Thai Board-Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon in Bangkok, Thailand
Dr. Rushapol Sdawat, M.D.
Dr. Rushapol Sdawat, M.D. (นพ. รัชพล สดาวรรธน์) is a Thai Board-Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in Bangkok, Thailand, with 28 years of surgical experience and a practice focused extensively on facial rejuvenation, including deep plane facelift and neck lift surgery. He is registered with the Medical Council of Thailand under licence No. 17689.
He treats both Thai and international patients and provides consultations, in person in Bangkok or by video, for patients travelling from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries. Surgery is performed in a full hospital setting at Intrarat Hospital, Bangkok, and every procedure is performed by Dr. Rushapol personally.
Who is Dr. Rushapol Sdawat?
Dr. Rushapol Sdawat is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon whose practice is concentrated on the face and neck: deep plane facelift, extended neck lift with platysmaplasty, upper and lower blepharoplasty, brow and temporal lift, rhinoplasty, lip lift and facial feminisation surgery. He also performs breast and body contouring procedures, including tummy tuck, liposuction, arm lift and combined post-pregnancy procedures.
Many patients from Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US choose him for his precise suturing technique and the care he gives to scar placement. He is known for telling patients what an operation will not do as clearly as what it will, and he does not operate on anyone he has not assessed in person or by full video consultation.
He is known for telling patients what an operation will not do as clearly as what it will.
Medical education
| 1992 | Doctor of Medicine, Siriraj Medical School, Mahidol University, Bangkok. Registered with the Medical Council of Thailand, licence 17689. |
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| 1995–1997 | Residency in General Surgery, King Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok. Outstanding Surgery Residency Award, 1995. |
| 1998–2000 | Residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University. |
| 2001 | Visiting scholar in craniofacial surgery and microsurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. |
| 2004 | Fellowship in dermatologic laser surgery, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University. |
| 2022–2023 | Advanced surgical workshops in rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty and facelift technique in Korea, France, Bulgaria, Turkey and Germany. |
Board certification
| 1998 | Thai Board of General Surgery. |
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| 2000 | Diploma of the Medical Council of Thailand certifying proficiency in Plastic Surgery (Thai Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery). |
"Board-certified plastic surgeon" and "cosmetic surgeon" are not the same thing. Plastic surgery in Thailand is a recognised specialty requiring an accredited residency and examination; a licence number can be checked with the Medical Council of Thailand independently of any clinic's marketing, which is why it is published here.
Surgical experience
Dr. Rushapol has 28 years of surgical experience and has performed more than 10,000 procedures, including more than 5,000 facelifts. Case volume in a specific operation matters more than general seniority: published research on facelift outcomes associates higher surgeon volume with lower facial nerve injury rates. His approach is grounded in measurable results, complication rates and published evidence rather than marketing claims.
Deep plane facelift expertise
The deep plane facelift is the centre of Dr. Rushapol's facial practice. It is a sub-SMAS composite technique that releases the facial retaining ligaments and repositions skin, fat and muscle as a single unit, so tension is carried by the deep layer rather than the skin. It is usually combined with a neck lift, because the jawline and neck age together.
Read the full treatment page: Deep Plane Facelift in Bangkok, Thailand. Supporting guides: deep plane vs SMAS, how long results last, when he recommends against one, and the recovery timeline.
Facial plastic surgery
Beyond facelift, Dr. Rushapol performs neck lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, brow lift, rhinoplasty, lip lift, facial fat grafting and facial feminisation surgery. Not every facial concern needs a facelift; the right operation is decided at assessment. See all procedures.
International training
After his Thai residencies, Dr. Rushapol trained as a visiting scholar in craniofacial surgery and microsurgery at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, and has continued with advanced technique courses in Korea, France, Bulgaria, Turkey and Germany.
