To use or not to use an agent

For those who visit Thailand for plastic surgery we recommend the use of an agent to help with travel and hospital arrangements. Why? There is a few compelling reasons. Good agents can help you to make the whole process smoother. They are also good sources of information. On top of that, they don't add much to your total costs and sometimes actually can help you save money. The more complex the procedures you want to have, the more recommended an agent becomes. While we don't recommend agents so strongly for dental work, LASIK or simpler cosmetic procedures like Botox shots, we believe that agents do add value and make you feel more at ease.

What agents can do for you

Agents speak your language and can help to bridge time and cultural differences. They have experience arranging operations and know how things work in Thailand. Established agents also have better access to hospital staff and administrators and can sometimes get you appointments you would not be able to get on your own. You don't know where to get your x-rays scanned? Your agent does. You want a hotel conveniently located? Your agent knows which are close and might be able to provide you with special rates.

It is always good to know someone who can help in case of trouble. Professional operators have someone on the ground in Thailand who is always reachable by phone. Even if you don't need it, it's good to know that you have a number you can call if something unexpected happens.

Besides all the arrangements related to your surgery, agents are usually also happy to help you with typical travel agent type work. Need an address of a good spa? A pleasant resort in the hills near Chieng Mai? A domestic flight? A car and a driver? Your agent should be able to help with all of that.

How to choose a medical tourist agent?

Some hospitals have preferred agents. So, if you already know, which hospital you want to have your plastic surgery at, contact them and ask if they can recommend someone. If not, you will find plenty of them on the Internet offering their services. We recommend to evaluate them with the following points in mind:

• Do they have people on the ground in Thailand? This is probably the most important point. One-man operations are a little riskier than companies with a proper office and staff. Talk to them, just to make sure that you speak the same language. Giving them a phone call also gives you an idea as to how reachable they are.
• Are they registered in your country and have people on the ground to talk to?
• Will you get to talk to your surgeon before traveling?
• How up front and transparent are they about their fees and prices? Good agents get special deals on surgery packages and can make money without charging you extra. They also can offer better rates for hotels and other services than you would be able to get over the Internet yourself.
• How much of the procedure do you need to pay up front to secure a booking? Do you pay the agent for the procedure or do you pay directly to the hospital?
• Are they offering you a list of hospitals and doctors or are they linked to only one facility? If they deal only with one facility, make sure that it is one of the top hospitals of the country. Bigger hospitals with proper accreditation are certified to have proper procedures in place. While a small, lesser known clinic with a surgeon you never heard of might turn out to be a great choice, it is a bigger gamble.
• Are they recommended by the hospital you are considering? Check the hospitals website or send them an inquiry. Some of the hospitals include an agent recommendation into heir reply.
• Does the agent provide testimonials of previous patients?

How much medical tourist agents cost and how they make money

Agents have to main income streams. The more obvious one is what they charge you directly for their services. The second one is commissions the earn from their business partners, which are mainly the hospitals or clinics they work with, travel agents, hotels, spas, etc. Some of them generate enough income through their commissions, that they don't need to charge you extra. Since hospitals often sell plastic surgery packages to agents at prices below the prices they charge to direct customers, the arrangement between you and the agent can be a win-win: free or very cheap service for you and income for the medical tourist agent.

The losers in this scenario are the health care facilities, but they also benefit from smoother processes. While many of the top healthcare facilities in Thailand do specifically target foreigners, they are at their core still normal hospitals and normal hospitals and their staff are not fully focused on the special needs of medical tourists. Agents are facilitators in this business and help to ensure that both sides get the best out of it.