Skift Take

We're pretty disgusted by the idea of this, and want to think it will be a complete failure. But the pessimist in us thinks this will be a huge success.

The Thailand Tourism Authority wants you to wipe that ugly look off your face — preferably with the help of some of the high-quality, low-cost cosmetic surgery it’s promoting in its new tourism campaign.

And maybe even for free.

On Monday the authority launched its “Thailand Extreme Makeover” competition and tourism campaign. According to the tourism authority, the “digital marketing campaign will give anyone who likes the idea of completely changing their appearance, the chance to do so at the hands of skilled Thailand-based surgeons.”

Women — and women only — are invited to upload multiple pictures of their face and explain what needs fixing. Three will be selected to come on all-expense paid trips to Thailand to have a plastic surgeon slice them up and reassemble their faces. Their surgery and the moments both leading up to it and following it will be captured on video and shared on the Thailand Extreme Makeover website.

While the subjects are being operated on, visitors to the website can vote on the “winner” who will receive $5,000 and a luxury vacation package. The two runners up will receive vacation packages as well.

According to the BBC, Bangkok is already the world’s most popular destination for medical tourism, with over half a million visitors seeking some type of medical care in 2011. It has enjoyed double-digit growth even in years of natural disasters and political unrest. Many Thai hospitals are certified by international medical accreditation organizations, offering a quality of care on par with U.S. or Western European medical providers.

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Tags: health, medical tourism, thailand

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