both Group Tours and Individual Tours since we began in 2007 at a fraction of the price of the same procedure in Australia, along with the support of our staff and the fun and friendship of other ladies on the group tour.
For some of our clients, Thailand is by far the best choice as it saves them money and they get the holiday as well to recover! But for others, young children, family, and work responsibilities stops them from jetting off or the price of their procedure is around the same here in Australia- so it makes staying here the right option! And they want recommendations on the best choice here in their own city by referrals or word-of-mouth recommendations!
We are based on the Gold Coast but would also like to provide our clients all over Australia with the benefit of our knowledge and experience when inquiring about services in Australia vs Thailand vs Bali vs Mexico in terms of quality and price, the difference between a cosmetic and a plastic surgeon, Medicare rebates, access to superannuation, required time in hospital vs day surgery, the price in Thailand vs Australia and the best payment options. So you can work out the best option for your needs!
We would also like to extend our services to make it easy for our clients and others who are interested in surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures to have a direct, open dialog with me and our team.
And more answers to common questions I am asked about plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and non-surgical treatments? Information to promote awareness about important and relevant issues
Clarification of common misconceptions
Details on the latest news and trends in cosmetic medicine
Announcements about specials and upcoming Groups Tours to Thailand or Trips for Cosmetic Injectable Tours through Australia
What’s it like to go on a Cosmetic surgery Group Tour? Read our Blog?
What is the difference between a Specialist Plastic surgeon and a Cosmetic surgeon? ⠀ ⠀⠀ALOT!!!
This information is courtesy of the Plastic Society of Australia, as there is sometimes confusion that they are the same, but there can be vast differences in medical training and surgical education. ⠀ ⠀
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In Australia Specialist Plastic Surgeon is a Commonwealth Government accredited plastic surgeon, trained and qualified to perform invasive reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery in public and private hospitals, and accredited day surgeries. ⠀⠀They undergo extensive medical education and training in order to be accredited. The surgical specialist pathway includes a minimum of 12 years medical and surgical education, with at least 5 years of specialist postgraduate training. ⠀⠀
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The Medical Board of Australia states that the ‘Specialist Plastic Surgeon’ title can only be used by FRACS approved specialist surgeons in the recognised specialty of plastic surgery.⠀⠀There can a big difference when it comes to the qualifications and training for Cosmetic Surgeons. ⠀⠀
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Currently in Australia, it is legal for any doctor with a basic medical degree to perform surgery. The title ‘cosmetic surgeon’ therefore is not indicative of certain qualifications as someone with the same qualifications as a General Practitioner can call themselves a ‘cosmetic surgeon’. The Australian Medical Council does not recognise ‘cosmetic surgeons’ as a medical speciality or accreditation.⠀⠀
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IMPORTANT TO KNOW: When making your decision in selecting your surgeon, remember that the Medical Board of Australia states that the ‘Specialist Plastic Surgeon’ title can only be used by Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) approved specialist surgeons in the recognised specialty of Plastic Surgery when doing your research in Australia or overseas.
Nip Tuck Holidays works with Plastic And Reconstructive Surgeons not Cosmetic Surgeons.
But while overseas surgery may appear to be cheaper.
I have personally hosted Group Tours to Thailand since 2007 as the first medical tourism agency on the Gold Coast and the East Coast of Australia in 2008! And have hosted tours to Malaysia and Thailand for over 12 years.
Sources: Harper’s Bazaar (14 Dec 2017), HYPERLINK “https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-20/breast-implant-clinic-probed-over-alleged-anaesthetic-use/6712978?fbclid=IwAR3p3XVWbizwfdFN60J4NZCWQzz3oBH8j_o8venI-Q8E613BhMIgCK5KF08” ABC (20 Aug 2015), Plastic Surgery Brisbane (7 Mar 2017)
In addition to choosing an individual procedure, it is also increasingly common for men to combine different procedures. Undergoing cosmetic surgery to get rid of a “Dad bod”, for example, is a popular choice among Australian men, which usually deals with “man boobs” as well as removing fat from the abdomen and other areas.
Cosmetic Surgery is More Popular Than Ever Before, But is It Safe?
As well as the 500,000 cosmetic surgery procedures undertaken in Australia each year, medical tourism among Australians is also on the increase, with many choosing to travel to South East Asia, and particularly Thailand, to undergo treatment. Even with travel and accommodation costs included, treatment can often be far cheaper overseas.
Whether you choose to undergo a cosmetic procedure in Australia or overseas, is cosmetic surgery safe?
In general, it isn’t the procedures themselves that carry a risk – although any medical procedure will always carry a degree of it. Rather, due to the lack of regulation in Australia, any registered medical practitioner can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon. This could lead, and indeed has led, to some cases where unscrupulous dentists and GP’s are putting patients at risk by offering and carrying out procedures that they’re not trained or experienced in delivering.
While government regulation of some description is likely to arrive in the near future, in the meantime it is crucial that anyone considering undergoing a cosmetic procedure, either at home or abroad, is diligent in sourcing a clinic and consultantand knows how to go about finding the right provider.
Are You Considering Cosmetic Surgery?
As well as ensuring you find a clinic and consultant that is qualified and experienced in the cosmetic procedure you’re considering, you may also need to think about how you’re going to fund your treatment.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: When making your decision in selecting your surgeon, remember that the Medical Board of Australia states that the ‘Specialist Plastic Surgeon’ title can only be used by Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) approved specialist surgeons in the recognised specialty of Plastic Surgery when doing your research in Australia or overseas.