Compare Plastic Surgery &
Skin Clinics in Korea

Start with clinics that publish foreign-patient support, a direct booking channel and the language you need. Compare procedure fit, location and checkable review evidence across 2–3 clinics before contacting them.

A famous name alone does not show whether a clinic fits your treatment or language needs. Use the Skin filter and compare official international-patient support, location, contact options and review evidence.

Check foreign-patient reviews, officially supported languages, a direct consultation channel, procedure fit and a verifiable Seoul address.

Use the Rejuran filter to compare clinics with a verified treatment page and a foreign-patient contact channel. Confirm the product, dosage, total price, interpreter availability and aftercare before booking.

Use the language filter to choose a clinic that officially supports your language, then book through the clinic’s official website, WhatsApp, LINE or WeChat. Send your preferred date, treatment category and requested consultation language. Before paying a deposit, confirm the appointment, interpreter availability during the doctor consultation and aftercare, any consultation fee, and the clinic’s Seoul address.

Compare the exact Rejuran type, amount in cc, treatment area, injection method, VAT, consultation or numbing fees, and included aftercare—not just the headline price. Ask each clinic for the final total in Korean won before paying, then use the Rejuran filter to compare clinics with an official treatment page and foreign-patient contact channel.

Bring your passport, saved appointment details, the clinic’s Korean address and contact information, a payment card, and any health or medicine information the clinic requested. The Visit Guide includes the complete packing and arrival checklist.

The required stay varies by surgery. Before booking your return flight and accommodation, confirm whether you need admission, how many follow-up visits are required, the dates for dressing changes, drain or stitch care, how many days of medicine are provided, what self-care is allowed, and when the clinic says you may fly. Keep enough time in Seoul to complete that schedule.

Ask the clinic for the full name of the doctor who will perform the surgery, including the Korean spelling. Search that name in the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons’ official member directory, then compare it with the clinic’s official doctor profile. When available, also check the clinic’s foreign-patient information on Medical Korea. A membership or institutional listing does not guarantee results, so compare procedure fit, language support and review evidence across 2–3 clinics.

Confirm who will perform the procedure, the recommended technique and alternatives, the main risks and how complications are handled, who provides anesthesia, the total price in Korean won and what it includes, interpretation during the doctor consultation, surgery and aftercare, the follow-up schedule and an urgent contact. Results vary by patient, so compare the explanations from 2–3 clinics and do not decide while important points remain unclear.

Compare like with like: ask for the exact product and manufacturer, the treatment area, the number of botulinum-toxin units or filler volume in cc, who will perform the injection, and the final total in Korean won including VAT, consultation, numbing and aftercare. Also confirm the expected follow-up, the clinic’s urgent contact and how complications are handled before paying. Price alone does not show whether a treatment is appropriate, so discuss your medical conditions, allergies and medicines with the treating clinician.

Shortlist 2–3 clinics with an official nose-surgery page, support in the language you need and checkable foreign-patient evidence. For each clinic, confirm the full name of the surgeon who will operate, including the Korean spelling, and check that name in the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons member directory. Ask about the proposed primary or revision technique, whether both appearance and breathing will be assessed, any graft or implant material and alternatives, the main risks and complication plan, follow-up in Seoul and after you return home, and the final total in Korean won. No clinic can guarantee a particular result, so compare the explanations and decide only after a medical consultation.

Compare the same procedure rather than the headline price alone. Ask whether the quote is for non-incisional, partial-incision or full-incision surgery; whether ptosis correction, epicanthoplasty or canthoplasty, fat removal or revision work is included; who will perform the operation; and whether anesthesia, tests, medicines, VAT, stitch removal and follow-up are included. Request the final total in Korean won after an in-person assessment, because the recommended plan and cost depend on the treating surgeon’s examination. A lower price does not guarantee suitability or results, so use the Eyes filter to shortlist 2–3 clinics with checkable foreign-patient support and compare their written quotes.

