Preecha Aesthetic Institute
The clinic of Thailand's gender-affirming surgery pioneer, with operations carried out in partner hospitals
Independently assessed by Bea Siriwat
Last reviewed 12 October 2026 · How we evaluate
PAI is built around Dr Preecha Tiewtranon, the surgeon widely credited with performing Thailand's first gender surgery in 1975. The institute says its team has carried out more than 6,800 gender-affirming operations, alongside facial feminisation and general cosmetic surgery. Consultations and follow-up happen at the clinic on Sukhumvit 55, while operations under general anaesthetic take place in affiliated private hospitals.
At a Glance
Our Assessment of Preecha Aesthetic Institute
PAI's draw is history and specialism. Its founder helped create Thailand's gender-affirming surgery field, and its surgeons are board-certified Thai plastic surgeons trained at Chulalongkorn University who list WPATH and AsiaPATH memberships. For male-to-female surgery in particular, the team offers several vaginoplasty techniques, including sigmoid colon vaginoplasty, which fewer surgeons perform.
The trade-offs need weighing. PAI is a clinic, not a hospital, and holds no accreditation of its own. Your operation takes place in a partner hospital, which the site illustrates with Phyathai 2 and Vimut hospitals but does not clearly assign by procedure, so confirm in writing which hospital you will be in. Dr Preecha began surgical training in the 1960s and his site does not say how much he still operates, so ask which surgeon will perform your operation. The website also looks lightly maintained, with its most recent news from 2024 and no published prices.
PAI suits gender-affirming and facial feminisation patients who value an experienced, long-established team and are willing to ask detailed questions. Patients who want everything under one accredited roof may prefer Kamol.
Who Preecha Aesthetic Institute Is Best For
In one sentence, Preecha Aesthetic Institute is the right choice for gender-affirming and facial feminisation patients who accept mid-range tier pricing. The lists below tell you whether that is you.
A strong fit if you
- Male-to-female and female-to-male gender-affirming surgery patients
- Facial feminisation surgery patients
- Patients who want surgeons with long experience in gender-affirming techniques, including sigmoid colon vaginoplasty
- Those staying in the Thong Lo and Sukhumvit area
Look elsewhere if you
- Patients who want consultation, surgery and recovery all in one accredited building
- Those who want published prices before making contact
- Patients who want to know in advance exactly which surgeon will operate without asking
Not sure which side you fall on? Describe your case to the care team and we will tell you straight.
Accreditations, Verified
PAI is a clinic and holds no accreditation of its own. Operations under general anaesthetic take place at affiliated private hospitals, which PAI says are JCI-accredited. Phyathai 2 Hospital, one of the two it shows, states it holds JCI accreditation.
JCI-accredited partner hospital
PAI is a clinic and holds no accreditation of its own. It states that operations under general anaesthetic take place at affiliated JCI-accredited private hospitals; its facilities page shows Phyathai 2 Hospital and Vimut Hospital. Phyathai 2 states that it is accredited by Joint Commission International, and the Phyathai Hospitals Group article on Wikipedia, citing the JCI directory, records accreditation from 2014. We could not confirm JCI status for Vimut Hospital, or retrieve a current listing from the JCI online directory.
See the sourceWhere the issuing body publishes a public register, the badge links straight to it; otherwise it links to the hospital's own published record. Our full source list is below.
Notable Surgeons at Preecha Aesthetic Institute
PAI's surgeons are Thai board-certified plastic surgeons trained at Chulalongkorn University, each listing membership of WPATH (through HBIGDA) and the Asian Professional Association for Transgender Health.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Preecha Tiewtranon
Founder, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. MD from Chulalongkorn University. Certified by the American Board of Surgery (1973), Thai Board of General Surgery and Thai Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Former Chairman of the Plastic Surgery Unit, Chulalongkorn Hospital. Former President of the Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Thailand and of the Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons of Thailand.
View their profile in the hospital's directoryDr Burin Wangjiraniran
Plastic Surgeon. MD from Chulalongkorn University (1994). Thai Board of General Surgery (2000) and Board of Plastic Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand (2002). Plastic surgeon at Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital 2002 to 2009. Focus on facial feminisation and male-to-female surgery.
View their profile in the hospital's directoryDr Sutin Khobunsongserm
Plastic Surgeon. MD from Chulalongkorn University. General surgery and plastic surgery residencies at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Thai Board of General Surgery and Thai Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
View their profile in the hospital's directoryCredentials are listed as published facts, not endorsements. Your quote names your surgeon, so you can verify their registration before committing to anything. Roster checked against the hospital's own doctor directory on 12 October 2026.
Cosmetic Surgery Specialties
Gender-affirming surgery is what PAI is known for, but the same surgeons also offer facial feminisation and general cosmetic surgery.
What Preecha Aesthetic Institute Costs
PAI does not publish prices, so every procedure is quote-only. Because operations under general anaesthetic take place in private partner hospitals, expect the quote to combine the surgeon's fee with hospital charges, and ask for each part to be itemised along with the length of hospital stay.
Preecha Aesthetic Institute's itemised price for your procedure, plus two alternative hospitals worth comparing. Free, no obligation, reply within 24 hours.
