Phuket’s secret souvenir: The perfect pair

[Lite Beer]

Phuket’s secret souvenir: The perfect pair
Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET:Breasts are big in Phuket. Big business, that is. In recent years, both Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Phuket International Hospital have seen dramatic increases in cosmetic breast surgeries, fueled by rising numbers of medical tourists. The Phuket Gazette’s Orawin Narabal reports on one of the island's hottest tourist draws: The boob job.

Together, Phuket International Hospital and Bangkok Hospital Phuket did upwards of 1,600 breast augmentation surgeries – also known as boob jobs, or implant surgeries – last year.

"We’ve had a 50 per cent year-on-year increase in cosmetic breast surgeries," said Peter Davison, Manager of International Services at Phuket International Hospital (PIH).

Considering that the hospitals also do breast lifts and reductions, and that prices for the three surgeries range from 115,000 baht to 300,000 baht, some pretty serious money is at stake.

The vast majority of women getting the surgeries at Phuket hospitals are medical tourists; about 97 per cent at PIH according to Mr Davison, with most coming from Australia and New Zealand. And there’s no reason to think that their interest will wane anytime soon.


Breast augmentation stats.

First, because breast surgeries – augmentations, lifts, and reductions (for both men and women) – make up four of the 10 most popular plastic surgeries worldwide, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, with breast augmentations reaching number two on the list, outranked only by liposuction.

Second, because Phuket prices are a great bargain. Australian prices are up to three times higher, even factoring in the cost of travel to Phuket and accommodations here.

Last, because medical tourism has the support of the Tourism Association of Thailand (TAT), which has been promoting it since 2004 and runs yearly familiarization trips for foreign tourism and health tourism agencies.

MEDICAL TOURISM

On a TAT website dedicated exclusively to medical tourism, the featured Phuket hospitals are Phuket International, Bangkok Phuket (BHP) and Vachira, but only the first two have active links.

PIH and BHP homepages both have prominent links to their cosmetic surgery centers, and both make it easy for medical tourists to arrange a visit, offering detailed information not only about surgeries but also how many days the patient should plan to stay in Phuket. PIH even provides an interactive calculator to help estimate total costs.

HISTORY OF IMPLANTS

Silicone breast implants have been around for just over 50 years – the first surgery was performed in the US in 1962. But women have endeavored to increase the size of their bosoms for a lot longer than that – as far back as the 1890s, they injected paraffin, but it didn’t stay put. In the 20s and 30s women had fat from other parts of their bodies moved to their breasts. At other times, implants included polyurethane, cartilage, sponges, wood and glass balls.

There have been health scares: silicone implants were banned in the US from 1991 to 2006 over concerns that ruptures could cause cancer and auto-immune diseases, and a scandal arose around Poly Implants Prothese, a French implant company, in 2010 when their implants, which used substandard silicone, were found to rupture at a higher rate than normal. French health authorities – though not those in other countries where the implants were used – urged 30,000 French women to have the defective implants removed.

MOTIVATION

Despite the cost, the pain and the hassle, women are willing to get this unnecessary surgery. Why? The Gazette talked to several women, and the comments of one 44-year-old represent the group.

"After I had a child, my breasts were not firm. I was very slim, only 40kg at the time, and I felt like my breasts had disappeared.

"Back then, I liked to go to parties and I wanted to look beautiful and fit when I wore a sexy or open dress. I would not be happy if I looked at myself in the mirror and saw that I didn’t have beautiful breasts.

"I am very happy with the results. They meet my expectations.

"The only problem I have is that I lost some sensitivity around my nipples because the incision was there.

"Most of my friends don’t know that I’ve had surgery until I tell them.

"My husband liked my body even before, but afterwards he told me I look more curvy and balanced. He sees how happy I am, and whatever makes me happy, makes him happy too."

THE PROCEDURE

Choosing a surgeon. Click here to enlarge image.Dr Chirayuth Toertmongkhol, a plastic surgeon at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, explained the steps to implant surgery.

"We start with a physical checkup to make sure the patient can tolerate the surgery. Then we discuss the options," he explained.

Patients need to make a number of choices: breast size, kind of implant, and location of the incision.

