Facts checked 11 October 2026. General information, not medical advice.
Why Australians go overseas for cosmetic surgery
Smartraveller lists cosmetic surgery first among the procedures Australians most often travel for, and says many people go overseas for health care to save money [1]. The Victorian Government's Better Health Channel estimates that around 15,000 Australians travel overseas for healthcare each year and that Australians spend about $300 million a year on cosmetic surgery tourism alone [2]. That page was last reviewed in December 2017, so treat the figures as a rough guide rather than a current count [2].
Better Health names Thailand, India, South Korea, Turkey and Malaysia as the countries Australians mostly choose for lower-cost medical and dental care [2]. Bali, in Indonesia, is not on that list, but of the destinations compared below it is the shortest non-stop flight from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth [15] [16] [17] [18] [21] [22] [23] [24].
Australia's surgeons argue firmly against the practice. The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) strongly advises against overseas cosmetic surgery tourism and says easy access to the operating surgeon is usually impossible once a patient has returned to Australia [3]. The Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) publishes its own know your risks page [30]. Both are worth reading in full before you decide.
This guide does not weigh clinical risk; that conversation belongs with a surgeon. It covers the planning side: which costs and protections change when you leave Australia, what a quote really includes, and how to check a provider before you send money.
Australian rules, insurance and consumer protection
Medicare doesn't cover you while you're overseas [4]. Even at home, Medicare does not pay a benefit for optional treatment such as elective cosmetic surgery [5]. Australia's reciprocal health care agreements cover only some situations in some countries [1]. The 11 agreement countries are Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom [32], so none of the destinations in this guide has an agreement with Australia.
Private hospital insurance covers elective cosmetic surgery only to a limited extent or not at all, depending on the policy [5]. Smartraveller notes that some Australian insurers have arrangements with overseas hospitals, and advises telling your insurer about your plans even if it won't cover you, because staying silent could void your policy if you have a complication [1].
Travel insurance needs the closest reading. Smartraveller says basic travel policies rarely cover medical tourism and suggests a specialised policy, asking specifically about post-operative care, complications and medical evacuation [1]. Insurers' own wording can be blunt: 1Cover states its policies do not cover cosmetic treatments or elective surgeries you travel overseas for, or any complications or claims arising from them [6]. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before you buy [1].
Consumer law is the weakest link. The Australian Consumer Law applies to overseas businesses that conduct business within Australia, yet Consumer Affairs Victoria warns that even then you may have practical difficulties obtaining a refund [7]. Whether it reaches a hospital that treats you in its own country is a question for a lawyer, and Smartraveller suggests finding out, before you go, whether you could take legal action against the hospital and surgeon if things go wrong [1]. Its Thailand advice records that some hospitals and clinics have refused compensation to patients who were unhappy with cosmetic results, were harmed during surgery or died [11].
In Australia, anyone considering cosmetic surgery has needed a GP referral since 1 July 2023 [8]. The Medical Board of Australia's guidelines also require at least two pre-operative consultations and a cooling-off period of at least seven days after consent before surgery can be booked or a deposit paid [9]. They make the operating doctor responsible for post-operative care, with a nominated delegate if they are unavailable, and require records detailed enough for another doctor to take over [9].
Those guidelines apply to medical practitioners registered under Australia's National Law [9]. A surgeon practising only overseas is not bound by them, so ask for each protection in writing instead. If something goes wrong overseas, the Australian Government may be able to give you lists of local English-speaking doctors and lawyers, but it can't pay medical, evacuation or legal costs, or intervene in local legal processes [1]. At home, Ahpra's Cosmetic Surgery Hotline (1300 361 041) takes reports of bad experiences with Australian-registered practitioners, and Ahpra says it can't arrange compensation or financial settlements [10].
