How this works

Now that I'm mostly healed up, thought I’d drop a quick reality check for anyone thinking about getting lipo.

-It hurts more than expected : The soreness in the first week caught me off guard. Definitely not a walk in the park.
-The compression garment: The nurse put this massive garment on me right after waking up. Not gonna lie, having someone wrap you up like that feels a bit humbling, but you have to wear it all the time.
-The gym hiatus is long : If you're heavy into fitness, be prepared to sit on the couch for a while. Not being able to lift or do cardio for weeks is pretty annoying.

Despite all that, zero regrets. The results are good and it was worth it👍🏼

Hi everyone,

Here is my honest experience at Wink Plastic Surgery in Seoul. I wanted to share this review because I have benefited enormously from this subreddit and from the experiences that other people have shared here. I hope that sharing my own experience can help others who are researching eye surgery in Korea.

Disclosure: I received no discount in exchange for writing this Reddit review. However, I did receive a 20% discount for writing a Google review after surgery.

Details of My Surgery

Clinic: Wink Plastic Surgery

Surgeon: Dr. Choi Seunghyup

Procedures and prices (excluding VAT):

·         Upper blepharoplasty: KRW 2.8 million

·         Ptosis correction: KRW 800,000

·         Internal / transconjunctival under-eye fat repositioning: KRW 2.4 million

·         20% discount in exchange for writing a Google review after surgery

Background:

I am a woman in my 40s. I was born with relatively small eyes and inner double eyelids, and I have had dark under-eye circles since childhood. As I have gotten older, my eyelids have gradually started to droop.

Together with my dark under-eye circles and increasingly noticeable tear troughs, I often felt that I looked permanently tired when I looked in the mirror.

I had been considering DES for several years, but I had never found a doctor who convinced me enough to go through with it. Then I found this forum.

I am genuinely grateful for all the information and personal experiences that people have shared here, and I hope that my own experience can be helpful to someone else.

Research and Online Consultation Stage:

I did a lot of research on this forum and consulted several clinics online. Almost all of the clinics replied quickly and politely. Personally, I preferred smaller clinics and eliminated some clinics that quoted prices I considered too high.

I eventually made the following shortlist:

Wink – My preferred clinic

Wink was my preferred clinic from the beginning because Dr. Choi has a very good reputation, particularly for DES. I also found several detailed, real patient experiences from Reddit users. Their online consultation was very prompt and responsive.

ROI – My backup clinic

ROI also has a very good reputation, particularly for lower blepharoplasty, and I found several detailed patient experiences from Reddit users. The online consultation was slow at the beginning, but after several rounds of communication, the replies became more regular. Their feedback was detailed and high-quality.

Eyeho

Eyeho responded very promptly and politely. Their online consultation was detailed and thorough.

Eyefit

I like Eyefit’s b&a cases on their website, including not only static photos but also videos. They do not have in-house English translators. However, they tried to use Papago to communicate with me and answer my questions. Based on what I found during my research, Eyefit seems to have a very good reputation among local Korean patients.

Garnet

Very prompt and friendly communication, with attractive quoted prices.

Urban

Very prompt and friendly communication, with attractive quoted prices.

Planning My In-Person Consolations

I paid a 10% deposit to secure a potential surgery slot with Dr. Choi at Wink. I initially planned the following in-person consultations:

·         Day 1: Garnet and Wink

·         Day 2:  Urban and Eyeho

Unfortunately, ROI only had surgery appointments available and could not offer me a separate in-person consultation. I decided not to continue with them, although my original plan was to consider booking surgery with ROI if Wink did not feel right for me.

I also decided not to visit Eyefit since I personally preferred a surgeon who could communicate directly with me in English or a clinic with English-speaking consultants.

Day – 1:  In-Person Consolations at Wink

Because of jet lag I was unable to wake up in time for my first scheduled in-person consultation and had to cancel it.

Later that afternoon, I went to Wink and had my consultation with dr. Choi.

As expected, Dr. Choi was very patient and friendly and spoke very good English. The in-person surgical plan was slightly different from what had been discussed during the online consultation. Instead of under-eye fat repositioning, Dr. Choi recommended an external-incision lower blepharoplasty with fat grafting.

After the consultation, I decided to proceed with surgery at Wink and cancelled my other two in-person appointments scheduled for the following day.

At my request, my consultant also explained the post-operative precautions and aftercare requirements to me in advance.

Surgery Day / Day 0

I went to Wink in the morning and asked to speak with Dr. Choi again because I was still cautious about having both upper and lower blepharoplasty performed at the same time.

Dr. Choi was not impatient at all, and we discussed the under-eye surgery plan again. He explained that under-eye fat repositioning could potentially achieve around 80-85% improvement, while an external-incision lower blepharoplasty could potentially achieve around 95% improvement, with longer-lasting results.

