Plastic Surgery in Thailand for New Zealand Patients
Facelift, neck lift and facial surgery in Bangkok with Dr. Rushapol Sdawat, M.D.
Dr. Rushapol Sdawat, Medical Council of Thailand licence No. 17689 and Thai Board-Certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, consults with New Zealand patients by video before they travel and operates at Intrarat Hospital in Bangkok. New Zealanders face a longer journey than Australians, usually with a connection, and a smaller local market for facial surgery, so the planning questions are slightly different. This page is written for them rather than copied from the Australian page.
The journey from New Zealand
Bangkok to Auckland is about twelve hours with a connection; Wellington and Christchurch add a domestic leg. That makes two things more important than they are for an Australian patient. First, arrive with a full day to rest before the pre-operative assessment rather than going from the airport to the hospital. Second, plan the return flight around clot risk: long-haul immobility after recent surgery is a real, if uncommon, risk, higher if you are on hormone therapy, have had a previous clot or smoke. Fly only after your in-person clearance, wear graduated compression stockings, walk hourly, hydrate, and avoid alcohol and sleeping tablets. Read: flying after surgery: how long is safe?
Cost in New Zealand dollars
Indicative ranges below are those published in the practice's facelift in Thailand guide for Australian and New Zealand patients. They are a guide only; your itemised quotation follows consultation.
| Procedure | Indicative NZD in Thailand | Indicative NZD in New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Deep plane facelift | NZ$13,200 to NZ$22,000 | NZ$38,000 to NZ$55,000-plus, all-in |
| Extended deep plane facelift with deep neck lift | NZ$16,500 to NZ$26,500 | — |
| SMAS facelift | NZ$8,800 to NZ$15,400 | NZ$28,000 to NZ$50,000, all-in (full facelift) |
| Neck lift alone | NZ$6,000 to NZ$12,000 | NZ$11,000 to NZ$27,500 |
| Upper and lower blepharoplasty | NZ$2,000 to NZ$3,500 (upper, added) and NZ$2,750 to NZ$5,000 (lower, added) | NZ$16,500 to NZ$22,000 |
Return flights from New Zealand cost more than from Australia's east coast, and three weeks' accommodation, a companion's travel and insurance are on top. A quotation that bundles hotel, transfers and surgery into one number hides what you are paying the surgeon; ask for it itemised. Read: why cosmetic surgery is cheaper in Thailand.
How long to stay in Thailand
Plan on around two weeks for a facelift alone and closer to three when it is combined with a neck lift, eyelid surgery or fat grafting. Stitches come out between about day seven and day twelve, and an in-person review before departure clears you to fly. Because the return journey is long, Dr. Rushapol routinely advises moving the flight a day later than the last review rather than flying the same day; one extra night is cheap insurance. Read: how long to stay in Bangkok after a facelift.
Recovery and time off work
Expect two to three weeks off desk-based work and four to six for physical work. Bruising becomes coverable with makeup by the second week; firmness along the jawline and neck is normal scar maturation and settles over months. Light exercise from around week three or four; no lifting, straining or inverted positions before then. A facelift does not change sun damage, and fresh scars should be protected from the sun while they mature. Read: facelift recovery timeline.
Your GP and follow-up in New Zealand
Tell your GP exactly what you are having done and when, and ask directly whether they will see you for wound checks after you return; some will, some will not. Bring home a written operation note, medication list and anaesthetic summary in English. Video reviews with Dr. Rushapol are scheduled at roughly one week after you return, then at six weeks, three months and a year, with extra calls whenever something is unclear.
If a complication occurs after you return
Most complications are minor and appear in the first one to two weeks, while you are still in Bangkok, which is why the stay is not shortened. Later problems are usually managed by video review plus simple local care from your GP or practice nurse with written instructions from Dr. Rushapol. A small number need hands-on treatment, such as draining a collection or reviewing an infection. Some New Zealand surgeons are reluctant to take on non-emergency care of surgery performed overseas, so a pre-arranged GP and a contingency fund matter; public hospitals will treat you in an emergency. Travel insurance generally excludes elective cosmetic surgery abroad and its complications. Late revision is judged only after six to twelve months, and returning to Bangkok is often the more practical option. Read: complications after cosmetic surgery abroad.
Verifying a Thai surgeon from New Zealand
Get the surgeon's full name and Medical Council of Thailand licence number in writing and check it on the Council's public register. Cross-check the ISAPS member directory, which requires board certification in the surgeon's own country and is searchable from New Zealand. Confirm an anaesthetist present throughout, an accredited hospital with an overnight stay, and a written complication and revision policy before paying a deposit. Read: is cosmetic surgery in Thailand safe?
Frequently asked questions
How much does a facelift in Thailand cost in New Zealand dollars?
Indicatively NZ$8,800 to NZ$26,500 depending on technique and combined procedures, against NZ$38,000 to NZ$55,000-plus for a deep plane facelift in New Zealand. Your itemised quotation follows consultation.
When can I fly home to New Zealand after a facelift?
After stitch removal and an in-person review clearing you to travel, typically around two weeks after a facelift and closer to three for combined procedures. Because the sector is long, flying the day after your final review is safer than the same day.
Can I consult before I travel?
Yes. A live video consultation in English takes place before booking. Surgery is confirmed only after an in-person examination in Bangkok.
Will a New Zealand doctor treat me if something goes wrong?
Public hospitals will treat you in an emergency. Routine follow-up and any revision should be arranged in advance with your GP, and you should expect to pay privately for a surgical review at home.
Request a consultation
A live video consultation in English takes place before booking. You receive a written treatment plan and an itemised quotation afterwards.
See also: the international patient pathway, the Australian patient page and deep plane facelift in Bangkok.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Rushapol Sdawat, M.D., Medical Council of Thailand licence No. 17689. Last reviewed: 7 September 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice, and cannot replace an individual assessment. All surgery carries risk. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed. Discuss any planned overseas surgery with your GP before travelling.
