This is a guide for anyone looking to get Gynecomastia surgery in Korea.
We will go through everything you should know on your journey to Gynecomastia surgery in Korea, including:
- What is Gynecomastia Surgery
- Gynecomastia surgery cost in Korea
- Why choose Korea for Gynecomastia surgery
- Best Gynecomastia surgery clinics in Korea
- Much, much more
Table of Contents
ToggleWhat Is Gynecomastia Surgery
To better understand what Gynecomastia surgery is, we have to know what Gynecomastia actually is.
Gynecomastia
Simply put, Gynecomastia are enlarged breasts in men. It’s a condition caused by an imbalance of hormones – estrogen and testosterone.
Gynecomastia can affect one or both breasts, sometimes even unevenly.
It can develop in newborns, boys going through puberty, and even older men. Sometimes it goes away on its own, but you might need medication or surgery if the problem continues.
This condition can also cause emotional discomfort and even impair your self-confidence.
If you struggle with Gynecomastia, Gynecomastia surgery might be the best option.
Gynecomastia Surgery
Gynecomastia surgery, or breast reduction for men, is a surgery that corrects enlarged breasts in men. It reduces the size of breasts, flattens them, and can even enhance chest contours.
This procedure can surgically improve the position and size of the areola as well.
It is a mix of two popular plastic surgery techniques:
- Liposuction: Suction-assisted liposuction through a small hole. It’s ideal for mild to moderate excess fatty tissue.
- Excision: Direct excision of excess breast tissues. It’s ideal for moderate to severe excess fatty tissues.
To get the best results, surgeons developed a technique combining liposuction and excision and named it Gynecomastia surgery (reduction mammaplasty).
Recovery And Results
After Gynecomastia surgery, you will experience some pain, swelling, and bruising. You should wear a compression vest to improve swelling and healing.
Typically, no hospitalization is required. However, if needed, it’s usually no longer than one day. Your stitches will be removed about a week after surgery.
You can resume daily activities two weeks after surgery and even continue work (less demanding jobs). It may take up to 6 weeks to fully recover.
Avoid strenuous physical activity and sexual activity for about two weeks. After that, you can gradually start exercising.
Results can be noticeable immediately after surgery. However, you will see full results after the swelling subsides, which can take at least six weeks.
Before And After
What To Expect From Gynecomastia Surgery In Korea
Before we continue with the cost of Gynecomastia surgery in Korea, let’s give you a rundown of the procedure in Korea.
Like probably everywhere else, you will get short-term sedation for Gynecomastia surgery. The surgery usually doesn’t take more than one hour.
Keep in mind that hospitalization is required for Gynecomastia surgery. In Korea, the standard duration of hospitalization is about a day. Most clinics have great aftercare centers or are partnered with outside ones.
We recommend you schedule at least one appointment with your surgeon before leaving.
You will get your stitches removed after about 7 days. That is usually a green light for you to go home, but check with your surgeon.
Methods Used In Korea For Fixing Gynecomastia
The best fix for Gynecomastia is, of course, surgery. This way, you can get permanent results and a better-looking chest.
In Korea, Gynecomastia surgery is usually performed using three methods:
- Liposuction (with excessive fat tissue)
- Excsicion of mammary gland tissue (excessive mammary gland tissue)
- Combination of both liposuction and excision
These are also the best methods to help those dealing with Gynecomastia.
Each different method is meant for different issues. The combination of liposuction and excision is optimal for better results. However, it is a more difficult and more expensive method.
Post-Gynecomastic Surgery Stay In Korea
After your Gynecomastia surgery, we recommend you stay in Korea for a few days or weeks.
Our minimum recommended stay is around 8 days. This is so you can get stitches removed and have at least one appointment at the clinic to check your progress.
Gynecomastia surgery is a more difficult and demanding procedure. However, after a few days, you should be okay to explore Seoul to your liking.
We suggest you take it easy and don’t do anything physically demanding. Ask your surgeon about what activities you can do while recovering.
A great way to spend time in Seoul is by visiting markets. There are a ton of them. They have everything from shopping malls to large street food districts and local shops.
Above is a picture of the Gwangjang market in Seoul. It is one of the oldest traditional markets in the city.
A great way to do some sightseeing without too much walking is bus tours. If you can, book one through the clinic. You might get a discounted rate.
Lastly, you can check out some must-see places in Seoul here. There are lots of great sights you should not miss while in Korea.
Gynecomastia Surgery Cost In Korea
The average cost of Gynecomastia surgery in Korea is around 4,750,000 KRW (=3,500 $).
Keep in mind that the above number is just a ballpark figure. The final cost depends on a lot of different factors, like:
- Clinic reputation: Some more reputable clinics charge more just because of their reputation. Higher prices don’t always mean better results.