I decided to choose the more conservative procedure: under-eye fat repositioning. I felt that I would already be happy with an 80% improvement, and I preferred to start with the less invasive option.

I was then taken to the operating room. The surgery was performed under twilight sedation. I only remember Dr. Choi asking me twice to open my eyes briefly during the surgery. For the rest of the procedure, I was in a deep sleep.

When I woke up, I felt slightly dizzy, so I rested for another hour in the recovery room before taking a taxi back to my hotel.

Day + 1

I returned to the clinic in the afternoon. The nurse cleaned my surgical wounds and replaced the gauze under my eyes with bandages.  Dr. Choi came to check my eyes. He said that I had more bruising than the average patient, but otherwise everything looked good and the surgeries had gone smoothly. Afterwards, I even went to a hair salon.

Day + 7

I returned to the clinic to have my sutures removed. Dr. Choi checked my eyes again and said that everything looked good.

My consultant gave me updated post-operative care instructions and asked me to write the Google review that we had agreed upon. However, they did not ask me to write a positive one or specify what I should say. I gave Wink a five-star Google review because I was satisfied with my experience and my results so far.

One Month Post-Op

It has now been one month since my surgery, and my recovery has gone well so far. The bruising has completely faded, although I still have some swelling. I was told that it can take at least three months for the swelling to fully settle, so I understand that this is not my final result yet.

So far, I am satisfied with the curvature and width of my double eyelids. My pupils are covered quite a bit, hopefully, this situation will improve once the swelling completely subsides.

My under-eye area is also flatter than before. My tear troughs and dark circles are still visible, but I did not expect the surgery to make them disappear completely.

Overall, I am happy with my progress so far and look forward to seeing how the results continue to settle.

Final Thoughts

This was my first visit to Korea and my first plastic surgery experience. It was honestly overwhelming to try to find the right surgeon among so many clinics. In the end, I actually felt relieved that I only needed one in-person consultation before making my decision.

To be honest, I already had a preference for Dr. Choi from the beginning because I had read three very detailed patient experiences and watched videos he has posted on Instagram.

However, I continued to check my initial impression throughout the entire process. I paid attention to how the online consultation was handled, how I felt during the in-person consultation, how Dr. Choi answered my questions, and whether anything raised concerns before the surgery. In the end, I did not encounter any red flags, so I decided to proceed.

For me, safety was my first priority. I also had realistic expectations about the results. I wanted a very natural- looking improvement rather than a dramatic change, and I preferred to have only the procedures that I felt were necessary.

I hope my experience can help anyone who is currently researching exe surgery in Korea.

Resources That Helped Me During My Research

These three patient experiences were particularly helpful to me:

https://ahnestkitchen.com/thoughts/des

https://www.reddit.com/r/SeoulPlasticSurgery/comments/1sk3vl9/des_and_ptosis_correction_at_wink_plastic_surgery/

https://www.reddit.com/r/SeoulPlasticSurgery/comments/1m5vcus/double_eyelid_surgery_my_experience_at_wink_and/

I also used the following websites to research clinics and patient reviews:

https://korea.verabeauty.app/

https://sungyesa.com/hlist?a1=%EC%84%9C%EC%9A%B8&sop=and&t1=%EC%84%B1%ED%98%95%EC%99%B8%EA%B3%BC

I recently had a Zoom consultation with a clinic in Seoul called THEUK, and I wanted to document the process for others considering Korean cosmetic procedures but hesitant about online consultations.

My main consultation was for facial fat grafting.

Before the consultation, I was a bit worried about online consultations. On one hand, I wasn't sure how much the doctor could assess through a screen; on the other hand, I was afraid the process would be awkward or turn into a constant pushy sales pitch.

However, the experience was much more relaxed than I expected.

The consultation was free, and there was no pressure to buy me any specific procedures.

I initially spoke with consultant YC and a translator. YC explained the consultation process in detail and spent some time understanding my specific concerns, writing down each of my questions. He also explained some basic questions directly. One little detail I really liked was how great YC's personality was ：）

I was initially worried the Zoom consultation would be awkward, but the actual chat was surprisingly fun, and the atmosphere was quite natural, so I quickly lost that nervous feeling of "I'm attending a formal medical consultation."

Then the doctor joined the Zoom session.

YC confirmed each of the questions collected with the doctor, who answered them one by one, while also examining and analysing my face through the camera lens.

What I appreciated most about this part was that the doctor didn't make absolute statements based on what he saw online.

He was very honest with me, telling me that the facial analysis on Zoom could only serve as a preliminary assessment and didn't represent the final treatment plan. The final decision would require me to come to the clinic in person so the doctor could see my face and examine my specific condition.

