I feel compelled to share my experience with Ruby Plastic Surgery and express my deep dissatisfaction with the breast lift surgery performed by Dr. Hu Jung Woo. My intention is to inform others and hopefully prevent anyone else from facing the challenges I've encountered.
Consultation and Miscommunication:
Even with an in-house translator, communication issues emerged throughout the process. Dr. Hu Jung Woo appeared confident during the consultation. I saw the before and after results provided of the same procedure, and they looked natural and subtle, (the results looks nothing like mine) which is a natural look and change that I was hoping for. I asked to keep my cup size as much as possible, because the size wasn’t the issue in the first place, I asked for a LIFT without implants. I remember them also mentioning that they want to reduce my areolas because they were “too big.” Since I thought they wanted to reduce it based on their own taste and aesthetics, I asked them not to reduce it, or to reduce it as little as possible. Dr. Hu Jung Woo said it was possible. In the end there were discrepancies between the procedure discussed during the consultation and what was ultimately documented in the consent form.
Surgical Outcome:
The surgery was intended to be a breast lift without implants, but the results have been far from what was promised or expected. Even before the removal of bandages, I immediately noticed significant asymmetry in the incisions. The right breast's incision extends laterally towards the side, creating an unattractive hanging effect, as if the doctor left extra skin. This incision does not resemble any one of the incision methods used for lifting or reducing the breast. The left breast exhibits an uneven scar with an unexpected curve. I would expect any competent doctor to be able to make a straight incision. Now over 3 months post-op my breasts are significantly asymmetrical. This irregularity is perplexing, especially considering the initial symmetry of my breasts. Additionally, the breast tissues were initially positioned too high, and despite assurances that this would resolve with time, when lying down, the breasts still appear flat, with my nipples pointing unnaturally upwards.
Contrary to my expectations and desires, the results feel more like a reduction than a lift. The clinic’s consultant told me they are the same procedure. The shape and positioning of the breasts are unflattering, failing to achieve the roundness I had envisioned. My chest also lacks volume. If I had been aware of the potential outcome, and if this was correctly advertised to me as ONLY a reduction, I would not have proceeded with the surgery.
The asymmetry extends to the nipples, with the left nipple exhibiting an undesirable "teardrop" or pout appearance. Both nipples protrude, but the left one noticeably more than the right. They are also inverted now, which had not been the case before. Both nipples are placed way too high on my chest, making my lower pole appear longer compared to the upper pole. As I have not been given any sort of explanation by the doctor responsible for my surgery, I had no choice but to speak to other surgeons and breast specialists on the outcome.
Postoperative Care and Guidelines:
A critical issue is the absence of clear postoperative guidelines, guidelines were inconsistent and lacking. I received conflicting advice from different staff members, leading to confusion about the appropriate aftercare for my situation. After 3 months of living in South Korea, I would expect to have been given at least ONE post-op consultation with the doctor responsible for my surgery. The only times I’ve seen him is when he briefly popped into the nursing room when my bandages or stitches are being removed by the nurses. At first, I was naive in believing this was normal procedure and that it just means that everything has been going well in my case, but this is far from the truth and I deserved to be seen and spoken to in depth with Dr. Wu after the surgery. I never received any post care guidelines and because of that I was told different things by my translator, by another staff that no longer works there anymore, as well as the nurses. When I questioned the lack of guidelines and timeline for what to expect in terms of scars and healing, I was told they don’t provide them because “not everyone is the same.”
I realized 3 months in that the deswelling "laser" treatment kept being extended, I questioned when my scar care treatment would commence. Apparently I am still not eligible for scar treatment even months after surgery. My scarring is severe. When I inquired about a written agreement to continue scar treatment once I am deemed "eligible," I received vague responses suggesting that the treatment would be different based on my healing results. This has left me concerned that I may not receive the necessary care and that the clinic seems to be avoiding responsibility.
Post Surgery Complications:
Over 2 months after my surgery, I reported an infection that manifested as pus leakage from my left breast under the areola, and a fever on the area, leading to an open wound that has persisted over 3 months since my surgery. In addition to the visible symptoms, I have been experiencing sharp pains, particularly around the open wound, as well as chest pain. I had not been given any antibiotics for the infection. The wound still remains open and will leak with pressure.
Model Contract:
I agreed to help boost their business by providing consent to before and after pictures being posted publicly. I thought this would be a great opportunity to help those coming to South Korea looking to undergo a similar procedure (I do not recommend SK for this procedure, I learned the hard way). Despite agreeing to be a model, I believe that every patient, whether a model or not, deserves to receive quality treatment and care. However, my experience with the doctors and staff has been disappointing, and I feel undeserving of the level of treatment I have received. The aftercare treatments, in particular the scar treatments, were promised but have not been consistently provided. One would expect that as a representative of their work, the procedure's results would showcase the doctor's best efforts.
