Thailand is believed to have the largest number of Male-to-female transsexuals per capita in the world. A number of international Transsexuals opt to travel to Thailand in order to pursue male-to-female sex reassignment surgery operations.
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Under a Thai law introduced in 2009, access to transsexual surgery is legally restricted in a manner similar to the Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People (SoC) as set by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.[1]
The cost of surgery is generally less in Thailand than in the USA, Europe or Australia.
Thailand has a few of the most experienced surgeons for MtF surgeries, who have highly positive international reputations.
For the most expensive Thai surgeons, the total cost of surgery plus travel can exceed the cost of having surgery in the patient's home country, particularly for patients who live far from Asia.
Transsexual genital surgery is illegal in Thailand without psychiatric approval, "real life experience" (if possible) and hormones (unless medically contraindicated), which is disadvantageous to transsexuals who are unwilling or unable to follow the SoC. This is not the case in the USA, most states of Australia, and many other countries, where there is no legal requirement to follow the SoC; most Western surgeons do restrict access to treatment in a manner similar to the SoC, but where there is no legal requirement for them to do so, some do not.
Some jurisdictions do not recognise the sex of transsexuals who have had surgery overseas. For example, an Illinois, USA birth certificate cannot be amended to state the reassigned sex of a person who has had transsexual surgery outside of the USA.
Illinois has amended it's requirements to allow NON-U.S. licensed physicians. If the surgery is performed by a NON- U.S. licensed physician, the affidavit must be accompanied by an additional affidavit, “Affidavit by Physician Verifying Completion of Gender Reassignment”. The additional affidavit must be completed by a physician licensed to practice within the United States and confirm that the gender reassignment surgery was completed.
Gender Reassignment is regarded as a common procedure in Thailand. There are over 170 active surgeons.
Two local associations provide education or certification for surgeons doing SRS. The Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Thailand and The Thai Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine.
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