Plastic surgery in Korea covers operations that reshape the face and body, from eyelids and noses to midface lifting and contouring, performed in surgical clinics that see many international patients. Shorter procedures are often done under local anesthesia with sedation and take one to two hours; longer ones use general anesthesia. Swelling and bruising are expected for the first one to two weeks, and most visitors fly home only after stitch removal and a final check. Early shape is visible within weeks, while the settled result takes several months. Clinics quote per procedure, before VAT. This page compares clinics and lists current prices.
Is it for you?
Who Plastic surgery in Gangnam suits, and who should wait
A good candidate is an adult in stable health with one clear, specific concern, such as heavy upper lids, a low nasal bridge or midface descent, and enough time in Korea to complete follow-up. People who arrive with a precise goal and accept that the surgeon may change the plan after examining them tend to have the smoothest experience.
Surgery is not the right step for everyone. It will not fix skin texture, pigmentation or fine lines, which respond better to skin treatments, and it cannot stop ageing from continuing. Anyone looking for a dramatic change in how they feel overall, or who cannot stay long enough for checkups, should pause and reconsider.
Usually a good fit
- Adults in stable general health
- One defined concern with a realistic goal
- Able to stay for all follow-up visits
- Willing to stop smoking around surgery
May be better to wait
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Active infection or skin disease on the area
- Implants or recent surgery in the same zone
- Concerns better treated without surgery
Clinics in Gangnam
10 clinics for Plastic surgery in Gangnam
Every clinic below lists Plastic surgery among its treatments. Message a clinic directly.
1
2
3Garnet Plastic Surgery
4
5BLS Clinic Gangnam
6LV Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics
7YUNO Plastic Surgery
8OPERA PLASTIC SURGERY
9Soonplus Plastic Surgery
10Chiu Plastic Surgery
How it works
How a Plastic surgery session runs
Every operation in this field works on tissue directly: the surgeon makes an incision, then removes, repositions or supports skin, fat, muscle, cartilage or bone, and closes the wound. Eyelid surgery adjusts skin, fat and the muscles that lift the lid; nose surgery reshapes cartilage and bone and may add a graft; midface lifting raises soft tissue that has descended toward the lower face. Fees are set per procedure and scope, with graft material, the number of areas and the anesthesia type changing the quote.
Graft choice is one of the more debated decisions in nose surgery. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis by Hudise and colleagues in the Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology pooled complication reports for dorsal augmentation using the patient's own tissue or synthetic implants, and found that the complication profile differs by material, so the choice should be discussed openly rather than assumed.
For the midface, Saltz described in Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2005 an endoscopic lift through small temple incisions, using an absorbable fixation device called the Endotine to hold the lifted tissue. Honig reported a related subperiosteal, vertically directed upper midface lift with the same device in the same journal in 2007. Both papers show that technique and fixation method shape how a lift is performed.
Consultation and examination
The surgeon examines the area, reviews your history and photos, explains options and risks, and agrees a written plan. Expect about an hour, sometimes with imaging.
Pre-operative checks
Blood tests, a medication review and the signed consent form, usually on the same day as surgery or the day before.
Anesthesia and operation
Local anesthesia with sedation, or general anesthesia with an anesthesiologist present. Operating time ranges from about one hour to several hours depending on scope.
Recovery room and discharge
You rest while monitored until stable, then leave with dressings, medication and written aftercare. Some operations need an overnight stay.
Follow-up visits
Dressing changes, swelling checks and stitch removal over the next one to two weeks, then a final review before you fly.
Plastic surgery compared with other options
| Surgery | Injectable treatment | Energy device | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Incision and tissue repositioning | Product placed by needle or cannula | Heat from focused ultrasound or radiofrequency |
| Anesthesia | Local with sedation, or general | Topical cream or none | Topical cream or none |
| Main effect | Structural change to shape or position | Volume or muscle relaxation | Gradual tightening of skin |
| Downtime | One to several weeks | Usually a few days at most | Usually little |
| Durability | Long-lasting, though ageing continues | Temporary, repeated over time | Temporary, repeated over time |
At a glance
Plastic surgery facts
| Procedure groups | Eyelids, nose, midface and face lifting, facial bone contouring, breast and body |
|---|---|
| Technique | Incision with removal, repositioning or grafting of tissue |
| Anesthesia | Local with sedation for shorter operations; general for longer or bone work |
| Operating time | About one hour to several hours, by scope |
| Stitch removal | Commonly around one week after face procedures |
| Visible swelling | Mostly eases over one to three weeks |
| Settled result | Several months; longer for nose and bone work |
| Earliest flight home | After stitch removal and the surgeon's written clearance |
| How it is priced | Per procedure and scope, before VAT; 10% VAT added at payment |
Prices
Plastic surgery cost in Gangnam
Prices below come from the listed clinics' own price lists, before VAT. 10% VAT is added at payment.
Non-incisional (buried) double eyelid
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $873₩1,200,000 + VATCompare clinicsMedial epicanthoplasty
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $873₩1,200,000 + VATCompare clinicsLateral/lower/upper canthoplasty
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $873₩1,200,000 + VATCompare clinicsEpicanthoplasty — medial or upper (each)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $945₩1,300,000 + VATCompare clinicsNon-incisional (buried suture) double eyelid
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $1,164₩1,600,000 + VATCompare clinicsPartial-incision double eyelid
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $1,309₩1,800,000 + VATCompare clinicsIncisional double eyelid surgery
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $1,455₩2,000,000 + VATCompare clinicsDouble eyelid — buried (non-incisional)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $1,455From ₩2,000,000 + VATCompare clinicsRecovery
What the days after look like
Rest with the head raised; cold packs, prescribed pain relief and no bending or lifting.
