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Medical Procedure Guides

Korea Cosmetic & Medical Procedure Guide

Authoritative, AI-cited guides to 20 popular procedures available in South Korea โ€” including costs, recovery timelines, and expert Q&A.

38

Procedures

76+

Expert FAQs

10

Categories

Plastic Surgery

9 procedures
Plastic Surgery

Double Eyelid Surgery

์Œ๊บผํ’€ ์ˆ˜์ˆ 

Double eyelid surgery creates a natural crease in the upper eyelid, making the eyes appear larger and more defined. Two methods are available: incisional (permanent, suited for thicker lids) and non-incisional suture method (faster recovery). Korean surgeons are globally recognized for their expertise in Asian eyelid anatomy.

$800โ€“$1,500USDยทRecovery: 14 days
Plastic Surgery

Rhinoplasty

์ฝ”์„ฑํ˜•

Rhinoplasty surgically reshapes the nose for improved bridge height, tip definition, or overall proportion. Korean surgeons are internationally acclaimed for natural-looking results using autologous cartilage from the ear or rib. Common procedures include bridge augmentation, tip refinement, and dorsal hump reduction.

$2,500โ€“$4,500USDยทRecovery: 21 days
Plastic Surgery

Facial Contouring

์•ˆ๋ฉด์œค๊ณฝ

Facial contouring surgically reshapes the facial skeleton โ€” including square jaw reduction, cheekbone reduction, and chin reshaping โ€” to create a slimmer, more oval face. Korea is the global leader in this procedure, with an unmatched concentration of experienced surgeons and 3D planning technology. It can be performed as individual or combined procedures.

$5,000โ€“$10,000USDยทRecovery: 90 days
Plastic Surgery

Liposuction

์ง€๋ฐฉํก์ž…

Liposuction removes excess fat deposits from targeted body areas using a suction cannula. Korean clinics frequently employ VASER (ultrasound-assisted) liposuction for precise fat removal and faster recovery. Maintaining a stable weight post-procedure is essential for long-lasting results.

$2,500โ€“$5,000USDยทRecovery: 14 days
Plastic Surgery

Botox

๋ณดํ†ก์Šค

Botox (botulinum toxin) is injected into muscles to reduce wrinkles and reshape facial contours without surgery. Common uses include forehead lines, frown lines, crow's feet, masseter (jawline slimming), and calf reduction. Priced 50โ€“70% lower than in the US, with a 15โ€“30 minute procedure and no downtime.

$100โ€“$400USDยทRecovery: 1 days
Plastic Surgery

Dermal Filler

ํ•„๋Ÿฌ

Dermal fillers (typically hyaluronic acid) are injected to restore volume, smooth wrinkles, and reshape facial features. Common areas include the nose, lips, under-eyes, nasolabial folds, and cheeks. Results are immediate, with longevity of 6โ€“18 months depending on the area and product used.

$150โ€“$600USDยทRecovery: 1 days
Plastic Surgery

Hair Transplant

๋ชจ๋ฐœ ์ด์‹

Hair transplantation extracts hair follicles from the donor area (back of the scalp) and implants them into thinning or bald areas. FUE and DHI methods are commonly used in Korea. Transplanted hair begins growing in 3โ€“6 months, with final results visible at 12 months. Korea offers competitive pricing with high-quality outcomes.

$3,000โ€“$7,000USDยทRecovery: 14 days
Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation

๊ฐ€์Šด ์„ฑํ˜•

Breast augmentation places silicone or Motiva implants to increase breast size and improve shape. Options vary by incision site (axilla, periareolar, inframammary fold) and implant placement plane. It is a same-day surgery under general anesthesia with approximately 4 weeks of recovery.

$3,500โ€“$6,000USDยทRecovery: 30 days
Plastic Surgery

Under-Eye Fat Removal

๋ˆˆ๋ฐ‘ ์ง€๋ฐฉ ์ œ๊ฑฐ

Under-eye fat removal (transconjunctival blepharoplasty) removes or repositions protruding fat pockets via an internal (conjunctival) incision, leaving no external scars. It effectively addresses the tired or aged appearance caused by under-eye bags. Fat repositioning simultaneously corrects hollow tear trough deformities.

$1,500โ€“$3,000USDยทRecovery: 14 days

Dermatology

6 procedures
Dermatology

Laser Toning

๋ ˆ์ด์ € ํ† ๋‹

Laser toning uses low-fluence Q-switched laser pulses to break down melanin and treat melasma, pigmentation, and uneven skin tone. With virtually zero downtime and a 20โ€“30 minute session time, it is one of the most popular dermatology treatments among medical tourists visiting Korea. 4โ€“6 sessions are typically recommended.