Confirm the full name of the surgeon who will operate, who provides anesthesia, and the exact implant manufacturer, model, fill, surface and proposed size. Ask for the manufacturer’s patient information, the main risks and alternatives, and whether you will receive an implant record or device card with the serial or lot number. Get the final total in Korean won with tests, anesthesia, medicines, VAT, garments, follow-up and possible revision costs clearly separated. Also confirm how long you must remain in Seoul, the long-term monitoring plan, an urgent contact and how complications will be handled after you return home. Breast implants are not lifetime devices and no clinic can guarantee a particular result, so compare written plans from 2–3 clinics after a medical consultation.

First confirm the exact treatment and device model, because ultrasound and radiofrequency lifting treatments are not interchangeable. Compare the same treatment area, the total number of lines, shots or pulses, the applicator tip or cartridge, who performs the procedure, and the final total in Korean won including VAT, consultation, numbing and follow-up. Ask the treating clinician which option is appropriate after assessing your skin, what risks and expected recovery to consider, and how concerns will be handled after you leave Korea. Price or a higher shot count alone does not guarantee suitability or results. Use the Lifting filter to compare clinics with checkable foreign-patient support.

Shortlist 2–3 clinics with an official surgical-facelift page, support in the language you need and checkable foreign-patient evidence. Confirm the full name of the surgeon who will operate, including the Korean spelling; whether the proposal covers the face, neck or both; who provides anesthesia and where surgery takes place; the incision and scar plan; the main risks and how complications are handled; and the schedule for dressings, drains, stitch removal and follow-up. Before booking flights, ask how long you need to remain in Seoul, how urgent concerns will be handled after you return home, and the final total in Korean won including tests, anesthesia, medicines, VAT and aftercare. An online quote is preliminary until an in-person examination, and no clinic can guarantee a particular result. Use the Lifting filter to compare clinics with verified foreign-patient support.

There is no single best district. Choose accommodation after confirming the clinic’s Korean address, nearest station and exit, every follow-up date, and the clinic’s advice about transport after your procedure. Compare door-to-door travel time rather than the district name alone; staying near the clinic or on a direct subway route can reduce transfers. Check for an elevator or minimal stairs, a private bathroom, a quiet room, nearby food, laundry, any refrigerator or cold-pack arrangement the clinic says you need, and flexible extension or cancellation terms. If surgery or sedation is planned, also confirm whether you need a companion and which transport the clinic recommends. Use the clinic cards to compare locations, then review the accommodation section of the Visit Guide.

No. The former special medical VAT-refund scheme does not cover cosmetic procedures or skin treatments received in 2026. Korean law limited eligible cosmetic medical services to those supplied by 31 December 2025, and the government ended the temporary measure. Before paying, ask the clinic to confirm the VAT-inclusive final price in Korean won in writing and provide an itemized receipt. Do not rely on older clinic advertisements, airport-refund instructions or a ‘Tax Refund’ label. Retail shopping tax refunds are a separate system. Use the clinic cards to compare official pricing information, then confirm the current total directly with the clinic.

Many clinics publish online consultation channels, but availability and whether you speak with a doctor or a coordinator vary. Use only the contact shown on the clinic’s official website, then confirm the consultation language, the full name and role of the person advising you, what photos or information are required, the estimated price in Korean won and what it includes, any deposit and cancellation terms, and the date of your in-person consultation. An online review is preliminary: procedure suitability, the treatment plan and the final price may change after an in-person examination, so do not treat it as a diagnosis or guaranteed plan. Send photos and health information only through a channel the clinic confirms as secure, and ask how they will be used and stored. Use the language section to find clinics with an official foreign-patient contact channel.

