The Kasikorn Research Centre, in Bangkok, Thailand, reports that 1.28 million foreigners visited Thai Hospitals in 2005. No doubt the high number of tourists has to do with the reputation Thailand is acquiring as a leading, low-cost, medical haven for plastic surgery and other major procedures. It also doesn't hurt that Thailand is a scenic paradise with attractive beaches and breathtaking views of the countryside.

To meet their needs, medical tourism companies have compiled competitive discount packages that include a flight, hotel, tour and surgical fees. Just how cheap is surgery in Thailand? According to a May 2006 report in Time Magazine, the cost of gastric bypass in the United States can be from $27,717 to $69,316, but a mere $11,000-15,000 in Thailand. And according to MediThai.net, the cost of other plastic surgery procedures are also a steal: nose reshaping: $5,000-$6,000/US, $2,550/Thailand; breast augmentation: $5,000-$6,500/US, $2,250/Thailand; liposuction: $5,500-$7,000/US, $1,900/Thailand; facelift: $7,000-$9,000/US, $3,050/Thailand; tummy tuck: $6,000-8,000/US, $4,125/Thailand.

The demand for medical tourism has caused Thai hospitals to make extensive investments in its facilities to attract more foreigners. As a result, many are obtaining the coveted and widely-recognized Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) accreditations that require hospitals to comply with what is widely considered, the most rigorous medical standards in the world. What's more, many of the doctors have trained and practiced at American institutions in the West. Medical tourism is particularly popular in Bangkok, Thailand where there are several main hospitals known for their highly-skilled surgeons and luxury accommodations.

Take for instance the Bangkok International Hospital. The hospital, which has an ISO accreditation, is one of several highly-specialized facilities in the city that almost exclusively cater to foreigners. The hospital has a dedicated team of translators speaking more than 30 languages. Designed to look like a four-star hotel, the hospital is big on hospitality and ambiance. Patients can get eyelid surgery, breast augmentation, facelifts or nose reshaping. To compliment your surgical makeover, patients can also indulge in a haircut, manicure or Thai massage right in the hospital's onsite salon.

Bangkok Plastic Surgery Clinic is solely dedicated to cosmetic surgery. The clinic offers all of the basic plastic surgery procedures, but also performs gender reassignment surgery, facial feminization surgery, hair transplant surgery, lip augmentation surgery, and cheek implant surgery.

Bumrungrad Hospital is equally competitive for the foreign market with a dedicated international department and service apartments for medical tourists. Bumrungrad is also accredited by the Joint Commission. According to hospital records, more than 50,000 Americans travel to their facility each year. The hospital is so well respected that it has been featured on 60 Minutes and the NBC Today Show. Most recently, Newsweek magazine named it one of the top ten international health care destinations worldwide. Its top procedures are LASIK eye surgery, eyelid surgery, breast augmentation, facelift, liposuction and nose reshaping.

BNH Hospital is also popular among tourists. Its level of care is so impressive, that the Prime Minister gave it the Export Award in 2004. The hospital has its own International Travel Centre designed to cater to the needs of medical tourists. It too has a multi-lingual staff. However, the hospital is most known for its expertise in gender reassignment surgery and laser teeth whitening.

According to a recent article in the Bankok Post newspaper, the newest and fastest-growing area of medical tourism is dental visits because most major dental procedures are not covered by insurance in the U.S. health care system. In countries like Thailand, patients can get almost any type of dental procedure for a fraction of the cost, including, root canals, fillings, replacement teeth and veneers.

"I was somewhat hesitant about having any type of operation in a foreign country, and it turned out to be...beyond my expectations," said Kim Atwater from Bend, OR, in a recent interview with CBS. She had eyelift surgery in Thailand.

While some may view medical travel as an act of vanity, others are doing it because they need life-saving surgery that their insurance may not cover. Or some, like Byron Bonnewell from Shreveport, LA, do not have health insurance. When Bonnewell couldn't afford the $100,000 heart bypass surgery he needed in the United States, he decided to have it done in Bumrungrad Hospital, where he only paid $12,000. Because his surgeon, Dr. Chad Wanishawad, used to practice at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, he felt comfortable having the surgery overseas.

"Every doctor that I saw there has practiced in the United States," said Bonnewell in a recent interview with CBS. And what about the rest of the staff? "I found it so strange in Thailand, because they were all registered nurses. Being in a hospital in the United States, we see all kinds of orderlies, all kinds of aides, maybe one RN on duty on the whole floor of the hospital. In Thailand, I bet I had eight RNs just on my section of the floor alone. First-class care."

While there are many success stories, consumers must still do their research when considering medical tourism. First, make sure the facility and its staff have the proper certification and training (i.e. JCAHO, ISO, RN, MD). If they were trained in the United States, you can look them up with the American Medical Association. If they were trained elsewhere, find out what the medical board is in their country. Secondly, make sure you receive proper follow-up care. Find out from the doctor how many appointments you need for follow-up care and if that cost is included in your total since the hospital will require upfront payment. Also, research that country's malpractice laws. Some countries have very weak laws in this arena, so if something goes wrong, you may have little legal rights.