FFS and FMS in Bangkok for patients from Australia and New Zealand
Most international patients, including those from Australia and New Zealand, plan 10 to 14 days in Bangkok for facial feminization surgery (FFS) or facial masculinization surgery (FMS), usually with one to two nights in hospital. Surgery is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon at a JCI- or AACI-accredited partner private hospital, and a written quotation comes before any deposit.
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YOUNIFY Clinic, a Healthy Aging & Wellness Center based in Bangkok, Thailand, wrote this guide for patients in Australia and New Zealand who are considering facial surgery in Bangkok. It explains what to plan before you travel, what your stay looks like, and how follow-up works once you are home. Surgery is offered to adults aged 18 and over, and every plan begins with an individual assessment.
Why some patients from Australia and New Zealand look abroad
Patients tell us they consider surgery abroad for many reasons, including timing, the availability of a particular surgical approach, and how public and private coverage applies to their plan. The points below describe public coverage as published by official sources. They are not a judgment of either health system, and arrangements can change.
- Australia. Gender-affirming facial procedures are not currently listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule. An application to list gender-affirming surgical procedures, including facial surgery (MSAC application 1754), was considered by the Medical Services Advisory Committee in April 2025 and deferred for further work, with further assessment continuing as of December 2025 (msac.gov.au; Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons update, 19 December 2025).
- New Zealand. Health New Zealand publishes information about its publicly funded gender-affirming genital surgery service (page updated 2 March 2026). Its page does not describe a public pathway for facial surgery, so please ask your general practitioner or Health New Zealand about current options in your region.
If you have private health insurance, please ask your fund directly what it covers, including any cover for treatment performed overseas. We cannot advise on reimbursement.
Travel practicalities
- Flight time. Direct flights from eastern Australian cities to Bangkok usually take around nine hours, and from Perth around five to six hours. Journeys from New Zealand are longer, particularly with a connection.
- Entry rules. Many nationalities can enter Thailand without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. Please check the current rules for your passport with the Thai embassy before you book, including any arrival forms that must be completed before travel.
- Time difference. Thailand is on UTC+7 all year. Bangkok is one hour behind Perth, three to four hours behind the eastern states depending on the time of year, and five to six hours behind New Zealand. This matters when you schedule video consultations and remote reviews.
- Travel advice. Australian travelers can read current advice for Thailand on Smartraveller, and New Zealand travelers on SafeTravel.
- Travel insurance. Standard travel insurance may not cover planned surgery. Please read your policy or ask your insurer before you book.
Documents
Please bring a passport that is valid for your whole stay, along with a list of your current medications and any recent medical records your surgeon has asked to see.
A letter from a mental health professional is not required. Your surgeon assesses your readiness for surgery during consultation. If you already have a letter or relevant records, you are welcome to share them.
If the name or gender marker on your passport differs from how you present, please tell your coordinator at first contact. This helps the team prepare your hospital registration and records accurately, while using the name and pronouns you ask us to use. We do not give legal advice about travel documents; your passport office can explain the rules that apply to you.
Planning timeline before you travel
- First contact. Message the team on WhatsApp, which is answered 24 hours a day, or through the website. Tell us your goals, any previous facial surgery, your medications, and whether you take hormone therapy.
- Photographs and video consultation. Your surgeon reviews your photographs and meets you by video to explain which parts of your face carry the most weight and what each procedure would and would not change.
- Imaging plan. A CT scan of the facial skeleton is taken before a forehead plan is finalized for FFS, and where forehead or jaw augmentation is planned for FMS.
- Written quotation. You receive a written quotation that lists your plan line by line. A deposit is taken only after the written plan is confirmed.
- Book travel. Once your plan and quotation are confirmed in writing, book flexible flights and accommodation near the clinic. We recommend that someone travels with you, particularly for the first three days.
Aftercare after you return home
- Remote reviews. Before you leave Bangkok, your surgeon agrees a schedule of remote reviews with you at set intervals.
- Messages between reviews. Our team answers WhatsApp messages 24 hours a day. Photographs help the surgical team advise on the next step.
- Medical report. You leave with a written medical report in English that you can share with your general practitioner or local doctor.
Recovery continues for months after you are home. Most swelling settles over the first few months, and the result is usually judged between six and twelve months after surgery.
Cost and your written quotation
Starting prices are published in Thai baht; your written quotation confirms your plan before any deposit. You can read the starting prices on our FFS cost guide and our FMS cost guide. Flights and accommodation are arranged separately, and your quotation lists every item that applies to your plan.
A note from our medical team
For patients traveling home to Australia or New Zealand, we plan backward from the return flight. The final review considers wound healing, swelling, and your individual risk factors for a long flight, and we would rather ask you to stay a day or two longer than send you home before we are comfortable. Please book a flight that can move.
Sources
- Medical Services Advisory Committee. Application 1754: Surgical Procedures for Gender Affirmation in Adults with Gender Incongruence.
- Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. MSAC 1754: Access to Surgical Procedures for Gender Affirming Surgeries, update dated 19 December 2025.
- Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. Gender affirming healthcare, updated 2 March 2026.
- Coleman E, Radix AE, Bouman WP, et al. Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8. International Journal of Transgender Health. 2022;23(Suppl 1):S1-S259.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover facial feminization surgery in Thailand?
Gender-affirming facial procedures are not currently listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule, and the assessment of MSAC application 1754 is ongoing. For questions about any coverage, please contact Services Australia or your private health fund.
Can I have a consultation before I book flights?
Yes. Your surgeon reviews your photographs and meets you by video before you travel, and your plan and written quotation are confirmed before you book.
How long should I stay in Bangkok?
Most international patients plan 10 to 14 days, with one to two nights in hospital. Your surgeon confirms the right length of stay for your plan.
Do you also offer facial masculinization surgery?
Yes. Facial masculinization surgery is planned by facial thirds in the same way, and may include forehead augmentation, jaw augmentation, chin implant, or genioplasty. A CT scan is taken where forehead or jaw augmentation is planned. Read more on our facial masculinization page.
Should someone travel with me?
We recommend it, particularly for the first three days after surgery.
When can I fly home?
Your surgeon confirms when you may fly at your final review, based on your procedure and how you are recovering.
What if I have a concern after I return home?
Message our team on WhatsApp, which is answered 24 hours a day, and share photographs. For urgent symptoms, contact local emergency services first.
Related: Gender-affirming facial surgery · Facial feminization surgery · Facial masculinization surgery · FFS cost in Thailand · FMS cost in Thailand
YOUNIFY Clinic · 2nd Floor, Room 214, United Center Building, 323 Silom Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand · Near BTS Sala Daeng (5-min walk) · Open daily 11:00–20:00
WhatsApp +66 81 556 9696 · LINE @younifyclinic · Instagram @younifyclinicthailand · info [at] younifyclinic.com
Individual results may vary. Please consult a doctor before treatment.