Not always. The entry route you need depends on your passport nationality, purpose of travel and length of stay. Korea has C-3-3 for short-term medical tourism and G-1-10 for longer treatment, while some travelers may qualify for visa-free entry or another short-stay route. Before paying a deposit or booking flights, check the Korea Visa Portal and the Korean embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, then ask whether you need a clinic reservation confirmation, medical document or proof of funds. Do not rely only on clinic advertising or old K-ETA posts: a clinic can provide treatment documents but cannot guarantee entry. Use the clinic cards to find official foreign-patient contacts, then ask what reservation or treatment documents the clinic can issue.

Korea Tourism Organization guidance, citing consumer dispute settlement standards, gives these reference refunds when a consumer cancels for a valid reason: 90% of the deposit when cancelling at least 3 days before surgery, 50% 2 days before, 20% 1 day before, and no refund on or after the surgery date. Before paying, ask the clinic to confirm in writing the surgery date, deposit amount, cancellation and rescheduling deadlines, payment recipient, refund method and any transfer fees. Keep the quotation, receipt and messages. The contract and circumstances can affect an actual dispute, so use the clinic cards to contact the official foreign-patient desk and seek consumer assistance if the written terms conflict or a refund is refused.

First contact the clinic through its official foreign-patient channel and request a written response. Keep the contract and consent forms, written quotation, itemized receipts and payment records, appointment messages, medical records and relevant photos. If the issue is not resolved, contact the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency (K-Medi) to ask about counseling, eligibility and required documents before applying. Its English guidance says foreign patients living in Korea may apply online, by email or by fax, while those living abroad may apply by email or fax; English application documents also require Korean translations. Mediation is a formal option, but it does not guarantee compensation or a particular outcome. If you may have urgent symptoms, seek medical care immediately or call 119 instead of waiting for a dispute process. Use the clinic cards to verify the clinic’s official contact before sending documents.

Ask the clinic for the full Korean name of the doctor who will examine you and perform or supervise the treatment—not only the clinic founder’s name. Check that individual in the Association of Korean Dermatologists’ official Find a Dermatologist directory and compare the result with the clinic’s official medical-team page. Korea Tourism Organization guidance also points to the red dermatology-specialist sign and explains that specialist and non-specialist clinics use different Korean naming and signage, but a clinic name or mark alone does not confirm who will treat you. Before booking, confirm that you can consult the treating doctor directly. Specialist status does not guarantee that a procedure is suitable or that it will produce a particular result, so also compare relevant treatment experience, language support, written pricing, aftercare and urgent-contact arrangements. Use the Skin filter to compare clinics with checkable foreign-patient support.

First ask what the quotation actually covers—cheekbone reduction, mandibular-angle reduction, chin surgery or genioplasty, or a combination—because “V-line” is not one standardized operation. Confirm the full Korean name of the surgeon who will operate and compare it with the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons’ member directory. Ask who reviews the required imaging, what anesthesia is planned and who provides it, where the surgery will take place, and how emergencies or complications are handled. Discuss possible bleeding, infection, bone-healing, tooth, jaw-joint and facial-sensation risks directly with the surgeon, plus admission, diet, dressing, stitch and follow-up dates and when the clinic says you may fly. Request a final written total in Korean won that separates imaging and tests, surgeon, anesthesia, facility or admission, medicines and aftercare. Photos, a low price or an online consultation cannot guarantee a result; compare 2–3 clinics and decide only after an in-person medical assessment.

Ask each clinic to define the exact treatment area—such as the chin, arms, abdomen and flanks, or thighs—and whether the quote covers one area, both sides, or a combined or 360-degree treatment. Confirm the full Korean name of the surgeon who will operate and compare it with the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons’ member directory. Ask which technique is proposed, who performs the surgery, what anesthesia is planned and who provides it, where the operation takes place, and how bleeding, infection, fluid problems, contour irregularity, changes in sensation or blood-clot risks are handled. Confirm the compression-garment, dressing, medicine and follow-up schedule, what help you may need after surgery, and when the clinic says you may travel or fly. Request a written final total in Korean won separating consultation and tests, surgeon, anesthesia, facility, garment, medicines, VAT and aftercare, plus any possible extra costs. A low price, before-and-after photos or a branded technique cannot guarantee suitability or results; compare 2–3 clinics and decide only after an in-person medical assessment.