$80โ€“$200USDยทRecovery: No downtime
Dermatology

Ultherapy

์šธ์Ž„๋ผ

Ultherapy (HIFU) delivers focused ultrasound energy to the SMAS layer โ€” the same tissue tightened in surgical facelifts โ€” to stimulate collagen production and lift the skin without surgery. Results develop gradually over 3โ€“6 months and last 12โ€“18 months. Zero downtime makes it ideal for busy medical tourists.

$800โ€“$1,500USDยทRecovery: No downtime
Dermatology

Skin Lifting

ํ”ผ๋ถ€ ๋ฆฌํ”„ํŒ…

Skin lifting encompasses non-surgical treatments โ€” PDO thread lift, radiofrequency (RF), and HIFU โ€” that firm and lift sagging skin with minimal downtime. Results are more gradual than surgery but with significantly lower risk and recovery time. The optimal method is chosen based on age, degree of laxity, and treatment area.

$500โ€“$2,000USDยทRecovery: 3 days
Dermatology

Acne Treatment

์—ฌ๋“œ๋ฆ„ ์น˜๋ฃŒ

Korean dermatology clinics offer comprehensive acne management combining extraction, laser therapy, and medical-grade skincare. Fractional CO2 laser for acne scars and enlarged pores is particularly renowned among international patients. Treatment plans range from single-session intensive treatments to multi-visit programs.

$100โ€“$600USDยทRecovery: 5 days
Dermatology

Wrinkle Treatment

์ฃผ๋ฆ„ ์ œ๊ฑฐ

Wrinkle treatment in Korea uses a combination approach โ€” Botox, fillers, laser resurfacing, and skin boosters โ€” matched to wrinkle depth, type, and location. Korean clinics excel at the 'layered approach' that delivers natural, non-overdone rejuvenation. Dynamic wrinkles, static lines, and skin laxity each require different treatment strategies.

$200โ€“$1,500USDยทRecovery: 2 days
Dermatology

Mole/Wart Removal

์ /์‚ฌ๋งˆ๊ท€ ์ œ๊ฑฐ

Mole and wart removal uses CO2 laser, erbium laser, or electrocautery to safely eliminate skin lesions with minimal scarring. Korean dermatologists are skilled at precision removal with excellent cosmetic outcomes, at a fraction of Western prices. Pigmented lesions with any suspicious features should be tested before removal.

$20โ€“$200USDยทRecovery: 7 days

Dental

4 procedures
Dental

Teeth Whitening

์น˜์•„ ๋ฏธ๋ฐฑ

Professional teeth whitening uses high-concentration hydrogen peroxide activated by LED or laser light for immediate 2โ€“5 shade improvement in a single session. Korean dental clinics use Zoom and GLO whitening systems at 60โ€“70% of US prices. Most sessions include a desensitizing treatment to manage post-whitening sensitivity.

$120โ€“$250USDยทRecovery: No downtime
Dental

Dental Braces

์น˜์•„ ๊ต์ •

Dental braces correct misaligned teeth using metal brackets, ceramic brackets, or clear aligners (Invisalign). Korean orthodontists hold international board certifications and offer treatment at 30โ€“50% lower cost than Western countries. International patients can start treatment in Korea and continue with a home-country provider using shared digital records.

$2,000โ€“$5,000USDยทRecovery: No downtime
Dental

Dental Implant

์ž„ํ”Œ๋ž€ํŠธ

Dental implants replace missing tooth roots with titanium fixtures topped with custom ceramic crowns. Korea is home to globally-used implant brands including Osstem and MegaGen, offering 50โ€“60% cost savings vs. the US with equivalent success rates. Two visits spaced 3โ€“6 months apart are required for osseointegration.

$1,000โ€“$2,000USDยทRecovery: 7 days
Dental

Dental Veneer

๋ผ๋ฏธ๋„ค์ดํŠธ

Dental veneers are ultra-thin ceramic shells bonded to the front of teeth to correct color, shape, and minor alignment issues. Korean dental labs produce veneers with exceptional translucency and color-matching at competitive prices. Same-day veneers using CAD/CAM milling technology are available at select clinics.

