Brazil, Argentina and Turkey now more popular and affordable for gender reassignment surgery than places like Thailand

Brazil, Argentina and Turkey are now the most popular and affordable destinations for gender reassignment surgery, an analysis has revealed.

The research by medical site Healthnews contrasts the popular belief that Thailand is the top country for transgender surgeries, where for years American and Western tourists have traveled for male-to-female and female-to-male operations.

Surgeries in Turkey are 68 percent cheaper than in the US, costing $7,300 on average compared to more than $23,000.

Turkey offers the cheapest phalloplasty, which involves constructing an artificial penis, using skin taken from elsewhere on the body, facial feminization surgery, and vaginoplasty, with average costs of $9,755, $10,841, and $5,215, respectively.

The country has a 'relatively modest cost of living compared to Western countries and significantly lower clinical and laboratory fees,' the researchers said.

It comes as a transgender person shared their experience after receiving an experimental new surgery that involves removing the entirety of their external genitals.

Surgeries in Turkey are 68 percent lower than in the US, costing $7,300 on average compared to more than $23,000

South Korea offers the lowest price for female-to-male top surgery, which involves the removal of both breasts to create a more manly looking chest

In the US, a phalloplasty can cost around $30,000.

Thailand, despite being thought of as a top destination for gender reassignment surgery, only ranks fourth with an average surgery price of $11,096.

Brazil and Argentina are some of the cheapest options in Latin America, and Belgium is the cheapest choice in Europe.

South Korea offers the lowest price for female-to-male top surgery, which involves the removal of both breasts to create a more manly looking chest.

For a breast augmentation, used in male-to-female top surgery, Argentina is the most budget-friendly option, costing $3,716.

The US is the least affordable country for these types of surgeries because of limited insurance coverage for transgender individuals.

The researchers chose 10 countries which are most commonly mentioned in medical tourism literature, online forums, and health news.

The US is the least affordable country for these types of surgeries because of limited insurance coverage for transgender individuals 

These are: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US.

The researchers compiled pricing data from an average of 30 sources per country, including local surgical practices, online health forums, and healthcare price comparison platforms.

For facial feminization surgery, the researchers evaluated the package of procedures offered by clinics. 

These may include forehead contouring, rhinoplasty, cheek augmentation, chin and jaw reshaping, tracheal shave, lip augmentation, and hairline lowering, depending on the individual's desires and the clinic's offerings.

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According to Medical Tourism Mexico, some 1.2 million Americans travel to Mexico every year to undergo elective surgery, including cosmetic operations, at a discount.

In 2020, around 290,000 Americans traveled overseas for dental and medical procedures, according to Forbes. In 2019, the figure was 780,000.

At the same time, the number of sex change surgeries are rising rapidly across the globe. 

In America, the number of gender-affirming surgeries almost tripled from 4,552 in 2016 to 13,011 in 2019.

In the UK, 54 surgeries were carried out in 2000, compared to 143 in 2009.

Belgium is known for its progressive view on trans rights and healthcare and allows legal changes of name and gender without medical certification.

The Belgian healthcare system has endorsed sex reassignment surgery as a standard treatment since 1985, and there is a transgender politician, Petra De Sutter, among the country's current government.

Turkey, on the other hand, has significant gaps in transgender rights. Human rights organizations have reported continued violence against transgender people in the country.

As with any surgery, there is a risk of complications, but this risk is often increased when traveling abroad. 

Some countries' requirements for surgeons accreditation may be less than what would be required in the US, and there is also a risk of counterfeit medicines and lower quality medical devices. 

Medical tourism is a worldwide, multibillion-dollar market that continues to grow, the CDC said, with destinations for US residents including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Singapore, and Thailand.