Do not compare a generic ‘laser package’ or price alone. Ask the treating clinician what concern is being assessed and why the proposed treatment fits it, then confirm the exact device and model, treatment area, whether spots or the full face are included, who performs or supervises the procedure, the planned number and spacing of sessions, and whether numbing is needed. Ask about expected redness, swelling and downtime, plus risks such as burns, infection, scarring or darker or lighter skin changes for your skin tone. Before leaving Korea, confirm sun-care instructions, follow-up timing and an urgent contact. Request a written final total in Korean won that includes consultation or skin imaging, treatment area, numbing, prescribed products, aftercare and VAT, and check package expiry and cancellation terms. A device name, low price or before-and-after photo cannot guarantee suitability or results; compare 2–3 clinics and decide after an in-person medical assessment.

Some Seoul clinics may provide a consultation and skin treatment on the same day when an appointment is available and the treating clinician decides the procedure is appropriate, but it is not guaranteed. Before visiting, use the clinic’s official contact channel to confirm the branch, date and time, requested treatment, consultation language or interpreter, and whether a treatment slot is reserved separately from the consultation. Allow time for registration, consultation, waiting, treatment and any observation afterward; avoid scheduling close to an airport transfer or flight. At the clinic, disclose recent procedures, medical conditions, allergies and medicines, and ask the treating clinician to confirm the exact device or product, who performs the treatment, expected downtime and risks, aftercare, an urgent contact and the final total in Korean won before paying. Same-day availability does not show that a treatment is suitable or safe for you, so decide only after an in-person medical assessment.

Payment methods vary by clinic. Many Korean medical institutions accept credit cards, and some Seoul aesthetic clinics explicitly accept internationally enabled cards or Korean-won cash, but you should confirm the exact branch before visiting. Ask through the clinic’s official contact channel which card networks are accepted, whether the deposit and remaining balance can use the same method, whether the clinic adds any payment or transfer fee, and whether the quoted total includes VAT. Request the final amount in Korean won before paying; if a card terminal offers payment in won or your home currency, compare the exchange rate and fees with your card issuer rather than assuming one option is cheaper. Bring a backup payment method, keep the itemized receipt and card slip, and do not send full card details through chat. Payment acceptance does not show clinic quality, so also compare foreign-patient support and written pricing evidence on the clinic cards.

Not necessarily. A clinic may use ‘English support’ for online booking or reception even when no interpreter is available for every doctor consultation, procedure, payment discussion or aftercare contact. Before booking, ask the clinic’s official channel to confirm in writing which stages are covered on your date, whether support is in person or by phone or chat, any fee, and an urgent English contact after treatment. Ask the clinic not to begin consent or treatment while important explanations remain unclear, and confirm the procedure, alternatives, main risks, aftercare and final Korean-won total directly with the treating clinician and clinic. If an outside company handles the appointment or contract, also verify its legal business name, service fee, payment recipient and, where applicable, registration as a foreign-patient facilitator. Use the language section to compare clinics that officially publish support in the language you need.

Do not feel you have to decide because of a same-day discount or limited-time offer. Ask whether the recommendation comes from the treating doctor or a consultant, and request an assessment by the clinician who would perform or supervise the treatment. Confirm why each added treatment is being proposed, the alternatives, main risks and downtime, who will perform it, and the exact product or device, treatment area, dose, volume or number of shots. Before paying, request an itemized written quote in Korean won that includes VAT, consultation, numbing or anesthesia, medicines, interpretation and aftercare, and check the cancellation and refund terms for anything not yet performed. You can pause or decline added items; a promotion or consultant recommendation does not show that a treatment is suitable for you. Compare the written plan and foreign-patient support across 2–3 clinic cards before deciding.

