Last fact-checked: 14 October 2019

If you are thinking about travelling to Bali to undergo plastic surgery, this brief Medical Departures destination guide is for you.

As medical tourism continues to grow throughout Indonesia, the popular holiday island of Bali has emerged as an ideal destination to combine first-class beauty treatments with a trip of a lifetime.

Find out more about Bali and book in with a quality-checked surgeon through Medical Departures.

Bali in Brief

This stunning Indonesian island has long been a popular tourist destination and enjoys a global reputation for its rich, traditional artistic heritage, uniquely biodiverse marine species and coral reefs. Part of the Coral Triangle, you will find more than five hundred reef-building coral species in the area—around seven times more than in the whole of the Caribbean!

The earliest inhabitants of Bali date back to 2000 BC, when Austronesians migrated from Oceania and Southeast Asia, giving the Balinese their close cultural and linguistic links to the Indonesian archipelago, Oceania, the Philippines and Malaysia. A strong Hindu influence remains to this day as nine Hindu sects co-existed in ancient Bali, each worshipping their own specific deity. Indian, Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch influences are also evident within the Balinese culture, giving the island a unique and eclectic blend of Asian and European traditions.

Where Is Bali?

Bali is an island province of Indonesia situated at the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with Lombok to the east and Java island to the west. The small capital is Denpasar, which can be found in the south of the island.

Low Cost:

For many, the cost of undergoing plastic surgery in their home country can be prohibitive. Travelling abroad for treatment allows you to make savings of up to 70% compared to prices back home. For example:

Lip Augmentation in Bali: average cost AUD $345, compared to AUD $800 in Australia.

Blepharoplasty (eyelid repair, upper and lower) in Bali: average cost AUD $1,250, compared to AUD $6,250 in Australia.

(Note. These prices are average estimates at the time of writing. Please check our listing pages for up-to-date cost comparisons).

Recommended Clinics in Bali:

Check out some of our most popular clinics listed on Medical Departures below; you can click through to see prices lists, surgeon profiles, photos, reviews and more:

For surgical procedures, our former patients give high marks to the BIMC Hospital

For skin, anti-ageing and Botox, take a look at Rejuvie Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Clinic

For other non-surgical treatments, Manika Aesthetic Clinic is also popular among locals and travellers alike

Medical Facilities:

As medical tourism continues to grow throughout Southeast Asia, Bali has followed the footsteps of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore in catering to international patients seeking to combine affordable cosmetic surgery with an exotic vacation in the sun.

The Bali International Medical Centre (BIMC) Nusa Dua (listed above) is considered to be Bali’s leading facility, offering patients a comprehensive range of both surgical and non-invasive beauty treatments. The centre is regarded as the first custom-built facility in Bali aimed specifically at the medical tourism industry and has received international accreditation, including the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International in 2014.

Doctor Training and Qualifications:

As medical tourism increases in popularity, so too does the number of facilities offering quality services to international patients. As a result, more and more Bali clinics are employing doctors who have trained abroad and gained internationally-recognised qualifications. Many have certifications with professional medical associations and can speak English fluently.

Tourist locations for Pre- and Post-op Recovery:

Bali’s diverse landscape combines a backdrop of hills and mountains with exotic coastlines and golden beaches. The island is recognised as a world-class surfing and diving destination, with a plethora of cultural and historical sites to explore. A wide array of restaurants and cafes cater to both Indonesian and international cuisine. Yet for Western tastes, Bali has no shortage of Starbucks, KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonald's.

Where to Stay in Bali?

The enormous range of accommodations available throughout Bali caters to every type of visitor, from backpackers seeking a low-cost getaway to more affluent tourists seeking five-star luxury lodging whilst recovering from surgery. 

Kuta tends to offer the cheapest accommodation on the island, although establishments close to the vibrant nightclubs can be noisy throughout the night. Nusa Dua, Ubud and Seminyak are famed for their five-star resorts, whilst Jimbaran and Sanur offer a happy medium of quieter coastal hotels. Ubud is particularly popular with tourists seeking spa facilities and a cultural escape. On the east coast, Amed consists of mainly peaceful fishing villages, with some very good newer hotels and restaurants.

