A Travel Guide to South Korea for Plastic Surgery
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A Travel Guide to South Korea for Plastic Surgery

Known as the plastic surgery capital of the world, South Korea is definitely one of the best destinations for beauty enhancement procedures. Whether you want to achieve that K-pop star flair or K-drama look, South Korea is definitely the place to be!

However, you may wonder how the process works. In this guide, we discussed the most essential things you need to know about travelling to South Korea for plastic surgery. 

Why should you get plastic surgery in South Korea?

Korean plastic surgery reigns supreme all over the world. According to a survey, the entire plastic surgery market in South Korea has garnered USD $4.3 trillion in 2019 and it continues to grow.  

That said, surgeons in South Korea are experts when it comes to performing different types of plastic surgery. It’s highly guaranteed that they’re trained, experienced, and will give you excellent results, provided that they operate in legitimate clinics, that is. 

What are the things you need to do before travelling to Korea?

Look for a Clinic

Travellers know how overwhelming it can be to visit another country. Hence, it’s a must to choose the best clinic and a board-certified doctor who specialises in your desired procedure, but how do you do that?

For starters, you can search for reliable websites with reviews written by foreigners about their plastic surgery experience in South Korea. Some of those websites include Realself, Purse forum, Soompi, and Reddit. 

The thing is, there’s a huge difference between clinic website reviews compared to forum reviews. In the case of the latter, they show both positive and negative comments with no filters. 

It’s still advisable to check various sources to make sure that your chosen clinic and doctor is truly credible. For a legitimacy check, look for internationally-recognised plastic surgery centres in Seoul like BK, ID, Grand, JW, JK, and more. 

Online Consultation

After choosing your preferred clinic, the next step is to check their website. In most cases, they require you to fill in a consultation form that includes your basic details such as contact number, email, and your desired procedure. 

Expect to attach photos of your face in the consultation form to give the surgeon a reference. Just remember to manage your expectations since there might be some changes during the actual consultation in the clinic.

You can also have online consultations via apps like Whatsapp, Line, Kakaotalk, and even Telegram. Also, you don’t have to worry much about the language barrier because most clinics are trained to communicate to foreign patients in English.  

Another thing, translators are also provided in some cases to ensure that there’s no issue when it comes to communication. 

Search for an Accommodation

Once you’ve booked your flight, the next step is to look for a place to stay. In Seoul, there are lots of hotels to choose from. 

Alternatively, you can also consider finding accommodations on Airbnb, BnbHero, and Kozaza. If you’re having a hard time, you can also ask your chosen clinic for recommendations on nearby hotels. 

Are there plastic surgery packages in Korea?

In South Korea, plastic surgery packages are available. Not only will you be able to have plastic surgery, but you can also explore the country through various tour packages.

There are medical tourism agencies and service providers that will guide you throughout the process. Apart from coordinating with the clinic, they’ll also provide your transportation, accommodation, and postoperative treatment care. 

Seoul Guide Medical is the largest government-approved medical tourism agency in Korea. They have connections with prestigious hospitals and clinics in the country offering the best services for patients. 

Other agencies such as Seoul Touchup also offer packages that include tours of famous places in South Korea like Jeju Island, which you can enjoy after you’ve recovered from your surgery.

The Average Cost of Plastic Surgery in South Korea

The total cost of plastic surgery in South Korea will vary depending on the expertise of your chosen doctor, complexity of the case, techniques used for the procedure, and the price policy of your chosen healthcare facility.

Another thing that affects the overall cost of the procedure is the patient’s citizenship. It’s given that plastic surgery in Korea will cost more for foreigners compared to locals due to “resource fees” such as consultants and translators. 

Take note that prices of cosmetic procedures in South Korea are mostly shown in US dollars. That said, payments for your chosen procedure can be made through cash, credit card, and wire transfer. 

Bear in mind that most clinics require a 10% down payment to secure the patient’s surgery schedule. So if you’re thinking about paying in cash, it’s better to have some Singaporean dollars exchanged to US dollars before you travel

The table below shows some of the most popular plastic surgery services and their average costs in South Korea: 

Type of Surgery ProceduresEstimated Average Fee of Procedures
Double Eyelid SurgeryUSD $2,000 - $4,000
Hair TransplantUSD $6,000 - $10,000
RhinoplastyUSD $4,000 - $6,000
Breast SurgeriesUSD $8,000 - $12,000
LiposuctionUSD $4,000 - $7,000
FaceliftUSD $7,000 - $12,000
Facial ContouringUSD $5,000 - $7,000
Advanced Facial ContouringUSD $10,000 - $30,000
Full Body MakeoverUSD $20,000 - $35,000
Full Face MakeoverUSD $25,000 - $55,000

More Resources about Surgery Services in Singapore