Some clinics accept suture removal after surgery performed elsewhere, including overseas, but not every clinic does and the procedures, body areas, timing and fees they accept vary. Before booking surgery or flights, find a clinic at home that agrees to see you and ask what referral letter or operation record it requires. Request a written record from the Korean clinic in a language the receiving clinician can use, including the operation name and date, incision and suture locations, suture material or closure method, the surgeon’s intended removal date, medicines and an official contact. Do not choose or change the removal date yourself; follow the operating clinic’s instructions and the clinician who examines the wound. If you develop concerning wound changes or feel seriously unwell, seek prompt local medical care rather than waiting for a scheduled stitch-removal visit or a chat reply. Use the surgery filters to compare clinics, then confirm the full follow-up plan before paying.

Before paying, ask the clinic to confirm in writing that the treatment is Thermage FLX, the exact treatment area, tip type, planned pulse count, treating doctor and final total in Korean won. Ask how you can complete the official Thermage Korea tip-authentication process on the day of treatment; do not rely only on a photo of the box, a clinic advertisement or a verbal claim. At the clinic, check the unopened tip information before treatment and use the manufacturer’s official Korean authentication page or QR process with the clinic. The manufacturer explains that each Thermage tip is designed for a specific number of pulses and cannot continue to be used after those pulses are delivered. Keep the itemized receipt and any authentication record, and confirm aftercare and an urgent contact before leaving. Authentic equipment does not prove that the treatment, pulse count or energy setting is appropriate for you, so discuss suitability, risks and alternatives with the treating doctor after an in-person assessment. Use the Lifting filter to compare clinics with official foreign-patient contact channels.

Before paying, ask the clinic through its official channel to state the exact type and intended depth of sedation or anesthesia, who will assess you and administer it, how you will be monitored, and where recovery takes place. Request written instructions that separately cover solid food, clear liquids and your regular medicines; do not copy another patient’s fasting hours or stop prescribed medicine on your own. Tell the clinic about your medical conditions, allergies, medicines and supplements, previous anesthesia problems, and whether you are travelling alone. Confirm the observation and discharge criteria, whether the clinic requires a responsible adult escort, transport to your hotel, an after-hours contact and what to do if the fasting instructions are not followed. Sedation may impair judgment and coordination after you feel awake, so follow the clinic’s written restrictions on driving, travelling and important decisions, and do not book an immediate flight until the treating team has confirmed your plan. Use the clinic cards to compare official language support and ask the same questions before choosing a provider.

Do not assume that standard travel insurance or credit-card travel cover will pay for a planned cosmetic procedure or complications related to it. Eligibility and exclusions vary by policy, and some products may not accept a trip whose purpose is treatment even if unrelated accidents or illnesses would otherwise be covered. Before buying the policy or paying the clinic, tell the insurer in writing that you are travelling to Korea for a planned cosmetic procedure, give the procedure name and whether sedation or anesthesia is expected, and ask separately about the procedure itself, infection or other complications, emergency care and admission, ambulance or medical transport, a longer stay or changed flight, repatriation, and illness or injury unrelated to the procedure. For card insurance, also check how cover is activated, its dates, limits and excess, the Korea assistance number, direct billing, required records and claim deadline. Ask the clinic for the procedure name and date, treating doctor, product or device, anesthesia, itemized receipt, medical record and urgent contact. These records do not guarantee payment, so plan for excluded costs. In an emergency, contact 119 or seek medical care without waiting for an insurance decision, and save the recovery section of the Visit Guide before travelling.

