Thailand's cosmetic and gender reassignment surgery industry is bucking the global economic downturn, with glamorous international ladyboy shows a walking advertisement for the skills of local surgeons.
Preecha Tiewtranon, chairman and CEO of the Preecha Aesthetic Institute, the nation's leading cosmetic and reconstructive surgery provider, said Thailand remained the world's leading destination for such operations.
"One of my cases came from Iran. He told me God made him with male organs, but his inner feeling was that of a woman. He wanted to become a woman," said Mr Preecha.
The cost of gender reassignment surgery in Thailand averages about 275,000 baht, compared with between 510,000 baht and 1.2 million baht in the United States.
Mr Preecha said such surgical procedures in Thailand had grown in popularity because new technology allows patients to experience the "real feeling of sexual intercourse" after surgery, which he claims is the first of its kind in the world.
"Thailand is a well-known destination for gender reassignment surgery in the eyes of foreigners. In fact, we never promote the service, it comes from word of mouth," Mr Preecha said, adding that the growing number of ladyboy cabaret performers working overseas helped promote the business.
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