Preparation Tips For Plastic Surgery In Korea (2025)

This guide will cover some of the most important tips about plastic surgery in Korea.

We know that going to Korea for plastic surgery can be stressful and expensive. It’s important that you make an informed decision and prepare for a lot of things.

This guide will give you some tips regarding plastic surgery in Korea. We will cover how to prepare for plastic surgery in Korea, how to save money, tax refunds, etc.

It’s a must-read guide for anyone considering having plastic surgery in Korea. It can help make your journey more stress-free and smooth.

Plastic Surgery Tips Korea

Having plastic surgery in Korea is a major decision and there are quite a lot of things to consider before heading there.

You are flying to a foreign country to have life-changing procedures. On top of that, you will spend the first few days recovering in Korea too.

In order for your time in Korea to be as stress-free as possible, you have to prepare well enough for your trip.

This section of the guide will focus more on tips regarding preparations for plastic surgery in Korea. We will focus on things like accommodation, pre-op preparations, possible testing, support, etc.

These tips are the tips we recommend following and are also the results of personal experience, patient interviews, and extensive research. Let’s dive in:

Clinic Selection

The first thing to do before heading out to Korea is to select a clinic for your surgery.

The best way to do this is to make an informed list of all the possible plastic surgery clinics in Korea. This way, you do not limit yourself to just one clinic.

Before actually settling on one clinic, we encourage you to have consultations with them. Whether it’s online or in-person, this is a must-do.

Do research on all the clinics, ask questions on forums, ask questions at consultations, etc. Try to get as much information as you can find about possible clinics.

Make your decision based on consultations you have and not only based on online reviews.

You don’t have to decide before traveling, as many clinics can fit you in just a few days after the in-person consultation. But if you don’t have that much time in Korea, have an online consultation.

For an easier decision, you can check out our recommended clinics and reviews of some popular Korean plastic surgery clinics.

Researching Surgeons

Another way to properly research clinics is to research their surgeons too. It’s important to know about the surgeons that will do your procedure.

Here is what we recommend you look for:

  • Board certifications
  • Reviews and testimonials
  • Experience

We also encourage you to have one-on-one consultations with any surgeons that you want for your surgery.

Before And After Dimple Surgery Or Dimpleplasty

Financial Planning

Having plastic surgery abroad can be quite expensive. Even though Korean prices for procedures are one of the lowest, travel and accommodation can raise your costs.

You should always plan your finances accordingly before traveling. Make sure your plan includes:

  • Travel cost
  • Accommodation
  • Food and drinks
  • Surgery and post-op care cost

These four are some of the main factors that will influence your price. Try to have fixed dates and plan according to those.

If you can, get an accurate quote for your surgery from the clinic. You should also check which payment methods they accept there (credit/debit cards, cash, bank transfer, etc.)

Prepare For Recovery

One important thing to remember is that you will have to spend a few days after surgery in Korea. This means that you will have to recover while there too.

Prepare according to recovery plans for your procedure. Ask your surgeon what the recovery should look like.

We recommend you plan to stay for a maximum of 2 weeks after surgery in Korea. This is somewhat a safe duration for a good first day of recovery.

One thing that can really help is if you bring some support with you to Korea. This means bringing another person – friend, family member, or spouse, that will help you through those days.

Mental And Physical Preparations

You have to be ready both mentally and physically before heading to Korea for plastic surgery. 

With this, we mean being healthy, on a good diet, and taking all the steps necessary for good pre-op preparations.

You should also be mentally fit for plastic surgery, as it can be very challenging. Keep realistic expectations and never deny the chance of results not up to your standards.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that results from plastic surgery will be 100% to your liking. Being mentally and physically fit is your best option to push through everything.

Visa

You will most likely need to get a Visa to enter and stay in Korea for a certain time. Check the requirements for it and apply enough time ahead of the trip.

You should also read about a special medical tourism Visa that you might be eligible for. Check with your consulate on how to apply for it and if you are eligible.

Medication

If you are on ANY medication, you have to mention this to your surgeon in Korea at the consultation (have it online in this case) and to your selected doctor at home.

Only take medication that is prescribed to you and is necessary. Don’t take any meds that can cause your blood to thin (aspirin, Celebrex, fish oil, etc.).

If you are on blood thinners as a necessity, consult with your surgeon and your doctor to plan accordingly.

Bring extra meds to Korea if you have some, that you always need to take. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Tips For A Better Plastic Surgery Experience In Korea

While having a successful plastic surgery is important, having a great experience there can help with recovery and results too.

Of course, you will be nervous and anxious, but there are ways to ensure a safer and more stress-free time in Korea.

Using these tips, you can make your Korean plastic surgery experience much more manageable and foreign-friendly, especially if you don’t speak Korean.

Plan Transportation While In Korea

You will have to get around somehow while in Korea, whether it’s pre-op or post-op. 

The first issue is the ride from the airport to your accommodation. Check where your plane is flying and see transport options to the city. A train is usually a good option.