Before paying a deposit, ask the clinic's official channel for the operating surgeon's full name in Korean and English, the exact procedure and body area, and the roles of any assistant surgeon and anesthesia clinician. Make sure the principal surgeon and the planned operation are written in the consent form, and request a copy. Korean law requires written notice when the principal surgeon or the method or content of a covered operation changes, so ask the clinic to explain its notification and consent process before surgery. On the day, meet the surgeon before anesthesia and confirm the surgeon's identity, procedure and site against your consent form rather than relying only on a coordinator or interpreter. If the operation will take place while you cannot perceive or remember it under general anesthesia or another qualifying state, ask well in advance whether the operating-room CCTV rules apply, how to submit a recording request and what legal exceptions or access conditions may apply; CCTV is not automatically available for every cosmetic treatment. If the doctor or plan differs from the written agreement, pause until the clinic explains and documents the change. These checks do not guarantee a result, but they create a verifiable record. Compare clinics with official foreign-patient contact channels before booking.

A so-called surgery certificate is not a substitute for a valid passport and does not guarantee that an airline or immigration officer will accept you. Before surgery, tell the clinic your flight date and ask whether it can provide a treatment confirmation in Korean and English showing your passport name and number, procedure and date, treating doctor, clinic contact and any medically necessary dressing. Check the airline's own medical-clearance and boarding requirements before the trip, because they are separate from immigration. Allow extra time at the airport and keep your passport, treatment confirmation and clinic contact accessible. If an automated facial-recognition gate does not open, do not remove a medically necessary dressing without clinical advice; follow airport staff instructions and request staffed identity inspection. Japan's official guidance explains that its facial-recognition gates compare the live image with the photo stored in the IC passport, while airport authorities make the final identity decision. A treatment confirmation is therefore supporting information only. If swelling or your condition is worse than expected, contact the treating clinic and seek medical assessment before flying rather than relying on the document alone. Save the recovery plan in the Visit Guide before booking your return flight.

Photos taken for a medical record or clinical comparison are not automatically the same as permission to publish them on a website, social media, an app or in advertising. Before signing, ask the clinic to separate clinical-record use from marketing or public-use consent. Check the purpose, exact images, whether your face or another identifier will appear, publication channels or recipients, retention and use period, whether refusing optional marketing consent affects treatment, and the official contact and procedure for withdrawing consent or requesting a stop. Korea's Personal Information Protection Act requires a consent request to identify the purpose, data items, retention period and right to refuse; health information is sensitive data and generally needs separate consent unless another legal basis applies. Request a complete copy of every signed page, or photograph the completed form if the clinic permits. If you do not agree to advertising, leave an optional marketing box unchecked or record your refusal in writing, then confirm what photography is still necessary for care. If an image appears online unexpectedly, save the URL, screenshots and date, then contact the clinic's official privacy channel in writing. Deletion or retention can depend on medical-record and other legal duties, so seek guidance from Korea's Privacy Portal or medical-dispute service if the issue remains unresolved. Use the clinic cards to verify official foreign-patient contacts.

Clearance to fly home or completion of stitch removal is not the same as medical clearance for another elective operation. There is no single online rule such as two weeks or one month that is safe for everyone. Before booking the second procedure, give both clinics the exact date and name of the first operation, the surgeon and clinic, anesthesia or sedation used, any grafts or implants, current swelling and wound condition, prescribed medicines, test results and scheduled follow-up. Ask the first surgeon in writing whether another operation could interfere with healing or required follow-up, and ask the next surgeon and anesthesia clinician to assess your current condition and decide the order and timing. If the clinics cannot communicate directly, request an operative or treatment summary and medicine list to carry between them. Do not shorten required checks, dressing, drain or stitch care, or recovery time just to fit flights or a short trip. If you develop fever, worsening pain or swelling, bleeding, breathing difficulty or a change in vision, contact the treating clinic or urgent medical care instead of proceeding with another operation. These steps cannot determine your personal interval online or guarantee a result; use the recovery plan in the Visit Guide to organize written confirmations before paying deposits.

