omiart Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 Hey everyone, Maybe this is kind of a stupid question but what is stressing me out almost as much as the surgery part is travelling to a foreign country and healing on my own away form home. For those of you who have made the trek to Korea, do you mind sharing details about how you dealt with going there? - How did you get around? - How did you find translators? - How did you deal with the healing process? - What was it like emotionally and mentally? - Did you run into any trouble while you were there alone? - Did you have someone to turn to in case of an emergency? - What do you guys think about Seoul TouchUp? Are there any good alternatives to Seoul TouchUp? - How did you pay? Thanks in advance!
monixtuma Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 Seoul toucuphup is medical tourist agency, i've read about it somewhere. It's the same as Docfinderkorea. What i know is that medical tourism agency/broker are help foreigner to choose clinic that is affiliate with them, help bargain and consult, they are help you during your trip for the surgery. There is 'commision fee' that you will need to paid for used their services.
monixtuma Posted February 8, 2016 Posted February 8, 2016 For surgery payment, you can paid by cash or credit cards. Most of the clinics are ask you to send deposit for hold the surgery date and/or doctor. Then, you will need to fully paid the surgery after your appointment. You can find out more informations on this forum from members here, if you dig more. ^^
turnerdhr Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 going for my forehead implant and revision rhino tomorrow. Shall keep you fellows updated. Thanks for all your advice and inputs. Shall arrive 11th Feb 2016 with first consult at 10.30am.
sodium Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 - How did you get around? Bus, subway and taxi- How did you find translators? Using my own knowledge of Korean or a friend- How did you deal with the healing process? Physically I was fine. Emotionally wasn't so great.- What was it like emotionally and mentally? Depends on the person. But personally i hate it because swelling really warps your image and it's hard to tell what your results will be like. Plastic surgery is a waiting game and I'm very impatient. - Did you run into any trouble while you were there alone? Taken the wrong bus while high on anesthesia, gotten a free revision because of doctor's error, intense pain during recovery because I chose to be alone and didn't want anyone's help- Did you have someone to turn to in case of an emergency? Yes but never needed to contact them- What do you guys think about Seoul TouchUp? Are there any good alternatives to Seoul TouchUp? Do not use Seoul Touchup. Not only does the founder, Jeet Dhindsa, have a bad attitude, he lies about other clinics to steer you towards the clinics that pay him high commission. I really don't recommend Seoul Touchup or Docfinder or any kind of plastic surgery translator (Zoe, Anita are some that have been mentioned on here) because going through them will automatically make the clinic charge you with foreign-pricing (which is like 10~50% higher than local pricing) because the clinic needs to pay them for bringing you to them. If you do not have a choice and do not care about paying more money, go with Docfinder because they seem the most popular among people here.- How did you pay? Cash. Always cash. Cash doesn't always waive the 10% tax fee, but it sometimes can.
pebblesandbam Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 I'm arriving Feb 15 for eyelid surgery! I'm a bit nervous myself, will break up 2 weeks in Korea with a few days of Japan in-between though I'm not sure it's the best decision if swelling is crazy. My Kakao: conniec89
monixtuma Posted February 11, 2016 Posted February 11, 2016 It's up to you whether to contact an agent/broker, hire translator or not. It's your own choice and make sure that you know about the consequences. You should the one who are make the final decision. Don't let anyone to interrupt you. Don't take it as a rush and think for more than thousand times. Plastic surgery is different than travel abroad for holiday, it's big decision that will changed your life and i know that there is some of you who are plan for the trip carefully. Agent/broker supposed to be open and honest, they need to be accredited and they can prove their credibility. Also, they supposed not pushed their clients to choose clinics that actually affiliated or linked also procedures. You as a client supposed to treated nicely, you are deserved it. You are the one who are make the final decision. I am never interested with agent. It's your choice if you contact an agent/broker, that's your thing. I am not said to avoid them, if you have that money and still within your budget to paid for the 'commission fee' then go on. If you have limited budget, you can go to clinics that offers translator for you. Also you can go with translator and visit clinics that is not offer translator. That's your choice. Plastic surgery is big business in Korea and it's growing business. So, that's why there is another party who are play around and getting a lot of money from the foreigners. You are foreigner and treated as foreigner so they charged you higher than the locals. Please be very careful about meeting complete strangers in person from an online community. You may not ask to share accommodations, or post your travel dates looking for friends to travel with.
