My wife needed surgery on her knee a few months back. The cost of surgery quoted to us at Bangkok Hospital wasn't much lower (10-15% less) than privately-paid surgery in Canada (albeit Canada was day surgery while Bangkok included a few days of private hospital care). Cost of airfare would have driven it up. The surgeon in Canada (who also works publicly but privately too because he doesn't get enough public OR/OT time) actually decided/recommended against the full deal.