Do not rely only on a payment receipt or chat screenshots. Before leaving Korea, request a copy of your medical record through the clinic's official channel and ask whether it can also issue a concise treatment summary that a clinician at home can use. Confirm in advance the language available, fee, identity documents and collection time; the clinic may issue the legal record in Korean and is not automatically required to translate it. Check that the documents identify you, the treatment date, treating doctor, diagnosis or treatment area, exact procedure, prescriptions and aftercare. Where the clinic recorded them, also request the device and model, pulses or energy settings, injectable brand, amount and lot number, anesthesia or sedation and medicines given, test or image results, expected follow-up and an urgent contact. Keep an itemized receipt and copies of the consent and discharge or aftercare instructions. Under Article 21 of Korea's Medical Service Act, a patient may request access to or copies of all or part of their own records, and a provider generally may not refuse without just cause; the clinic may require identity verification and its prescribed process. If symptoms develop after you return, save dated photos and a symptom timeline, contact the Korean clinic, and give the records to the local clinician who examines you. Do not delay urgent local care while waiting for a chat reply or translation. Use the recovery plan in the Visit Guide to collect the documents before your flight.

Do not assume that being an adult in your home country, downloading a consent form, or receiving a chat reply means the clinic will treat you alone. Korea’s Civil Act states that majority is attained at 19, while the documents and accompaniment a clinic requires for a foreign patient can also depend on the patient’s date of birth, nationality, procedure, anesthesia and the clinic’s own policy. Before paying a deposit, send the official clinic your date of birth, nationality and exact procedure, then ask it to confirm in writing: the age rule it will apply on the treatment date; whether consultation and treatment have different rules; whether a parent or legal guardian must attend in person or may verify by phone or video; the clinic’s own consent-form template; copies or originals required for the patient’s and guardian’s passports or IDs; proof of relationship; translation or notarization; and who may accompany you at discharge. Ask what happens to the deposit if the documents are rejected or the guardian cannot attend. Do not alter a form or imitate a guardian’s signature, and keep the clinic’s written confirmation and completed copies. For surgery, general anesthesia or another practice covered by Article 24-2 of Korea’s Medical Service Act, the clinician must explain the diagnosis, need and method, named participating doctor, possible complications and precautions and obtain written consent from the patient, or the legal representative when the patient lacks decision-making capacity. A guardian’s signature does not replace an explanation the patient can understand; confirm interpretation for both the consultation and consent. Hotel, airline and border rules are separate, so verify those directly as well. Use the Visit Guide checklist to organize IDs and written confirmations before traveling.

Contact the Korean clinic through its urgent channel, but do not wait for a reply or translation before seeking local care when symptoms are worsening. For problems after two-jaw or facial-contouring surgery, call a hospital dental and oral-maxillofacial surgery department and state at the start that the operation was performed abroad. Give the procedure and date, whether plates or pins were inserted or removed, when the wound opened, and whether you have increasing swelling or pain, fever, discharge, bleeding, difficulty opening your mouth, swallowing or breathing. Ask whether the department can assess a patient after surgery at another overseas clinic; if it cannot, request the appropriate referral. Use your country’s official medical-facility search and emergency advice service rather than relying only on social media. Call emergency services for breathing difficulty, rapidly spreading swelling, bleeding that will not stop, fainting or another severe change. Take your passport ID, operative or treatment summary, implant or plate details, medication and allergy list, test images, dated symptom photos and the Korean clinic’s contact details. Do not probe the wound or start leftover antibiotics on your own. The examining clinician must decide the urgency and treatment; use the Visit Guide recovery plan to collect records and emergency contacts before flying home.