"When women choose a size they need to keep in mind the size of their bodies. If the patient is small, they won’t be able to handle very big implants. The implant needs to be in balance with their body size.

"Implants are either saline or silicone. Nowadays the silicone implants are more popular because they give a better shape and are easier to take care of," Dr Chirayuth said.

"Implants can be rough or smooth, and come in two shapes, round and tear drop. The tear drop gives a more natural shape," he added.

Another major consideration is the location of the incision, since this determines where the scar will be – in the armpit, below the breast, or around the nipple.

While women used to prefer an armpit incision, nowadays they are wearing more sleeveless clothes and so opt for one of the other locations, Dr Chirayuth said.

The implant surgery itself normally doesn’t take longer than a long massage – about two hours.

Surgeons first try out tester implants for size. Only when they’re sure the size and shape are appropriate will they proceed.

"It requires a week in the hospital after surgery, Dr Chirayuth said, "and we recommend regular checkups for three to six months after the surgery to monitor the formation of scar tissue around the implant. The scar tissue helps support the weight of the implant and also shapes it."

Following the surgery, patients are advised not to perform any activities that might affect the shape of the breasts. This means some sports are out, as is sleeping face-down.

RISKS

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that although implants are tested extensively, they still bring risks, including: Additional surgeries, capsular contracture (scar tissue that squeezes and misshapes the implant), breast pain, rupture with deflation of saline-filled implants, and silent rupture of silicone gel-filled implants.

The FDA recommends that women with silicone implants get MRI screenings to detect silent ruptures three years after their surgery and every two years after that.

One 35-year-old woman interviewed by the Gazette (who did not have her surgery in Phuket) wished she had not had the procedure.

"It turned out to be the wrong decision," she said.

"About 50 days after the surgery, I noticed that my right breast was deformed. I went back to the surgeon but he said that it was my own fault, and suggested that I hadn’t followed his instructions, or had engaged in some prohibited activity.

"But it wasn’t true – I took very good care of my breasts from the first day I received the implants. Actually, a few days after the surgery I noticed that the shape of my right breast wasn’t right, but I thought it was because the silicone had not shaped itself yet.

"I couldn’t do anything about it except have a second operation, and that meant more money and pain again, and I couldn’t even be sure it would correct the problem.

"So I’m living with it. There are still many other important things in life. Appearance is just on the outside, what is more important is your mind and your thoughts," she said.

A survey by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2011 showed that the most common overseas surgery needing corrective treatment was breast surgery, at 68 per cent of all revisions.

However, Mr Davison of PIH says "98 per cent of our patients have no issues. The rate of complications and post-operative infections is lower here than in Australia."

He noted that in Australia there aren’t many restrictions on which doctors can do the surgery, which can lead to problems, and said "we have fewer post-operative infections here because we don’t have superbugs."

LOOKING FORWARD

The number of tourists coming to Thailand expressly to seek out medical services has risen from 365,000 in 2004 to 673,000 in 2012, according to Department of Health Service Support Chief Somchai Pinyopornpanich.

Both Phuket International Hospital and Bangkok Hospital Phuket opened new plastic surgery departments this year, and Phuket International is in the final stages of planning a new hospital wing for medical tourists of all kinds.

It looks like boob jobs are here to stay. It’s a swelling industry.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-s-secret-souvenir-The-perfect-pair-22302.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-09-22

[Patje]

If they are in need for a tester after the "boob job" is done, where do I have to sign in ?

[Kerryd]

"It looks like boob jobs are here to stay. It’s a swelling industry."

In more ways than one........

[kurnell]

Really? Tourists are letting these hacks cut them open? For sure their insurance wouldn't cover septicemia.

[Dararasmi]

Sure beats the usual souvenir pair (clap and crabs).

[Robbie Dye]

How many were for Ladyboys?

[pgrahmm]

Nice to look at when dressed up - - - - - if they only felt more natural.......

[yourauntbob]

These girls put a couple watermelons on their chest and then snap at guys for staring. Normally the same ones who wear barely anything but dont want to be looked at. I simply don't understand women.

[Jawnie]

I like boob jobs....