| Protection | Cosmetic surgery in Australia | Cosmetic surgery overseas |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare | Cosmetic surgery in AustraliaNo benefit for elective cosmetic surgery [5] | Cosmetic surgery overseasDoes not cover you overseas [4] |
| GP referral | Cosmetic surgery in AustraliaRequired since 1 July 2023 [8] | Cosmetic surgery overseasNot an Australian requirement; Smartraveller still advises talking to your doctor in Australia [1] |
| Cooling-off | Cosmetic surgery in AustraliaAt least 7 days after consent before booking or paying a deposit [9] | Cosmetic surgery overseasSet by the provider; ask for it in writing |
| Post-operative responsibility | Cosmetic surgery in AustraliaOperating doctor responsible, with a documented delegate if unavailable [9] | Cosmetic surgery overseasSet by the provider and local law; ask who looks after you once you are home |
| Travel insurance | Cosmetic surgery in AustraliaNot relevant | Cosmetic surgery overseasBasic policies rarely cover medical tourism [1] |
| Help if things go wrong | Cosmetic surgery in AustraliaAhpra hotline 1300 361 041 [10] | Cosmetic surgery overseasConsular help may extend to lists of English-speaking doctors and lawyers and contacting family; no payment of bills or legal representation [1] |
Destinations compared
The table covers four destinations that have their own guides on this site. Flight times are scheduled non-stop times where a non-stop service exists. Entry rules are for ordinary Australian passports and change at short notice, so recheck them with the embassy before you book [13].
Thailand: Smartraveller describes medical tourism, including cosmetic surgery, as common and warns that standards at discount and uncertified establishments can be poor [11]. Some Bangkok hospitals publish price lists in baht; two appear in the price table below [26] [27]. See the Thailand guide.
South Korea: Smartraveller rates the standard of medical facilities as good, but notes that few staff speak English and that you'll probably have to pay before you receive care [12]. It also advises against discount or uncertified providers [12]. See the South Korea guide.
Türkiye: the HealthTürkiye portal lists the medical providers authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health, and Smartraveller points Australians to it while stating that it can't endorse any provider [13]. It also asks you to discuss your plans with your Australian doctor before committing to any procedure overseas [13]. See the Turkey guide.
Bali: Indonesia requires an online arrival card within 72 hours of travel, and the e-VOA can be applied for at least 48 hours ahead [14]. The short flight matters if a support person can only join you for part of the trip. See the Bali guide.
| Destination | Scheduled non-stop flight time | Entry for Australian passport holders | Smartraveller overall level | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand (Bangkok) | Scheduled non-stop flight timeSydney 9h 50m [15]; Melbourne 9h 30m [16]; Brisbane 9h 20m [17]; Perth 7h 05m [18] | Entry for Australian passport holdersVisa exemption for tourism; possibly limited to 2 visa-free entries a calendar year without a justifiable reason; free Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival; confirm the permitted stay with the Thai embassy [11] | Smartraveller overall levelExercise a high degree of caution (updated 29 September 2026) [11] | GuideThailand |
| South Korea (Seoul) | Scheduled non-stop flight timeSydney 11h 00m [19]; Melbourne 11h 35m [20] | Entry for Australian passport holdersUp to 90 days as a tourist without a K-ETA; exemption announced only until 31 December 2026; e-Arrival card within 3 days before arrival [12] | Smartraveller overall levelExercise normal safety precautions (updated 10 August 2026) [12] | GuideSouth Korea |
| Bali (Denpasar) | Scheduled non-stop flight timeSydney 6h 45m [21]; Melbourne 7h 05m [22]; Brisbane 6h 35m [23]; Perth 4h 30m [24] | Entry for Australian passport holderse-VOA or VOA IDR 500,000, valid 30 days and extendable once; Bali tourist levy IDR 150,000 [14] | Smartraveller overall levelExercise a high degree of caution (updated 7 October 2026) [14] | GuideBali |
| Türkiye (Istanbul) | Scheduled non-stop flight timeOne stop with Turkish Airlines: Melbourne via Singapore; Sydney via Kuala Lumpur, reported to switch to Singapore from 26 October 2026 [25] | Entry for Australian passport holdersNo visa for tourism stays of 90 days or less in 180 days; a medical visa via HealthTürkiye if treatment and stay exceed 90 days [13] | Smartraveller overall levelExercise a high degree of caution (updated 2 October 2026) [13] | GuideTurkey |
Published prices: what they include and what they leave out
Some overseas hospitals publish cosmetic surgery prices on their own websites. The examples below are taken directly from those pages and converted at the Reserve Bank of Australia's indicative rates for 9 October 2026: A$1 = THB 23.41 and A$1 = IDR 12,478 [29]. They are dated examples, not quotes, and their inclusion is not a recommendation of any provider.
