Short answer: The main risks of cosmetic surgery overseas are similar wherever you go: complications, limited follow-up at home, insurance gaps and long flights after surgery. ASAPS advises Australian patients not to fly for 6 to 8 weeks after cosmetic surgery (ASAPS (opens official site)). Australia’s cosmetic surgery safeguards often don’t apply overseas (Ahpra (opens official site)). This page sets out sourced facts side by side. Sourced procedure bands appear below; anything else stays Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Risks and limitations to understand first
- All cosmetic surgery carries risks including bleeding, infection, scarring, anaesthetic complications and blood clots (ASAPS (opens official site))
- Medicare doesn’t cover elective and cosmetic surgery, and doesn’t cover you overseas (Department of Health (opens official site); Smartraveller (opens official site))
- Basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism (Smartraveller (opens official site))
- Fixing a procedure that goes wrong can cost more than the original trip (Smartraveller (opens official site))
- Ahpra can’t discipline practitioners registered only overseas
- Country marketing is not a clinical outcome guarantee
Procedure hubs: plastic surgery in Thailand, plastic surgery in Turkey, plastic surgery in South Korea, plastic surgery in Bali.
Side by side: destination facts
| Thailand | Türkiye | South Korea | Bali (Indonesia) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartraveller overall advice | “Exercise a high degree of caution” (source (opens official site)) | “Exercise a high degree of caution” overall, with higher levels in some border areas (source (opens official site)) | Check live advice (source (opens official site)) | “Exercise a high degree of caution” (source (opens official site)) |
| Provider check | Medical Council of Thailand Check MD (opens official site); facility: HA (opens official site) or JCI (opens official site) | Ministry of Health authorised providers (opens official site) and HealthTürkiye (opens official site) | Confirm licensing with Korean authorities / hospital credentials before booking; we don’t invent a register shortcut | KKI registration (opens official site) pathways for doctors; confirm facility accreditation for the named hospital |
| Entry (summary) | From 15 Sep 2026, previous 60-day visa exemption revoked; confirm current tourism exemption and medical-treatment visas (PRD (opens official site)) | Australians can often stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa; check medical visa options for longer treatment (Smartraveller (opens official site)) | Confirm current entry rules on Smartraveller before travel | Confirm current Indonesian entry rules on Smartraveller |
| Detailed guides | Thailand plastic surgery | Turkey plastic surgery | South Korea plastic surgery | Bali plastic surgery |
Pairwise reading: Thailand vs Turkey for plastic surgery, Thailand vs Korea plastic surgery.
Sourced price bands (AUD)
Figures below are from our sourced price table (hospital or compiler bands, accessed 23 to 24 October 2026). They are not a quote for your case. Flights, hotel, garments, revision and companion costs are usually extra. Ask for an itemised written quote.
| Procedure (sourced label) | Australia | Thailand | Other destinations on this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breast augmentation | AUD 11,000 to 16,450 (all-inclusive published clinic totals) | AUD 4,910 to 12,910 (converted Yanhee THB bands; 1 night listed) | Price on request, get quotes from clinics for Türkiye, South Korea and Bali |
| Tummy tuck (full abdominoplasty) | AUD 21,800 to 35,000 (all-inclusive published ranges) | AUD 5,330 base (Yanhee under 70 kg; weight surcharge may apply) | Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Rhinoplasty | AUD 17,600 to 37,200 (all-inclusive published) | AUD 1,270 to 6,140 (procedure-type dependent; rib-graft/open cases higher) | Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Liposuction | AUD 9,500 to 18,500 (all-inclusive by theatre time) | AUD 2,330 to 3,130 per site (converted Yanhee per-site lines) | Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Multi-procedure “packages” | Price on request, get quotes from clinics (AU clinics rarely publish packages) | Price on request, get quotes from clinics (do not invent package totals) | Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
Cost hubs: plastic surgery costs, Thailand plastic surgery costs. Zero surgeryloans.com.au links on this cosmetic compare page.
Questions that matter more than the destination
- Who operates and who anaesthetises, and are they licensed? See choosing a surgeon overseas and questions to ask before you book.
- Where does overnight care and ICU transfer happen?
- Will you get full English records and implant/device details?
- Who handles problems after you fly home? See aftercare in Australia and revision surgery in Australia.
- What will insurance cover? See travel insurance for cosmetic surgery and medical tourism insurance.
- Does the timeline allow 6 to 8 weeks before flying home if your surgeons follow ASAPS-style advice?
Destinations: Thailand, Türkiye, Bali, South Korea. Cities: Bangkok, Phuket, Istanbul, Antalya.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one preferred country for plastic surgery?
We don’t rank countries. Compare the named surgeon, facility, aftercare and insurance - not destination marketing.
Is Thailand safer than Turkey or Korea?
We don’t make comparative safety rankings. Check live Smartraveller advice and verify the individual provider.
Will Medicare cover plastic surgery overseas?
No for elective cosmetic surgery overseas.
How long until I can fly home?
ASAPS advises Australian patients not to fly for 6 to 8 weeks after cosmetic surgery unless your surgeons advise otherwise in writing.
What do procedures cost in each country?
Only sourced bands above are published. Everything else remains Price on request, get quotes from clinics until verified.
Should I choose a country based on the lowest advertised price?
No. Incomplete quotes, excluded nights and revision risk can erase headline savings (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
Sources
All accessed 24 October 2026.
- ASAPS, Heading overseas for cosmetic surgery?: https://aestheticplasticsurgeons.org.au/news/heading-overseas-for-cosmetic-surgery-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
- Ahpra, Thinking about having cosmetic surgery?: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/Information-for-the-public.aspx
- Smartraveller, Going overseas for a medical procedure: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/travel-essentials/travel-health/medical-tourism
- Smartraveller, Sun, sand and surgery: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/sun-sand-and-surgery
- Smartraveller, Thailand: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/thailand
- Smartraveller, Türkiye: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/turkiye
- Smartraveller, South Korea: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/south-korea
- Smartraveller, Indonesia: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/indonesia
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, What Medicare covers: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/medicare/about/what-medicare-covers
- Medical Council of Thailand, Check MD: https://checkmd.tmc.or.th/En
- Thai Government PRD, Revision of Thailand’s visa exemption and visa on arrival schemes: https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/48/iid/538547
- Turkish Ministry of Health, Authorised healthcare providers: https://shgmturizmdb.saglik.gov.tr/TR,69063/healthcare-providers-authorized-by-the-ministry.html
- HealthTürkiye, Certified providers: https://healthturkiye.gov.tr/certificated-health-service-providers
- Price bands: medicaltourism.com.au price table compiled from Yanhee Hospital published plastic surgery prices and CosmeticSurgeryHelp AU cost guide (see medicaltourism.com.au sourced price table)
Disclaimer: The information on medicaltourism.com.au is general in nature. It isn’t medical, legal, financial or insurance advice and doesn’t take your personal circumstances into account. Talk to a registered health practitioner before deciding on any procedure. See our editorial policy, medical disclaimer and how we make money.