WIN more with your nose job, breast implants or perhaps even a gender reassignment: that's the message behind the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Medical Tourism Blog Contest, with cash and prizes worth nearly US$20,000 up for grabs.

Twelve finalists will each undertake a seven-day all-inclusive medical tour of Thailand, and report the results.

The announcement of the competition comes as Phuket and Bangkok arm-wrestle for the title of being the most popular destination in Thailand for medical tourism.

The TAT competition offers up Bangkok and Phuket as destinations, plus Pattaya, Samui and Chiang Mai as well.

According to a media release, finalists will be ''chosen from the entries to win an experience of a lifetime: an all-inclusive seven-day medical tourism familiarisation trip in Thailand, which will take place from November 20-26.

''From then until January 31, each finalist will ''use blog posts, photos, videos, and other social media tools to share their daily experiences with the medical services available in Thailand with a global audience.''

The blogger who attracts the most unique visitors will win $13,000 ($10,000 in cash plus luxurious hotel vouchers worth $3000 at Sri Panwa, PhuketM and Westin Grande, Bangkok). The finalist who creates the best blog will receive prizes worth $5000 ($3000 in cash plus luxurious hotel vouchers worth $2000 at Ratilanna Riverside Spa Resort, Chiang Mai and Absolute Chandara Resort and Spa, Phuket).

According to the International Medical Travel Journal, Phuket providers can expect to get a large slice of the 402.9 billion baht that the Ministry of Health expects Thailand's medical tourism industry to take over the next five years. That figure, the journal says, comes from Dr Wiwat Keetamanoch, of Phuket Public Health.

At least one of Phuket's big medical tourism hospitals has opened up a new ''supply chain'' to Australia this year, despite an anguished outcry from the country's own plastic surgeons. Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the US are claimed as Thailand's key surgery markets.

But the journal says the majority of medical tourists actually come from South-East Asia. Popular services are health checks, heart operations, knee replacements, cardiovascular surgery, cosmetic surgery, gender reassignment surgery, dental care and Lasik corrective eye surgery.

The journal reports that Julie Munro of InterMed Global thinks that Bangkok can regain its top place in Thailand from Phuket.

''Phuket has daily international flights by regular and discount airlines to dozens of regional cities, and it has lovely resorts - now mostly empty.

''But its two private hospitals, Phuket International and Bangkok Hospital Phuket, are considered by most local expat residents a clear second choice, [they] prefer flying into Bangkok for care. The two private hospitals are considered expensive, with high hospital costs and doctor fees.''

The journal adds that Phuket is to be the home of Thailand's first purpose built ''Health Promotion Hospital,'' co-funded by the Chinese government.

''The Kamala Public Health Center will incorporate traditional Chinese medicines into its array of medical services. To be completed next year, it will initially offer health checkups and traditional Thai massages to both Thais and foreigners,'' the journal said.