My most recent appointment with Ruby:
I recently had a consultation at Ruby Clinic with a personal translator to address concerns and issues arising from my breast surgery. Unfortunately, the experience left much to be desired and raised serious questions about the clinic's commitment to accountability and patient satisfaction. The meeting with the consultant proved unhelpful and vague. Instead of addressing my concerns, I found myself being blamed for the issues I've encountered post-surgery. The clinic, disappointingly, did not assume any responsibility or offer constructive solutions to the challenges I've been facing. One of the most frustrating aspects of the consultation (and throughout this entire process) was the lack of clarity on the suggested wait time of "six months." Despite being told to wait, I was left in the dark about what exactly this meant for my situation. The consultant was unable to provide any solutions or concrete information, leaving me feeling uncertain and frustrated. My requests for a written agreement on scar treatment when I came back to Korea (once deemed eligible) were met with more confusion. The consultant seemed incapable of answering specific questions about the procedure or providing insights into the doctor's decisions on my procedure. It felt like a continuous loop of vague responses. Even when accompanied by a translator on a separate visit, the consultant was still unable to address my questions adequately, as the doctor was not present. Instead of acknowledging their shortcomings, she attempted to shift blame onto me, insisting I didn't ask for the doctor, which I had. What struck me the most was the clinic's consistent lack of accountability. Even when clear errors on their part were evident, they seem to deflect blame rather than take responsibility. This pattern extended to their handling of my imminent departure from the country, exploiting the situation to their advantage and avoiding meaningful engagement until my departure.
I underwent a breast surgery at Ruby Plastic Surgery with high hopes for a positive outcome. Unfortunately, my experience has been far from satisfactory. From the outset, issues arose, and I have faced ongoing complications that have significantly impacted my well-being. There is so much more I can say, but essentially I hope my review serves as a cautionary tale for those considering similar procedures in South Korea, especially at Ruby.
It's disheartening that due to the surgeon's incompetence and lack of ability, I am now faced with the unfortunate necessity of undergoing a revision surgery. At this point I feel like such damage is irreversible. This unexpected turn of events has not only impacted me physically, but has also taken a significant toll on my mental health.
Consultation and Miscommunication:
Even with an in-house translator, communication issues emerged throughout the process. Dr. Hu Jung Woo appeared confident during the consultation. I saw the before and after results provided of the same procedure, and they looked natural and subtle, (the results looks nothing like mine) which is a natural look and change that I was hoping for. I asked to keep my cup size as much as possible, because the size wasn’t the issue in the first place, I asked for a LIFT without implants. I remember them also mentioning that they want to reduce my areolas because they were “too big.” Since I thought they wanted to reduce it based on their own taste and aesthetics, I asked them not to reduce it, or to reduce it as little as possible. Dr. Hu Jung Woo said it was possible. In the end there were discrepancies between the procedure discussed during the consultation and what was ultimately documented in the consent form.
Surgical Outcome:
The surgery was intended to be a breast lift without implants, but the results have been far from what was promised or expected. Even before the removal of bandages, I immediately noticed significant asymmetry in the incisions. The right breast's incision extends laterally towards the side, creating an unattractive hanging effect, as if the doctor left extra skin. This incision does not resemble any one of the incision methods used for lifting or reducing the breast. The left breast exhibits an uneven scar with an unexpected curve. I would expect any competent doctor to be able to make a straight incision. Now over 3 months post-op my breasts are significantly asymmetrical. This irregularity is perplexing, especially considering the initial symmetry of my breasts. Additionally, the breast tissues were initially positioned too high, and despite assurances that this would resolve with time, when lying down, the breasts still appear flat, with my nipples pointing unnaturally upwards.
Contrary to my expectations and desires, the results feel more like a reduction than a lift. The clinic’s consultant told me they are the same procedure. The shape and positioning of the breasts are unflattering, failing to achieve the roundness I had envisioned. My chest also lacks volume. If I had been aware of the potential outcome, and if this was correctly advertised to me as ONLY a reduction, I would not have proceeded with the surgery.
The asymmetry extends to the nipples, with the left nipple exhibiting an undesirable "teardrop" or pout appearance. Both nipples protrude, but the left one noticeably more than the right. They are also inverted now, which had not been the case before. Both nipples are placed way too high on my chest, making my lower pole appear longer compared to the upper pole. As I have not been given any sort of explanation by the doctor responsible for my surgery, I had no choice but to speak to other surgeons and breast specialists on the outcome.