Professional memberships
- Medical Council of Thailand (licence 17689)
- The Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Thailand
- The Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons of Thailand
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), member since 2008
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), International Member
Teaching and conferences
Dr. Rushapol served as a faculty instructor in plastic surgery at Praboromarajchanok Institute and Naresuan University from 2000 to 2008, and was on the faculty of the 20th Ramathibodi Annual Symposium of Plastic Surgery in Bangkok (June 2026). He teaches practical, evidence-based methods, including deep plane facelift approaches, rhinoplasty and safe body contouring, through hands-on workshops, live surgery demonstrations and lectures.
Hospitals
Surgery for international patients is performed at Intrarat Hospital, Bangkok, a full hospital with an intensive care unit on site; the first night after major facial surgery is spent under hospital care. Anaesthesia is provided by a hospital anaesthetist. Dr. Rushapol also operates at Ekachai Hospital in Samut Sakhon and Sdawat Clinic in Nakhon Sawan.
International patients
Assessment begins with a video consultation in English before you travel, followed by an in-person examination in Bangkok before surgery is confirmed. You receive a written treatment plan and an itemised quotation. After surgery, stitches are generally removed between day seven and day twelve, and a final review clears you to fly; around two weeks in Bangkok is typical for facial surgery. Read: how long to stay in Bangkok after a facelift and is cosmetic surgery in Thailand safe?
Before and after results
Photographs are of consenting patients and are not retouched. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed. View before and after results.
Patient reviews
Patients have reviewed Dr. Rushapol on Trustpilot and RealSelf. Reviews are individual experiences and not a prediction of any other person's result.
Media and interviews
Dr. Rushapol appears on television and at conferences, and shares surgical insights on his social channels. See Dr. Rushapol Sdawat in the media.
Early years
Dr. Rushapol grew up like any other Thai child. His father worked in the aviation business and was one of the small founding team who managed Thai Airways in its very first phase, so both parents were often busy and away from home. There was not much time for outdoor activities. Instead, he spent long afternoons indoors, watching cartoons and listening to music.
Those quiet hours are where his artistic side began. Copying the characters he watched taught him to draw; the music he listened to gave him rhythm, patience and an ear for detail. Drawing and music have stayed with him ever since, and he traces the artist's eye he brings to facial surgery back to that childhood living room.
The other gift he was born with is a perfectionist's temperament: details matter to him, and when he decides to learn something he gives it his full concentration and effort. He earned a 4.00 (A+) grade average from his first year of school through to graduation, and he never needed a tutor. Everything he learned, he learned from books and worked out for himself. He is a self-taught learner by nature, a habit that still shapes how he studies every new technique today.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dr. Rushapol Sdawat board-certified?
Yes. He holds Medical Council of Thailand licence No. 17689 and the Diploma of the Medical Council of Thailand certifying proficiency in Plastic Surgery (2000). He is a member of the Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Thailand and ISAPS.
How many years of experience does Dr. Rushapol have?
28 years of surgical experience, with more than 10,000 procedures performed, including more than 5,000 facelifts.
Where does Dr. Rushapol operate?
Intrarat Hospital in Bangkok for international patients, and also Ekachai Hospital (Samut Sakhon) and Sdawat Clinic (Nakhon Sawan).
Does Dr. Rushapol perform every operation himself?
Yes. Every procedure is performed personally and is never delegated.
Can I consult with Dr. Rushapol before travelling?
Yes. A live video consultation in English takes place before booking, covering what is achievable, which procedures are indicated, recovery timelines and the risks specific to your case.
Is "Dr. Dominic" the same surgeon?
Yes. Some international patients know Dr. Rushapol Sdawat as Dr. Dominic.
Consultation
Consultations are available in person in Bangkok or by video. You receive a written treatment plan and an itemised quotation afterwards. Consultations are part of standard assessment, not a promotional offer.
All surgery carries risks. Individual results vary from person to person and are not guaranteed. A consultation and assessment with your surgeon is required before any procedure.