omiart Posted February 28, 2016 Author Posted February 28, 2016 Thank you so much for your response. I will definitely avoid Seoul Touchup. You are so brave to endure all that by yourself. How are you doing now? Are you satisfied with your results?
omiart Posted February 28, 2016 Author Posted February 28, 2016 How would you go about finding an independent translator? You are so fortunate to speak Korean and have your bf there to support you through this. I don't speak any Korean whatsoever and I'm going completely alone. I'm completely terrified >_<. I've found a potential translator but I am not sure I can completely trust her.
omiart Posted February 28, 2016 Author Posted February 28, 2016 I don't know if I will be able to avoid paying foreigner prices. I need to be booked on the spot for the surgery because I can only stay for 2 weeks. Maybe I might be able to bargain down the price slightly but I am not getting my hopes up for super cheap prices. Its most important to me to get the surgery done by the best doctor right away. If I have to pay more then thats too bad for me And anyways, the foreigner prices are still quite competitive to prices back home. As a foreigner with no knowledge of Korean and on a tight schedule I don't think I can bargain my price down very much.
rinda10 Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 There are gd opinion above posts but i also want to share my experience I had jaw reduction, zygoma reduction and nose job. - How did you get around? Taxi and bus! S.Korea transportation service is quite good - How did you find translators? I did girin PS for my job, and they have English translator. Her name is Jefferson - How did you deal with the healing process? I just hang out everyday and had some nice meal, positive thinking.. - What was it like emotionally and mentally? I was quite feel lonely and gross before having surgery. Visit the clinic everyday to ask about my result to doctor, i just bother them haha.. Now? i am so good and quite happy with my result! - Did you run into any trouble while you were there alone? Nope? - Did you have someone to turn to in case of an emergency? Nope - What do you guys think about Seoul TouchUp? Are there any good alternatives to Seoul TouchUp? Well, i've heard about the agency, but i dont believe them haha.. - How did you pay? Cash
gantz Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 Hey Rinda!! Hope your recovery is fine If you don't mind, I would like to ask you some questions about your ps 1. Did you have quick or 3d zygoma? 2. Long Curve or T-osteotomy? 3. Do you notice any sagging or other side effects? Jowling? 4. How long post operation are and how old in general? Asian or caucasian? 5. For the nose what procedures did you get? 6. Are you happy with the results? 7. How was the doctor and consultant? Pushy, patient, heard your opinion, annoyed? Did you communicate well? 8. How was their post op service? Sorry for the amount of questions, I am considering the same procedures and I want to know Do you have kakao?
monixtuma Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 Hi, there ! ^^ What kind of procedure you plan to have ? If you get a lot of surgeries, i suggest you ask for bargain/ negotiate the price. Find the one who are able to negotiate the price and based on your budget. There is differences for the price, because we are foreigners so that's why the price are high. There is services that is offer for foreigners unlike locals. The clinic are need to pay commision for the translator and also consultant, so not only the doctors who get commision. If you come to a clinic who are have a lot of local patients and not offer translator then hire translator by yourself it's another option. I've read on this forum, some are willing to make the price lower if you bring your own translator and some are not. You might only know "internationally popular ones" because those clinics have English websites and a English marketing team. Good clinics where Korean locals go might not even focus on international marketing as they already have enough customers in Korea alone. Surgery prices for clinics in Gangnam will be similar to each other. But surgery results "are" different depending on doctors' experience, design style, personality and philosophy. There is 'natural changes' and 'dramatic changes'. Which one you like is up to you. That's why there is B&A photos, although it's photoshopped. 'Best doctor or best clinic' is essentially a wrong. So, it should be "which one is most ideal for me?". I suggest you do more research and not take a rush for the surgery like me. Bargaining skill is hard, because the consultant is most likely a sales man/marketer so they must have the skill but i am not have it. But, it's better to try it.
microchip Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 Hi guys, Can you tell me whether I should book appointment first (but sometimes it is very difficult because they don't speak English) or get the plane tickets first and then go to Korea and pop in the clinics? And how do I go about to hire an interpreter?
omiart Posted March 1, 2016 Author Posted March 1, 2016 I think part of it is that they also make you a priority when scheduling since you are only there a limited time. If you pay more they will be willing to rearrange the schedule so that you can be done immediately since you are only there for a short period of time and can't wait around for a few weeks for the next available date. I heard that if you bargain down too much they are less likely to accommodate you.
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