Postoperative Care and Guidelines:
A critical issue is the absence of clear postoperative guidelines, guidelines were inconsistent and lacking. I received conflicting advice from different staff members, leading to confusion about the appropriate aftercare for my situation. After 3 months of living in South Korea, I would expect to have been given at least ONE post-op consultation with the doctor responsible for my surgery. The only times I’ve seen him is when he briefly popped into the nursing room when my bandages or stitches are being removed by the nurses. At first, I was naive in believing this was normal procedure and that it just means that everything has been going well in my case, but this is far from the truth and I deserved to be seen and spoken to in depth with Dr. Wu after the surgery. I never received any post care guidelines and because of that I was told different things by my translator, by another staff that no longer works there anymore, as well as the nurses. When I questioned the lack of guidelines and timeline for what to expect in terms of scars and healing, I was told they don’t provide them because “not everyone is the same.”
I realized 3 months in that the deswelling "laser" treatment kept being extended, I questioned when my scar care treatment would commence. Apparently I am still not eligible for scar treatment even months after surgery. My scarring is severe. When I inquired about a written agreement to continue scar treatment once I am deemed "eligible," I received vague responses suggesting that the treatment would be different based on my healing results. This has left me concerned that I may not receive the necessary care and that the clinic seems to be avoiding responsibility.
Post Surgery Complications:
Over 2 months after my surgery, I reported an infection that manifested as pus leakage from my left breast under the areola, and a fever on the area, leading to an open wound that has persisted over 3 months since my surgery. In addition to the visible symptoms, I have been experiencing sharp pains, particularly around the open wound, as well as chest pain. I had not been given any antibiotics for the infection. The wound still remains open and will leak with pressure.
Model Contract:
I agreed to help boost their business by providing consent to before and after pictures being posted publicly. I thought this would be a great opportunity to help those coming to South Korea looking to undergo a similar procedure (I do not recommend SK for this procedure, I learned the hard way). Despite agreeing to be a model, I believe that every patient, whether a model or not, deserves to receive quality treatment and care. However, my experience with the doctors and staff has been disappointing, and I feel undeserving of the level of treatment I have received. The aftercare treatments, in particular the scar treatments, were promised but have not been consistently provided. One would expect that as a representative of their work, the procedure's results would showcase the doctor's best efforts.
My most recent appointment with Ruby:
I recently had a consultation at Ruby Clinic with a personal translator to address concerns and issues arising from my breast surgery. Unfortunately, the experience left much to be desired and raised serious questions about the clinic's commitment to accountability and patient satisfaction. The meeting with the consultant proved unhelpful and vague. Instead of addressing my concerns, I found myself being blamed for the issues I've encountered post-surgery. The clinic, disappointingly, did not assume any responsibility or offer constructive solutions to the challenges I've been facing. One of the most frustrating aspects of the consultation (and throughout this entire process) was the lack of clarity on the suggested wait time of "six months." Despite being told to wait, I was left in the dark about what exactly this meant for my situation. The consultant was unable to provide any solutions or concrete information, leaving me feeling uncertain and frustrated. My requests for a written agreement on scar treatment when I came back to Korea (once deemed eligible) were met with more confusion. The consultant seemed incapable of answering specific questions about the procedure or providing insights into the doctor's decisions on my procedure. It felt like a continuous loop of vague responses. Even when accompanied by a translator on a separate visit, the consultant was still unable to address my questions adequately, as the doctor was not present. Instead of acknowledging their shortcomings, she attempted to shift blame onto me, insisting I didn't ask for the doctor, which I had. What struck me the most was the clinic's consistent lack of accountability. Even when clear errors on their part were evident, they seem to deflect blame rather than take responsibility. This pattern extended to their handling of my imminent departure from the country, exploiting the situation to their advantage and avoiding meaningful engagement until my departure.
I underwent a breast surgery at Ruby Plastic Surgery with high hopes for a positive outcome. Unfortunately, my experience has been far from satisfactory. From the outset, issues arose, and I have faced ongoing complications that have significantly impacted my well-being. There is so much more I can say, but essentially I hope my review serves as a cautionary tale for those considering similar procedures in South Korea, especially at Ruby.
It's disheartening that due to the surgeon's incompetence and lack of ability, I am now faced with the unfortunate necessity of undergoing a revision surgery. At this point I feel like such damage is irreversible. This unexpected turn of events has not only impacted me physically, but has also taken a significant toll on my mental health.
still trying to find a solution