chanelsaint

I went to the K-medi agency in person; you can use a Korean power of attorney if you choose to use K-medi, you don't have to live in Korea and there is an English version of their site; it's all about doing your own independent research, there are solutions to any problem if you actually do the work to find them (and if it's feasible). Almost any document can be translated using a free online document translator. I said all of that to say: Cash payers should never feel disenheartened if something goes wrong, they DO have options; it's all about doing your research, foreigners have rights, cash-payers have rights, whether they exercise those rights is up to them. Have a nice day! xx

 

Actually: There are options for cash payers and those are arbitration agencies, foreign patients do have rights even if they pay with cash under the assumption of safety- it's all about doing your research if you find yourself in a situation and taking responsibility for solving your problem, because majority of the time, the credit companies will not give your money back for plastic surgery, and just because you may have paid with a card instead of cash doesn't mean you will receive a refund if something goes wrong, so enforcing the incorrect notion that card payers are somehow "safe" is just not the truth, it's actually very far from the truth and you're liable in some ways if you suggest that patients only with cards and they're unable to recover funds after a failed outcome. My case is 1 out of 1000 cases, the other 999 never receive a refund. It's all about doing your research and being well-connected helps too; paying with a credit card is not the insurance, choosing an ethical clinic is the insurance. xx

 

Update:
1. Found out that dr Jae hoon kim removed my rib graft from my nose WITHOUT MY CONSENT. That’s a lawsuit.
2. my credit card company issued me a refund check after reviewing the additional documents (see evidence).
3. Having revision rhinoplasty surgery in December 2020. And revision genioplasty after that. Xx

 

Both sound like good options! xx

 

I want to answer that question in depth but I can't do that openly because I know April31 is watching this thread to try to figure out my next moves lol.
But to put things generally- In Korea, if you mediate- the clinic has to agree to, but things have changed in the last few years and if you're a foreigner, we DO have certain rights when it comes to mediation- one of my friends told me that clinics now have to agree to arbitrate in relation foreign patients. If you're dealing with a semi-ethical clinic, then you will have good results mediating.
If you do not have good results mediating you can always sue and win- if there was malpractice or an unfavorable outcome due to medical negligence or otherwise you do have a case that you can pursue if you deem it necessary, period.
In korea, their doctors are allowed to keep practicing even with a suspended license (for example: Dr. Oh at Regan- he is suspended and still doing "surgeries"), you should still take action against the the doctor(s) license you believe is botching surgeries because malpractice is malpractice and if someone is researching a particular doctor, they need to know if action has been taken against their license so they can make an informed decision on whether or not they want to proceed with having a surgery or being under that doctor's care, and so that ethical clinics have the chance to decide whether or not they want to hire that doctor to work for them. Some people write a review, but when it all comes down to it, you must also report the doctor for malpractice or they will keep botching patients, deceiving customers, providing poor service, and getting away with it (until karma or a higher power comes back to kick them in the azz), a lot of these doctors are going to end up jobless, and they're already economically distressed and falling behind on bills and so are the clinic owners because foreigners are actually starting to stand up for themselves and fight back; my friend in Korea told me that because of Covid some of the clinics are going to have to shut down forever/go bankrupt, and they are struggling and scrambling for money (nana clinic is actually ok because they don't rely on foreign money so much, but many Korean clinics are going downhill quickly and the worst of them are getting their karma for botching patients and unethical practices).
I think Singapore has more ethics advancement in the arena of ethics, malpractice, and accountability that Korea isn't up to par with so it's like comparing apples to oranges.
xx!

 

Thank you and Yw! I think there are 1-2 options in Toronto that Ethnic people talk about but I can't recall- I think one doctor is good at doing middle eastern noses and some types of ethnic noses with short nasal bones- but I don't know of the track record of Toronto doctors, you could also virtually consult with doctors in the US to get a vibe before you decide on Korea. If it's primary, you may be ok going to korea if you want something simple like silicone and alars. Look around closer to home first though and in the US even if you're set on Korea because you'll get a more thorough examination and they might have some additional insight for you regarding your nose. Explore ALLLL of your options and cast a wide net, and never settle for less.

