I’d been worrying about this for a really long time, so I finally made time to go around and do in-person consultations. I’m writing up my review in hopes it helps someone. What I felt after visiting a few large hospitals and smaller hospitals for several days is that, honestly, whether it’s a large hospital or a smaller one, the consultation coordinator and the surgeon who suit me are the best. In my case, I set aside time specifically to go look around and kept the schedule pretty tight. I was considering both fat grafting and implants. My ribcage is quite large compared with average, so everywhere I went, they recommended a larger volume for fat and also a larger implant size.
1. ㅁㄷㅅ (breast consultation, rhinoplasty consultation) They said they mainly do liposuction and fat grafting. They showed me the fat thickness and how many rounds would be possible right away with an ultrasound machine (?) and I found that interesting. Based on the thickness, they said whether each person could do a certain number of rounds or not, which made me trust them more. That said, they have a very clear surgical direction of their own, so if that doesn’t match what you want, it could feel a bit ambiguous. In my case, they said that even if fat is harvested, there might not be enough, so I should think carefully before deciding. They suggested trying fat only first and, if it still ends up smaller than I want, then considering implants. But they said my available fat amount was quite low, so I ended up wondering whether I should do implants first from the beginning or try fat grafting first. (They said it may be possible to harvest and inject more than 200 cc in the first round, and that for a second round, it would probably be possible to confirm after seeing how much fat can actually be taken.)
They said they’ve had more breast inquiries lately, so they don’t do noses as much these days (though that may also be because I mainly asked about breasts). The coordinator looked at my nose and said that since I didn’t want to touch the tip and only wanted the bridge made higher in a natural way, they wouldn’t especially recommend rhinoplasty for me. If I really wanted it, they recommended using silicone.
I went to the branch in Gangbuk, and if you only want a nose consultation, I recommend first going to other rhinoplasty clinics and then coming here.
Originally all the consultation slots were full, so I was worried I might not even get seen when I went around in person, but they checked evening hours for me and arranged a surgeon appointment, so I could go comfortably.
2. ㅍㄹㅅ (breast consultation) Mainly liposuction and fat grafting. Because it was the busy season right before Chuseok recently (most clinics were busy over the past few weeks), even if you make an appointment, you should expect to wait for the surgeon. They looked at me and told me roughly how much volume would be possible, which oddly made me trust them in that regard. After going to the clinic above first, this surgeon said similar things, so I think that added to my confidence in their skill. But the surgeon was extremely busy, so I recommend writing down everything you want to ask in advance and asking quickly and efficiently. They also said a second round after the first may be difficult here too, but that if we really pushed it, it might be possible. They also explained stem cells and related things in detail, which I liked. The surgeon tends to explain where liposuction would be good, how much is possible, and what the later results may be in detail.
Consultation fee: about 10,000 won.
3. ㄴㄴ (breast consultation, rhinoplasty consultation) I went because I was looking into implants and nose surgery. They were kind during the consultation, but like the first two places, there was some waiting. From going around in person, it seems late August to early September is the peak season. Most clinics were extremely busy, so even if I made reservations in advance, I always expected to wait. If you’re thinking about consultations during this season, I think it’s better to leave plenty of time. I saw the nose surgeon and breast surgeon separately, and for the nose, I also consulted with an ENT surgeon about whether it would be possible and what the risks might be. They took a CT scan (included in the consultation fee), and if you want, they provide a CD for around 20,000 to 30,000 won, which I thought was a plus. Having CT imaging and dedicated specialists felt reassuring.
Like the other clinics, they recommended the methods and the surgery they thought would suit me best, but in my personal opinion, they seemed to consider how my face would look to others and the more public-facing side more carefully. I’m the type who prefers subtle, natural changes that are almost unnoticeable rather than something flashy, so I’m really torn. My face might look dramatically different if even a small amount is touched, since my nose is kind of ambiguously low.
The nose surgeon recommended silicone and explained why, which I appreciated (that even if materials from my own body are used, it doesn’t mean changes or contracture will never happen; and if I’m worried about inflammation, using silicone and removing it later is also an option). Surprisingly, what this doctor said changed my existing mindset. It made me think I shouldn’t only look at the information I was already seeking, but should also consider other possibilities, so I started researching more and taking my time to gather information.
The breast surgeon told me the implant cc amount in detail and even put pads into a bra to explain how things would be on both sides. I really liked that they were the type to quickly and clearly explain what was needed. I’d lost a lot of weight quickly and told them I planned to lose more, so I appreciated that they explained why a certain cc amount would make sense now based on that. Before I could even ask the questions I brought, they had already explained everything (you can really feel the experience...). They also explained how they would remove it and operate if any side effects arose for any reason.
Also, because it was the holiday season, the consultation coordinator mentioned the reservation deposit while trying to give me the best possible price, but since both surgeons gave me very realistic explanations, I went ahead and left a deposit. That said, I booked too quickly and didn’t think enough about my other schedules (for example, whether I could take vacation, and illness - I often catch colds during seasonal changes -). So it’s been really hard to make my schedule work. Before putting down a deposit, I recommend checking overall whether everything is possible and then deciding slowly. I still haven’t decided whether I’ll actually go through with surgery. I’m reorganizing my consultation list again.
Consultation fee: about 10,000 won.
Personal review: Besides the clinics I listed above, there were others too, but I’m starting with the ones that stood out the most or where I had time to sort through my thoughts after the consultation. It seems like most breast-related clinics take photos, but I’ve always disliked being photographed, and I’m also a bit scared about how those photos are stored. So whenever a clinic said photos were necessary, I told them I’d rather show them in person directly in front of the surgeon. If they kept pushing photos even though it was only a consultation, I said I wouldn’t do the consultation at all if photos were mandatory. I may be sensitive, but most clinics said they understood and helped me consult without taking photos. One unfortunate thing is that photos and similar things are personal information, so I should be the one managing them. No matter how much a hospital wants them, if I feel uncomfortable and don’t want to, I think it’s only natural to refuse, except for the personal information that must be recorded for insurance purposes, of course. Even if it’s for cosmetic purposes, it’s still a medical procedure, and we’re paying time and money to get consultations. I think making both sides comfortable and minimizing anxiety benefits everyone.