Plastic Surgery in Korea
Plastic surgery in Korea covers a range of surgical aesthetic procedures, including rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, facial contouring, facelift and fat grafting. Indicative pricing runs from about ₩800,000 ($580) for a non-incision double-eyelid procedure to ₩15,000,000 ($10,870) for a full SMAS facelift, and varies widely by technique, materials and the extent of the procedure. Recovery typically involves several days of swelling and a return to normal activity over 1–3 weeks, depending on the surgery. Through Book Korea Medical you are matched with a KHIDI-registered clinic at a transparent rate, with no markup, after a free multilingual consultation.
Plastic Surgery: what to expect
Typical expectations for Plastic Surgery. Your clinic confirms the exact plan for your case during the free consultation.
- Downtime
- Varies by procedure
- Sessions
- 1
- Results appear
- Over weeks to months
- Results last
- Long-lasting to permanent
- Anesthesia
- Varies — local, sedation, or general
General guidance, not per-patient medical advice — individual results and timelines vary.
What is plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery, in the aesthetic sense, refers to surgical procedures that change the structure of facial or body features. Common categories include rhinoplasty (reshaping the nose), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), facial bone contouring such as square-jaw or cheekbone reduction, facelift surgery that repositions deeper tissue layers, and fat grafting that transfers a patient's own fat to add volume.
Each procedure has its own technique and materials. Rhinoplasty may involve cartilage from the patient or an implant; double-eyelid surgery can be incisional or non-incisional; facial contouring removes or reshapes bone; a full SMAS facelift addresses the deeper musculoaponeurotic layer rather than skin alone. A licensed physician assesses anatomy, goals and candidacy at consultation and explains the technique, materials and expected outcome individually.
How plastic surgery works and what to expect
Most aesthetic surgical procedures are performed under local anaesthesia with sedation or under general anaesthesia, depending on the operation. Procedure time ranges from under an hour for a simple eyelid procedure to several hours for facial contouring or a facelift. Many procedures are day-surgery, while more extensive operations may include an overnight stay.
Recovery depends on the procedure: visible swelling and bruising usually settle over the first 1–2 weeks, sutures are removed at the clinic's scheduled follow-up, and the final shape continues to refine over the following months. The treating clinic provides specific aftercare and a follow-up schedule, which is an important reason to plan enough time in Korea for at least one post-operative review.
Plastic surgery price range in Korea
Indicative self-pay ranges for surgical aesthetic procedures in Korea. Ranges are wide because pricing depends on technique, materials, the extent of the procedure and whether it is a primary or revision case. We pass clinic rates through with no markup.
| Area / device | Price range (KRW) | Approx. (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Rhinoplasty — full | ₩5,000,000 – ₩12,000,000 | approx. $3,623 – $8,696 |
| Rhinoplasty — tip | ₩2,000,000 – ₩4,000,000 | approx. $1,449 – $2,899 |
| Double eyelid — incision | ₩1,200,000 – ₩2,500,000 | approx. $870 – $1,812 |
| Double eyelid — non-incision | ₩800,000 – ₩1,500,000 | approx. $580 – $1,087 |
| Square jaw reduction | ₩2,500,000 – ₩6,000,000 | approx. $1,812 – $4,348 |
| Cheekbone reduction | ₩2,000,000 – ₩7,000,000 | approx. $1,449 – $5,072 |
| Facelift — full SMAS | ₩7,000,000 – ₩15,000,000 | approx. $5,072 – $10,870 |
| Facial fat grafting — full face | ₩2,800,000 – ₩4,800,000 | approx. $2,029 – $3,478 |
| Breast augmentation — silicone | ₩2,800,000 – ₩5,000,000 | approx. $2,029 – $3,623 |
Transparent rate, no markup. VAT often quoted separately (+10%); confirm at consultation.
Indicative ranges compiled from public Korean market and disclosed self-pay rates; confirm exact pricing at a free consultation.
Clinical evidence
The superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) that underlies modern facelift technique was anatomically described as a discrete fibromuscular layer of the face and neck (Mitz V, Peyronie M, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 1976).
Aesthetic surgical procedures are established interventions with technique- and patient-specific outcomes and risks; a licensed physician determines candidacy, technique and materials individually at consultation, and discusses recovery and possible complications.
Why book through Book Korea Medical
We match you with a KHIDI-registered clinic and handle the parts that are hard to arrange from abroad: free consultation in your language, surgical planning, interpretation on the day, and airport-to-clinic logistics. Because surgical procedures need post-operative follow-up, we help coordinate accommodation and the review schedule so you can plan enough time in Korea.
There is no cost to use the platform and no markup on clinic rates. You decide after a free consultation — we make the introduction and coordinate the visit through our WhatsApp channel.
FAQ
How long is the recovery after plastic surgery?
Recovery depends on the procedure: most swelling and bruising settle over 1–2 weeks, with the final shape refining over several months. Plan enough time in Korea for at least one post-operative review; a physician advises on this at a free consultation arranged through our WhatsApp.
How much does plastic surgery cost in Korea?
Indicative ranges run from about ₩800,000 ($580) for a non-incision eyelid procedure to ₩15,000,000 ($10,870) for a full SMAS facelift, depending on technique and materials. We pass clinic rates through with no markup and confirm the exact quote at a free consultation.
What is the difference between incision and non-incision eyelid surgery?
An incision technique creates a permanent crease through a small cut and suits thicker or excess skin, while a non-incision technique uses sutures with no skin cut and a shorter recovery. The clinic recommends a suitable option based on your anatomy at consultation.
Is the procedure done under general anaesthesia?
It depends on the operation — simpler procedures may use local anaesthesia with sedation, while more extensive surgery uses general anaesthesia. The treating clinic explains the anaesthesia plan, recovery and any overnight stay at consultation.
Who performs the surgery?
A licensed physician at a KHIDI-registered clinic performs the assessment and the surgery. Book Korea Medical only matches and coordinates — we never render clinic contact details directly, and we route every request through our own platform.
How do I book plastic surgery through Book Korea Medical?
Send a free consultation request via our WhatsApp and our multilingual team replies within 24 hours, matches you with a KHIDI-registered clinic, and coordinates the surgery date, interpretation and follow-up logistics.
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