 

So... here's the thing about April31 Clinic,
Mediation is actually a thing in Korea because the failure rate for elective surgeries is so high there. I found out recently that years ago from a friend that a foreign girl was in my similar situation with them and April31 refused to arbitrate. I recently found a thread on purseforum where another patient had to put in her request FOUR times and she said April31 refused each time. Mediation only works if the clinic you go to is somewhat ethical. In Korea, the laws are so lax in regards to medical practices, plus there is the issue of their seniority practices and women not being as respected there as we are in other countries. I'll list it in the thread

 

Thank you love . And if you're ever in a similar situation (which you will not be), you have every right to scream, cry, be dramatic, and out-of-control. xx

 

Bumping ur post up. xx

 

Update from speaking with the bank: I can't upload April31's documents here because they're supposed to be confidential but April 31 was able to try to reopen the case after it was already closed because they issued an appeal after the case was already decided in my favor (they are really hurting for money and trying to do anything they can to scam foreign currency). So what I will need to do is give the case manager my documents again plus extra. April 31 DIDNT deny any malpractice for those of you wondering, which leads you to infer that they're aware that they've been botching people for a very long time. I had a virtual consultation with a rhinoplasty specialist in Cali and it went well- he knows many rhinoplasty specialists in Korea, but Jae Hoon Kim is NOT one of them- go figure. He won't agree to do my surgery until an in-person evaluation is done in October when everything comes to light because now I'm noticing more issues with my nose like nose bleeds, pain, and my nose is DEVIATED when it was never deviated before. Like other doctors, he said he was upset that I allowed that surgeon to touch my nose. For now, he wants to see my before and afters and my CT scans for my nose and chin (although he is not going to revise my chin, he wants to evaluate it and may know another doctor who is comfortable doing that kind of revision)- I'll give names once everything is said and done. I'll update after the appeals process is over. xx

 

Update: The bank let april31 counter the closed dispute case and I'll upload those documents soon, they're claiming they didn't botch my surgery. The bank asked me to provide more documentation so I will and I'll let you know how the outcome- whether or not the bank lets me keep it- I still need to sue april 31 for damages beyond what was paid for the surgery; if they try to close the clinic down- the clinic owner will be held liable as well as each separate doctor including the female doctor who helped them cover everything up- I found a good attorney but I feel that April31 is going to try to shut down in apathetic attempt to avoid a lawsuit; they owe too many people money, they're struggling financially, and now it's coming back to bite them in the a$$. This is even more reason not to go to april31 for surgery, they're desperate for money because they have no longer have any customers, and they're very seedy overall for trying to fight back for money that in essence doesn't belong to them. Do not go to april31 even if the surgery is free; Jae Hoon Kim is probably going to find another clinic to botch patients from so if you see his name listed with any clinic outside of April 31 you need to run in the other direction.

 

No PMs please! Thanx xx

 

Ok so I photos of result of Dr. Jin and she was unhappy, I too agree that the result was unsatisfactory, I think you should consult with Dr. Jin because he has good information, BUT- although most of his patients are happy, please also keep in mind that he has unhappy patients, I was surprised he did someone's nose and the nose was uneven (i think because of the nostrils looking incorrect which was the complaint, and yes she will need a revision to fix it). He also told me some things that would be difficult for him for my case (nostrils), and his vibe was just sort of unhumble but not in a bad way, I thought it was entertaining, but anyway I took all of that as a red flag that he couldn't give me all of what I wanted. Still consult with him but keep in mind that he may not be able to give all of what you want if it's not primary. If it's a primary I think his price is high and he doesn't do tipwork like that- he's conservative and the people I've seen going to him have a very minimal difference tbh unless it was like a severe contracture or infection case. Autologous options: Dr Jin is a safe option (cash only though and he is overworked for his age)- I believe if you unhappy he will give you revision and that he is ethical, but the patient I was referring to above is yet to have her case resolved/surery date set, Dr. Kim at Eightps because I know he is ethical and he's closer to his 30s so he knows what looks hot- he's a locals dr and chinese girls go there, and Dr. Im at VG (Dr. Im is sort of high but he has a lot of experience so you can use me as ur referral if u do f2f and want the price to go down). Try SURES and JAYJUN as well- I think their doctors are good- the doctor at SURES is sweet/nice. Dr. Cho at KoKo is very good but you have to bring a translator, the price is high lol but he knows what he is doing- my only issue with him is that the staff don't speak english, if you have a local friend or referral you can get a lowered price. Jin is definitely not your only option. All have their own clinic except for Jayjun which is probably a pimp clinic like the rest of them that aren't owned by the doctors, but the doctor is sweet, so you can put that one last on your list for ****s and giggles. There's one clinic I don't think you should go to and that's a big building with multiple floors- I forgot the name of it but I know the pimps own it and they pimp out the doctors and park lambos outside, and may have paid someone's family off after a patient death during surgery- it's in apgujeong. Hope that helps!

