u/kiran9

hey everyone, just wanted to leave a quick review here since i spent weeks obsessively scrolling through reddit before deciding to finally get my eyes done. hopefully this helps anyone looking into doing lens implant surgery (ICL) in korea.

for context: my prescription was absolute trash (-7.5 in both eyes with moderate astigmatism), so regular lasik/lasek was out of the question. i ended up going to SNU Seoul Global Clinic after seeing a couple of mentions about their English support.

The Consultation / Pre-op: the eye testing felt like an absolute gauntlet lol. they run you through like 10 different machines to map your cornea, check eye pressure, and measure the depth of your anterior chamber (since the lens sits inside your eye). the coordinator who helped me spoke fluent english and explained everything clearly. i was terrified that my eyes wouldn’t have enough space for the EVO+ lenses, but the doctor looked at the scans and gave me the green light. they didn't try to upsell me on extra random procedures which i appreciated.

Surgery Day: i’m not gonna lie, I was sweating bullets. walking into an operating room is terrifying no matter how minor the surgery is. they give you numbing drops (no needles, thank god) and this clip to keep your eyes open. the doctor kept talking to me the whole time telling me where to look (just stare at the bright light). you feel some weird pressure and see some trippy swirling lights when they insert the lens, but zero actual pain. it took maybe 10-15 minutes max for both eyes.

Recovery & Results: right after surgery, everything looked like i was looking through a foggy window or underwater. they make you rest in a dark room for an hour to check your eye pressure before letting you go. by the next morning when i woke up for my follow-up check, the fog was completely gone. i could literally read the tiny text on the fire extinguisher across the hallway.

it's been about 3 months now.

• Current vision: 20/15 (better than perfect)
• Side effects: some slight halos around streetlights at night, but it's totally manageable and way better than dealing with dry contacts.

Pros: Super clean clinic, zero language barrier, highly experienced surgeons (this was huge for me since they're literally cutting into your eye). Cons: It's definitely pricier than standard LASIK, but that’s just the cost of the ICL lenses themselves globally.

if anyone has questions about the pricing or the recovery timeline feel free to ask!

 Its about a new trend called "beauty tourism," and it's pretty wild. It's not just about getting a quick treatment while you're on vacation anymore. Now, the entire trip is for the treatment. Celebrities are literally flying across the globe to visit specific clinics and doctors.

For example, the article mentioned:

• Kim Kardashian flew to a high-end clinic in Seoul for advanced aesthetic procedures.
• Gwyneth Paltrow frequently visits a luxury wellness retreat in Italy that focuses on "longevity programs."
• Eva Longoria apparently goes all the way to Dubai just to see her favorite doctor for fillers, lasers, and whatever else. She said she'd use any "lotion or potion" the clinic has.
• Even Rachel Brosnahan went to a super-exclusive wellness ranch in California for a 7-day "reset" of hiking and vegan meals.

It seems like traveling for a super-specialist is becoming the new normal for the rich and famous. I can't imagine flying to another country just for a facial, but I guess that's what you do when you can afford it.

Honestly didn't think I'd ever write a review for something this personal, but here I am because I genuinely think it could help someone else who's been quietly struggling the way I was.

I'd been putting this off for almost two years — kept telling myself it wasn't a big deal, that I was overthinking it. But after having kids, things just... changed, and it affected my confidence more than I wanted to admit. A friend who'd visited Second Spring Women recommended it almost in passing, and I finally booked a consultation mostly just to "get information."

From the moment I walked in, the staff made it clear they'd seen and heard it all before — in the best possible way. No awkwardness, no clinical detachment. The doctor took probably 30 minutes just listening before she even mentioned any treatment options. She explained everything clearly, didn't push anything, and was very upfront about what realistic results would look like.

I went ahead with the procedure. Recovery was smoother than I expected — they gave me detailed aftercare instructions and I could actually reach someone when I had questions afterward (which, if you've dealt with Korean clinics before, you know isn't always a given).

It's been about three months now and I feel genuinely good. Not just physically — there's a confidence piece that I didn't fully anticipate. My only wish is that I hadn't waited so long out of embarrassment.

If you're on the fence, the consultation alone is worth it. They don't make you feel like a number, and for something this sensitive, that matters more than anything.

Yes, ghost surgery can happen in Korea, especially in very high-volume clinics.

In some of these clinics, when there are more patients than the main surgeon can realistically handle, another doctor may actually perform all or part of the operation instead of the surgeon you chose in consultation. This “ghost doctor” might be a junior surgeon, a different specialist from the same clinic, or in the worst cases someone you were never introduced to at all. The key issue is that the person operating on you is not clearly disclosed or chosen by you, so you may go under anesthesia believing one doctor will perform your surgery while another, often unknown, doctor is the one who actually operates.

Yes, ghost surgery can happen in Korea, especially in very high-volume clinics.

In some of these clinics, when there are more patients than the main surgeon can realistically handle, another doctor may actually perform all or part of the operation instead of the surgeon you chose in consultation. This “ghost doctor” might be a junior surgeon, a different specialist from the same clinic, or in the worst cases someone you were never introduced to at all. The key issue is that the person operating on you is not clearly disclosed or chosen by you, so you may go under anesthesia believing one doctor will perform your surgery while another, often unknown, doctor is the one who actually operates.

Thinking about getting a nose job in Korea… would appreciate some honest opinions

hey, I'm an indian guy in my late 20s currently living in india

I've been seriously looking into getting a rhinoplasty in korea and honestly the more I research the more confused I get

like on paper it makes a lot of sense to go there

– korean surgeons are known for working really well with asian nose structures which feels relevant for me too

– the results I see online look really natural, not overdone

– prices seem way more competitive compared to private clinics in india or going somewhere like the uk

– and the whole medical tourism infrastructure there just seems really well set up

but then I start second-guessing myself

– it's a long flight and I'd basically be alone there for recovery

– follow-up care once I'm back in india feels uncertain

– and I've gone down too many reddit rabbit holes with reviews that are all over the place

the two clinics that keep coming up for me are JK Plastic Surgery and ID Hospital and also seeing Beuon mentioned a lot… but honestly I can't tell who's actually good and who's just good at marketing

so for people who actually went to korea for rhinoplasty, especially coming from south or southeast asia:

was the whole experience actually worth it?

did the results match what you discussed in the consultation?

how did you handle aftercare once you flew back home?

and if anyone has specific experience with JK Plastics or Sugerplastic Surgery — or knows how they compare — I'd really love to hear it