FFS and FMS in Bangkok for patients from the United States
Most international patients, including those from the United States, 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, with a written quotation before any deposit.
Last updated:
YOUNIFY Clinic, a Healthy Aging & Wellness Center based in Bangkok, Thailand, wrote this guide for patients in the United States who are considering facial surgery in Bangkok. It covers what to prepare before a long journey, what your stay looks like, and how follow-up continues 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 the United States look abroad
Patients tell us they look abroad for different reasons, including timing, the availability of a particular surgical approach, and how their health plan applies to facial surgery. The point below describes one published change in coverage. It is not a judgment of any health system or plan, and coverage rules can change.
- Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB). The Office of Personnel Management announced that, from plan year 2026, FEHB plans no longer cover surgical and hormonal gender-affirming treatment, with a case-by-case exception for people already in treatment (Government Executive, 20 August 2025). A class action challenging this change was reported in August 2026 (Government Executive, 3 August 2026).
- Other plans. Coverage for facial surgery under employer, marketplace, and state programs varies by plan and by state. Please check your plan documents or ask your insurer directly. We cannot advise on reimbursement.
Travel practicalities
- Flight time. Most journeys from the United States to Bangkok include at least one connection. Door to door, it is usually a full day of travel or more, depending on your departure city.
- 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 about 11 to 12 hours ahead of US Eastern time and about 14 to 15 hours ahead of US Pacific time, depending on the time of year. Video consultations and remote reviews are usually easiest in your evening or early morning.
- Travel advice. US travelers can read current advice for Thailand on travel.state.gov and may choose to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
- 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.
The US State Department changed its passport policy on sex markers in 2025. Before you book, please read the current guidance on travel.state.gov, including how it applies to a passport you already hold. We do not give legal advice about travel documents.
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.
Planning timeline before you travel
- First contact. Message the team on WhatsApp, which is answered 24 hours a day, or through the website. Share 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. Allow a day to rest after arrival, since the journey is long. We recommend that someone travels with you, particularly for the first three days after surgery.
Aftercare after you return home
- Remote reviews. Before you leave Bangkok, your surgeon agrees a schedule of remote reviews with you at set intervals, arranged around the time difference.
- Messages between reviews. Our team answers WhatsApp messages 24 hours a day, so you can reach us during your own daytime. 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 primary care physician 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
The journey from the United States is long in both directions, so we plan the stay around the flight home rather than the date of surgery. We ask patients to arrive with a day in hand before any appointments, and at the final review we look at wound healing, swelling, and your individual risk factors for a long flight before we confirm that you are ready to travel.
Sources
- Government Executive. Coverage for gender-affirming care will be eliminated from FEHB plans in 2026, 20 August 2025.
- Government Executive. LGBTQ+ feds sue to restore FEHB coverage of gender affirming care, 3 August 2026.
- US Department of State. Sex Markers in Passports.
- 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
Will my US health plan cover facial surgery in Thailand?
Coverage depends on your plan. FEHB plans no longer cover gender-affirming surgical care from plan year 2026, and other plans vary. Please ask your insurer directly. On request, we can provide an itemized invoice and a medical report in English for your records.
Do I need a visa to have surgery in Thailand?
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.
My passport does not match how I present. What should I do?
Please tell your coordinator at first contact, so your records are prepared accurately and the team uses the name and pronouns you ask for. For passport questions, please follow current guidance on travel.state.gov.
Can I meet the surgeon before I travel?
Yes. Your surgeon reviews your photographs and meets you by video, and your plan and written quotation are confirmed before you book flights.
Do you also offer facial masculinization surgery?
Yes. Facial masculinization surgery is planned by facial thirds, 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.
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.
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, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department 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.