FOR MANY Australians, Dayna Perandis is soon to be the face for Phuket's cosmetic surgery industry. Actually she could be the face, and a whole lot more.
The 27-year-old model and marketer underwent breast augmentation surgery on Wednesday at Phuket International Hospital. She had her first breast enhancement five years ago in Bangkok, and decided it was time for another visit.
''I wanted bigger boobs,'' she told Phuketwan this week. There are many young Australian women who either want larger breasts or smaller breasts. Breast augmentation or reduction makes up 70 percent of cosmetic work at the hospital. The rest is mostly liposuction, tummy tucks or nose jobs.
Peter Davison, Manager International Service at PIH, said the interest level in cosmetic surgery on Phuket had increased beyond even the most optimistic projections made two years ago.
''I made the projections, and I underestimated how much attention the concept of cosmetic surgery would attract,'' he said.
Earlier this month on the Gold Coast in the Australian state of Queensland, an initial meeting to launch a new company, CosMediTour, attracted 300 people. Peter Davison was there, and the scale of interest surprised and delighted him.
Equally surprised if not quite so delighted was the Australian Medical Association, which quickly issued a statement making the point that similar surgery is available in Australia. However, it's likely to be more than twice or three times the cost and performed in a clinic rather than a hospital.
''Thailand and Phuket especially has a great reputation for top-quality surgery,'' Mr Davison said.
Phuketwan asked Ms Perandis why she'd chosed Phuket. ''It's great value,'' she said. ''Much less costly than in Australia. And because I had such great treatment last time, I trust the surgeons here.''
Ms Perandis will stay 11 days in the comfort of the five-star Chava Resort in Surin, more a recuperation than a holiday, although any reaction to the surgery is likely to pass within a couple of days leaving plenty of time for the beach or shopping, or a trip to explore Phang Nga with her friend, Steve Cotton.
While Ms Perandis was having her breasts enlarged, Mr Cotton was in another part of the hospital having some dental surgery perfomed to repair damage sustained in a sports collision. The same advantages in value and quality apply to dental work on Phuket, too.
At an informal pre-surgery gathering at the Chava, the couple met Tourism Authority of Thailand regional director Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, who told them the TAT would be undertaking a road show to the big Australian cities of Sydney and Brisbane in September and medical tourism was likely to be one of Phuket's best selling points.
By then Ms Perandis is likely to be making the most of her new role in marketing as the face, and probably a whole lot more, for CosMediTour and Phuket cosmetic surgery.
Phuket Takes on Aussie Doctors in Surgery WarsThe 27-year-old model and marketer underwent breast augmentation surgery on Wednesday at Phuket International Hospital. She had her first breast enhancement five years ago in Bangkok, and decided it was time for another visit.
''I wanted bigger boobs,'' she told Phuketwan this week. There are many young Australian women who either want larger breasts or smaller breasts. Breast augmentation or reduction makes up 70 percent of cosmetic work at the hospital. The rest is mostly liposuction, tummy tucks or nose jobs.
Peter Davison, Manager International Service at PIH, said the interest level in cosmetic surgery on Phuket had increased beyond even the most optimistic projections made two years ago.
''I made the projections, and I underestimated how much attention the concept of cosmetic surgery would attract,'' he said.
Earlier this month on the Gold Coast in the Australian state of Queensland, an initial meeting to launch a new company, CosMediTour, attracted 300 people. Peter Davison was there, and the scale of interest surprised and delighted him.
Equally surprised if not quite so delighted was the Australian Medical Association, which quickly issued a statement making the point that similar surgery is available in Australia. However, it's likely to be more than twice or three times the cost and performed in a clinic rather than a hospital.
''Thailand and Phuket especially has a great reputation for top-quality surgery,'' Mr Davison said.
Phuketwan asked Ms Perandis why she'd chosed Phuket. ''It's great value,'' she said. ''Much less costly than in Australia. And because I had such great treatment last time, I trust the surgeons here.''
Ms Perandis will stay 11 days in the comfort of the five-star Chava Resort in Surin, more a recuperation than a holiday, although any reaction to the surgery is likely to pass within a couple of days leaving plenty of time for the beach or shopping, or a trip to explore Phang Nga with her friend, Steve Cotton.
While Ms Perandis was having her breasts enlarged, Mr Cotton was in another part of the hospital having some dental surgery perfomed to repair damage sustained in a sports collision. The same advantages in value and quality apply to dental work on Phuket, too.
At an informal pre-surgery gathering at the Chava, the couple met Tourism Authority of Thailand regional director Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, who told them the TAT would be undertaking a road show to the big Australian cities of Sydney and Brisbane in September and medical tourism was likely to be one of Phuket's best selling points.
By then Ms Perandis is likely to be making the most of her new role in marketing as the face, and probably a whole lot more, for CosMediTour and Phuket cosmetic surgery.
Latest Phuket has a suitable cut of the plastic surgery market and is aiming to grow its operating theatre fan base. But more expensive Aussie surgeons seek to hold the same patients.
Phuket Takes on Aussie Doctors in Surgery Wars
Phuket's Medical Tourism: Fast Lane Meets Fat Lane
Latest Plastic surgeons are always busy on Phuket because of the fast lane trauma of motorcycle crashes. But they also have to deal with the fat lane consequences of overeating.
Phuket's Medical Tourism: Fast Lane Meets Fat Lane
Phuket Puts its Nose in Front for Surgery
Latest Hundreds of cosmetic surgeons are gathering on Phuket to consider rhinoplasty as the island catches up with a conference first scheduled five years ago.
Phuket Puts its Nose in Front for Surgery
Phuket's Uplifting Stitch in Time Road Show
Latest A road show with a difference heads for Australia soon, to promote the benefits of cosmetic surgery and Phuket. Take a holiday, and return a new man, or woman.
Phuket's Uplifting Stitch in Time Road Show
More product placement masquerading as news.
Editor: Is that Dr Flashman of the AMA?
Posted by Harry Flashman on June 18, 2010 14:57