A 44-year-old Thai woman has taken legal action against a Bangkok beauty clinic after claiming a cosmetic liposuction procedure left her abdomen wrinkled and uneven instead of giving her the sculpted six-pack appearance she had been promised.
The woman, identified only as Ying, said she spent more than 100,000 baht (approximately S$3,900) on the surgery but was left deeply disappointed with the outcome. She has since sought help from the Saimai Survive Foundation, which plans to refer the case to several Thai authorities for investigation.
However, the clinic has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the procedure was successful and that the results were satisfactory.
Ying said she first discovered the clinic through an online advertisement promoting a six-pack liposuction package for 39,999 baht (around S$1,560). Attracted by the promotion and the clinic’s strong social media presence, she decided to proceed with the operation.
Woman claims she was pressured into paying extra
According to Ying, clinic staff informed her shortly before surgery that she needed to pay an additional 70,000 baht (around S$2,730) for further treatment.
She alleged staff warned her that declining the extra procedure could leave her abdomen looking loose and uneven after surgery. Feeling she had little choice at that stage, she agreed to the additional payment.
Following the operation, Ying claimed the promised abdominal definition never materialised. Instead, she said her stomach appeared swollen, uneven and failed to resemble the results she had expected based on discussions with the clinic.
She said she confronted the surgeon over the outcome, but alleged the doctor insisted the operation had produced a good result.
Clinic allegedly stopped responding after complaints
Ying claimed she repeatedly contacted the clinic in an attempt to resolve the dispute, but eventually stopped receiving responses.
She also alleged that negative reviews she posted on the clinic’s Facebook page and other social media platforms were removed.
Seeking a second opinion, Ying visited another cosmetic doctor, who reportedly advised that corrective surgery would be required to improve the appearance of her abdomen.
According to Ying, the estimated cost of the revision procedure is about 300,000 baht (approximately S$11,700), nearly three times what she originally spent.
Clinic maintains surgery was successful
Accompanied by her lawyer, Ying later returned to the clinic to seek compensation for the corrective treatment.
She alleged the surgeon declined responsibility, stating that she had signed documents acknowledging the procedure and its outcome.
Instead of offering compensation, the doctor reportedly proposed additional treatment to improve her appearance. Ying rejected the offer, saying she no longer trusted the clinic.
She also challenged the clinic to publish photographs of her abdomen on its official social media accounts if it genuinely believed the surgery had achieved the promised results, but claimed the request was refused.
The clinic has reportedly maintained that the procedure was performed successfully and has denied that the surgery was unsuccessful.
Authorities asked to investigate clinic
Ying further claimed that several former clients later contacted her with similar complaints regarding cosmetic procedures carried out at the same clinic.
The Saimai Survive Foundation said it intends to submit the case to Thailand’s Office of the Consumer Protection Board, the Department of Health Service Support and the Medical Council of Thailand.
The foundation is seeking an investigation into both the clinic’s operating licence and the doctor who performed the procedure.
At the time of publication, no findings have been announced by the relevant authorities, and investigations have yet to determine whether any professional or regulatory standards were breached.