I'd actually written up a super long post originally, but then it crashed, and the draft didn't save, so this will probably be less detailed than what I had written before, just out of exhaustion! Also, I feel like I've actually consulted with more clinics than this, and I've just lost track... I'll add them if I remember them.
For context, I haven't had surgery yet, so this is more my feel of the clinics and their recommendations rather than the results. Also, I'm a guy, and I feel like that changes the experience a bit.
Braun
Before coming to Korea, I was pretty set on Braun. After consulting here, I'm not even considering them anymore. They wanted to do
everything here. It wasn't necessarily upselling, but there were a lot of "recommendations" that no other clinic recommended. And when I said I didn't want it, the answer would be a very firm: "It's recommended." Ultimately, they suggested cheekbones, jaw, chin, paranasal implant, facial lipo, DES, ptosis correction. Quoted me 28 million. No discounts, except to say that if I paid cash, I wouldn't have to pay the 10% tax. Hard pass. (But the translator guy was cute).
Jestar
Jestar is pretty popular locally, and I feel like they run a pretty tight ship here. It's not as common to see men getting plastic surgery, I guess, but there were a lot of male patients here. Nothing much stood out for me at the consultation. They were on the expensive side. 3 million for DES, 1.8 million for undereye fat repositioning. 4.9 million for nose with silicone. (They also wrote 5.1 million here for something, but I can't read her handwriting.) Oh, and they charged 10,000 won for the consultation.
Faceline
I don't know why I didn't write this chronologically. Faceline was actually the first place I consulted with. The translator here is from Canada and she is lovely! The facial contouring doctor was occupied when I went in, so I ended up just consulting with the one doctor. He recommended non-incisional DES specifically without ptosis correction (when I mentioned this at Braun, the surgeon said whoever recommended that I don't get ptosis correction must be a "junior doctor"). Also recommended closed rhinoplasty with a silicone implant, Acculift, sliding genioplasty, and undereye fat transfer. They also said I have a small face for a guy, so I don't need my cheekbones done. This has been pretty much what every other clinic, except for Braun, has said. Faceline is famous for facial contouring, so not being able to consult with the facial contouring doctor felt a bit lacking. I think they quoted 17 million for everything. I don't have an itemised list.
JayJun
I didn't really plan on consulting with JayJun, but the building is super closer to my house (and Banobagi), so I thought I'd give them a try. The translator here came in on her day off just for me! Thank you! (I think I recognised her from the before/after pictures from another clinic, coincidentally.) I just consulted with the one doctor who I assumed would do everything. Recommendations: DES with ptosis correction. Open rhinoplasty with silicone implant and septal cartilage for the tip. Sliding genioplasty. Venus Lift, which is just another laser lipo like Acculift. Undereye fat repositioning and fat transfer. Total: 10 million. Everything for 10 million won. Gee, that's a good deal!
345
I really liked it here, though it is very beige. Out of all the clinics, the doctor recommendations here were the closest to what I had in mind before coming to Korea. That is to say, he seemed to appreciate more that I'm a guy, and that I don't necessarily want to have a perfect, doll V-shaped face. I was impressed by the doctor at Hanabi identifying my deviated septum just by looking at my face, so I was doubly impressed when the
consultant here pointed it out, also without a scan. Recommendations: DES with ptosis correction (1.75 million), open rhinoplasty with silicone implant (3.3 million), mini vline + facial lipo + botox + buccal fat removal (9 million). And a smaller discount on that if I decided quickly. Except for the buccal fat removal suggestion, I was pretty aligned with the doctor's recommendations. Even if this clinic isn't on your radar, I'd still recommend consulting here for a second opinion. The facial contouring doctor spoke in English. The eyes/nose doctor mixed it up a little, with the translator jumping in here and there.
BT
BT was very busy, and very international. I saw Chinese and Indian patients here, as well as local Koreans. I was actually really impressed here. They had multiple English-speaking staff, which is probably a first out of all the clinics I've been to. I totally clicked with the consultant, and we could be besties, but she was very honest in saying don't decide straight away, think about it, consult with other clinics, pick a doctor that you're comfortable with. No rushing or upselling. The clinic is very new, and half of the building is still under construction. But their CT scanner seemed to provide the most detail out of everyone's I saw. The scan showed that my sinuses were full (I have a cold or flu or something), so he stuck a camera up my nose to have a look, and prescribed me some antibiotics just as an aside (not sure I'll take them, but I regard that as good service). Other doctors had mentioned it before, and just gone, "Take some medicine," without actually saying what medicine to take, so this was nice. Vline surgery + Acculift (9 million). Non-incisional ptosis correction (1,650,000). Nose with silicone (5,300,000). Nose with rib was
a lot more (15 million).
As I was leaving, and the elevator stopped on level 3 (I think) on the way down, which is AB Plastic Surgery's floor, and they were PACKED. Literally dozens of people waiting. I might check them out if I can.