[Phil Water]

The rates seem high. I realize Australia is 3 times as high, but rates in the U.S. and Canada don't seem more expensive to me. Mind you, I am no expert. My numbers are only anecdotal. I have never paid for, or played with, a pair.

[wump]

Usual price is 45,000 in Bangkok, isn't it? Welcome to Phuket!

[samuiman100]

My wife had a boob job done in BKK at the Yanhee hospital.

She is very happy with the service and the results. And so am I...

The cost was 80.000 thb with 2 nights at the hospital included.

I would not go for the lowest prices as this means lesser quality implants; mostly Chinese made, and less service.

Phuket prices seem high for Thailand.

[robertson468]

Perhaps I am queezy (squeezy?), but the only plastic I like is in my wallet. But there again, as already implied, they are for the benefit of women by and large (is there a pun in there?) and not for men who love the softer more natural (moan) sensation on their Ladies.

[how241]

These girls put a couple watermelons on their chest and then snap at guys for staring. Normally the same ones who wear barely anything but dont want to be looked at. I simply don't understand women.

+1...Agree, never really understood that. I guess they only want Certain people to look at them.

[richard10365]

This is the breast news I've read all day!

[smotherb]

Unless you prefer surgically enhanced breasts, with such a large selection of available women, why wouldn't you simply choose ones with ample natural breasts?

[Mudcrab]

Unless you prefer surgically enhanced breasts, with such a large selection of available women, why wouldn't you simply choose ones with ample natural breasts?

its about the women making their choices...not men.

[LivinginKata]

Unless you prefer surgically enhanced breasts, with such a large selection of available women, why wouldn't you simply choose ones with ample natural breasts?

its about the women making their choices...not men.

That sounds good - women making their choice. But it seems to me it's about the men trying to remold their lady.

[Ulic]

I have asked a number of girls about the cost of breast augmentation surgery. (Big Milk,Silicone)

The price I am told is 45-60 K baht. So I guess this is a case of dual pricing.

[Mudcrab]

Unless you prefer surgically enhanced breasts, with such a large selection of available women, why wouldn't you simply choose ones with ample natural breasts?

its about the women making their choices...not men.

That sounds good - women making their choice. But it seems to me it's about the men trying to remold their lady.

I know many women who have had the procedure. Including my sister after a mastectomy due to breast cancer. Its not always about "look at my tits"

[SOTIRIOS]

......40 a day.....that's a lot....hope they guarantee their work......(There have been reports of various botched jobs be people of questionable credentials)

...I prefer 'au naturel' myself......silicon gel cannot compare to the real thing....

[Mudcrab]

Unless you prefer surgically enhanced breasts, with such a large selection of available women, why wouldn't you simply choose ones with ample natural breasts?

its about the women making their choices...not men.

That sounds good - women making their choice. But it seems to me it's about the men trying to remold their lady.

I know many women who have had the procedure. Including my sister after a mastectomy due to breast cancer. Its not always about "look at my tits"

Also know a bloke with a silicon testicle....after cancer.

[buck99]

My tgf got them a year ago in BKK for 60,000 B. She's very pleased with them and so am I. They look spectacular! She loves to dress up when we go out. Not something she would do prior to the procedure.

[mdmayes]

Unless you prefer surgically enhanced breasts, with such a large selection of available women, why wouldn't you simply choose ones with ample natural breasts?

How you know there natural?

Taste test?

Touch test?

Smell test?

Sight test?

????

Edited September 22, 2013 by mdmayes

[rakman]

Unless you prefer surgically enhanced breasts, with such a large selection of available women, why wouldn't you simply choose ones with ample natural breasts?

How you know there natural?

Taste test?

Touch test?

Smell test?

Sight test?

????

The easiest way is with a flashlight beam on the skin on the breast. The implant really lights up.

[smotherb]

Unless you prefer surgically enhanced breasts, with such a large selection of available women, why wouldn't you simply choose ones with ample natural breasts?

How you know there natural?

Taste test?

Touch test?

Smell test?

Sight test?

????

While I do enjoy the taste and smell tests, they tell you little other than the hygene of the lady; sight and touch are much more defiinitive