r/SeoulPlasticSurgery

I am a 33F and have been working in medical negligence for 10 years. I have spent the last 8 months thoroughly monitoring clinics, reviews, and ongoing discourse meticulously for a number of eye clinics.

I had 4 consults at Wink, Garnet, View and Pop in person. I was accompanied by my husband, a general practitioner (family doctor or primary care physicians in some parts of the world)

I ultimately went with Wink, and will post a separate review. disclaimer I was given a discount to post a review but I would rather eat dog poop than write a false review if I did not believe in it. I have integrity as a person.

Garnet - a one man band. The doctor you consult with is the same one that operates. Doctor seemed experienced and the assisting consultant was also friendly and helpful. I ultimately didnt go with Garnet because I wanted to be able to converse with my surgeon directly in English but this consult left a good impression with me. They organised a translator for me, the doctor was very engaged with the conversation and showed me examples of results. If I didnt go to Wink I would have considered Garnet. Despite thr language barrier, he felt warm, and interested in my personal outcome. He wanted to make sure the options explored were balancing cosmetics vs functionality.

View - On the day, they asked to moved my appointment an hour earlier. Ok. Got there, waited for another hour? What was the point of this? I dont know. I had a short chat with the manager? idk who these women are in tight skirts and high heels. giving off a snobby vibe. She asked what surgery do you want? lateral epicanthoplasty? girl im here for a doctor consult because i dont know. Everything felt rushed, and like they wanted me out the door. I waited in the waiting area and our translator said the doctor will see you but could not tell us when the doctor would be available and just asked us to sit and wait. But after I said we would need to leave, he magically was free. He was just sitting in his office? The consultation was short, didnt seem like there was any interest from him. Like ok you need a eyebrown lift. Any questions? um ok no. It felt like a big clinic factory more interested in churning out patients, flashy high heeled consultants to create an impression of grandoir rather than prioritising patient care and communication.

Pop - another really busy clinic where i waited an hour. chaotic energy and front staff.were running trying to coordinate patients. i see the doctorI was supposed to consult with walking around at the front.

My fantastic translator had to follow up multiple times, and after an hour wait I saw the doctor for about a minute. The moment he saw that I recorded a soy allergy (which was info sent to them months earlier) he said we cant do it here since they use propofol, he told me I would need a place with a specialist anaesthetis and they dont do it. Didn't say anything else and left. What an absolute waste of time.

If a doctor treats you like you are not worthy of their time, that their time is more valuable than yours, it says a lot about how they will manage your ongoing care. Imagine emergencies etc. View and Pop were extremely disappointing. no one even bothered to examine my face. it was go go go. Even if the doctors were technically competent, I was thoroughly unimpressed with their bedside manner.

Context: I’m from Singapore so I don’t know if this plays apart but there is a stereotype that people from Singapore are wealthy but i’m not lol.

I was quoted 10.7 million won excluding vat for only these 2 surgeries:

1. Bulbous nose reduction
2. Alar reduction

(No implant)

Another clinic quoted me 2.8 million won excluding vat, so i’m just wondering what is the difference in prices? Both are of the same reputation and area as well so I’m confused.

BT Surgery Clinic

Hello everyone, does anyone have any experience with BT plastic surgery? How was the service, pricing, and post recovery? Thank you

I know about UNNI, and Naver, but they are so filled with fake reviews and bad reviews are banned. Where do locals get real recommendations and reviews? Is there a group chat anyone can add me too pleasssseee 🙏 I’m looking to get a face/neck lift, i’m looking into hidden incision techniques for that, but also open to not hidden incision if someone is just really good at making the incision imperceivable.

I just got fat graft done a few weeks ago and although right now I'd say I'm quite satisfied with my results from an aesthetics perspective, I can't help but regret that I didn't overfill. It was something I was planning to tell my doctor but on the day of the surgery I was too nervous and it just slipped out of my train of thought. Although the results look good now, alot of the fat is expected to be reabsorbed in the upcoming weeks and I feel like this all could have been avoided by overfilling initially. Anyone think the same and what did you do to get out of this mindset?

Hi beautiful people,

Am looking for clinic to do liposuction on belly and love handle.

Currently I have heard of 3 places in mind

1. Honette

2. Bywon

3. Bbae

Can you share your experience if you visit these 3 clinics?