Is Bali Safe?

Bali offers little threat to foreign visitors providing you take the usual common-sense precautions, such as avoiding back streets and keeping valuables hidden from view.

Travelling around Bali is no different than visiting any unfamiliar destination back home, although your chances of having an accident will inevitably increase if you choose to rent a scooter or motorbike. That said, if you follow the commonsense rules of the travel road, you will likely be quite safe in Bali and surrounding areas.

Medical tourism is on the increase in Bali, and competition between facilities to attract international customers is growing fiercer. Many clinics employ multilingual staff, including doctors that have gained their qualifications abroad.

To ensure you receive the best treatment and care possible, Medical Departures runs extensive checks on all our doctors and clinics that appear in our listings, to verify experience, professional associations and qualifications.

Site visits are carried out to assess each facility and check that all equipment, safety procedures and hygiene levels are of the highest standard. All this information, together with verified patient reviews and site photographs, is available on our website to help you make an informed decision about your desired treatment.

What Happens if Something Goes Wrong?  Do Plastic Surgeons in Bali Guarantee Their Work?

While it is exceptionally rare for complications to arise, any medical procedure carries a small element of risk. At Medical Departures, we work hard to minimise the possibility of any issues arising by ensuring that all doctors are quality-checked and that each facility carries the necessary warranties and guarantees on your procedure.

By booking through Medical Departures, you have the knowledge and peace of mind of knowing that, in the unlikely event of a complication, we will be on hand to help and support you throughout the process.

You may also wish to take out medical complications insurance before you travel, which covers you for additional travel and accommodation costs should you have to stay longer, or return to Bali for follow-up treatment.

Do Cosmetic Surgeons in Bali Speak English? 

While Balinese and Indonesian are the most popular languages spoken in Bali, many Balinese people are fluent in several languages. English and Chinese are the primary foreign languages used, mainly due to the huge tourist industry on the island and the sizable Chinese-Indonesian population.

With an increasing number of medical personnel completing their training abroad and competing for cross-border patients, most of our listed doctors speak fluent English.

Bali is world-renowned for the countless Hindu temples found all over the island, such as the small village temples of Pura Puseh (temple of origin), Pura Desa (village temple) and Pura Dalem (temple of the dead). The most prominent and largest temples are the nine directional temples (Kayangan Jagat) situated at strategic points across Bali, with Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Uluwatu Temple) in southern Bali and Tanah Lot among the most popular.

Most of Bali’s coastline consists of volcanic beaches of black sand, although some southern beaches do have fine-grained white sand. The safest beaches for swimming are generally found along the northern coast and at Jimbaran Bay. Inland, Bali boasts lush green fields and spectacular rice paddies, such as the terraced paddies around Tirta Gangga and in central Bali north of Ubud.

Art is everywhere in Bali, both modern and traditional. Ubud is considered to be the artistic capital, with several museums, informal workshops and retail outlets available for visitors to explore. For the more active and adventurous, the southern coast at Kuta attracts surfers from all over the world, whilst Serangan harbour offers ideal conditions for sailing and yachting enthusiasts.

Bali also offers many other outdoor activities such as paragliding in Nusa Dua, mountain cycling in the hills of Ubud, jungle trekking, bungee jumping and horse riding in Seminyak, and hiking in the rice fields around Ubud.

Most international visitors will touch down at the Ngurah Rai International Airport, commonly referred to as Denpasar International Airport. Situated some 30 minutes outside Denpasar in Tuban, between Jimbaran and Kuta, Ngurah Rai is the third busiest international airport in Indonesia with excellent connections to Southeast Asia, Australia and the rest of Indonesia. 

Tourist Visas for Bali

Most international visitors (including those from Australia, the UK and the US) are free to enter the country with a visa on arrival, but this does depend on what passport you hold. This can be extended as a one-off at a later date at the local immigration office for a maximum of another 30 days for a nominal fee.