$250โ€“$500 per toothUSDยทRecovery: No downtime

Ophthalmology

1 procedures

Internal Medicine

3 procedures
Internal Medicine

Comprehensive Health Checkup

๊ฑด๊ฐ•๊ฒ€์ง„ (์ข…ํ•ฉ๊ฒ€์ง„)

Korea's comprehensive health checkup packages combine blood panels, imaging (CT, MRI, ultrasound), endoscopy, and ECG into a single-day program. Major centers in Gangnam offer multilingual coordinators and same-day results consultation at 50โ€“70% lower cost than the US. Korea's early detection rates and imaging technology are among the best in the world.

$500โ€“$2,000USDยทRecovery: No downtime
Internal Medicine

Endoscopy (Gastroscopy & Colonoscopy)

๋‚ด์‹œ๊ฒฝ๊ฒ€์‚ฌ

Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are key screenings for early detection of gastrointestinal cancers โ€” Korea has one of the world's highest screening rates due to its elevated gastric cancer incidence. Procedures are performed under propofol sedation for a painless experience, with same-session polyp removal if detected. Costs are over 80% lower than in the US.

$150โ€“$400USDยทRecovery: 1 days
Internal Medicine

Chronic Disease Management

๋งŒ์„ฑ์งˆํ™˜๊ด€๋ฆฌ

Korean internal medicine clinics offer precise diagnostics and personalized management plans for chronic conditions including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and thyroid disorders. Ideal for medical tourists needing prescription renewals or specialist second opinions during their stay, with low cost and minimal waiting times. Many clinics provide English interpretation and medical record translation.

$50โ€“$300USDยทRecovery: No downtime

OB/GYN

3 procedures
OB/GYN

Prenatal Checkup

์‚ฐ์ „๊ฒ€์‚ฌ

Korean OB/GYN clinics offer comprehensive prenatal screening including 4D ultrasound, NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing), and amniocentesis at internationally recognized accuracy rates. NIPT costs 30โ€“50% less than in the US, with same-day consultation by English-proficient specialists. Korean maternal-fetal medicine teams have extensive experience with advanced maternal age and high-risk pregnancies.

$200โ€“$800USDยทRecovery: No downtime
OB/GYN

IVF Fertility Treatment

๋‚œ์ž„์น˜๋ฃŒ (IVF)

Korea ranks among the world's top nations for IVF success rates, leveraging advanced embryo culture systems and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). At 40โ€“60% lower cost than the US or Europe with minimal waiting periods, Korea has seen a steady rise in international fertility patients. English-speaking coordinators guide patients through every step, and frozen embryo storage services are available.

$3,000โ€“$6,000USDยทRecovery: 3 days
OB/GYN

Gynecology Checkup

๋ถ€์ธ๊ณผ๊ฒ€์ง„

Korean gynecology checkup packages include Pap smear, HPV test, pelvic ultrasound, and hormone panel in a comprehensive women's health visit. Excellent for early detection of fibroids, ovarian cysts, and endometriosis at 60โ€“70% lower cost than the US. English-language services and remote result consultations are widely available for international female patients.

$150โ€“$500USDยทRecovery: No downtime

Orthopedics

3 procedures

Korean Medicine

3 procedures

Urology

3 procedures
Urology

Prostate Treatment

์ „๋ฆฝ์„ ์น˜๋ฃŒ

Korean urology centers treat a full spectrum of prostate conditions โ€” from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) to prostate cancer โ€” using advanced techniques. HoLEP (holmium laser enucleation) and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) are widely performed at 50โ€“70% lower cost than the US. Prostate health checkup packages including PSA, transrectal ultrasound, and MRI are also popular.

$500โ€“$12,000USDยทRecovery: 7 days
Urology

Urologic Endoscopy

๋น„๋‡จ๊ธฐ๋‚ด์‹œ๊ฒฝ

Urologic endoscopy โ€” including cystoscopy and ureteroscopy โ€” diagnoses and treats kidney stones, bladder tumors, and strictures with minimal invasiveness. Common procedures include ESWL/laser lithotripsy for kidney stones and transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Korea offers high-quality endoscopic equipment and skilled urologists at competitive prices.

$500โ€“$4,000USDยทRecovery: 3 days
Urology

Men's Sexual Health Treatment

๋‚จ์„ฑ๊ธฐ๋Šฅ์น˜๋ฃŒ

Korean urology clinics specialize in men's sexual health including erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and testosterone deficiency, with strict privacy protection. Treatments range from non-surgical options โ€” low-intensity shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT), PRP injections, hormone replacement โ€” to penile implant surgery. English consultation services for international male patients are widely available.

$200โ€“$8,000USDยทRecovery: 2 days

ENT

3 procedures

Information on this site is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. In case of emergency, contact 119 (Korea) or your local emergency services.