Medical tourism in Asia is big business. Every year, Australians are exposed to advertising that promises a holiday somewhere warm and a brand new look for a fraction of the price they would pay at home.
It's easy to see why this might appeal. The brochure displays an inviting rooftop pool at a luxury hotel. The package promises to be all-inclusive, with a team to manage your appointments, transportation, translation, recovery care and daily support from arrival to departure. And all for a cost lower than the quotes you received locally.
There are also personal factors. As an Asian patient, you don't just want to see a skilled surgeon. You want to feel confident your surgeon understands the unique features of Asian anatomy, as well as the cultural standards and aesthetic preferences relevant to your heritage. Travelling to Asia for cosmetic surgery may seem like the natural choice, but there are many elements to consider before making such a consequential decision.
What Are the Risks of Medical Tourism?
A recent 60 Minutes investigation into Australians who went abroad for cosmetic surgery has put the risks of medical tourism back in the headlines.
Many surgeons overseas are excellent, and complications can follow any operation in any country. However, medical tourism poses unique challenges that having surgery here in Australia does not.
The Temptation of Package Deals
Cosmetic surgery packages often bundle the operation with flights, ground transportation and five-star accommodation. The offer looks more like a resort brochure than a medical plan. The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons points out that overseas operators can market these packages without following the advertising guidelines Ahpra places on Australian surgeons, so there are no restrictions on the way they advertise. They may portray the experience as more glamorous than it really is or illustrate unrealistic results, without repercussions.
Sales Pressure Before Surgery
Two women interviewed in the 60 Minutes program alleged that they were pressured to add additional procedures to their surgical plans at the last minute. One spoke of being encouraged to pay with her superannuation, though her surgery wasn't medically urgent. In October 2025, the ATO and Ahpra issued a joint warning that early release of super on compassionate grounds is limited to critical medical and dental procedures.
Language Barriers
Communication is perhaps the number one issue with having surgery abroad. Even with an interpreter, it is harder to explain exactly what you want to your surgeon and to understand what you're consenting to when you sign the preoperative forms. Language is critical again after the surgery, when you must be able to comprehend your aftercare instructions and be able to speak with your surgical team in case you have questions or a complication.
The Risky Flight Home
Package itineraries usually end within a week or two of the operation, leaving the patient to travel home — often on a long-haul flight — while their body is still in the earliest stage of healing. The Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons urges anyone going abroad for surgery to understand the risks of air travel after an operation. Surgery and long periods of sitting each increase the risk of developing blood clots in the leg and lung.
Lack of Follow-Up Care
With medical tourism, the surgeon who performed the operation cannot monitor how you are healing or catch an early sign of a complication once you leave the country. If a problem does surface when you are home, you have to consult a different surgeon who has no record of what was done. Ethical cosmetic surgery requires an ongoing relationship with a surgeon who can communicate with you, customise your surgery and support you in the days, weeks and months after the operation.
Standards and Regulations
Requirements for surgeon training and registration and for facility safety and quality differ from country to country. These requirements may not consistently match those in Australia, which is generally known for maintaining high medical standards. That doesn't mean the care offered abroad is always poor, but it is frequently harder to confirm its quality.
The Benefits of Seeking Asian Plastic Surgery in Australia
At Asian Plastic Surgery in Sydney, Specialist Plastic Surgeons of Asian heritage focus on cosmetic procedures for Asian patients, so you can have that expertise and still keep your surgery and recovery here in Australia.
What that means for you:
Stricter Advertising Guidelines
Specialist Plastic Surgeons in Australia cannot market cosmetic surgery as a getaway or promise unrealistic results. Ahpra's cosmetic surgery advertising guidelines prohibit discounts and other inducements, language that idealises surgery, images that set up unreasonable expectations and the use of testimonials in advertising. Surgeons must present balanced and accurate information that treats cosmetic surgery as the serious undertaking it is.
Time to Decide Without Pressure
Since July 2023, all Australian patients seeking cosmetic surgery must have a referral from a general practitioner (GP) or other specialist medical practitioner. It is also mandatory to attend at least two consultations with a surgeon before you consent to surgery. Your surgeon must screen for conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder that could affect how you feel about your results. Once you give consent, a cooling-off period of at least seven days applies before you can book or pay.
Clear Communication
At Asian Plastic Surgery, you can explain your goals to a surgeon who speaks your language and shares your frame of reference. Dr Ellis Choy is of Chinese heritage and speaks three Chinese dialects. Dr Quan Ngo is of Vietnamese descent and completed part of his fellowship training in Taiwan. Dr Michael Chae is of Korean background and offers both reconstructive and aesthetic facial plastic surgery. You can discuss every aspect of your plan, procedure and recovery with your surgeon directly instead of relying on an interpreter.
A Restful Recovery
When you recover at home in Sydney, you avoid the risks of air travel during the most delicate stage of healing. You can rest in your own bed, and family and friends can help with meals and lifts to appointments. If you live interstate, the trip to Sydney is still far shorter than a long-haul flight overseas, and you have the comfort of knowing your surgeon practises within the same health system.
Long-Term Follow-Up
Continuity of care is not disrupted. The surgeon who performs your operation is also the surgeon who sees you at your early follow-up appointments and all future appointments, even months down the road. If you have any questions, or if something doesn't look or feel right, you can see the original operating surgeon who knows every detail of your case rather than starting from scratch with a stranger.
Schedule a Consultation for Asian Plastic Surgery in Sydney
With cosmetic surgery, price will always be an important part of the conversation, but it shouldn't be your only consideration. Communication and oversight are invaluable, and these often happen most effectively when you seek surgery close to home. While there are excellent surgeons all over the world, you should be wary of any destination surgery package that sounds too good to be true, and you should weigh the pros and cons of medical tourism thoroughly before making a decision.
We would love to help you learn more with a consultation at Asian Plastic Surgery in Sydney, where cultural understanding and integrity are foundational tenets of our practice. Call us on (02) 8962 9388 or reach out online.
