beachybabe

How do 3, 4, and 5 star hotels compare to the US standards? I can tell you most 3-star hotels in the US I have stayed at have not been very good. A few of them were honestly filthy, one even sent me home with bed bugs!!

I wanted to make a simple thread that highlighted some of the information I have found while researching the topic. So when it comes to budgeting for overseas plastic surgery, you have to be calculating for the total cost - This includes the procedure itself, travel, accommodation, and in some cases aftercare. I have found that overall surgery can be upwards of 80% cheaper than it is in the US or UK if you travel for it. Key Cost Considerations: Surgery Fees: Vary by procedure; for example, rhinoplasty costs $1,100–$3,500 in countries like Vietnam or Turkey, compared to $6,000–$10,000 in the US. Travel and Stay: Flights and hotels can add $1,500–$3,500 to the total, depending on the destination's distance. Aftercare: Post-operative medications, garments, and local follow-up visits may cost an additional $500–$2,000. Complications: Managing serious infections or botched procedures at home can cost $15,000–$150,000, which insurance rarely covers. Top Affordable Destinations: Turkey: Best for multi-procedure bundles; saves 60–80% vs US. Mexico: Popular for US patients; saves 50–70%. Thailand: Strong for recovery and medical tourism; saves 50–70%. Vietnam: Low costs and direct flights for some regions; saves 60–70%. South Korea in particular will save you 30-70% depending on what you wish to have done and is safer than Turkey, Thailand, and Vietnam. Financing options for your surgery: Credit Cards: There are some cars that offer promotional zero-interest periods of up to 16 months. Medical Credit: Providers like CareCredit (I have this one) or Alphaeon offer specialized payment plans - usually 6 to 12 months no interest. Personal Loans: Bank loans provide flexibility but include interest rates and I would not recommend them. Clinic Financing: Some international clinics offer internal payment plans or partner with local lenders which is SUPER helpful. Budgeting Tips: Get Itemized Quotes: Ensure quotes include surgeon fees, anesthesia, facility charges, and post-op care as all can vary from clinic to clinic. Plan for Contingencies: Set aside 10–20% of your budget for unexpected expenses or extended stays so you are not caught off guard. Verify Credentials: Choose board-certified surgeons and accredited hospitals to minimize risk, this is always a top priority. Compare Total Cost: Factor in travel and aftercare when comparing prices across countries.

Vbeam is very common, even in Korea. It is especially good for things like redness and conditions like rosacea. IPL treatments work for sun damages and things like that.

Yes, which makes you spoiled for choice when looking! I know someone that is booked with Pop PS, I will let you know how that goes for him.

It really depends on what you are after. Some clinics are better than others for different things. Here are a few that are considered highly rated for what they specialize in: Apgujeong Topline Clinic (led by Dr. Sang-Kook Byun, 24+ yrs experience) is one of the highest-reviewed in the area for body contouring and fat grafting. Relieve Clinic and V Moment are popular with international/foreign patients for non-surgical facial work and both offer English-language support. BLS Clinic (1,200+ five-star reviews) is frequently recommended in foreigner-focused guides for its one-on-one, non-"factory" approach.

Packages is another thing. They almost seem like they are selling some sort of event. I have seen a lot of people talk about them online but have yet to come across one. I will keep an eye out though!

Oh okay, I didn't think to check on that. I guess it makes sense a collective of people on an open board will find stuff and share it. Is there a place on here for known scams by chance?

You can look up reviews on sites and clinics on Reddit. I tend to do this. But you have to be aware that they can bot things on there too. It is almost always caught though these days.

There was one that I followed for awhile, it was called PlasticzK something. K being or Korea. But I can't seem to find it anymore. I am wondering if they either changed their name or got banned. I have heard of plastic surgery accounts getting banned by mistake.

Some do, sure. I think running a smaller clinic is just more cost effective and some doctors just like working on their own and running their own space. We have a lot of local doctors like that where I live. Both in and out of the plastic surgery sector.

This is something I only recently discovered and it seems like a great option for me. I see a lot of people refer to it as a "lunchtime lift" because it is so easy and simple of a procedure. Has anyone had one here? Specifically in Korea? I was looking at the gowoonline clinic when I came across it. It sounds like something I wouldn't mind getting while I am in Korea for other work. Assuming it isn't terribly expensive!

Outside of a specific period post-operation stay, most people don't need to worry about this. If you need a follow up that goes beyond your stay, they will have you arrange it with a clinic in your local area so you don't need to fly back. The people that tend to go back and forth are already doing so for different reasons or just have the money and love to be in Korea.

I would imagine some do and some people allow for their work to be shown. They usually blur the faces out a bit so you only focus on the work that was done. It is the same for dentist work, they give consent and then the clinic will who their results to help other people see what is possible.

You have plenty of time to plan your trip. I wouldn't worry right now. You can start looking into things next month. So long as your flights are booked and you have your hotel booked, everything else is secondary.

I like to look through them for everything, not just when I am looking to go to a clinic for some work. I check reviews before buying anything online, before eating anywhere new, etc. etc. The trouble is that a lot of them can be easily faked and often are. So I wouldn't hold reviews as a high standard when deciding. Contact the clinic and ask if you can see before and afters. See if they can show you an edited picture of what your surgery would look like.