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I am not sure if this is a good place to ask but I know a like of kpop stars get work done. They are always so beautiful and attractive. I am mixed race (part Korean) and would love to get work done that is on par with what these people get. I have wanted to appear more Korean honestly. I feel like people confuse what I am too often. Anyways, does anyone know? Or know where I can find this kind of information?

This is what honestly got me looking into it. The price differences are insane and Korea seems to have higher quality standards for it. This is why I asked. It has crossed my mind but I didn't calculate anything. I am quite jealous haha Yeah I think as people have said, it is only worth it if I am already going there for a trip and just happen to get it done. As much as I want to go and do it, I think I will save and plan. Make a vacation out of it.

I will be honest, this kind of information is often hidden. Doctors won't say anything and the stars that get work done usually don't want people to know. That being said, it is rumored that a number of K-Pop starts have gone to Dream Medical Group/SNSD Clinic. Dr. Jaegwon Wang at Oracle Clinic is said to be one that has worked on a number of them. Again, these are just rumors!

This. Also some information about what you asked: I would say most clinics at this point offer free online consultations. These are done via Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime. They will likely request medication information and photos and then talk about what your goals are for your surgery and this can all be done before traveling. As for scheduling, you may have to pay a consultation fee which will be added to your total surgery cost so reserve the time/date of your surgery. This may or may not include a deposit to avoid last minute cancellations from people abroad. Once you have a date set, you will get a basic quote for estimated costs (which can end up being more or less post surgery depending on various things), sign forms, and you may need to get medical clearance from a local doctor which includes blood work and a physical exam a week or two out from surgery. Most clinics require you to stay in the destination for at least two weeks post-surgery to ensure proper recovery and attend follow-up appointments, and some offer all-inclusive packages to simplify the process making it easy for people traveling from far away nations.

You can get botox in Korea as low as $20 a session compared to what I have seen in the US - the cheapest being $250, that is a massive savings! I am only just looking into this but based on what I have read, it seems worth it for the cost alone. You have to consider the travel cost however so making it more of a vacation than just a trip for botox is probably more worth it.

It is known as "Plastic Surgery Capital of the World" for a reason! You will find the best doctors, get the best services, and have the best experience finding a doctor in this location. People from around the world go here. It was the first area I looked into when trying to find a doctor.

It isn't normal but it isn't not normal. Every clinic is different. Some will have one doctor that does everything, others will have specialized doctors that do only certain surgeries. It is not unheard of so nothing to worry about!

One of my eyes droops or sits lower on my face than the other. I am not sure why. I noticed this when I was younger but as I have gotten older, it is far more noticeable and it is very frustrating. I can use make-up to make it less noticeable but I want to find a fix for it. I will be in Korea for work in August for 6 weeks. I would love to be able to get something done whilst there. Anyone know what sort of surgery or correction I should look into for this?

Hey everyone, I’ve been noticing some early fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes lately (probably stress + screen time ), and I’ve started looking into anti-wrinkle treatments. I came across this page while researching: https://gafhealthcare.in/treatments/anti-wrinkle-treatment It explains things quite simply — especially how treatments like Botox work by relaxing facial muscles so the wrinkles soften over time. From what I read, it’s a non-surgical option and results usually start showing within a few days and can last a few months. What I’m trying to understand is: Is it worth starting early (late 20s / early 30s)? Does it look natural or “frozen”? How often do you actually need to maintain it? If anyone here has personal experience (good or bad), I’d really appreciate honest feedback before I take a decision. Thanks in advance

Hello. I am looking to have a rhinoplasty done. I have spoke with doctors locally here in Italy and the cost and time frame is just too expensive! I am trying to see what my options are elsewhere. Other countries I have checked also quite high but South Korea seems to be very affordable all things considered. Is there a way I can get a quote of the cost without having to travel there? Is this something clinics will do? I see averages online but I would like to know what my nose in particular would be estimated to cost so I can save up. Thanks!

I have had a lot of hair loss in the last 10 years. I would say 50% of my hair has thinned out. My part line is wide, my temples are bald, and my overall thickness is sad. I was looking into options that work for women as a lot of docs do not recommend hair transplants for women due to the nature of female pattern balding. I asked someone on another forum and she suggested looking into scalp stem cell treatments. I found a few local clinics that do offer it but it is $15,000 per session and most people seem to need 2 or 3 minimum. I cannot afford that! I was expecting it to be under $10,000 for multiple sessions Is this something I can get done in South Korea for less? I am not sure if they offer stem cell treatments like this or not.

Hi everyone! I am not new to plastic surgery but I am new to getting it done overseas. I have been in contact with a clinic in Korea and I found out last night that I will need to pay a fee in order to book my appointment. I am planning on going in May to get neck done (neck lift) as I have had a bit more sagging than I would like going on. The cost was just too high to get it done locally so this is what led me to look in to options in other countries. I am just not sure if this is normal. They did say the money I pay will be part of the total cost so it will be deducted when I arrive to pay the rest. Is it normal for a clinic to require money upfront when scheduling online?