Do we need to hire translator? Any translator to recommendation?

Do they also handle after care or at least recommend clinic/treatment to perform after care? It can be massage clinic or treatment to reduce swelling.. thank you

I have been scouring various forums and surgeons' sites across the globe to best prepare for Face and Necklift surgery. I wanted to give back to you all and share this Facelift Prep and Recovery Checklist.

**DISCLAIMER — PLEASE READ**

This checklist is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does **not** constitute medical, surgical, pharmacological, or professional advice of any kind. It is based solely on my personal research, personal preparation, and opinions gathered from public forums and various surgeons' websites — it is **not** written or reviewed by a medical professional, and it is **not** a substitute for individualized care.

I am not a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or medical professional of any kind. Nothing in this post creates a doctor-patient relationship between me and any reader. Every surgery, patient, medical history, medication list, and hospital/clinic protocol is different — you must always follow your own surgeon's, anaesthetist's, and care team's specific instructions, as their guidance overrides anything listed here in every instance.

This checklist mentions specific brand names, supplements, over-the-counter products, medications, and timelines. These reflect my own personal choices and what was recommended to *me* by *my* surgeon for *my* procedure and circumstances — they are not recommendations or endorsements, and they may be inappropriate, unsafe, contraindicated, or illegal in your country for your situation. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or supplement — including over-the-counter products — without first checking with your own surgeon, physician, or pharmacist. Dosages, timing, and product availability also vary by country, so always verify against your own care team and local regulations, especially if you are travelling overseas for surgery.

**I accept no responsibility and assume no liability whatsoever for any outcome, injury, complication, loss, or damage — direct or indirect — arising from any reader's use of, reliance on, or actions taken based on this checklist.** By reading and using this post, you acknowledge and agree that you do so entirely at your own risk, and that I am not liable for how you use this information or for any decisions you make as a result of it.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, or have concerns about your health at any point before or after surgery, contact your surgeon's office, local emergency services, or emergency care immediately — do not rely on this post or any online forum.

---

I am travelling overseas for my surgery and will be alone, so this list is extensive and a little over the top. But since I will be in another country I want everything within arm's reach (haters, comment on another page please).

**Seoul weather in October:** cool, clear, dry — highs ~21°C (70°F), lows ~10°C (50°F).

## Reminders

- Create and print out the post-op supplement/medication schedule 🙂
- Take daily progress photos — these will help when you are feeling down and may feel like you are not getting less swollen.

## In-Person Final Pre-Surgery Consult with Surgeon

- Come with a list of all your questions and specific instructions, separated into questions that must be answered by the surgeon and those the office staff can answer, so you don't waste the surgeon's time.
- Have your desired lift intensity decided (1–10) and your younger-self reference photos ready for the consult to show the surgeon what your expectations are. This way you can have a discussion about what is possible.

## Clothing

- Zip-up/button cardigans (easy over drains)
- Shirts — to avoid pulling items over the head
- Slip-on shoes — so you don't have to bend over to put them on
- Slippers
- Scarf x2 — a sun hat may feel too tight or irritate the stitch area
- Sunglasses — with loose arms so they don't squeeze the incision area
- Hat

## Post-Surgery Recovery Room / Bedroom Set-Up

- Set up accommodation/bedside table so everything is within reach at table height
- Wrap-around body pillow or wedge — for elevated sleeping
- Phone holder/arm to keep phone at eye level
- TV desk/lap table to keep computer/phone at eye level so as not to bend the neck

## Showering

- Shower cap
- Eye shield for shower (bleph protection)
- Lanyard for securing drains in the shower
- Non-slip bath mat — some bathrooms are slippery

## Deswelling

- Compression socks/stockings for the flight home
- Compression band for face (buy extra — they get dirty) from surgeon
- Frozen peas instead of ice packs — these seem to work best, especially for bleph
- Small zip-lock bags for peas
- Clothes peg to clip two ice bags together so they stay on the eyes without holding them
- Gauze to place between ice pack and skin

## Recovery Support Accessories

- Neck brace — to limit head/neck movement
- Elasticised headbands / tiny hair clip claws to keep hair back
- Silk pillowcase
- Trifold mirror that hangs on the door to assist with incision cleaning