- Clinic Location: Some clinics charge more because of their location. The most popular location for plastic surgery clinics in Seoul is Gangnam, and often the best priced.
- Extra, miscellaneous costs: Some clinics might try to charge random costs, so be careful and always demand a full-price quote before the surgery.
Korea is very affordable and budget-friendly for Gynecomastia surgery.
There are a lot of clinics in Seoul, and competition between them is driving prices down in Korea. To attract customers, clinics offer very affordable and competitive prices.
Another thing about Korean prices is that they are all-inclusive. In Korea, prices include everything from surgery costs to consultations and taxes.
Most clinics also offer lots of different benefits included in the price. A few examples are:
- Translators
- Concierge services (ride to and from the airport or hotel)
- Highly discounted accommodation
- Tourist guides
We recommend you inquire about all this during your initial contact with the clinic.
Compared To Other Countries
If we compare prices for Gynecomastia surgery in Korea with other countries, it becomes that Korea is the best choice cost-wise.
For the same procedure, you can expect to pay:
- An average of 5,700,000 KRW (=4,200 $) in the US
- At least 9,780,000 KRW (=7,200 $) in the UK
- An average of 7,740,000 KRW (=5,700 $) in Australia.
You can save almost 20% on Gynecomastia surgery in Korea compared to the US. The cost of Gynecomastia surgery in the UK is double the cost in Korea, and in Australia, the surgery costs almost 50% more than in Korea.
Plus, there are plenty of ways to save even more money in Korea. Korean clinics often offer deals and promotions and give discounts.
Save More Money In Korea
Korea is already very affordable and budget-friendly for Gynecomastia surgery.
However, there are still plenty of ways to save money. Let’s go over some tips we recommend using while in Korea for the surgery:
Paying In Full
Clinics prefer you pay for your surgery in full instead of monthly installments.
If you pay in full, clinics will happily give you a discount of up to 10%. Always ask about this before paying.
Before And After Showcases
If you are a perfect candidate, clinics may ask if they can take your before and after photos to showcase them on their website.
If you are okay with your photos being on their website, they might offer discounts on your procedure.
You can even volunteer for it and see if you are a good candidate.
Tax Refund
If you are a foreign citizen, you are eligible for a VAT refund at the airport when you leave Korea.
Keep all your receipts in Korea because the only requirement is that you are not a Korean citizen.
Make sure to keep an eye out for tax refund machines at airports.
Why Choose Korea For Gynecomastia Surgery
Korea is famous worldwide as the ’’plastic surgery capital of the world’’. Many people fly every year to Korea to have plastic surgery.
However, that is not the only reason you should go to Korea for Gynecomastia surgery.
Let’s go over why we believe Korea is the best choice.
Cost
We already covered the cost of Gynecomastia surgery in Korea in the ‘’Gynecomastia Surgery Cost In Korea’’. From that, it’s clear that Korea is the best place cost-wise for Gynecomastia surgery.
You can save at least 20% on Gynecomastia Surgery in Korea compared to the US. On top of that, the price for Gynecomastia surgery in Australia and the UK is almost double what you’d pay in Korea.
If you consider this with the level of care you get in Korea and how experienced their surgeons are, Korea becomes an obvious choice.
Prices for Gynecomastia Surgery in Korea are very affordable and competitive, and this is due to the competition between clinics for patients.
Lastly, Korean prices are all-inclusive. They often include different benefits, like translators or concierge services. You get the most for your money in Korea.
Use our tip on saving money in Korea and lower your final cost even more.
Surgeon Experience
Korean surgeons are one of the most experienced in the world.
They perform over 1,000,000 surgeries annually. Plenty of them are breast-related procedures – including Gynecomastia surgery.
The amount of breast-related surgeries they perform is why they have so much experience.
Korean surgeons have also perfected the procedures to minimize scarring and reduce recovery time. Most are starting to use self-decomposing stitches, so you don’t even have to get stitches removed.
They use advanced technology for surgeries to help them get the best results.
Not only that, Korean surgeons are also specialized. Breast surgery is pretty popular in Korea, so many surgeons specialize in that, which includes Gynecomastia surgery.
The ones specializing in bread surgery are only performing those types of procedures. However, in Western countries, it’s common for surgeons to perform a variety of procedures.
Lastly, not only are Korean surgeons specialized, but clinics are as well. We will go over that later in the guide.
Finding The Best Clinic For Fixing Gynecomastia In Korea
Picking the right plastic surgery clinic is an essential step on your journey to Gynecomastia surgery.
With over 500 plastic surgery clinics only in Seoul, this can be a very stressful decision. However, you shouldn’t pick a random clinic or the cheapest one, as there can be a big difference in final results.