 

Thank u! It's really not about the money- I have more than enough of it & could have surgery even without recouping any funds; its about accountability and clinics being held responsible for their medical negligence- so I also reported the doctor to the medical board as well as finding a way to report the clinic for unethical practices. If I had been a resident of Korea, I would've gone about this situation in a different way, but being that I'm not I decided to maneuver in a way that most efficient and makes sense and hit those mofos from every angle so other people can see that it can be done as long as you're dedicated to getting your justice for the higher good of everyone, not just yourself. I know that not everyone can stand up for themselves after having a failed result plus insult to injury so I really need to do my part because some people really do go into depression and it's very unfair to them; I'm so happy that I didn't get depressed and that I came out of it alive; I know that some people have it worse than me and they're silenced/victim-blamed on top of being physically disfigured and economically distressed. I'm not done just yet- I know that if I make an example out of April 31, they'll think twice before they pull their bullshlt again on another patient, and by sharing my story, it will give victims hope and courage to move forward with an inner-peace knowing that there are solutions for all problems and unfavorable circumstances are VERY temporary. Ty for your prayers xo

 

Update: Awarded $6036.10 from my bank, they agreed April31 botched my nose and they tried to lie about it but it didn't work and the case manager decided in my favor.

 

I havent updated it yet but if you have a question feel free to ask xo

 

That turned out to be a blessing for you. Typical botch factory- rushing customers to make decisions, making you wait, and being unprofessional. You're better off going to any other clinic in Korea. xo

 

I’ll update that information in my blog narrowed down to my top choices and considerations.

 

UPDATE: I ended up canceling surgery 3 times at 3 different clinics, upon further consultations-

one doctor said something that really stood out to me: he said that I went from having the First Class rhinoplasty at my primary surgeon's Johns Hopkins University hospital to downgrading to COACH at April 31. That was the confirmation I needed that I need to get an evaluation from my primary doctor and perhaps proceed with revision with him. The doctor's name was Dr. Im and VGPRS.com and he is the CEO of his clinic, I trust him very much and if you like the dramatic/dolly look, he can do it for you, and with rib .

Anyway, I've been to perhaps 30-40 clinics in Korea and I will update my blog with experiences with them; there are a lot of clinics you all don't know about because you are not in Korea- the clinics that are visible to us are the ones pushing their marketing towards foreigners, while yes in my situation- April 31 is renowned but by only board members because of the academic activity papers that Jae Hoon Kim submits (I know Brian used to help him with writing/translation before they fired him, so I don't know that academic papers are Jae Hoon Kim's own true words, or words fluffed up by english-speaking writing assistants), that will remain a mystery.

I think that using tpf should not be the primary source of your information when it comes to Korean clinics- the site has too many promoters and the promoted "reviews" drown out the botch stories and valid reviews which often go forgotten or trapped way down in the deepest depths of the tpf. In my blog I'll have some resources available if you find yourself in a similar situation, and also my full experience with april 31 and their deception/botches/unhappy patients. Any other choice besides April 31 will reap better results for you. If you do go to a different clinic and experience a botch, it is not the end of the world, you can enter mediation and take legal action although you are a foreigner (mediation is a few hundred dollars, there is free legal help for foreigners in korea, and in the event you do end up paying for a legal representative, it will be one flat fee (up to $3,000 I think), it's not like in the US where we are constantly spending money on lawyers. While yes, it is very good to leave reviews, you will need to open a mediation case against the doctor who botched you unless you can reach a resolution without getting a 3rd party involved. In conclusion, I don't really recommend Korea for invasive surgeries unless you are of East Asian descent; too many foreigners of other descent have been left botched or unhappy, and that's not what we are traveling all this distance for and pouring our money into the Korean economy.

