Perhaps
because of its liberal attitudes to sexual matters in general,
Thailand has developed into a world center for transgender
or 'sex re-assignment' surgery. The skill of the Thai surgeons
is unsurpassed and the treatment has become so popular that
many hospitals and clinics perform more than 10 re-assignment
operations daily.
Would-be
trans-sexuals come from all over the world to receive the
treatment, attracted by the skill and experience of local
surgeons, relatively low prices and more liberal attitudes.
Most operations are male-to-female conversions. It takes a
mere two to three hours to convert the male genitalia into
anatomically correct female organs with vagina and a clitoris
fashioned from the most sensitive part of the penis. Two weeks
should be allowed for convalescence including one week in
the hospital. Together with a pair of silicone breast implants,
the entire conversion costs in the region of 200,000 baht
(around 5,000 US dollars). This includes an initial psychological
assessment, trans-gender surgery,
breast
implantation, nostril reduction, eyelid adjustment, and chin
reconstruction.
The
more difficult female-to-male conversion involves as many
as five separate surgical steps and may cost as much as 100,000
US dollars.
Although
many hospitals and clinics offer sex re-assignment surgery,
only a handful of doctors are considered true international
experts. Best
places to try include:
Bumrungrad
Hospital
210 Soi Sukhumvit 1 Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
Tel +66 2 253-0250-69
Fax +66 2 255-6622
Yan
Hee General Hospital
454 Charansanitwong Road (Soi 90), Bangplad, Bangkok 10700
Tel +66 2 879-0300 ext 1035
Fax +66 2 879-0395
E-mail: market@yanhee.co.th