## Tech

- Long charging cords for phone, laptop, etc.
- Velcro straps to attach charging cords to hospital bed rails, etc.
- Cord clips/attachments to keep cords in place
- Plug powerboard so all devices can plug into one socket
- USB drive for a copy of the surgery video recording
- Travel converter

## Daily Hygiene

- Soft toothbrush
- Cup to spit into (bending to spit into the sink is not advised)
- Alcohol-free mouthwash (Listerine)
- Water flosser
- Body/face cleansing wipes
- Cetaphil/CeraVe face wash for the shower
- Baby shampoo + conditioner for hair
- Cotton buds and cotton pads
- Bronner's soap
- Wide-tooth comb

## Food & Drink

- Own protein powder from home
- USB-charged blender cup / mixer cup for protein smoothies
- Bone broth — low sodium
- Chamomile tea (2–3/day) with medical-grade manuka honey
- Pumpkin tea
- Fibre supplement
- Straws
- Creatine
- Celtic salt
- Collagen peptides
- Chia seeds
- Jar for chia + water
- Stanley cup with straw
- High-polyphenol olive oil for drinking

## Supplements / Medication — Over-the-Counter Items

*(Check every item below with your own surgeon before use — see disclaimer above.)*

- Extra-strength Tylenol 500mg
- Cepacol spray or lozenges — for sore/scratchy throat
- Stool softener — start the day after surgery with fluids, until first bowel movement
- Bromelain supplement
- Arnica Montana supplement
- Healrite pre- and post-op supplements
- Dex pre-surgery drink (dex.com.au)

## What to Pack in Your Surgical Stay Bag

- Lip balm
- Straw bottle
- Slippers
- Slip-on walking shoes
- Button-up pyjamas
- Button-up shirt for the following day
- Warm cardigan
- Underwear
- Toothbrush/paste
- Toiletries
- Cash — for the anaesthetist

## Pre-Surgery Prep

*(Timelines and medication instructions below reflect what my own surgeon advised me — always confirm your own schedule directly with your surgeon.)*

**3 weeks before**
- Stop NSAIDs: aspirin, ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve, Anacin, Bayer, Motrin, Excedrin
- Stop OTC supplements — check with your surgeon
- Check whether Bromelain, Arnica Montana, and Healrite pre/post-op supplements are approved by your surgeon
- Panadol/paracetamol is generally okay to continue
- Ask your surgeon:
- Whether you can continue HRT
- When to stop/resume GLP-1s
- When to stop retinoid/retinal and other skin actives
- Colour hair up to 1 day before surgery (face/neck/browlift); avoid for 4 weeks after

**2 weeks before**
- Start Recovery Support AM/PM supplement

**5 days before**
- Stop red wine (white wine/other alcohol may be okay — confirm with your surgeon)

**2 days before**
- Continue Hibiclens
- Start Bactroban (mupirocin) nasal swabs 2x/day
- Start Valtrex/Valacyclovir if prescribed — 1 tablet 3x/day

**Night before**
- Hibiclens wash — face, neck, ears, hair; no other products after
- Continue Bactroban and Valtrex
- Male patients shave
- No food or drink after midnight, including water

**Day of surgery**
- No food or drink at all
- Take Emend with a small sip of water before heading to the surgery centre (check with your doctor before consuming)
- Bactroban nasal swab
- No makeup
- Wear a comfy zip/button-up top
- No contact lenses

## Post-Surgery Aftercare

*(Ask your surgeon for their specific recommendations — the below is a general guide only.)*

**Shower Instructions (Day 2)**
- Remove gauze and Telfa strips around ears/chin, discard
- Clean incisions with hydrogen peroxide on Q-tips — first shower only
- Shower, wash hair and face, resume own shampoo/gentle cleanser
- Pat face dry with a clean towel
- Send incision photos to the nursing line
- Apply a thin layer of Aquaphor to incisions, 2x/day for 2 weeks
- Apply compression chin strap with a Telfa strip under the chin
- Wash hair at least every other day; wide-tooth comb only; no blow dry

**Icing**
- 20 minutes on / 20 minutes off, for the first 48 hours while awake
- Never place ice directly on numb skin (frostbite risk)
- Not required after 48 hours
- Not while sleeping