At the same time, everyone deserves access to good and affordable QUALITY elective surgery... but my opinion still stands that if you are not of East Asian Descent or need a good cheap FFS (you're transitioning and the prices in your country are too high for very little result), then you should not undergo invasive surgery unless
1. you have absolutely no other options.
2. the doctors in your home country have no experience working on patients with ur features.
3. you know someone who has personally went to the clinic you are interested in who is not a promoter and has had a good experience.

Doctors can write all of the academic papers they want, so in Korea, I don't think you should focus on the papers too much or let that impress you (like I did). I'm American so we tend to love to read the doctor's work as a form of research, but that puts a haze over our view of them and makes us look at the doctors as more than what they actually are; doctors can write about plastic surgery and rhinoplasty cases and innovation, but it really comes down to IF they're able to execute all of the things they talk about. Some doctors use academic activity to fluff up their resume and to give the appearance of prestige in front of their colleagues, board members, and patients. No matter how drawn to intellectual energy you are, I need you to not read so much into the academic papers of the doctors because it truly creates a false veneer and expectations that are much too high- even if those expectations are a basic level of ethics, surgical skill, and decency.

And lets not forget the
pièce de résistance pictures of my nose before and after April 31.
Do NOT allow Dr. Jae Hoon Kim to operate on you even if the surgery is free or discounted. He has botched patients of ALL origins, ethnicities, and nationalities. The promoters of April 31 are in every forum including reddit; they have a very believable con game going by victimizing foreigners which is why they've been in operation for so long. No matter what, do not go to April 31 and no matter what clinic Dr Jae hoon Kim runs off to, do not have surgery with him. EVER.


I know it's very hard to relive your trauma, but the only way for the standards of elective surgery to get better when it comes to medical tourism in Korea is to start reporting the perpetrators for medical negligence and shake up their system. The Korean culture is very different from western culture so please keep in mind that this spills over into the medical arena as well; senior doctors aren't used to having to answer to their own medical negligence. If things are to get better and safer for yourself and others who travel to Korea for surgery in the future, you must shake up the system so that they raise their standards to a level that foreigners are serviced well. There are way too many instances of botch and unhappy patients in Korea and it's not just because they do a lot of surgeries; the ratios just don't make sense- too many patients end up needing correction due to functional issues but we never hear about that unless we speak to people privately or in small groups.

In conclusion:
petit procedures: GO.
Invasive procedures: Pause.


For RIB rhinoplasty I like: Dr. Jin (wise, conservative revision, safe option), Dr. Lee, (wise, revision, safe option), Dr. Im (high ethics, very good consultation), Dr. Park (Harvard, golden-ratio aesthetic), Dr. (Gwangmin) Park (soft-spoken, artistic), Dr. (Han Jo) Kim (sweet, high ethics, cute nose aesthetic), Dr. Min (VERY sharp eye, ethical), Dr. Cho (highest level of experience, thorough, great for revision), Dr. Jeong (confident/ skilled/most BnAs/great for revision) and Dr. Kim(nice aesthetics and personality) (same practice), Seoulista (expert, revision in genio and rhinoplasty), Kowon (sweet, primaries). Dr. Suh (experienced).


I will list everyone's information in my blog, but- if you've had a poor experience in Korea in relation to cosmetic surgery, I need you take a stand, open a dispute, to NOT spend your money with any clinic in Korea before you think long and hard about it, and exhaust all other options. Korea makes a lot of money from we foreigners and their medical, tourism, and legal boards and government agencies need to make sure they create a safe environment for us by not allowing negligent doctors to practice, especially if they want continued access to our very strong foreign currency.

When you cut them tf off as a conscious effort, it's helpful not only for you in your healing process, but to other foreigners- it creates a net of safety where others a less likely to be botched, reduces the instances of death, and other unfortunate events related to cosmetic surgery because for once- the doctors will be held responsible for their actions and it's not good for Korea's economy that foreigners refuse to funnel excess funds into their economy after poor experiences and lack of safety.

I know you don't want to hear this, but our American doctors tell us to stay in the United States to have our surgeries for this very reason; while yes, they are in business to make money, they see a lot of botch cases from overseas and they are the ones who end up correcting our highly questionable and devastating choices. April 31 and doctors like Jae Hoon Kim are the kinds of people that our ethically practicing medical professionals from all over the world warn us about.