So $1000 for hotel and flights, and $8,000 for the surgery. I'll probably want at least $1000 for shopping/food so I guess planning on $10,000 would be ideal? Thanks for the information!!

This is actually a good question. As far as I know, you do not need one. I believe the standard travel laws (through a passport) allow for up to a 90 day stay. So You could realistically go there for 3 months and get tons of work done and have time for it. I don't think any western nation requires a special visa.

Based on what I have looked into, health conditions is a big factor, possible the biggest. So medical issues that would label you a surgery risk. So someone on blood thinners for example are more prone to excessive bleeding and they are considered higher risk.

I have seen operations done for as little as 3 grand but you have to be careful. If they are undercharging for a more complex surgery, it is a red flag. I'd say recovery time in total is anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. That is for a full recovery. Mine took about 9 months. I spent 28 days in Korea.

I joined after reading this. I wanted to respond since I had this confusion as well. After having gone through the process, there is an easy answer. When you elect to have surgery of any kind overseas be it plastic or health-related, you are often met with a fee and/or down payment. This is done as a means to not lose revenue if someone decides to not show or flights get delayed. They schedule operations in advance and it is often hard to book late notice operations so they end up losing money. This is a safety net that shows the client is serious and if for whatever reason they do a "no show", they are not losing money for the time scheduled for that person.

I saw that another place was recommending the Gangnam UNNI website https://www.gangnamunni.com/us, but it seems pretty bad. On the main page, I click "Facial Contouring", then "Clinics", and there's only two there -- "Jfeel Clinic" and "Reverse Clinic". After doing more research, these seem like relatively small, unknown clinics. When I click on them, their specialties are extremely basic stuff, IE: "Botox, fillers, lifting, skin, and dieting". I saw that you guys warn about fake info from aggressive clinics & PR companies, but I don't see any info here on how to choose a clinic. Stuff I found from a web search: There are huge 20+ story hospitals dedicated to plastic surgery. These seem like the best options for foreigners looking for major surgeries. Examples: BK hospital https://bkhospital.com/english/. "Offers a full range of procedures with multilingual support." ID hospital https://eng.idhospital.com/ or https://en.idhospital.com/ Specializes in facial bone surgeries https://en.idhospital.com/facial-contouring They advertise Active CCTV cameras and NO shadow doctors. Guide to Getting Plastic Surgery in South Korea as a Foreigner https://medicaltourismabroad.substack.com/p/guide-to-getting-plastic-surgery-in-south-korea-as-a-foreigner - lists BK and ID hospitals. Plastic Surgery in Korea: A Foreigner's Guide https://www.yourkorea.life/blog/health-wellness/plastic-surgery-korea-foreigner-guide-144/ How to Find Safe Plastic Surgery Clinics in Korea https://kculture.com/how-to-find-safe-plastic-surgery-clinics-in-korea/ They have a clinic search, but there are hundreds of results, and I don't see a way to filter them. The info on each clinic/hospital is also very basic. Categorized recommendations: Plastic Surgery in Korea for Foreigners: A Guide to Procedures, Costs & Top Clinics https://us-uk.bookimed.com/article/plastic-surgery-in-korea/ More, with no sorting https://bookclinics.com/republic-of-korea/seoul Medical tourism agency: https://www.beautytherapykorea.com/post/plastic-surgery-korea-guide-foreigners Could make things easier if you're willing to pay more. But a concern I read is that they might push partner clinics. Whatclinic.com: Clinics in Seoul https://www.whatclinic.com/cosmetic-plastic-surgery/south-korea/seoul They have 35 Jaw Contouring Clinics in Seoul (compared to the two from gangnamunni) https://www.whatclinic.com/cosmetic-plastic-surgery/south-korea/seoul/jaw-contouring Pitangui Medical & Beauty: https://www.whatclinic.com/cosmetic-plastic-surgery/south-korea/seoul/pitangui-medical-beauty Lots of good reviews, but most of the links on their website are broken, and the address is different. https://www.pitanguiplasticsurgery.com/ Grand Plastic Surgery: https://www.whatclinic.com/cosmetic-plastic-surgery/south-korea/seoul/grand-plastic-surgery Also has lots of good reviews. Their website is better, but still shows a different address https://eng.grandsurgery.com/about/location.php Only 1 floor vs the whole buildings for BK and ID? But the whatclinic link says "plastic surgery hospital in Korea with a total of 21 floors". AB plastic surgery: https://abplasticsurgerykorea.com/ The first result when I search for "south korea plastic surgery". They have visual representations of their main surgeries: https://abplasticsurgerykorea.com/facial-contouring/chin-tip-surgery JK plastic surgery: https://www.jkplastic.com/en/ Seems to specifically solicit foreign patients They're one of the more expensive clinics, and specialize in eye surgery according to https://seoul.clinic/jk-plastic-surgery-review/