**Chin Strap**
- Week 1: wear as much as possible (not required for sleep or icing)
- Week 2: a few hours during the day
- Week 3: discontinue

**Activity/Exercise Progression**
- Days 0–2 weeks: casual walks from day 3, no elevated heart rate; no other exercise; no bending/heavy lifting
- 2 weeks: light activity — treadmill/bike at half pace, easy hike
- 3 weeks: stationary bike or run at full pace
- 4 weeks: strength training/weight lifting
- 6 weeks: swimming, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, golf, tennis, pickleball

**Sun Exposure**
- No direct sun on face for 6 weeks; wear a wide-brimmed hat/visor outside
- No sunscreen for the first week
- After cleared: SPF 15+ when outside, continue for 6 months

**Additional Restrictions**
- No hyperextending the neck / chin-to-chest (e.g., looking down at phone) for 4 weeks
- No earrings or headphones/earbuds for 3 weeks
- No face-down massages for 2 months

**Browlift-Specific Instructions**
- Follow Day 2 shower/incision care
- Wide-tooth comb only; avoid the area near incisions
- Don't touch incisions
- No blow dry for 2 weeks; no salon blow-outs or hair dye for 4 weeks
- Ice forehead/temples 20 min on/off, first 48 hours
- No helmets for 6 weeks
- Sutures dissolve in 2–3 weeks; scabs fall off in 2–4 weeks — don't pick
- Endotines may be felt/tender for months as they absorb

**Blepharoplasty-Specific Instructions**
- Preservative-free artificial tears 4–5x/day; Systane PM at night; stop if burning/irritation
- Lower bleph: antibiotic eye drop the day after, 2 drops/eye 2x/day for 7 days
- Aquaphor on incisions 2x/day with a clean Q-tip, not fingers
- No peroxide before the first shower
- Ice 20 min on/off; don't stay up to ice — prioritise sleep
- Bleeding: gauze pressure 10–20 min; clean dried blood with peroxide or soap/water, avoid eye contact
- No contact lenses for at least 10 days
- SPF 15+ on lids after suture removal, continue for 6 months
- Makeup allowed 2 weeks after (with sunscreen)

## What to Expect After Surgery (General)

- Bruising/swelling may increase and travel down the face/neck for several days — normal
- Asymmetry from swelling evens out over time
- Rippling near ears from dissolving sutures — normal
- Sutures generally removed 4–10 days; scabs fall off in 2–4 weeks — don't pick
- Numbness/tingling is normal; sensation returns ~4–5 weeks, unevenly
- Fatigue/low energy for a week or more is normal
- Feeling "not yourself"/down is common — temporary
- Firmness under the chin/face sides — normal, subsides
- Don't pull earlobes forward; they may feel rubbery/swollen; wear button/zip clothes to avoid catching them
- Don't put fingers in ears; use a Q-tip for itching; bumps behind ears resolve in 4–6 weeks
- Eye dryness/light sensitivity/blurred vision (if bleph) — normal, subsides within ~10 days

## Post-Surgery Treatments

- Red light / LED therapy for deswelling
- Hyperbaric chamber (HBOT) — a sitting chamber is available if you are claustrophobic
- Lymphatic drainage massage — check timing with your doctor

## Recovery Timeline

- Day of surgery: sedation, overnight stay
- 48 hours: icing only during this window
- 48 hours: can wash hair after this point
- Days 1–2: stay elevated, short walks okay, limit cold-weather walking
- Days 3–4: peak swelling, tightness, worse in the evening; some feel down in the first 3 days
- 5 days: sleep on back only, then may switch to side
- 1 week: head elevated on 2 pillows in bed
- 1 week: no makeup
- 1 week: keep hair off face; protect stitches from contact when flying
- Day 7: ear sutures removed
- Day 10: remaining sutures and tape removed
- Facial tape limits micro-movement, redirects swelling
- 2 weeks: no driving (avoid turning the neck)
- 2 weeks: no bending/heavy lifting
- 2 weeks: cardio can resume
- 3 weeks: face support strap — start day 2, wear 2–8 hrs/day at home/resting
- 3 weeks: no earrings
- 4 weeks: ~80% of swelling resolved
- 4 weeks: can colour hair
- 4 weeks: light weights okay
- 4 weeks: avoid hyperextending the neck / chin-to-chest for prolonged periods
- 6 weeks: no sun exposure
- 6 weeks: no retinol (before or after surgery)
- 6 weeks: no lifting over 30 lbs
- 6 weeks: keep sunblock off suture areas
- 6 weeks: Pilates okay, no neck strain until then
- 6 weeks: no submerging head