Get a Free QuotePaying for treatment
How Preecha Aesthetic Institute Compares
For gender-affirming surgery in Bangkok, PAI is usually compared with the specialist hospitals. Here is how it differs.
Preecha Aesthetic Institute vs Kamol Cosmetic Hospital
Kamol is a purpose-built cosmetic hospital that states it holds JCI accreditation, with surgery and recovery under one roof. PAI is a clinic whose operations take place in partner hospitals. Both have long gender-affirming track records.
Read our Kamol Cosmetic Hospital profilePreecha Aesthetic Institute vs Bumrungrad International Hospital
Bumrungrad is a full-service, JCI-accredited hospital with large international patient services at premium prices. PAI is a small specialist team whose main strength is gender-affirming and facial feminisation surgery.
Read our Bumrungrad International Hospital profilePreecha Aesthetic Institute vs Rattinan Clinic
Both are specialist clinics rather than hospitals. Rattinan focuses on body contouring and holds AACI accreditation; PAI focuses on gender-affirming surgery and holds no accreditation of its own.
Read our Rattinan Clinic profileInternational Patient Services at Preecha Aesthetic Institute
Most of PAI's patients have historically come from abroad, and its website and coordinators work in English. Support is practical rather than extensive.
Email and LINE Enquiries
Consultations can be requested by email at [email protected], through an online appointment form, or on LINE.
Recovery Accommodation
The clinic suggests nearby Thong Lo serviced apartments for recovery stays.
Post-Operative Dilators
PAI supplies vaginal dilators designed for its penile inversion and sigmoid colon techniques for aftercare.
If something goes wrong after you fly home
Preecha Aesthetic Institute provides a post-operative care plan before you leave, and follow-up communication with your surgical team can be arranged through its international patient office.
As your coordinator we stay in the loop after you land. If a concern comes up we help you reach your surgeon, get records to a local doctor, and understand what the hospital will and will not cover. We tell you this before you book, not after.
How Booking Works at Preecha Aesthetic Institute
- Send your enquiry by email, the online appointment form or LINE, with your medical history
- Ask which surgeon will operate and which partner hospital your surgery will take place in
- Request an itemised quote covering the surgeon fee, hospital charges, length of stay and dilators where relevant
- Attend an in-person consultation at the Sukhumvit 55 clinic before surgery
When you enquire through us, our care team handles these steps with the hospital on your behalf and confirms everything back to you before you commit to anything.
About Preecha Aesthetic Institute
Dr Preecha Tiewtranon trained in surgery in the United States and plastic surgery in the United States and Australia in the 1960s and 1970s, then led the plastic surgery unit at Chulalongkorn University Hospital. He ran Chollada Clinic from 1978 and established PAI in its current form in 2002 with colleagues from Chulalongkorn. He is a former president of both the Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Thailand and the Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons of Thailand.
The clinic on Sukhumvit 55 has 10 consultation rooms and 6 minor operating rooms for procedures under local anaesthetic. Operations under general anaesthetic are performed at affiliated private hospitals, which PAI describes as JCI-accredited. Alongside gender-affirming surgery, PAI offers facial feminisation and a wide range of cosmetic procedures including rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, facelift, breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tuck.
Facilities & Technology
Location & Getting There
Common Questions About Preecha Aesthetic Institute
What patients typically want to know before choosing this hospital
Is Preecha Aesthetic Institute a hospital?
Is PAI JCI accredited?
Will Dr Preecha perform my surgery?
What gender-affirming procedures does PAI offer?
Does PAI publish prices?
How We Evaluated Preecha Aesthetic Institute
Our editorial team independently researched Preecha Aesthetic Institute. No clinic can pay to be listed here, ranked higher or reviewed favourably. Here is what we assessed. Our checks are desk-based, verified against the issuing bodies' registers and the hospital's own published materials rather than a hospital-arranged visit. Read the full methodology.
We confirmed each accreditation directly with the issuing bodies and against published records, rather than relying on marketing claims, so the badges you see are real.
We checked the qualifications of the clinicians who would treat you and the depth of the specialist teams, technology and inpatient support standing behind them.
We assessed whether there is a genuine international patient service (multilingual staff, visa help and structured coordination) rather than just a translated website.
We looked for documented care plans, follow-up scheduling and clear channels, so you can still reach your care team once you have flown home.
We evaluated whether estimates are itemised and given in writing upfront, covering treatment, stay and follow-up, rather than arriving as one opaque figure.
We reviewed patient reports across multiple independent sources, looking for consistent themes in satisfaction, complaints and treatment outcomes.
How we make money
Hospitals cannot pay for placement, ranking or a favourable review anywhere on this site. We earn a coordination fee from the hospital only when you choose to book through us, and it never changes your price. That conflict is why we publish our evaluation criteria and sources on every profile, and link accreditations to the issuing bodies.
If you believe any information on this profile is inaccurate or outdated, please contact our editorial team and we will check it against the source.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Individual results, recovery times, and suitability vary. Always consult a qualified surgeon before making decisions about treatment.
At a Glance
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