Distances and Flying Times from Other Countries

• Sydney: 2871 miles, 6 hours
• Dubai: 4647 miles, 9 hours
• Auckland: 4188 miles, 11.5 hours
• London: 4829 miles, 16.25 hours
• Los Angeles: 8631 miles, 22.5 hours
• New York: 10166 miles, 25 hours
• Montreal: 9849 miles, 34 hours

What Currency and Payments Are Accepted in Bali?

The Indonesian Rupiah is the official currency in Bali. At the airport, you will find a range of ATMs available for cash withdrawals. Ensure that you check with your bank beforehand as to any fees for making foreign withdrawals. As you leave the airport, you will see a long row of money changers where you can exchange cash for Rupiahs. You will get better rates if you use new, unfolded bills during these transactions.

Most of our listed hospitals and clinics take card payments, with a handling fee of around 3-4% applied to any electronic transactions. As to be expected, most Bali hotels, restaurants and other establishments serving tourists take credit and debit cards.

When is the Best Time of Year to Visit a Bali Plastic Surgeon?

Many medical tourists book their treatments based on local weather patterns. Bali is situated eight degrees south of the equator with a consistent year-round climate. Temperatures during the day can range 20-33⁰C (68-93⁰F), although it can be much cooler in mountainous regions such as Kintamani or Bedugul, especially after sunset.

Between December and March, the west monsoon brings high humidity and heavy showers across Bali. Typically it is still sunny throughout the day with downpours during the late afternoon and evening. Flooding can occasionally occur at this time along the beach between Melasti and Tuban, due to poor drainage conditions.

Between June and September, the humidity is lower and evening temperatures much cooler. During this time you will see little rain in lowland coastal areas, although in the mountains or central Bali, it is not uncommon to experience cloudy skies or showers any time of the year.

Is Bali Wheelchair-Friendly?

Although the tourism industry in Bali is massive, many areas are regrettably not wheelchair accessible. Generally, resorts on the East coast like Sanur and Nusa Dua tend to be more wheelchair-friendly compared to West Coast locations such as Seminyak, Legian and Kuta.

Sanur and Nusa Dua have modern resorts and higher-end hotels with services for disabled patrons. Sanur has a clean and wheelchair-friendly boardwalk that runs along the coast, and Nusa Dua has newer roads with wide, clean and evenly paved sidewalks. Shops, bars and restaurants are also easier to access, with ramps and ground-level entrances.

What is the Downside? What Should I Know About Visiting Bali?

Bali is generally quite safe to visit and the vast majority of Bali's five million annual tourists encounter no problems. As with anywhere else in the world, petty scam artists look to take advantage of the unwary; trouble is best avoided when common sense is applied.

Be sure to guard your personal belongings, especially at terminals, and do be aware of a small risk of bag-snatching.

First, browse through our list of quality-checked clinics in Bali; compare prices, read reviews and pick your surgeon.

Scroll down to find a range of easy ways to book your free appointment or contact our Customer Care Team if you’d like to discuss plastic surgery in Bali in greater detail. Or if you are ready to book your appointment, you can do so right here any time of the day or night, at no charge to you.

Sources:

Coral Triangle. WWF. Website accessed: 22 November 2020. https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/coral-triangle

Bali. Hotels.com. Website accessed: 22 November 2020. https://au.hotels.com/go/indonesia/bali

Best Places to Visit in Jimbaran in 2019. Thrillophilia. Website accessed: 14 October 2019. https://www.thrillophilia.com/destinations/jimbaran/places-to-visit

Medical tourism and luxury healthcare set to take off in Bali. Gapurabali. 1 August 2018. https://www.gapurabali.com/news/2018/08/01/medical-tourism-and-luxury-healthcare-set-take-bali/1533088542

Visa & Immigration Bali. Bali.com. Website accessed: 14 October 2019. https://www.bali.com/visa-indonesia-entry-requirements-bali.html

International Organization for Standardization. Website accessed: 22 November 2020. https://www.iso.org/home.html