You have many factors to consider when looking for a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul. Some of the most important ones are:
- Clinic and surgeon specialization
- Customer reviews
- Track record
To help you, we did all the research and came up with great recommendations. We will also go in-depth about two very important factors.
All the clinics from our list are verified. We visited their facilities, checked the credentials of their surgeons and the clinic, went over reviews and track records, and interviewed some former patients.
We made sure that these clinics satisfy our criteria and are the best choice for you.
Real, Non-Fake Reviews
Reviews are among the most important things when looking for a plastic surgery clinic. This is true in all countries, even in Korea.
Only look at reviews for breast surgery. Among those, try to find Gynecomastia surgery reviews. If a clinic has good reviews for breast surgery, it’s most likely a safe choice for Gynecomastia as well.
We have to warn you that it is hard to find reviews about Gynecomastia surgery in Korea. The next best thing is to look at breast surgery reviews. Here is a good example:
The review above is about breast augmentation surgery at JW Plastic Surgery. It is for one of the clinics we recommend for Gynecomastia surgery.
Even though this review is about breast augmentation, it is a good example. It is detailed and gives you a lot of information about how they treat foreign patients. This is what a good review looks like.
Also, make sure to look out for fake reviews. These are unfortunately becoming popular, as clinics try to do everything to get patients.
We like to look at Google reviews since they are harder to fake. WhatClinic is also a good website for reviews. We recommend you stay away from reviews on clinics’ websites. They are the easiest to fake.
During our research, we also contact former patients. This is so we can get their side of the experience with the clinic.
Clinic Specialization
Another significant factor to keep an eye out for is the specialization of the clinic.
If you want the best clinic, focus only on those specializing in Gynecomastia surgery. Clinics specializing in breast surgery (all types) are also a good and safe choice.
We like to check clinics’ track records with Gynecomastia surgery (or breast surgery in general) and also check what their surgeon specializes in.
Let’s take NANA Plastic Surgery as an example. They are a massive clinic in Seoul with many procedures available. However, the plastic surgery chief director at Nana used to be the chief of the breast surgery center at ID Hospital.
It’s safe to say that clinics with surgeons specializing in breast surgery are a good pick for Gynecomastia surgery.
Consultation
You can learn a lot about a clinic based on how they handle consultations. Consultations are very important for plastic surgery.
At the consultation, you can ask about what you want to know. We recommend that you:
- Inquire about the price
- Ask questions about Gynecomastia surgery
- Learn how your surgery will go (method, steps, …)
- Ask about recovery post-surgery
Simply put, ask as many questions as possible during your consultation.
And don’t worry about a language barrier. Most clinics have translators available for foreign patients. If not, a lot of surgeons also speak decent enough English.
Lastly, you can have your consultation online. Almost every clinic in Korea offers that option. However, we recommend getting one in person. You can get a way better feel of the clinic.
Consultations at Korean plastic surgery clinics are free of charge most of the time. But in some cases, they might charge you for it. But don’t worry, the fee is usually less than 67,000 KRW (= 50$).
The easiest way to book a consultation is through contacts clinics have listed on their websites. However, if you have any questions or need help, feel free to reach out.
Conclusion
In conclusion, getting Gynecomastia surgery in Korea is a safe and good choice.
Korea has some of the most experienced surgeons in breast surgery. They use modern facilities and advanced technology to get the best possible results.
On top of that, Gynecomastia surgery in Korea is at least 20% cheaper than in the US. The price difference is even higher compared to the UK and Australia. Plus, there are other ways to save even more money on plastic surgery in Korea.
Now that you’ve read this guide, you have all the information you need on your journey to Gynecomastia surgery in Korea.
Check out our list of recommended Gynecomastia surgery clinics in Seoul.
Remember, picking the right plastic surgery clinic is essential. Think through this decision and find the best one in Seoul.
If you have any questions about how we find the best Gynecomastia surgery clinics or any other questions, contact us.
FAQ
How much does Gynecomastia surgery cost in Korea?
The average cost of Gynecomastia surgery in Korea is around 4,750,000 KRW (=3,500 $).
However, the final cost depends on many different factors. Always demand a full-price quote from the clinic to better understand what you are paying for.
Is Gynecomastia surgery good or bad?
Gynecomastia surgery is a very effective treatment for enlarged breasts in men or Gynecomastia.
Men with Gynecomastia often suffer emotionally and physically due to their appearance. Gynecomastia surgery can help you with your emotional level and even boost your self-confidence.
Does health insurance cover Gynecomastia surgery?
Cosmetic surgeries are typically not covered under your health insurance.
Gynecomastia surgery is more or less a cosmetic surgery. Your health insurance might only cover it if you need it to fix a medical issue.