Beginner’s Guide: How to Choose a Plastic Surgery Clinic in Korea

Step 1 — Browse real patient photos (and do it often)

Where to look

• Gangnam Unni (강남언니): the biggest app; has a U.S.-English section and event pages.

• Babitalk (바비톡): large community + event pages; robust “most-reviewed” sorting.

How to read photos sensibly

• Some photos will be edited or overly lit, and clinics sometimes recycle older cases. Even so, the majority do reflect that clinic’s work.

• With consistent browsing, you’ll start to see each clinic’s style: natural vs. dramatic, high bridge vs. soft lines, subtle vs. glam, etc.

• Shortlist clinics whose design language matches your personal taste.

Credibility cue

• Good clinics usually label the actual operating doctor on each case.
  If the same patient appears under multiple doctors, or nose cases show up under an “eyelid” specialist for no reason—skip. That sloppiness shows inside the OR too.

Step 2 — Research deeper before you book a consult

Community + video

• Korea has very active communities and many clinics run YouTube channels. Watch a few videos from the doctor you’re considering.
  Even if the content is marketing, repeated videos reveal how they think (assessment style, risk attitude, bedside manner).

• Some clinics film patient interviews after surgery. These are still curated, but you’ll see unfiltered movement—which photos can’t show.

Why video matters

• Most of us decide on surgery after seeing ourselves in photos or videos (not just the mirror). Train your eye to predict how you’ll photograph after a given style, not only how you’ll look face-to-face.

Step 3 — What a good consultation sounds like

Red flag

• If the coordinator or doctor mainly asks, “What don’t you like? What do you want to fix?”—and then lets you design the plan, walk away.
  You’re not the surgeon. Safe, harmonious changes depend on anatomy and proportion, not only preference.

Green flag

• A strong surgeon will lead with a structured assessment in the first minutes:

  • “Leave alar base as is; lower columella slightly; keep dorsum height; refine tip projection.”

  • “Jaw: maintain length, correct asymmetry; angle reduction alone isn’t enough—light cortical shaving is needed.”

• Then they invite your preferences and align on the final plan.
  That order—expert leads → patient refines—is what you want.

Another red flag

• 30+ minutes of friendly talk but the doctor can’t clearly name the main problems or explain stepwise corrections—pass.

Step 4 — If this is your first surgery, keep your own design input light

• Many first-timers misdiagnose their face: e.g., “My face looks long,” when the issue is actually midface volume or chin projection, not vertical length.

• Over-directing the plan can push you toward revision territory.

• Use your taste to choose the clinic (Step 1–2). Once you trust the surgeon, let them design within your aesthetic.

Practical red flags & green flags (quick list)

Red flags

• Cases not clearly attributed to the operating doctor; mixed-up specialties in the gallery.

• The plan depends on you prescribing exact millimeters or techniques.

• “We can do whatever you want” + vague answers about risks, emergency protocols, or revision policy.

• Many before/afters where patients still look unbalanced (e.g., the problem was eyelids but they did only the nose because the patient asked).

Green flags

• Multi-angle, consistent-lighting case photos labeled with the surgeon’s name.

• A structured, anatomy-based assessment in the consult, followed by collaborative fine-tuning.

• Clear documentation: line-item quotes, what’s included/excluded, revision/retouch window, after-hours contact, and English support.

How to use Korean review apps like a local

• Sort by “Most Reviews,” not “Recommended.”
  This reduces algorithm bias and surfaces clinics with sustained patient flow.

• Scan patterns, not one photo.
  One over-edited picture proves nothing. Ten similar results from one clinic tells you their baseline outcome.

• Check doctor names and subspecialties.
  In Korea, large clinics can have multiple surgeons; you want the right doctor for the right area (e.g., eyes vs. nose vs. contour).

• Message in English first.
  Many Seoul clinics have international coordinators (KakaoTalk/WhatsApp/Email). The quality and speed of their replies is a preview of your care.

If you’re comparing two clinics with similar styles

Ask each one (in writing):

1. Main plan in bullet points (what to change vs. what to keep).

2. Why this plan fits your anatomy (not someone else’s).

3. What they will not do (and why). Good surgeons have boundaries.

4. Complication protocol (who, how fast, hyaluronidase for fillers, ER backup).

5. Revision/retouch policy (window, scope, fees).

6. Line-item quote (brand/implant, anesthesia, facility, meds, follow-ups, imaging, VAT).

Compare the answers side-by-side. You’ll feel which team is clearer and more accountable.

One last mindset tip

It’s normal to bring inspiration photos (celebrities, K-pop, influencers). Use them to communicate vibe and proportion, not to demand a carbon copy. The best outcomes happen when:

• you pick a clinic whose style fits you, and

• the surgeon leads the design using your face’s actual dimensions.

That’s the path that prevents first-surgery regrets—spoken as someone who learned the hard way.