Choosing a clinic in Thailand
Thailand has a large private healthcare sector, from major hospitals to small clinics in shopping malls. Standards vary. These checks help you find out who will treat you and whether the place is licensed for the treatment.
1. Check the doctor
Every doctor practising medicine in Thailand must hold a licence from the Medical Council of Thailand (แพทยสภา). The Council's website offers a search by name, which shows whether a licence is registered. Ask the clinic for the full name of the doctor who will treat you as well as the clinic's brand name.
For surgery, also ask about specialist training. Plastic surgeons, dermatologists and other specialists are certified through the Royal Colleges and specialist boards. A doctor can legally perform some aesthetic treatments without specialist certification, so ask directly what training they have for the procedure you want.
2. Check the clinic or hospital
Private clinics and hospitals need a licence under the Sanatorium Act, issued through the Department of Health Service Support (กรมสนับสนุนบริการสุขภาพ) of the Ministry of Public Health. Licensed premises should display their licence, along with the names of the doctors working there. If a procedure involves general anaesthesia or an overnight stay, ask whether it will be done in a hospital.
Some hospitals hold accreditation from Thailand's Healthcare Accreditation Institute or from Joint Commission International (JCI). Accreditation reviews systems such as infection control and patient safety. It does not cover every clinic, and lack of it does not mean a clinic is unsafe, but it is useful information.
3. Check physiotherapists and other professionals
Physiotherapists are licensed by the Physical Therapy Council (สภากายภาพบำบัด). Nurses are licensed by the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council. Ask who will carry out each part of your treatment.
4. Check products and devices
Drugs, fillers, toxins and many devices must be registered with the Thai Food and Drug Administration (อย.). Ask for the brand and product name before treatment, and ask to see the packaging. Unusually low prices can be a sign of unregistered or counterfeit products.
5. Get it in writing
- The procedure, the doctor's name and the facility
- The total price and what it includes: tests, anaesthesia, garments, medicines, follow-up visits and revisions
- The deposit and refund policy if you cancel or are found unsuitable
- The aftercare plan and an out-of-hours contact
Warning signs
- Pressure to book or pay on the day of the consultation
- Before-and-after photos as the main evidence, with no discussion of risks
- Offers that bundle many procedures at a discount
- Treatment by staff whose role or licence the clinic will not confirm
- Procedures done outside a clinic, for example at home or in a hotel
If something goes wrong
Contact the treating clinic first. If the problem is urgent, go to a hospital emergency department or call 1669. Complaints about a doctor's conduct can be made to the Medical Council of Thailand, and complaints about a clinic to the Department of Health Service Support.
Written by the SurgicalEyes editorial team. Last updated October 2026. See how we prepare and check guides in our medical review policy.