Anywhere from $5,000 to just under $20,000 from my understanding. It really depends on the extend of the work needed done. As for recovery, you are looking at a minimum of a 2 week stay in Korea. I would plan for 3 or 4 weeks though if you need a more complex surgery. Recovery time outside of post-surgery stuff will be 4 to 6 weeks for the resting period (no strenuous activities or exercise) and then 6 months to a year on average for full recovery. Some take a bit over a year.

This was one of my bigger concerns. Even though I know a lot of people online say they had no issues, I worry that words can be crossed and not understood resulting in less than desirable results.

Yup! Some places have multiple doctors that specialize in certain areas. You will find this outside of Korea as well. It makes sense when a clinic offers various surgeries and beauty treatments. A doctor that does hair transplants, for example, is very unlikely to know how to do a tummy tuck!

It can be a challenge if you are not sure what to do, who to to contact, or what to ask. I find the Discord group tied to this forum can be super helpful with this! I know I was a bit lost myself when planning my second trip and surgery. That being said, it helps to meet doctors and go to clinics in person. This can mean planning a longer stay or multiple trips.

I am happy you had a good experience. I think most people do but some people do not. While I did not go to this clinic, my first experience with getting work done in Korea was a bit disappointing. I think it was more down to miscommunication. I did end up going a second time and found a better clinic and doctor and was much happier the second time around!

The average cost is $6k to $12k depending on how much work is needed. The cost can go as high as $20k but be as low as $3k. So I would plan for something around $8k if you are trying to plan a budget.

I have read good things but I have also read mixed/negative things. It is always nice to get the perspective of real people on their experiences. I would love to see some before and after pics if you aren't too shy

I mean if you look into it online, you will see a lot of websites recommending it. I don't think it is fair to say it is the best because they are very likely skilled doctors outside of this area. I am looking around and found some that rate well and do great work - not located in Seoul. That being said, doing your own research and finding the best doctor for you is more important than what city they are located in.

Speak with Doctor Kwon Soon-Hong at the JK Plastic Surgery Center. He specializes in tummy work and while I was there, I saw some of his work and was floored. They could probably give you quotes and suggestions without going there in person to help you decide.

I don't think so. If you factor in the costs for travel and stay, plus food and shopping you end up paying more. I think the above poster is right, make it a vacation and tack on getting botox as a spa treatment of sorts while there rather than just going to there only for botox.

Someone else had mentioned botox to me so I am looking into this. I just have to see what this costs and how long it lasts. I know botox results can be mixed. Some lasting longer than others!

I have no experience personally with this surgery or going to Korea. I am still in the planning phases myself. I have seen flights as low as $400 to Seoul which is the main city hub for plastic surgery in Korea. The average cost for hotels appears to be $40 per night. So between the hotel (assuming you stay 2 weeks) and get cheap flights, you are looking at around $1000 for that plus surgery cost.

I am paranoid about ending up with a ghost doctor. I have read horror stories online and while I know it is more rare now as Korea is cracking down on a lot of these fake docs, I am still concerned. Are there signs to look out for, like red flags and such to let me know a doctor is not legit? I read that it was estimated around 100,000 people were victims of ghost surgery between 2008 and 2014 alone. I have for sure already decided to get my work done in Korea, I just want to narrow down my options and make sure I don't have any regrets.

They can be but not always. I was talking to someone about this a few months ago. I think the mark-up tends to be down to needing different approaches to surgeries. Western features are not the same as Asian ones.

One of the clinics I had been in touch with has a few different doctors but they all seem to do the same work just on different days and if you need multiple procedures, you will have multiple doctors if it is done in a short time.

I had needling done before for my adult acne and it helped. It healed about 80% of it and the rest I was able to get rid of with medication. I love that this is a simple and not so expensive option for people looking to correct skin issues. I am considering trying it for my scalp (hair growth) before going all in on hair transplants.

It depends on the clinic. Some doctors will specialize in certain procedures so they only focus on a set of operations like berrygirl21 mentioned. You can verify any clinic on the official Medical Korea website if you have any concerns!

I will look into him and this clinic, thanks! I am struggling to find ones that specifically state they are for women that is why I wanted to ask here.

Dr. Sangyun Hyeon is said to be one of the best. He is at the Woomchan clinic. I am not sure if they offer transplants for women but you can contact them and ask!

I would have assumed that a BBL would be substantially more than a standard lift but I guess I am not familiar enough with the surgery. Is it a combination of a lift and implant?