Swelling and bruising peak; first dressing check at the clinic.
Stitches come out for most face procedures; bruising fades and short walks are fine.
Most visible swelling settles; light work and normal social plans usually resume.
Residual swelling resolves and the final shape becomes clear.
Safety
Plastic surgery risks and limits
- Swelling, bruising, tightness and temporary numbness are expected after almost every operation.
- Scarring varies with skin type and healing; incisions are placed to hide them but cannot remove them.
- Infection, bleeding under the skin and wound problems are uncommon but need prompt care.
- Asymmetry or an outcome that differs from the plan can lead to revision surgery.
- Anesthesia carries its own risks, higher with longer operations and existing health conditions.
- Surgery changes structure but does not stop ageing or improve skin quality.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Complications of the nasal dorsum reconstruction using autologous or alloplastic grafts: evidence from systematic review and meta-analysisBrazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology · 2022 · Hudise J, Aldhabaan S, Aldosari B · doi:10.1016/j.bjorl.2020.07.001
A systematic review and meta-analysis pooling complication data for nasal dorsum reconstruction, comparing grafts from the patient's own tissue with synthetic implants.
- Endoscopic temporal-incision only midface lift is enhanced by endotine techniqueAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2005 · Saltz R · doi:10.1016/j.asj.2004.12.005
Describes an endoscopic midface lift performed through temporal incisions alone, using the absorbable Endotine device to fix the lifted tissue.
- Subperiosteal endotine-assisted vertical upper midface liftAesthetic Surgery Journal · 2007 · Honig J · doi:10.1016/j.asj.2007.04.005
Reports a subperiosteal upper midface lift directed vertically and secured with the Endotine fixation device.
FAQ
Questions about Plastic surgery in Gangnam
Why do so many people choose South Korea for plastic surgery?
Many visitors pick Korea because surgical clinics there are used to international patients, often provide documents in English, and offer a wide range of facial procedures. Short travel times within Seoul make repeated follow-up visits practical. That said, quality varies between clinics as it does anywhere. Choose on the surgeon, the safety setup and the aftercare plan rather than on reputation alone.
How long do I need to stay in Korea after surgery?
Plan to stay until stitches are removed and the surgeon has cleared you to fly, which is commonly one to two weeks for face procedures. Bone surgery or several combined operations usually need longer. Ask for a written timeline at consultation and book a flexible return. An extra spare day costs little compared with leaving before a needed check. Nose and bone surgery may also need a cast or splint check.
Is it safe to fly soon after an operation?
Flying is usually reasonable once the surgeon has checked the wound and removed stitches, but not straight after surgery. Cabin pressure and long sitting can increase swelling and the risk of blood clots. Drink water, move your legs and keep your head raised on the flight. Carry your discharge summary and medication list in your hand luggage. If you feel chest pain or breathlessness, seek urgent care.
Will the surgeon I meet be the one who operates?
You should ask this directly and get the answer in writing, because it is one of the most important checks before surgery. A careful clinic will name the operating surgeon and the person giving anesthesia. Korean law also lets patients under general anesthesia request a CCTV recording of the operation. Ask how that request is made if you want one.
What is the difference between my own cartilage and an implant for the nose?
Grafts from your own tissue avoid foreign material, while synthetic implants avoid a second harvest site, and each carries different risks. The 2022 review by Hudise and colleagues in the Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology found complication patterns differ between these materials. Ask the surgeon which they suggest for your nose, why, and what happens if the graft needs replacing. Results vary from person to person.
Is a midface lift the same as a full facelift?
No, a midface lift targets the cheek area between the lower eyelid and the mouth, while a full facelift also addresses the jawline and neck. Techniques such as the endoscopic approach described by Saltz in 2005 work through small temple incisions. A surgeon will suggest the scope that matches where descent actually shows on your face. Combining a lift with eyelid work is common.
How painful is recovery?
Most people describe tightness, pressure and soreness rather than sharp pain, and prescribed medication usually controls it. Discomfort tends to peak in the first two or three days and then eases. Bone surgery and body procedures are generally more uncomfortable than eyelid work. Tell the clinic if pain rises instead of fading, since that can signal a problem. Sleeping with the head raised also limits throbbing.
Do I need to speak Korean to have surgery in Korea?
No, many clinics that treat international patients work with interpreters or staff who speak English and other languages. Confirm before booking which languages are available at consultation, on surgery day and for follow-up. Make sure you can read the consent form and aftercare notes. Clear communication about risks is as important as the operation itself. Keep the clinic's contact channel for questions after you return.
Can I combine surgery with skin treatments on the same trip?
Some skin treatments can be added, but most surgeons prefer to wait until incisions have healed before treating the same area. Treatments on other areas may be fine sooner. Ask the surgeon which treatments are safe during recovery and when. Doing less on one trip often makes healing simpler and safer. Gentle cleansing and sun protection are usually allowed early on, and the surgeon will say when.
How long do the results of a plastic surgery clinic in Korea last?
Structural changes from surgery are long-lasting, but the face and body keep ageing, so results change gradually over the years. Eyelid and nose changes tend to hold well, while lifting results soften with time. Healthy habits, sun protection and stable weight help maintain them. No surgeon can stop ageing, and results vary from person to person. Revision is possible later if a change is needed.