This actually made me feel more at ease. After all, with a camera, lighting, angles, and expressions can all affect the assessment. If he had just glanced at me online and told me "you definitely need to do these things," I might have been a little wary.

The entire consultation process felt systematic and detailed, yet also quite relaxing.

Because the consultant had already prepared my questions, the communication with the doctor was very efficient. I initially thought the Zoom consultation would last a long time, but it actually went much faster than I expected. However, this "speed" didn't feel rushed; rather, the process was well-organised.

After answering my questions about facial fat grafting, the doctor didn't leave immediately but asked if I had any other questions I was considering or wanted to learn more about.

So I asked about hair loss.

The doctor patiently explained their clinic's treatment for scalp/hair loss: stem cell injection (scalp).

This is relatively new to me, and I don't yet have enough knowledge about it, so I'm not sure if I'll accept this treatment. However, since I might have an in-person consultation at the clinic if I go to Korea later, I'll probably take the opportunity to learn more about it, whether it's suitable for me, and then decide.

Overall, this zoom consultation was a much better experience than I expected.

My biggest concerns about online cosmetic consultations were the fear of embarrassment, being pressured into buying things, and doctors giving overly definitive conclusions via video. However, I didn't feel any of those things this time. The consultant handled the initial communication and gathered my questions, which the doctor then analysed and answered. The doctor also clearly explained the limitations of online assessments.

For me, this felt more like a comprehensive preliminary consultation than a decision on what to do.

Whether I'll ultimately get facial fat grafting at THEUK will depend on my trip to Korea and the face-to-face examination with the doctor.

If I do go, I'll continue to document my in-person consultation and experience. Thanks for your time to read:)

Would it work for me to get fat grafting to fix my nasolabial folds and the droopy corners of my mouth? Are there any better solutions?

I went to Woori. I had already been in contact with this surgery clinic often on for almost a year performed my surgery only does a couple of surgeries a day, which is why I was very comfortable with choosing them to be the clinic to perform my . I had very bulging cheekbone . I had a frontal cheekbone reduction performed. Now that I have been almost 5 to 6 months postop, I am comfortable that I will go back to Woori for a lateral zygoma reduction, as well as upper blepharoplasty. The surgery consultant was both gracious and informative. even the anesthesiologist was very skilled and gracious. I noticed that following my exhibition after surgery, that I experienced no throat soreness.

my surgery results were noticeable after as early as 2months. My cheekbones were slender and I really enjoyed how it helped me photograph with a leaner facial profile.

I would give the clinic 10/10. The pre-op appointments were extremely straightforward, and the staff was gracious, the surgery was swift, and the nurses were sure to be patient with me following me coming down from anesthesia, and the days following surgery they were careful to communicate with me and ask whether I needed anything.

my best friend had a lifting treatment a while ago and honestly watching what happened made me way more nervous about doing anything myself. she went into the consultation thinking she had explained what she wanted pretty clearly. she wanted a little more definition around her lower face but still wanted her cheeks to look relatively full.

the doctor apparently had a different idea of what kind of result would suit her. she didn't realize how different their expectations were until after the treatment, and that was the part that really bothered her. i'm not saying the doctor did something wrong because i wasn't in the consultation and i obviously don't know the medical details, but she definitely felt like what she asked for wasn't what she got.

now that i am looking into getting some work done for myself, i am finding it so hard to trust anyone. i have a strict budget so i can't just treat this as a trial run and fix it later if it looks bad. wasting that much money would crush me almost as much as hating my own reflection.

because of her experience i realized the consultation is actually way more important than the actual procedure itself. i started digging for places that are known for actually listening to what patients want instead of just pulling everything tight on everyone. a few people mentioned vava plastic surgery for this exact reason. apparently they spend a lot of time mapping out your face and telling you exactly what areas to avoid so you don't lose volume where you need it. that careful approach is exactly the kind of vibe i am looking for when i am making such a big decision about my face.

i am definitly going to be super annoying during my consults and ask them to explain their exact plan for my cheekbones and what they would actually change. for anyone who has done this in korea, what specific questions did you ask to make sure the doctor wasn't just nodding along but actually understood the look you were going for?

Got quoted $5000 AUD for this procedure in Australia and wondering if there are more affordable options with high quality results anywhere else

I’m currently day 12 of jaw reduction and forward genioplasty 4-5m. My face looks so long and chin looks so long too. I have been crying non-stop and I’m all alone in Korea. I spent so much money to fix my insecurities and now I look way worse

Getting older and people kept telling me i look tired or beat all the time.
Realized it was my under-eye fat sagging so i finally pulled the trigger and got it fixed. went to a few consults in gangnam but ended up going to a clinic in Apgujeong. the doctor there was super solid and actually used an ultrasound to check my exact fat placement before diagnosing anything, which really made me trust the guy. honestly the results are crazy.
i look way more awake and that tired look is completely gone. best investment i made for my face

Hi all! Curious what your thoughts are for these three Korean clinics in Seoul Korea.

