Plastic surgery in Korea: what international patients should know

What does plastic surgery in Korea cover?

It covers surgery that changes the shape of the face or body, and reconstructive surgery after injury, illness or an earlier operation. The areas differ in anesthesia, time in the operating room and recovery, so compare them by what the recovery will demand of you.

Injections, laser and other procedures without surgery are covered in the dermatology guide.

How long should you stay in Korea for plastic surgery?

Stay until the surgeon has checked you after the operation and agreed that you can travel. The length depends on the operation, the anesthesia and how you heal, so ask the clinic for the expected stay in writing before you book flights.

A stay has to cover an in-person consultation, any tests needed before anesthesia, the operation, the first checks, removal of stitches or splints where they are used, and a final check before departure. Healing does not always follow the schedule, so choose a flight you can change.

• Arrive at least a day before surgery so the consultation and tests are not rushed.
• Ask which follow-up visits must happen in person, and how long after surgery each one takes place.
• Book a flight you can change and accommodation you can extend.
• Put sightseeing before the operation, not after it.

What should you ask a clinic before you book?

Ask who will operate, who will give the anesthesia, what the clinic does in an emergency and what happens if you need more care after you go home. Get the answers in writing and keep them.

• Is the surgeon a board-certified plastic surgeon, and will the surgeon I consult perform the whole operation personally?
• Who gives the anesthesia, and who monitors me during and after surgery?
• What emergency equipment does the clinic have, and which hospital would I be transferred to if needed?
• What exactly will be done, and what are the alternatives, including not having surgery?
• What complications are possible, how often do they occur and how are they treated?
• What is the total cost, including anesthesia, tests, medicines, garments and follow-up visits?
• What is the policy on revision surgery, and who pays if it is needed?
• Is the clinic registered to treat foreign patients?

Hospitals that treat foreign patients as medical tourists must be registered under Korean law. A clinic that avoids these questions, or presses you to decide on the day, is giving you a reason to look elsewhere.

What does a typical surgery visit look like?

It moves from an in-person consultation to tests, a written plan and consent, the operation, monitoring and follow-up checks. A plan discussed online can change once the surgeon has examined you, and you are free to decline at any point before surgery.

1. Consultation: you describe what you want, your medical history, allergies, current medicines and any earlier surgery.
2. Examination and tests: the surgeon examines you, and the clinic runs the tests needed before anesthesia.
3. Plan and consent: you receive the surgical plan, the cost, the risks and the alternatives, and you sign a consent form.
4. Surgery: carried out under local anesthesia, sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the operation.
5. Monitoring: you stay in a recovery room or a hospital room until the team agrees you can leave.
6. Follow-up: dressings are changed, stitches or splints are removed, and a final check is done before departure.

Doctors in Korea are required to explain surgery and obtain your consent. If you do not understand the explanation, ask for an interpreter before signing.

How do you plan recovery before flying home?

Treat the days after surgery as part of the treatment. Stay close to the clinic, keep your schedule empty and do not fly until the surgeon has checked you and agreed.

Long flights soon after surgery are a known concern, because sitting still for hours can raise the risk of blood clots. Ask the surgeon in writing when you can take a flight of the length you are booking, and what precautions to take on board.

• Choose accommodation near the clinic so that follow-up visits and unplanned checks are easy.
• Travel with a companion if you can, especially for surgery under general anesthesia.
• Follow the clinic's instructions on alcohol, smoking, exercise and sleeping position for as long as it advises.
• Learn which warning signs to watch for, and who to call outside clinic hours.
• Ask which medicines, dressings or garments you need for the journey, and take enough to last until you are home.

How do you handle aftercare once you are home?

Agree on aftercare before you leave Korea: what records you take, how you reach the clinic and who will see you at home if something needs attention. Swelling and scars keep changing after you return, so follow-up continues after the flight.

• Ask for a written surgical record in English: what was done, the anesthesia used and the details of any implant placed.
• Keep receipts and the consent form. You may need them for follow-up care or a complaint.
• Ask how the clinic handles questions from abroad, for example through a messaging app or email, and in which language.
• Before you travel, find a doctor at home who is willing to see you after surgery abroad.
• See a doctor at home promptly if you notice fever, increasing pain, bleeding or other warning signs, and tell them what was done.