Incheon Airport is a popular one in Korea. However, many people overlook the fact, that the airport is at least an hour from Seoul.

Next, plan how you will get to and from the clinic. This is especially important post-op, so try to find a place to stay near your selected clinic.

For your daily transportation, Seoul has a great system in place, so you should have no problems navigating and getting around the city.

Language Barrier

If you don’t speak/understand Korean, then you might have some issues while there. You can prepare for that by searching for apps to help you translate.

Another great way to is to befriend someone in Korea and have them show you around and help you break that language barrier.

As for the clinic, most offer translation services that can also be included in the price if you can negotiate well or are lucky.

Relax And Enjoy The City

After most plastic procedures, you have to rest for a few days. However, when you feel okay enough, you can go out and explore Seoul.

We recommend walking as one of the best ways to recover after any plastic surgery – even those on your legs.

There is a ton of stuff you can do in Seoul. You will find something to do regarding of the type of surgery you had. You can find some recommendations here.

Picture Of Cheonggyecheon Stream In Seoul

Money Saving Tips For Plastic Surgery In Korea

Since plastic surgery can get quite expensive in Korea, we have a few tips for you that you can use to save a bit of money.

Now not all of these tips are a guaranteed way for you to save money, but all are worth a try, as they won’t cost you.

These are just a few things we used to save money or people commented on forums, reviews, etc. Let’s dive right in:

Paying In Full

Paying for your surgery in full can usually get you a nice discount of up to 10%. However, this tip is not a guarantee since not all clinics offer discounts because of this.

What we recommend doing is asking about ways you can pay ie. monthly installments, full payment, etc. After they answer, ask if they give a discount if you pay now in full.

Clinics prefer if you pay for your surgery in full instead of in monthly installments, so this can get you a discount.

Off-Peak Travel And Surgery

Sometimes, traveling to Korea for plastic surgery during the off-peak season can score you nice discounted prices.

In Seoul, the off-peak travel season is usually between March and May and between September and November. This is when travel costs are the lowest.

As for plastic surgery, the best time to have it is in the fall or early winter. Koreans prefer summer because of warmer temperatures. Spring is also a good choice for plastic surgery.

Why off-season for plastic surgery? Because there are not a lot of patients, clinics offer discounts and run promotions aimed at international patients.

Modeling For Clinics

If you are a good candidate, clinics might give you a chance to model for them, which can earn you a nice discount in the end.

However, do this only if you are okay with your pictures being posted online. Clinics will for sure use them to market themselves and show off results.

You can also try volunteering before having surgery if they don’t ask you right away.

Tax Refund

If you are a foreigner having plastic surgery in Korea, then you might be eligible for a VAT refund when leaving.

This is a great way to get some money back since the only requirement is that you are not a Korean citizen.

So don’t throw away your invoices since you will need them to claim your tax refund. You can get it at tax refund kiosks or use tax refund machines located at airports, train stations, etc.

Saving Money In Korea By Getting A Tax Refund At Tax Refund Machines

Having Someone Who Speaks Koreans

Korean clinics tend to up-charge foreign patients simply because they are not Korean. However, there are ways to avoid this.

First, if you speak Korean and are confident, you can try communicating with them in Korea. It can help you get a better price.

And if you have a Korean friend come to your consultation. Just having him or her there and translating for you can get you a better price.

Now, not all clinics up-charge international patients, so this is not a standard practice there. However, you should still be aware, that this is a possibility.

Conclusion

In conclusion, having plastic surgery in Korea requires a lot of preparations and changes. However, with the right approach, you can have a stress-free journey to plastic surgery in Korea.

You can properly prepare before traveling, plan everything, and make some lifestyle changes. All this can make your post-op experience much more manageable.

The next you can do is to make a plan regarding finances. Take every single cost into account and use our tips to save money on plastic surgery in Korea.

We hope that this guide helped you on your journey to stress-free and successful plastic surgery in Korea.

If you have any questions or need advice, feel free to write to us at info@seoul.clinic. Our team has lots of experience with Korean plastic surgery and will have your answer in 48 hours.

FAQ

Is South Korea a good place for plastic surgery?

Yes, South Korea is a top destination for plastic surgery. In fact, Korea is often called the ”plastic surgery capital of the world”.

They have experienced and skilled surgeons, who work at state-of-the-art clinics. On top of that, Korean prices for plastic surgery are on the affordable side compared to the US, UK, Australia, etc.

How long do you have to stay in Korea after plastic surgery?

We recommend you plan to stay in Korea for at least 1-2 weeks after your plastic surgery. This is so your incision can heal and so you can have your stitches removed.

However, the actual duration of your post-op stay will depend on the type of surgery you have, its complexity, etc. Always check with your selected surgeon about how long you should stay.

Can foreigners go to Korea for plastic surgery?

Yes, foreigners are welcome in Korea for plastic surgery. High standards in plastic surgery and low prices make Korea a very attractive option for international patients.

On top of that, the Korean government puts a lot of effort into making Korean plastic surgery more international-friendly.

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