1. ㅎㅁ
Doctor’s confidence 120%
Consultation fee 10,000 won.
I had seen online that the doctor is the type to say surgery is not possible if it isn’t, so I was curious whether they would say surgery was possible for me, but that thought became pointless because as soon as they saw my face, they strongly told me to have surgery. (Not sure whether I should be happy or not... hmm)
The consultation room was darker than I expected, so I wondered if they could see anything, but the doctor said my fat is the type that is broadly spread out.
They said my fat is broadly spread out, but expressed confidence that they could operate on me.
There was no explanation about the surgical method, and I asked if it would be okay since my two eyes are uneven, but they only said it would be okay and didn’t explain why.
They showed me lots of only successful surgery photos.
They confidently said that if I had under-eye fat repositioning, my impression would improve.
Hearing about their experience and reputation + first consultation + the doctor was a bit like “this is the answer,” so I couldn’t ask detailed questions and came out after making a surgery reservation.
When I look up reviews, it seems like 75–80 are good reviews and 20–25 are bad reviews. Mostly reviews about under-eye hollowness. I don’t have eyes with bulging fat either, so I’m worried.
Still, there’s no plastic surgery review event, so I think the good reviews are genuine.
2. ㄸㅋ
Felt like I had entered the kingdom of plastic surgery.
There were so freaking many Chinese people, and there was really a lot of waiting.
I went with a reservation, but it took 1 hour and 30 minutes. Maybe because there were so many people, it felt a bit like a factory-style clinic.
However, the staff were really kind + systematic, and the doctor was also really kind.
They explained everything and told me to ask anything I was curious about. Among the 3 consultations, this doctor felt the easiest to communicate with. They explained in a way I could understand and accurately explained what I asked without giving irrelevant answers.
I heard they came from ㅇㅂㅈ, and as a young doctor, they felt smart.
They said fat grafting can be done if I want it for satisfaction, or not done if I don’t want it, and that it’s my choice. I don’t know if it’s because my condition isn’t severe or what, but there was less recommendation than expected.
Consultation while taking photos with DSLR and looking at them together with the doctor.
No consultation fee.
3. ㅎㅂㄴ
Chaos of confusion.
I went to ㅎㅂㄴ after ㄸㅋ, and there was 0 waiting, so I thought this is how it should be if it’s by appointment.
Consultation fee 10,000 won.
But the consultation was shorter than ㄸㅋ.
This place unusually performs surgery in stages 1–4 depending on the eye condition.
They told me to squint, then said there isn’t much fat protruding under my eyes. They said I’m stage 2, not severe, but it gives a puffy-looking impression.
(But the room had soft yellow lighting that makes the face look pretty, so I couldn’t see the under-eye fat;; I don’t know whether people whose under-eyes look severe even under this lighting are the ones who get surgery or what.)
I thought under-eye fat repositioning involved releasing the tear trough ligament, strengthening the orbital septum, and repositioning fat, but they said they would do neither for my eye condition.
As soon as I heard this, I became so confused.
They said that if it isn’t severe, releasing the ligament and moving the fat downward can make the under-eyes hollow That was the part I was most worried about, but if surgery is done without releasing the ligament, and if my fat isn’t moved, does that mean the currently hollow part won’t be improved? How is this surgery supposed to work? I was flustered, and then they left with the vibe of “You don’t have anything more to ask, right?”..
Personally, they felt colder than the doctor at ㅎㅁ.
Conclusion. After getting consultations at three places, I’m even more unsure.
In the end, it’s my choice, and no one will ever tell me whether now is the time for me to have surgery or not.