Actually, Dr. Mascaro in Miami gave me this warning on Skype when he found out I was thinking of international medical tourism; I've traveled for all of my surgeries over the years in my home country, and aside for the bad medical staff, my surgeries all went well at every facility. In Korea, you can not let unprofessionalism from the staff slide, it's package deal; in Korea, you're not just going there for the surgeon but for the full experience and ALL of your needs should be met before surgery or it may foretell of a bad outcome of the surgery, you can't ignore the issues like you can do in the States and the UK. Korea is very different than other places and you need to always be treated well. I said all that to say, he was very right and it is my fault for not considering his warning more thoroughly than I did. I know sometimes doctors can deliver their message in a harsh way, but American doctors and those trained in the states take their oaths very seriously and a lot of them try to protect the patient even if you aren't treated by them.


Drastic change rhinoplasty outside of Korea:
Wide/fatty nose: Turkey. UK. (Natural Result- Primary: Dr. Naderi. Some girls like Janjua. Dr. Nassif (yes from me). Dr. Ghavami. UK surgeons like Ion (Miss Orange reminded me of him again for Asian noses). You will be ok in the US as long as you want something very conservative. ) If you need a revision and you have a wide/fatty nose in the US- it will be sort of difficult to find your surgeon but you still have options.
Ethnic/Middle eastern nose with Thick skin: you will be ok in the United States. (Saw a girl of my ethnicity with medium skin who had surgery by Dr. Miller that was pretty). Dr. Nassif.
All of the Ethnic girls I know who went to Thailand now look mixed lol, but were not botched.
Caucasian girls and those Ethnic girls going for a mixed-race look seem to like Dr. Grigoryants in the US- natural but his signature style can give a drastic change if your nose is droopy.

xo

 

Yw! and of course, I'll post updates about who I end up going with for my reconstruction surgery and the results and etc etc. It's natural to be nervous about having to go through surgery again esp after a bad or unfavorable outcome, but your next nose surgery will come out amazing and you'll be very happy with the result. Sometimes a bad outcome helps us to become more cautious, not just in relation to plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures, but in all areas of our lives, that's a very important life lesson even if we have to learn it the hard way, good for you for being extra cautious this time around. In the end of all of this, you'll be very happy. xo

 

I don't know who's good with eyes, but Dr. Jin's quote is reasonable for rib revision (you can pay in cash for a discount). I met a local girl who had her nose done at Braun and it was soooo cute (but she had a naturally small nose before and thin skin), she was happy with her outcome- I forgot who her doctor was but he's one of the older doctors. Dr. Han Jo's quote for me was very dependent on my particular situation, so I think you should get your own quote from him- you can tell him I referred you and perhaps he can give you a discount on your surgery, lots of locals and pretty patients at his clinic when I went there, he has B and As in his office of cute noses and he's good at corrective work; I know of certain doctor's work that he's had to correct but I can't reveal that information. I don't know anything about Wannabe but I think from your list that Dr Jin is a good safe choice, he's a little conservative but that's because he's a ENT and ENTs are concerned about your breathing so they usually won't give you a small nose, the nose will be nice though- Dr. Jin told me he would narrow my nose only 20%- I would prefer 30% but he's not going to do that .

 

Please don't go back to them, even if they offer to give the surgery for free- and especially since your nose became deviated after having a revision at April 31; Dr Kim does not have the skills to correct your deviation and I'm afraid he will only make it worse and then lie to you like he did to me and then leave it to Chrissy Kim and the medical team to cover it up, even if he did have the skills to fix it you should not go back to them because the chance of being botched is extraordinarily high and the clinic has poor ethics. I would consult with Dr. Jin at Jin's premium nose clinic, and Dr. Han Jo Kim at eightps.com- BOTH of these surgeons operate out of their own clinics and are HIGHLY ethical. I would also consult with Dr. Suh at JWplasticsurgery if his aesthetics fit yours- he owns his clinic with two partners- all 3 of the surgeons listed have seen what Dr. Jae Hoon Kim did to me and agreed to help me when they saw my condition. Dr. Han Jo Kim at EightPS is very compassionate and you should email him about your situation and he may have a solution for you- his prices are good, he does rib rhinoplasty, and the locals trust him very much and so do I- the only reason why I didn't go with him for my reconstruction surgery is because he told me not to go back to April31 after he does my surgery to make a scene with my new nose... since I was secretly planning to do that I decided not to go with Dr. Han Jo Kim because I don't want to do anything that he doesn't agree with, and- he knows Dr Jae Hoon Kim just like so many other doctors and clinics that I went to. I'll update with who I ultimately decide on going with for reconstruction. I'm sorry that you had the unfortunate experience of having a failed surgery at April31, things will get better though and there a surgeon who can help fix your nose. Whatever you do, do NOT go back to April31 under any circumstance. xo