## Flight

- Compression stockings
- Avoid high-sodium food on the flight — a steroid is sometimes given before flying
- Protect stitches from contact during the flight

## Sample Daily Post Surgery Routine

- Breakfast
- Walk to LED deswelling
- Rest
- Lunch
- Walk to Hyperbaric session
- Relax
- Dinner
- Movie
- Sleep

## How to Spend Your Downtime While Resting

- MasterClass courses you can listen to
- Audiobooks
- Podcasts

---

**Reminder:** This checklist reflects my personal experience and research only. It is not medical advice, I am not a medical professional, and I accept no responsibility or liability for how anyone uses this information. Always follow your own surgeon's and care team's specific instructions above anything written here, and consult them before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, or activity.

i was extremely nervous about traveling to seoul for surgry because everyone keeps complaining about how much foreign patients get overcharged and how shady some clinics can be. i spent months checking tiktok and reddit forums, but everything felt like a giant advertisement for the same huge factory hospitals. someone on reddit suggested contacting ryan from onjung, so i set up a call with him before even booking my flight. that first conversation really put my mind at ease because he laid out realistic local rates compared to what typical tourist agencies charge.

unlike standard medical agencies that only push certain sponsored clinics, he was completely independent. he listened to what i wanted for my facelift and recommended hugo plastic surgery in gangnam, which is a place that barely does any aggressive marketing to foreigners. from the second i walked in, the clinic felt super warm and welcoming, and the facility was really modern and clean. the doctor explained the incision lines and recovery process clearly without any sales pressure. having a local who actually knows the real reputation of these doctors made a world of difference. when i arrived in seoul, he coordinated everything with the clinic so it was all set up smoothly. on the day of my procedure, my nerves were completely shot, but he was right there answering every little question until the moment i walked into the operating room. he was super patient while waiting, and made sure the front desk finalized my paperwork so there were zero surprise charges at the end.

what really meant a lot to me was how much he checked on me during recovery. since facelift recovery takes a lot of care, he helped me figure out easy soft meals to eat and even recommended a great private salon downtown where locals go to get their hair washed gently after surgery. even months after returning home, he still drops a message once in a while to check on my healing.

if you're planning a trip to korea for cosmetic work on your own, having a solid independent coordinator makes a huge difference. having someone reliable in your corner takes away almost all the stress of navigating a foreign healthcare system. i'm definitely reaching out to ryan again when i head back to seoul for my next treatment.

I notice that most clinic doesn't take pre-op test before rhinoplasty. Is it really not concerning and where can I get the pre-op test in Seoul? Thank you !!

Mine is hard as a rock. So I'm curious about those after years of rhinoplasty, how does your nose feel? Is it squishy and flexible that you can move it from left to right and push it up and down again?

Hi, I had facial contouring done 5 weeks ago and am really regretting the zygoma reduction.

Mine protruded but not by much. I had ~2mm shaved off - no osteotomy.

My face is still so, so round and I'm worried I've lost the cheekbone projection that created angles for my face. I know it could be due to swelling, but it feels like 80-90% of my swelling is gone, and looking at other results, a lot of other people also have similar round faces permanently.

For girls I think this is a good result, but as a guy I am strongly regretting this and think I look worse post op than before.

Anyone else had zygoma reduction and have experiences to share? Thank you

So, I am 100 % sure I wanna get facial contouring but unsure which clinic I want to go to. I have shortlisted via consultation online and cross checked from my friends + purseforum + reddit + sungyesa.

The three clinics do not ask for any deposit but im afraid they will be fully packed I will be staying in Seoul around 30 October until 20 November 2026. Hotel + ticket booked in gangnam.

Do you guys ask the clinic to schedule the surgery first or what ? I am shortlisting EU ,ARC, and BT. All 3 never request for deposit. They just simply scheduled my in person consultation.

Also, does anyone have itinerary while under recovery this is my second time in Seoul , but I reckon I will be under the bed and eating blended stuff. What can realistically be done while recovering ?