Quote from: Rachel.au on October 12, 2026, 08:29:42 PMHi everyone,
I have an orchi scheduled at Yanhee Hospital in Bangkok in January 2027. I have also completed a WPATH assessment in Australia and my GP is sending a dossier ahead.
Before I pay the deposit, I have a few logistics questions I'm hoping the community can help with:
Psychiatric assessments – Yanhee requires two in-house psychiatric assessments. Has anyone been able to pre-arrange these before arriving? How many days before surgery did they need to be done?
Arrival timing – For a surgery date of January 4th, what's the latest I should arrive in Bangkok to complete pre-op checks and the psych assessments?
Hotels – I'm looking for a hotel near Yanhee with an on-site restaurant and room service, or at least easy taxi access to the hospital and airport. I don't need to be within walking distance. Any recommendations for a comfortable recovery spot?
Post-discharge support – I'll be coming out of general anaesthesia and need someone to escort me back to my hotel, plus daily wound dressing checks for a few days. Does Yanhee have a partner caregiver service they work with, or should I arrange this independently?
Anything else – Any tips for a smooth experience at Yanhee, or things I should clarify with the hospital before booking?
I'm travelling alone, so any advice on making the recovery period manageable would be really appreciated.
Thanks for reading.
Hi Rachel,
I've had 2 ops in Bangkok. One was an orchiectomy and the other full facial surgery.
With the orchiectomy I don't think they did organise a package as such. In fact, I know they didn't. Admittedly I was already in Bangkok as I was living there. I still booked a hotel: more about that in a sec.
So if they meet you, great. If not then ... Transport from Suvarnabhumi Airport: as you probably know the roads are a bit of a 'mare in Bangkok. You'd get a taxi that won't cost toooo much and it will save hassle but if you're prepared to go for it the BTS/MRT is an absolute breeze in Bangkok. I always take it when I'm there unless I'm flying in or out at some unearthly hour. The BTS runs straight from the terminal and goes every few minutes. It's beautifully airconditioned. However, on your side of the river for Yanhee you would need a couple of changes so you may consider a cab is better. Or you can change once at Makkasan but it's not my favourite interchange.
The pre-op psychiatric assessment: it is now a legal requirement but it shouldn't be any hassle. Bring along some documentation from your own country backing up your decision. In theory you can get the pre-checks done the day before but I'd give yourself two or three days before the op which gives you a chance to suss out where you're staying and acclimatise. I imagine the hospital will also want to run blood tests? And they may well insist on an ECG which you would have to pay for probably unless it's included (doesn't cost very much at all). That's all standard pre-anaesthetic checking and they're very quick and efficient.
Hotels: that's an area of Bangkok I know slightly less well although I've stayed several times just across the river. You're not far from the backpacker hotspot of Khao San but I'd avoid that: Thais don't go there really and nor do people who know Bangkok and live there: it's a tourist trap really for people who have watched The Beach
Personally I'd go for something a little more plush where you will be looked after even if it means a metro or taxi ride. I can recommend the Centara Grand Central at Lad Prao. Not too far from Yanhee. I've stayed there a number of times. The prices are very good for what it is: with excellent facilities including room service. Very nice hotel.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g293916-d299585-Reviews-Centara_Grand_At_Central_Plaza_Ladprao_Bangkok-Bangkok.html 🔗That hotel would be just a 10 minute cab ride from Yanhee hospital and they will look after you. I've splashed out twice there with one of their corner suites: really lovely and cost less than a travelodge in your homeland
Phone: you doubtless know this but I'd preload a Thai eSim. There are stacks of great offers around. Otherwise you can pick up Sims at the airport but, truly, eSims are the way to go now. You can have both Sims on your phone and just switch.
Aftercare. Well, unless something goes wrong god forbid (see e.g.
@Devlyn ) you should be okay pretty quickly. The op is pretty quick so they will discharge you same day I'm guessing. You could see if you could pay for an English-speaking nurse to be with you on the journey back or for a night. There is at least one member of this forum who lives in Bangkok and who has such a contact:
@Bobbie The Site host
@Susan knows her and it is probably worth contacting Susan anyway as she had surgery in Bangkok.
You should be able to walk around with very little pain relief soon after the op. I mean, assuming it all goes well it's not a biggie to be honest. I took just paracetamol and was walking a km or so within a couple of days. Watch out for hot flushes though: they're far worse than the discomfort of the op. Mine lasted two or three weeks and they came on very suddenly. But the orchie itself was pretty straightforward compared to my other surgeries.
If you know Thailand then you will know this anyway, but it's an amazing country. A few days after my orchie there I flew down to the south (Krabi) and had a week in a gorgeous rural hotel in Ao Nang just chilling and being pampered. It was sooooo beautiful.
Oh and January is a wonderful time. Relatively cool evenings, nights, and mornings. Just watch for the air pollution which comes from the burning fields. Jan and Feb are bad for that in Bangkok. Maybe bring a mask if you're going to be out. I hope you can enjoy the food and sights.
When I returned from Thailand to London Heathrow I literally shouted in the Arrivals Lounge with arms aloft: 'I left my balls in Bangkok'. Don't ask me what possessed me but it felt fun at the time 😂
I have been sorely tempted to have my lip lift out in Bangkok but by the time I've paid my flights, hotel, and surgery it works out very little different from the UK. Would I have an orchiectomy in Thailand again? ABSOLUTELY.
Anything else please ask us and good luck.
xx