 

Email from the mysterious manager translated by Chrissy. She claims in writing that I was only charged for an alarplasty which clearly contradicts the surgery plan stated at the consultation and on the day of surgery. What should've been done and what was confirmed in my consultation was AND on the say of surgery: 1. osteotomy to bring my nasal bones in. 2. refining my tip with a tip-plasty, and 3. alarplasty to correct my alar scars from my primary. 4. Ear Cartilage added to support my tip since no septal cartilage was available. I even confirmed this with Chrissy on the anesthesia table and while Dr. Jae Hoon Kim was marking my nose in the operating theater literally minutes before they put me under sedation. I woke up from the surgery an no ear cartilage was taken. No osteotomy was done.

When I tried to get my surgery notes, I had to go to April31 and DEMAND them, I wouldn't leave until they produced my surgery notes, after a couple of hours of waiting, they finally brought the surgery notes out but there are pages missing from my chart and sticky notes that look like they were added after the notes where already made, the notes CONFIRMED that only a tip-plasty done, and the rhinoplasty notes where only one page; I'll post the notes here when I have time to make an update.

On top of all of this, April31 tried to bully me once again by attempting to tell me not to expose them "or else"... Like they tell so many other botched patients, I may have been naive enough to have surgery at April31 based on Dr Jae Hoon Kim's academic papers, but they've already fooled me once and am not naive enough to believe their lies anymore; I could've stayed silent like so many other patients who've had poor results from them, but April31 never had the intention of refunding any funds for the botched surgery and overcharging me; when doctors from other clinics contacted them, April31 claimed "miscommunication", but as you can see; Chrissy writes and speaks at a very high level of English; there was no miscommunication as claimed- only lies and blatant deception on their end. The patients who were in the position to be forced to accept their lies due to financial constraint or other circumstances come right back to their clinic 6 months later to be given the run-around; the funds promised never show up and neither do the results.

After the email, Chrissy disappeared and I never heard from April31 again, Dr. Jae Hoon Kim nor or any representative ever called or emailed me to apologize for making a mistake; and although their facial contouring surgeon did check on my chin and fg twice on the day of surgery post op and in one post op appointment, April31 did not give me any after-care after I had to go there to get my surgery notes. So was basically on my own and my only post op care was from other doctors and ENTs at other clinics who know of April31 and checked my nose for me/tried to open up my airways/clean my nose, and they only did that because they felt sorry for me. I am going to end up posting pictures of the nose (my friends have seen it and some tpf members but I'm not ready to share the photos to the world just yet; I'm still working up the courage to do that and I know I need to because it will help others).

 

Please don't blame botched surgeries on ghost doctors, that further silences the voices of victims and allows the real perpetrators to walk free; senior surgeons ARE capable of botching surgeries- they just rarely have to take accountability for it because 1.people ignorantly won't accept that a senior surgeon is capable of botching, and 2. the culture in korea prevents senior surgeons from being questioned directly when they botch a patient. I actually would've been better off if a junior surgeon or even a resident performed my rhinoplasty, so inferring that a ghost doctor performed the surgery just adds further insult to injury. This isn't Dr Jae Hoon Kim's first botch- he does it on the regular and has countless unhappy/botched patients, Jae hoon Kim is a lifting specialist, NOT a rhinoplasty specialist- he's only been doing rhinoplasties for a few years and April 31 made him their rhinoplasty specialist and they send him to promote their clinic at speaking events because April 31 does not have a true rhinoplasty specialist; Dr Jae Hoon Kim performs their rhinoplasties there but I feel that that the facial contouring surgeon there who did my FG and genioplasty (neither of which were botched) should have been the one who did my rhinoplasty, not Jae Hoon Kim- April31 is a small clinic.