Bangkok woman complains over alleged liposuction harm

A 36-year-old woman has complained to consumer advocacy page Saimai Survive after a liposuction procedure at a well-known Lat Phrao clinic allegedly left her with deep abdominal scarring and an uneven appearance.

The woman, identified as "Pee Ying", said on 4 August that she had paid a total of 70,000 baht for abdominal muscle contouring after initially agreeing to a 39,999-baht promotion advertised by the clinic on Facebook.

She has submitted evidence including chat records, payment slips and photographs of her wounds to the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, Social Security Office and Medical Council. She said there had been no progress in the case so far.

Price rose after she reached the operating table

According to her account, clinic staff approached her after she had changed clothes and was already on the operating table. They told her that an additional 70,000 baht was needed for a balanced abdominal shape that would not sag.

Feeling pressured by the situation, she agreed to pay, bringing the total cost to 70,000 baht.

She said the outcome did not match the clinic's advertising. Her abdominal muscle definition was allegedly uneven, while the abdominal skin became marked and misshapen. She also reported facial swelling.

When she later contacted the clinic to seek follow-up care or corrective treatment, she said staff refused to help and cut off communication. She added that the clinic blocked her Facebook account and removed her comments after she tried to post a warning review.

Doctors reportedly estimate costly corrective surgery

Pee Ying said doctors at other hospitals who examined her described the wounds as unattractive, with deep skin grooves, hard lumps in the abdomen and scar tissue around the surgical area.

She said they estimated that reconstructive surgery to correct the abdominal structure could cost more than 300,000 baht.

She and her lawyer later returned to the clinic to meet the doctor who carried out the procedure, presenting medical opinions from other hospitals and a treatment-cost assessment. She said the doctor maintained that the result was satisfactory from his perspective.

The doctor reportedly declined compensation, saying she had signed a consent form before surgery. He also suggested electrical-wave abdominal massage to improve the shape, but did not guarantee an improvement. Pee Ying refused the proposal and declined to sign further documents.

She said she challenged the doctor to use photographs of her abdomen in the clinic's promotional material if he was satisfied with the work. According to her account, he declined, saying only attractive photographs could be posted on the clinic's page.

What foreign patients should consider

Thailand is a popular destination for cosmetic procedures among residents and medical visitors, but this case highlights the importance of confirming the full price and treatment plan before entering the operating room.

Foreign patients considering elective surgery should keep written quotations, consent forms, chats, receipts and before-and-after photographs. They should also check the clinic and practitioner's credentials, and seek an independent medical opinion promptly if they are concerned about a result.

Pee Ying said the experience had badly affected her mental health. She no longer felt able to wear exercise or sports clothing and said stress and anxiety over the scars had contributed to depression.

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

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5 August 2026

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