Questions to record before deciding on surgery
Prepare questions and write down the operating surgeon’s answers. Ask for an interpreter or another explanation when something is unclear.
- Suitability: what concern is being assessed, what can the proposed procedure change, and what are its limitations?
- Alternatives: what other approaches, including no procedure, are reasonable?
- Clinician and facility: who will operate, where, and what experience do they have with similar cases?
- Risks: what risks apply to me, and where should I seek help if a complication occurs?
- Recovery: what assistance and appointments are needed, and when should fitness to travel be assessed?
- Outcome: what change is realistic? Can we review comparable cases with their postoperative dates?
- Follow-up and costs: what happens if further treatment is needed or I am dissatisfied, and what costs and conditions apply?
- After the consultation, record your goals and what you wish to keep unchanged; the proposed procedure, technique, clinician and limits; unanswered questions; and the next documents or appointments with a named contact.
Santongsuai can help organize questions and communication. The clinician assesses suitability and treatment. You do not need to decide immediately.
Compare quotations on the same basis
Request itemized details before comparing a total quotation with one showing separate fees. A preliminary estimate may change after examination; retain both versions.
- Match procedure, area, technique and whether it is primary or revision surgery.
- Confirm examinations, anesthesia, medication, materials and accommodation at the facility.
- List included follow-up visits, stitch removal and care, plus separately charged services.
- Confirm currency, tax, card fees, deposit and balance.
- Record the validity date and rescheduling, cancellation and refund conditions.
- Ask what further treatment is covered and what may cost extra.
- Separate medical fees from flights, hotel, transport, interpreting and personal expenses. For a baht estimate, record the exchange rate and calculation date.
- Before transferring money, confirm the recipient, amount, purpose and conditions in writing; keep evidence. Mark unanswered items as pending rather than included.
An estimate is not the final amount charged. Ask for the revised written quotation after the clinician confirms the plan.
Prepare a revision-surgery history
Put previous procedures and changes in chronological order. If a detail is unknown, mark it unknown and request records; do not infer a material or technique from a photo.
- For every procedure: date, facility, clinician and documented procedure name.
- Previous records: operative report, implant or material card and available test results.
- Current concerns: when they began, changes over time and assessments or treatment already received.
- Current medicines, supplements, allergies and medical conditions for the clinician.
- Unfiltered photos before treatment, at follow-up stages and now, with dates if known.
- Your main concern, desired changes and questions.
- Ask whether records are sufficient, what further assessment is needed, the alternatives and limits, and how timing should be assessed.
Photos support preparation, not confirmation of a surgical plan or result. Send only necessary health information through a verified private channel. Seek clinical assessment for concerning symptoms rather than waiting for revision planning or a chat reply.
Use reviews to prepare questions
Explain exactly what you like in a reference photo and ask which aspects suit your own anatomy and which may not be achievable.
- Is this a genuine case of the named facility, and is the original source available?
- Which procedures were performed together?
- When was the after-photo taken, and are later follow-up images available?
- Do lighting, angle, expression, makeup or editing differ?
- Was there a discount or sponsorship, and are its conditions disclosed?
- Treat missing details as unconfirmed. Review counts and followers alone do not establish suitability; a realistic-looking image does not prove it is unedited.
Keep the original link for consultation. Online visibility does not grant permission to republish. Confirm image rights and patient consent before using customer images publicly.
Confirm the receiving facility in Thailand
Sending documents does not mean a treatment appointment is accepted. Obtain the receiving facility’s confirmation and keep it with the Korean hospital’s instructions.
- Confirm the receiving department, channel and date of receipt.
- Confirm whether wound assessment, stitch removal or other follow-up is accepted and whether assessment is needed first.
- Record the date, time, location or walk-in process when appointments cannot be booked.
- List missing records and who will obtain them.
- Record known fees, fees awaiting assessment and the confirmed payment method.
- Confirm how the assessment will be shared with the original clinician and which appointments remain.
- If acceptance is pending, discuss a workable follow-up plan before returning. Do not change stitch-removal dates, medication or care yourself.
The treating clinician assesses fitness to fly. Santongsuai coordinates communication; facilities decide on care. In an emergency, seek local emergency care first rather than waiting for an appointment or chat reply.
Updated 4 October 2026. General planning information; treatment decisions belong to the treating clinician. Overseas guidance supports questions, not Korean or Thai legal requirements.
Start with what you want to address, then choose a hospital
When choosing a cosmetic surgery hospital in Korea, consider whether its doctors and treatment approaches match your concerns. Santongsuai gathers options from its network, including Made Young, Jewelry, Banobagi, DA, Fresh and NUWA, so you can compare information and consult a doctor before deciding.
Once you have a shortlist, check who will operate, what the proposed technique addresses and how the hospital manages safety. Reviews should be considered alongside these details.
To compare the coordinator’s role as well, read the guide to choosing a Korean cosmetic surgery agency for Thai clients, which includes a checklist covering the company, hospital, costs, interpreters and postoperative follow-up.
Check the doctor and facility
- The doctor’s name, license, specialty and experience with the procedure
- The anesthesia team and monitoring of vital signs during surgery
- The surgical facility, emergency equipment, recovery room and transfer plan
- Reviews of several cases with similar concerns and starting anatomy, with a clear time since treatment
Check postoperative care
- Emergency contact channels and the person responsible at each stage
- Examination dates, stitch removal dates and criteria for flying home
- Referral documents if further treatment in Thailand is needed
- Costs for situations outside the package
Safety principles
Read the basic information from ASPS Patient Safety and use the consultation to ask openly about risks, alternatives and contingency plans.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose a doctor based on follower count?
Follower numbers do not establish suitability or safety. Review qualifications, experience, comparable cases and the facility’s systems together.
Plan your next step
Read how to budget for cosmetic surgery in Korea or explore Santongsuai’s Korean cosmetic surgery coordination services to prepare questions before consulting a hospital.