I live outside Seoul, so while I was in Seoul I did a plastic surgery consultation tour... I thought I was going to be completely drained, and I want this to help even a little for everyone here who is debating clinics like I was, so I will write this diligently while looking at my notes. All are based on no implant, and since I wanted a natural look, I mainly visited clinics like that.
For reference, my nose is small and low, with a slight bump in the middle like a dorsal hump. It is not a bulbous nose or a long droopy nose, but it does look a bit spread out. My nasal bridge and septum are deviated, but I have no functional discomfort at all, no rhinitis, and I breathe well through both nostrils.
1. K**
- The only place that took a CT scan. Waiting time was about 20-30 minutes? At first I consulted with the consultant, waited in the consultation room as is, then moved to the director's office. - They have CCTV and real-time viewing is available. (There is a separate place to watch the CCTV, so a guardian can watch in real time, and if you still cannot trust that, they said the guardian could even put on surgical clothing and observe from inside. They spoke confidently, which left an impression.) - Consultation fee 10,000 won / consultation time about 30 minutes - They said my septum is deviated so correction is needed, and since my nasal bones are rather wide to the sides, osteotomy is essential. - This was the only place that recommended raising the glabella. They said they would use ear cartilage as the glabella material and cover it with ear periosteum because it could show through. Since my bridge is low, they seemed to say I would only see an effect if I did the glabella together? It was my first consultation, so I do not remember exactly. Anyway, they strongly recommended it. - For the nasal tip, they would use only septal cartilage, but if they opened it and there was not enough material, they would use ear cartilage. - The director generally felt comfortable? - AS period: 3 years / If dissatisfied cosmetically, revision surgery is possible by paying only the anesthesia fee. - For aftercare, swelling laser is included by default, and scar-tissue injections are free if desired. - The price came out to 4.8 million won, but they said if I put down a same-day reservation deposit of 100,000 won, they would fix it at 4.3 million won. They said that if I cancel, I can get 90,000 won refunded anytime after excluding the 10,000 won consultation fee. Even if I cancel next year, I get 90,000 won back, and even if I have surgery next year, the price stays at 4.3 million won. They also said 1.4 million won of this would be billed separately for septum, so if I receive about 80% through actual-cost insurance, my out-of-pocket cost would be in the low 3 million won range. (4.3 million - 1.4 million = 2.9 million, and if 1.1 million is reimbursed through insurance, it is like having surgery for 3.2 million total.) / But I still do not know what advantage the clinic gets from running this deposit system. For me it is good because I can get a refund and do it at a discounted price... but even while paying the deposit, I found it strange. (They said 4.3 million is only available at the time of consultation. Rather than feeling forced, it makes you feel like you would lose out ㅋㅋㅋ Like a home-shopping “almost sold out” vibe.) There are two cases where the deposit is not refundable: if you set a surgery date and cancel 2 weeks before? or if you do the blood test at this clinic. (They said it like the blood test cost should be considered 100,000 won.) - Surgery takes 2 hours. - Gauze removed the next day, splint and stitches removed after 5-6 days. - They check progress while removing the above, then check progress at week 2. - Other: There were more foreign patients than I expected. There were White patients and Chinese patients too, and it felt like there were many waiting patients? The consultant told me things before I even asked, so I was busy copying them into my notes, but it was actually nice because I heard things I might have missed first. They emphasized that the director performs only 3 surgeries per day and that they do not do separate marketing but are famous by word of mouth. The director took a side-view photo with a tablet and did virtual plastic surgery on the spot. Of course it was not amazing quality, but it was nice because I could understand the general direction they were pursuing.
2. B**N (formerly K**P)
- They called it a plastic surgery building, and it was a 5-story building they use entirely themselves. Consultations are on the 4th floor, surgeries on the 5th floor, and B1 is R&D... I wondered if they made a huge amount of money. - Each person has a consultation room, and after consulting with the consultant and waiting, the director comes in. I think the waiting time was under 10 minutes. - They have CCTV, but real-time viewing is not possible. Instead, they said they would record it with my phone. (I did find that a little puzzling.) - They suggested using nasal cartilage and septal cartilage to raise it by 3 mm. When I asked if that would make it too high, they said in a funny way that my nose was not a nose that could be ambitious in the first place, so I should not worry. - This place also said osteotomy was essential. They said it is partly because the nasal bones seem wide, but also because they are deviated. - When I brought up the glabella story I heard at the previous clinic, the answer had the nuance of, “You do not really have much glabella, so if you want to raise it, you can,” and “If you do not want it, you do not necessarily have to raise it.” - When I mentioned the previous clinic saying they do 3 surgeries a day, this director laughed and said he has no limit and needs to work hard to earn money. He said during peak season they do many, and during off-season there are not many, so it is not something that just goes exactly as one wants. - Overall, the director felt kindly, and because I had seen reviews saying he does not answer things you do not ask first, I wrote out a list in advance. - Surgery time takes 1.5 to 2 hours. - AS period: 2 years / If dissatisfied cosmetically, revision surgery is possible by paying only material and anesthesia fees. - Aftercare: swelling laser, scar-tissue injections, bruise cream, etc. - Cotton packing removed after 2 days, splint removed after 5 days, and follow-ups at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. (The consultant emphasized that the director always personally checks follow-ups.) - The price was 3.5 million won (if doing cosmetic only). If paying a same-day deposit of 200,000 won, a discount down to 3.2 million is possible. When I consulted with the director, I heard about septal correction, so I asked whether functional parts were included. They said it is not severe enough to proceed as something that can be formally billed? If I want to do functional surgery together, 1.2 million won is added. I do not really have functional discomfort, so I said I would not. For reference, I had already paid a 100,000 won deposit at K**, so I did not pay a deposit at B**N. 200,000 is also a lot, and here it is structured so that if you do not have surgery, it is gone... They said some people pay only 100,000, but I did not ask specifically how the discount applies if you pay 100,000. (Because I was not going to pay it anyway.) - The consultant had good sales talk? To put it badly, it felt hectic? It was a consultation that came at me like a rapid-fire rapper. They emphasized that there is one director specializing in noses here, so the doctor will not change right before surgery. Talking about the plastic surgery building, they emphasized that the director has fully put down roots here, so whenever you come, the director can see you. - I liked the before-and-after photos overall, and the consultant did a virtual simulation for me. It was not excessive and was similar to the design I wanted, so I liked it.
3. OJ 4. S**S
- Hmm... Honestly, I regret visiting ㅋㅋ If anyone is curious, I will continue writing!