The two Bangkok breast augmentation prices cannot be compared as printed. One hospital prices the operation by implant brand and size [26]; the other excludes implants, the specialist's consultation fee and a pre-operative medical clearance by a physician [27]. Ask every provider for an itemised quote in the same format so you compare like with like.
| Provider | Procedure as published | Published price | Approx. AUD (RBA, 9 Oct 2026) | What the page states | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yanhee International Hospital, Bangkok | Procedure as publishedBreast augmentation, round Mentor implant under 400 cc | Published priceTHB 125,000 | Approx. AUD (RBA, 9 Oct 2026)A$5,340 | What the page states1-night hospital stay listed | Source[26] |
| Yanhee International Hospital, Bangkok | Procedure as publishedTummy tuck (lipectomy), body weight under 70 kg | Published priceTHB 126,000 | Approx. AUD (RBA, 9 Oct 2026)A$5,382 | What the page states3-night hospital stay listed; THB 18,000 per 10 kg over 70 kg | Source[26] |
| Bangkok Hospital Headquarter | Procedure as publishedBreast augmentation (gel/saline) | Published priceTHB 190,000 | Approx. AUD (RBA, 9 Oct 2026)A$8,116 | What the page states1 night; excludes implants, specialist consultant fee and pre-operative medical clearance; fly-in patients only; valid to 31 December 2026 | Source[27] |
| Bangkok Hospital Headquarter | Procedure as publishedFace and neck lift | Published priceTHB 282,000 | Approx. AUD (RBA, 9 Oct 2026)A$12,046 | What the page states1 night; same package terms | Source[27] |
| BIMC Siloam Nusa Dua, Bali | Procedure as publishedBreast augmentation | Published priceFrom IDR 55,900,000 | Approx. AUD (RBA, 9 Oct 2026)A$4,480 | What the page statesRecovery stays, transfers and 12-month telehealth follow-up included on most surgical packages | Source[28] |
| BIMC Siloam Nusa Dua, Bali | Procedure as publishedDeep plane face and neck lift | Published priceFrom IDR 94,300,000 | Approx. AUD (RBA, 9 Oct 2026)A$7,557 | What the page statesAs above; billed in rupiah | Source[28] |
What to confirm in a written quote
A published package tells you what one provider chose to include. The table below uses the providers' own wording to show where costs commonly sit outside the headline figure, and what to ask before you pay anything.
| Cost item | How a provider states it | Ask the provider |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon and anaesthetist | How a provider states itBangkok Hospital's package includes the surgeon team and anaesthesiologist team [27] | Ask the providerIs the named surgeon operating, and is that in writing? |
| Consultations | How a provider states itBangkok Hospital excludes the specialist consultant fee [27] | Ask the providerWhat do the consultations before and after surgery cost? |
| Pre-operative tests | How a provider states itMedical clearance by an internal physician is an additional cost; pathology and laboratory tests are excluded [27] | Ask the providerWhich tests are needed, and can results from Australia be used? |
| Implants and materials | How a provider states itYanhee lists breast augmentation prices by implant brand and size, and marks one rhinoplasty option "material not include" [26] | Ask the providerWhich brand and model, and will I get the implant details in writing? |
| Hospital nights | How a provider states itEach listing states the nights included, for example 1 night for breast augmentation at both Bangkok hospitals [26] [27] | Ask the providerWhat does an extra night cost? |
| Complications and extra care | How a provider states itBangkok Hospital says treatment of complications incurs an additional charge, and intensive care beyond the package is charged directly to the patient [27] | Ask the providerWhat is your written policy, and who pays? |
| Transfers, accommodation and follow-up | How a provider states itBIMC says recovery stays, transfers and 12-month telehealth follow-up are included on most surgical packages [28] | Ask the providerWhich of these does my package include? |
| Price validity | How a provider states itBangkok Hospital's package is valid until 31 December 2026 [27] | Ask the providerWhen does my quote expire, and in which currency do I pay? |
Budgeting for the whole trip
Smartraveller is clear about who carries the cost: you are responsible for the cost of treatment overseas, and you, your family or your travel insurer will have to pay for further care or a medical evacuation [1]. It also warns that fixing a complication may cost more, and asks you to make sure your estimate covers that [1]. Build the budget line by line rather than starting from the procedure price.
