Plastic Surgery in Korea for Foreigners: Planning FAQs

Short answer: Yes. Foreigners are welcome to undergo plastic surgery in South Korea, and the country has a well-established medical tourism system for international patients. Before surgery is confirmed, however, two things need to be checked: whether you are medically suitable for the procedure, and whether you meet the entry requirements for your planned length of stay.

What depends on your situation:

• Medical suitability: Your surgeon reviews your health history, current medications, and previous surgeries. Final approval is given only after in-person examination and pre-operative tests in Korea.

• Entry requirements: Depending on your nationality, you may enter visa-free, need a K-ETA, or need a visa. If recovery requires a longer stay, check whether a medical visa applies to you.

• Language support: Ask whether consultations, consent forms, and aftercare instructions are explained in your language by a medical interpreter, not only by a sales coordinator.

Many clinics, such as AB Plastic Surgery Korea, offer services designed for foreign patients, including English-speaking staff and coordinators who assist from consultation through post-operative care. AB Plastic Surgery Korea was designated by Korea's Ministry of Justice as an Excellent Medical Tourism Attraction Institution for 2025. According to the clinic, this designation allows eligible patients to apply for a medical e-visa with simplified documents, typically issued within about three days.

Short answer: It depends on the procedure, the surgical technique, and how you recover. Your stay should cover four stages, not just the operation itself: consultation and tests, surgery, follow-up visits such as stitch or splint removal, and a final check before your flight home.

As a general starting point for planning, many patients allow:

• Non-surgical treatments (e.g., Botox): often a short stay, but confirm any follow-up visit first

• Eyelid surgery (e.g., Double Eyelid Surgery): about 7–10 days

• Moderate Procedures (e.g., Rhinoplasty, Breast Augmentation): 10–14 days

• Major Procedures (e.g., Facelift, Full Body Contouring): 2–3 weeks

Important: The day your stitches come out is not automatically the day you can fly. Public guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises medical tourists not to fly for 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) suggests waiting about 7–10 days after facial, eyelid, or nose procedures. These are general guidelines; your own departure date should be confirmed by your surgeon after examining you.

You can check how long you should stay in Korea for a particular type of surgery on our website. Simply go to the surgery you are interested in, scroll down until you see the table, click on the table, choose the entry date, and it will calculate everything for you!

Short answer: Cost depends on the procedure, the surgical technique, the materials used, and whether it is a primary or revision surgery. The most reliable way to compare clinics is to compare written quotes that state what is included, not headline prices.

The table below shows AB Plastic Surgery Korea's published starting prices for the procedures most often asked about. USD figures are converted at KRW 1,470 = USD 1 and are for reference only; final pricing is confirmed after consultation.

Prices are starting prices for reference and may change with individual anatomy, surgical plan, and combined procedures. Revision surgeries are quoted separately because they often require correcting scar tissue or previous implants.

Ask for a quote that answers these questions:

AB Plastic Surgery Korea states that, depending on the procedure and price range, confirmed international patients may receive complimentary services such as a medical interpreter, CT imaging and a health check-up, swelling-relief laser care, airport pickup, up to five nights of hotel accommodation, and an aftercare kit. Because these vary by procedure, ask which apply to your quote.

To get an itemized quote for your procedure, send your goals and photos to AB’s consulting team, and ask them to list exactly what your price includes.

Short answer: Most clinics in Korea accept major credit and debit cards, and some accept international bank transfers or cash. Accepted methods differ by clinic, so confirm payment terms, including deposits and refunds, before you travel.

Common payment methods include:

• Credit/Debit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, and other major cards

• Bank Transfers: Some clinics accept international wire transfers

• Cash: Accepted at many clinics; ask whether payment method affects the final amount rather than assuming a discount

Confirm these payment terms before booking:

• Deposit: Whether a reservation deposit is required, how much, and when it is due

• Cancellation and refund: What happens to your deposit if you cancel, reschedule, or are found medically unsuitable after testing

• Currency and fees: Whether you pay in KRW or USD, which exchange rate applies, and whether your bank or card adds foreign transaction fees

• Documents: Whether you will receive an itemized receipt and medical records, which you may need for insurance or personal records

Short answer: South Korea is widely regarded as one of the leading destinations for plastic surgery, known for experienced surgeons, specialized clinics, and established support for international patients. However, no official body ranks countries for surgical safety. What matters more for your result is the specific clinic and surgeon you choose.

Instead of choosing by country reputation, evaluate a clinic with these criteria:

Why does an accreditation like KAHF matter from a patient's point of view? International patients face risks that local patients do not: language barriers, incomplete explanations, limited follow-up after returning home, and uncertainty about responsibility if something goes wrong. The KAHF accreditation evaluates exactly these areas, including patient safety management, infection prevention, emergency response, and medical staff training, so it tells you the clinic's system for foreign patients has been checked against national standards rather than described in advertising.

You can review AB Plastic Surgery Korea’s accreditations and safety system before your consultation.

Short answer: There is no fixed upper age limit for plastic surgery in South Korea; suitability is decided by a medical assessment. For younger patients, consent requirements apply. Under Korea's Civil Act (Article 4), a person becomes an adult at 19, but the documents and consent required for a foreign patient under that age are confirmed individually by the clinic.

What applies to you:

• Patients under 19: Ask the clinic in advance which consent forms and guardian documents are required, and whether the procedure is appropriate at your stage of growth.

• Older patients: Age alone does not rule out surgery, but a thorough pre-operative assessment is essential. Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or blood-thinning medication can change the surgical and anesthesia plan.

At AB Plastic Surgery Korea, pre-operative screening is run by an in-house clinical pathologist and reviewed by an anesthesiology specialist, who confirms anesthesia suitability before every surgery. Depending on the procedure, 3D-CT imaging is used to assess bone structure and nerve position before surgical planning.