There is no single safe restart day for everyone. Timing can differ with the exact operation, additional corner surgery, stitches, swelling, wound healing and dry or irritated eyes. Before leaving Korea, ask the operating clinic to write down separate instructions for clear and colored contact lenses, eye makeup and base makeup, washing and cleansing, stitch removal, prescribed drops or ointment, follow-up and the symptoms that mean you should stop. Use glasses until the operating surgeon confirms that lenses are suitable for your current condition, and do not rub the eye or force a lens past a swollen or painful lid. Do not copy another patient's timeline or self-treat with leftover drops. Increasing pain, a change or loss of vision, worsening redness, pus or heavy discharge, inability to close the eye, bleeding or rapidly increasing swelling needs prompt medical assessment; seek local ophthalmic or emergency care rather than waiting for a chat reply from Korea. Ask for aftercare instructions and an urgent contact in a language you can read. Use the Eyes filter to compare clinics and their official foreign-patient contacts before booking.

A clinic may need to verify a foreign patient's identity or complete a lawful patient-registration process, but do not assume that sending the full photo page through an ordinary chat is always required. Ask the clinic's official contact to state in writing why it needs the passport data, the exact fields required, whether the basis is your separate consent or a specific law, how long the data will be kept, who will receive it, when it will be deleted, and what happens if you decline. Under Korea's Personal Information Protection Act, a passport number is unique identifying information. When consent is the basis, the collector should explain the purpose, items, retention period, right to refuse and any disadvantage, and collect only what is necessary. Ask whether showing the original at reception, using a secure upload page, or providing fewer fields is acceptable; do not alter or mask a copy until the clinic confirms what it can legally accept. Confirm that the account or link belongs to the clinic before transmitting anything, and keep the request and consent notice. At the visit, do not leave the original passport longer than needed for verification without a clear reason and a way to retrieve it. If data was sent to the wrong account or the clinic cannot explain its use, request deletion and written confirmation and use Korea's official Privacy Portal for guidance or dispute support. Use the Visit Guide checklist to prepare identification and booking records before travel.

Follow the written instructions from the operating clinic and anesthesia team rather than assuming that leaving one bare nail is enough. Nail polish, gel or shellac, acrylic and other false nails can interfere with a finger pulse-oximeter reading or prevent staff from assessing the nail and circulation, and removal rules vary by procedure, monitoring equipment and clinic. Before traveling, send the exact procedure and planned anesthesia to the clinic's official contact and ask whether all fingernails and toenails must be bare, whether extensions or decorations also need removal, the deadline, whether on-site removal is available, and what happens to the booking if the requirement is not met. If the clinic permits a particular bare finger or an alternative monitoring site, obtain that instruction from the anesthesia team in writing instead of relying on another patient's experience. Arrange professional removal early enough to avoid injuring the nail or surrounding skin, and do not peel off gel or acrylic immediately before surgery. Also confirm fasting, medicines, jewelry, makeup and an adult escort separately, because nail removal does not replace the rest of the pre-anesthesia instructions. Use the Visit Guide checklist to prepare before leaving for Korea.

Do not stop every medicine on your own or copy another patient’s ‘one- or two-week’ rule. As soon as the procedure and anesthesia are being planned—and before paying a non-refundable balance—send the clinic’s official contact a complete list for review by the surgeon and anesthesia team. Include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, painkillers, hormonal contraception, diabetes or weight-loss injections, psychiatric medicines, blood thinners, vitamins, herbal remedies and supplements. For each item, provide the exact product or active ingredient, dose, form, why you use it, how often you take it and the most recent dose; photos of the packaging can help when names differ by country. Ask for a written, item-by-item plan stating what to continue, what may need adjustment, the exact last dose, what to take on the morning of surgery, when to restart, and whom to contact if the prescribing doctor gives different advice. Do not interrupt a prescribed medicine until the prescribing clinician and the Korean surgical team have agreed on a plan; sudden interruption can also be harmful. If you start a new medicine, become ill, miss the agreed timing or cannot obtain clinician-reviewed instructions, tell the clinic promptly—the anesthesia or surgery plan may need to change. Bring the medication list or original packaging to the preoperative check and repeat the information on the day of surgery. Use the Visit Guide to keep the written plan with your booking and health records.