Wink
This was weird because I had been communicating with the clinic in English, but when it came to making the appointment, they asked me to bring a translator. But the doctor speaks fluent English. He'll even put on a British accent if you ask! I'm not sure what to make of Wink, to be honest. I liked seeing an eye specialist. But his explanations were very different to most other eye surgeons I consulted with. Like, I shouldn't remove skin during the surgery. Or that there are limitations as to how low he can make my crease. So is the guy who does eyes all day, every day—and only eyes all day, every day—wrong, or are all the other surgeons wrong? I still can't decide. DES with ptosis correction. 2.5 million, with a slight discount if I don't tell people about the discount.
Wave
Again, I should have done this in chronological order, because this was the first clinic (or doctor, rather) that really impressed me. The doctor speaks fluent English. His befores/afters all seem very dramatic, but it looks like he can do everything. He showed me three celebrities and asked me which nose style I liked the most, I think from most natural to most dramatic. They all looked the same to me, though, so I just said the middle one. He was also the first doctor to mention that I have a deviated septum (went my whole life without knowing). But I liked his honesty and demeanor. Maybe it's because he's an ENT—"a real doctor," as my friend said. I told him I wanted to get surgery for
everything, and he said, "Why? You already look good. The best surgery is no surgery." I know this is a plastic surgery forum, so that's probably not what we want to hear, but we could probably benefit from remembering that once in a while. Open rhinoplasty with diced rib cartilage glue graft, septoplasty, optional turbinoplasty (6.5 million).
1st Button
After going to Wave, I thought, "That was easy! I'm going there for my nose!" But, of course, I had a second opinion just to be sure. And now I'm not sure. The doctor spoke English, and we had a very thorough, not-rushed consultation. This was literally the only place that did a semblance of a morph, which was still just Dr. Kim using the liquify tool on my photo to draw out what my nose would look like. I asked for natural results, so I was pleased with the recommendation (but also conflicted because now I can't decide between Wave and 1st Button). Tipplasty with septal cartilage, and donated fascia for the bridge + septoplasty. I think the consultant forgot to tell me the price (didn't forget to charge me the 30,000 won consultation fee, though). But Dr. Kim did mention that I would have to pay more because I'm foreign, basically, which is sad.
Hanabi
There's a giant palm tree in the middle of the lobby. Another English-speaking ENT. I liked this doctor too! Why can't I have three noses so I can get three operations from all of them? Most doctors didn't identify my deviated septum. The other ENTs looked at the scan and mentioned it. Here, I didn't get a scan (they asked me if I wanted to, but I don't need any more radiation after all these consultations), and Dr. Chang pointed out my deviated septum just by looking at my first. So I was impressed! He was more open to using artificial materials compared to Wave or 1st Button, but noticed my apprehension at using silicone. "I think you want rib," he said. He also said Goretex is only difficult to remove "if you believe the internet," and that it's actually very easy for him. Rhinoplasty with silicone (USD $6,600), with rib (USD $9,990). As a side, my friend looked up reviews for Hanabi said not to go there. Apparently one girl woke up with major bruises on her chest after surgery, and suspected that they had performed CPR on her on the operating table.
JW & 1 percent
I did online consultations with these places. 1 percent asked me to bring a translator and didn't have any availability for a month, so I passed on them. JW quoted me way too much just for nose, so I passed on doing a face-to-face consultation.
Tips
- If you're staying in Korea for a month or more, I recommend just renting your own studio apartment. My place is in Gangnam, close to the subway, and it's 850,000 won a month (might be closer to 1 million with the building fee/utilities, etc.). There were cheaper options, but I picked the slightly nicer place. I can recommend an English-speaking, Gangnam area short-term rental real estate agent if you're interested.
- Bring you imagination hats, because nobody does morphs! You'll have to picture it in your head. (Alternatively, morph your own photo and bring it in and ask them on how to achieve that look)
- I asked this question to almost every nose doctor: "If I didn't get my nose done with you, who would you recommend I go to?" I got very few straight answers, unsurprisingly. But I did get a couple suggestions on who not to go to! (Spoiler alert: they're both factory hospitals).
- Some places will charge you more just because you're foreign. And not just a bit more, but a lot more. But there are SO many plastic surgery clinics in Seoul. You can always go somewhere else.
- Hard truth here: A lot of Korean people simply don't like Chinese people, and you will be at a disadvantage consulting in Chinese. Do it in English if you can.
- Learn to take the bus! The first times I went to Korea, I avoided buses like the plague and took the subway everywhere. I was paranoid I'd miss my stop and end up lost somewhere far away! But buses aren't so bad, it turns out. Download Naver Map and follow your location on the map so you don't miss your stop. You'll have a lot more direct route options with the bus. (Buses do cost more, though.)
Happy to answer any questions. (Or DM me for the sneaky questions!)
I'm still consulting, so I'm happy to take any recommendations too! Or if there are any places you want me to check out for you, let me know!