Aren't transplants for women a bit more complicated? Like how women tend to lose hair is thinning all over vs men that bald mostly on the top. I hope you find someone that can do it for you! My sister had trouble. No doctor would do it for her cause the success rate was too low.

You sound very small so I would imagine it would be on the cheaper side. Women that are lager tend to have extra costs as the surgery is a bit more invasive and recovery time ends up being longer.

I am not entirely sure about this but you can look at the top-rated clinics and see if they offer this. I did see something about Korea looking to have hair loss be covered as a medical treatment instead of an elected surgery for Koreans which is pretty cool!

A standard BBL tends to be the most expensive averaging around $10,000. Implants are around $8,000 on average. A standard lift tends to be around $4,000 to $6,000.

I didn't realize recovery could take this long. I would imagine it looks better as time goes on too, right? I will have to see what the doctor says I suppose.

Check this this reply I did earlier it might shed some light on planning:

It depends on how much time you're going to have. With only 10 days, it's better to reach out and probably decide on a clinic and book surgery. The first thing is to find out what the treatment cycle is like for what you want to have. Example: Rhinoplasty treatment cycle is about 8 days. Prep and consult day: 1 Day 2 – Surgery Day 3 – Follow-up Day 4 – Recovery / rest Day 5 – Follow-up Day 6 – Recovery / rest Day 7 – Recovery / rest Day 8 – Stitch removal and post consult Now factor in travel days (arrival / departure), that's about 2 days. That's a 10-day trip if you already have the surgery day locked in. If you plan to consult with a few places first and then decide, you have to factor in consult days. Maybe you need 2 to 3 days to consult. Then factor in the delta or difference between your decision and the next available surgery date. Let's assume this can range between 3 to 7 days. Now factor in travel days (arrival / departure), that's about 2 days. So if you want to consult first and then decide, on the low end you need about 14 days, and on the high end about 19 days.

I read this on another site. A lot of people say this. You do not want to be fresh from a surgery on a long flight!! I am not sure how long I will need but I am intending on staying at least 3 or 4 days after just to be sure.

I am glad I asked on here because I had no idea this was even a thing! I did look into it and you are right. They did change the laws around this. What is the best approach to do this?

There are a number of things you can do. You want to meet face to face with your surgeon if/when possible to confirm their credentials, name, etc. You can made sure they are board certified by the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. You may also be able to check this in the US (if you are in America) via the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Another common one is to request footage of your surgery. Beginning in 2021, Korea has a law that mandates any operation under anesthesia has to be recorded via cameras in the rooms and patients can request the footage and it must be provided. Red flags include extremely low costs for surgeries, allowing or outright skipping in-person consultations, and receiving uninformative, vague, or questionable answers when you raise concerns about your surgery.

Hi everyone, It's been quite some time and I wanted to provide an update about my surgeries, especially since I feel it's quite rare within this community to see follow ups after years. Quick recap: Nose: is fine. it's definitely gone down a lot, but it seems more of a natural drop than a complication. I have not experienced any complications with it. However, I am keeping an eye out that it may happen anytime due to the silicone, and am prepared to do DCF in America for revision in the future. Eyes: I am relatively dissatisfied with the one eye I mentioned. What happened is that my eyes healed differently, and one eye is more almond shaped, and the line is slightly lower, and the other eye (the one I'm not happy about) is rounded, with a thicker line. My eyeliner needs to be slightly adjusted for both, and to me, its very obvious that my eyes are actually different shapes and sizes. I say sizes because as the round eye's line is higher, my eye has become bigger. However, I will say with makeup and on certain days (lol), the difference isn't really that discernable. Obviously though to me, it is. My eyes were always a bit different in size, but when I was monolidded, the difference wasn't this big as the shape was the same (almond eyes). I plan on getting revision DES within the next 2 years back in Korea, looking for specialists who are skilled with my eyes as now it's become a bit more complicated. My eyes are still a bit fatty, which contributes to my line looking dark (and as a result, obvious that I got work done). While in Korea, I also plan on getting other treatments done (ulthera/shurink, filler, botox, fat dissolving injections), and will write up a review as well. I am actually unopposed to working with Luho, but only if I can get the main doctor, Park Il as he is very skilled with my situation. I will look for other doctors as well and am looking to do some preliminary research. I also want to state that I do think I have become prettier than I was pre-surgery. I don't think my eyes, despite its unevenness and my qualms, have made me uglier or wish I didn't get the work in the first place. Happy to answer any questions, but will not share photos out of privacy concerns.

3.5 year post update can't believe it's been so long. I still think about revision rhino sometimes, but it doesn't affect my quality of life, just my vanity lol. I also think about facelift because I have lower face sagging due to age and loss of mass from masseter Botox and accusculpt. however, I'm not in a rush to do these things and am still waiting to find the right doctor.