| Budget line | What to check | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Procedure | What to checkItemised inclusions and exclusions, currency and expiry | Where to checkThe provider's written quote |
| Flights | What to checkWhether dates can change without a large fee if the surgery date moves | Where to checkThe airline's fare rules |
| Entry costs | What to checkFor Bali: e-VOA IDR 500,000 plus the IDR 150,000 tourist levy [14] | Where to checkSmartraveller's destination page |
| Accommodation | What to checkNights before and after the hospital stay, as advised by your surgeon | Where to checkThe surgeon's written itinerary |
| Travel insurance | What to checkSpecialised cover for the procedure, complications and evacuation [1] | Where to checkThe insurer's PDS |
| Support person | What to checkTheir flights and accommodation; Smartraveller advises taking someone with you [1] | Where to checkYour own plan |
| Contingency | What to checkExtra nights, changed flights or further treatment | Where to checkYour savings |
| Care back in Australia | What to checkASPS says ongoing care would need to be with a new surgical team, at additional cost [3] | Where to checkYour GP |
| Time off work | What to checkLeave covering the whole trip, not just the surgery date | Where to checkYour employer |
Planning your timeline
How long you should stay before flying home is a clinical question for your surgeon. The hospital nights in the price table (one to three in those examples) cover only the hospital part of the trip [26] [27]. Ask the surgeon in writing how many days they want you nearby after discharge, then book flights and accommodation around that answer.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Before shortlisting | What to doResearch the destination, doctor, hospital and procedure, as Smartraveller advises [1] |
| Before paying any deposit | What to doGet an itemised quote and refund terms in writing. In Australia, no money should be payable until after the cooling-off period, other than for initial consultations [9] |
| At least 6 weeks before travel | What to doSmartraveller advises a health check with your doctor and making sure your vaccinations are right [1] |
| When buying insurance | What to doTell your health and travel insurers what you plan, and read the PDS exclusions [1] |
| 3 days before arrival | What to doThailand: Digital Arrival Card [11]. Indonesia: arrival card within 72 hours, and e-VOA at least 48 hours ahead [14] |
| Before you fly home | What to doCollect your operation records and any implant details |
| Back in Australia | What to doBook a GP appointment and share your records |
How to check a surgeon and hospital yourself
None of these checks needs medical knowledge. Each one is a document or a public record you can ask for before you commit. Each destination guide covers that country's regulators.
- Registration: Smartraveller advises checking that the surgeon who will operate is qualified and accredited, noting that most countries publish this on an official website [1]. Ask for the surgeon's registration number and specialist title.
- Society membership: ISAPS publishes a Find a Surgeon directory of its members [31]. Membership is not a licence to practise, so check registration as well.
- Hospital accreditation: Smartraveller advises confirming the hospital is accredited by local authorities and avoiding unofficial facilities [1]. Better Health reports that the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons strongly advises internationally accredited facilities, and lists Joint Commission International among the helpful resources [2].
- Insurance: in some countries doctors and hospitals don't have to hold professional insurance, so Smartraveller suggests making sure your surgeon and hospital have indemnity and malpractice insurance [1].
- Who operates: Better Health advises asking about the possible use of junior doctors or other assistants during your procedure [2].
- Records: the College lists missing documentation and unidentified implants among the problems that affect follow-up care [2]. Ask before booking what records you will receive.
- Advertising: ASPS notes that surgeons based overseas have no restriction on how they advertise, unlike Australian specialist plastic surgeons, who are subject to Ahpra's advertising guidelines [3]. Judge a provider on documents, not photos.
Questions to take to your surgeon
These are clinical questions. Only the operating surgeon can answer them for you, and the answers should be in writing. For independent background, read the ASPS cosmetic tourism page and the ASAPS risks page [3] [30]. Smartraveller suggests comparing the complication risks an overseas hospital gives you with those quoted in Australia, and being wary if they are much lower [1].
- Is this procedure suitable for me, and what would make you advise against it?
- What are the risks in my case, and how are complications managed and paid for?
- How long do you want me to stay near the hospital before I fly home?
- Which implant or device will you use? Ahpra suggests checking devices against the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) for surgery in Australia [8].
- What follow-up will you provide after I return to Australia, and how do I reach you?
- Who else will be in the operating theatre, and what will they do?
How Beauty Broker can help
Beauty Broker is an Australian care-coordination service. We learn what you want, match the procedure to a surgeon and hospital we have an arrangement with, and organise the consultation, surgery date, pre-operative requirements and records directly with the hospital. We help with transfers and advise on flights and where to stay; you book your own flights and accommodation.
We are not a clinic, we give no clinical advice and we cannot promise any result. Whether surgery is right for you is always the surgeon's decision. There is one flat A$499 care-coordination fee, fully refundable if you change your mind before surgery or the surgeon says surgery is not right for you. Partner hospitals pay us a referral fee, disclosed on our fees page. Read how it works for the steps.