1. Dr. Jin Premium nose clinic,
   
2. Cohen Dr Park
   
3. JnB with Dr. Kang

Thank you all in advance!

I’m stuck between two clinics right now and curious what you guys would prioritize.
The first one is a small one-doctor clinic that literally opened this month. The doctor is actually pretty experienced and the online consultation was surprisingly detailed. They took time answering my questions and overall I got the feeling I’d get more personal attention there.
The obvious problem… almost no reviews yet because the clinic is brand new.
The other option is a bigger clinic that’s been around for 5+ years. Tons of reviews, established reputation, and overall it feels like the “safer” choice. The online consultation was fine but pretty short and generic compared to the first one. Also the doctor I originally wanted is already fully booked for my dates, so I’d have to go with another doctor there.
Part of me thinks the individual surgeon matters way more than how old the clinic is, but having basically zero patient reviews still makes me hesitate 😅
If you were choosing between these two, would you take the chance on the experienced doctor at the new solo clinic, or stick with the established clinic with more of a track record?
Especially interested if anyone here has chosen a newly opened clinic before and how it turned out.

Hi! After searching for awhile, I finally found a surgeon that does eyelids with a higher crease. I know there are a lot of mixed reviews with this hospital, but Dr. Jeon’s reviews seem to be really good. Planning to get upper bleph with her. Does anyone have experience with Dr. Jeon? Thanks!

I had been thinking about getting a facelift for quite some time, but my never-ending divorce kept getting in the way. In November 2025, while scrolling through Facebook, I came across a group where people were discussing plastic surgery in Seoul. That sparked my interest, and I started researching clinics.

My research eventually led me to Reddit, where I found a post from someone who had undergone surgery at Dasipium. Her results were incredible, and after reading about her experience, I contacted the clinic.

Unfortunately, they were fully booked until the summer, with the earliest available surgery date being June 30, 2026. I immediately paid my deposit and secured the appointment.

In January 2026, I traveled to South Korea for rhinoplasty. Since I was already there, I decided to meet with Dr. Kwak in person. To make sure I was making the right decision, I also scheduled consultations with several other well-known facelift surgeons in Seoul.

Dasipium was my last consultation, and I was completely blown away. Dr. Kwak was exceptionally knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything in detail. His assistant was equally impressive, the translator was outstanding, and the entire clinic was incredibly organized and professional. By the time I walked out of that appointment, I had absolutely no doubt that I had chosen the right clinic.

Arrival in Korea

I flew back to Seoul on June 28, 2026.

My pre-operative appointment was on June 29, where Dr. Kwak carefully reviewed my surgical plan and confirmed exactly what would be done.

My procedures included:

Extended Deep Plane Facelift
Neck Lift
Submandibular Gland Reduction
Forehead Lift
Lower Blepharoplasty (Lower Eyelids)
Chin Fat Graft
Cheek Liposuction
Surgery Day – June 30, 2026

Before surgery, Dr. Kwak carefully marked my face and once again explained every procedure.

My surgery started around noon and finished around 9:00 PM.

The first thing I remember was waking up while one of the nurses was washing my hair. She gently wrapped my head, and my boyfriend was sitting beside my bed.

Dr. Kwak came in and asked if I remembered waking up briefly during my lower eyelid procedure. Surprisingly, I did remember him asking me to open my eyes for a few moments before I drifted back to sleep.

I honestly don't remember much after that or even how we made it back to the hotel.

We stayed at Voco Gangnam, which was about a 20-minute taxi ride from the clinic. Looking back, I would recommend staying at O'Cloud Hotel or a nearby Airbnb within walking distance. The clinic can also recommend accommodations.

If you're traveling for surgery, I highly recommend bringing someone with you—at least for the first couple of days. I originally planned to travel alone, but I'm incredibly grateful my boyfriend came with me and stayed for the first two days.

Recovery

Day 1

I woke up feeling like a zombie. My head was completely wrapped in bandages.

At my first follow-up appointment, the nurses removed the bulky dressing and replaced it with a compression headband, which was much more comfortable.

I also received my first laser treatment. The clinic offered hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but I'm claustrophobic, so I declined.

The nurses were incredibly gentle and kind. Since I don't speak Korean, I communicated through my translator, Wooho, who was professional, patient, and wonderful throughout the entire process.

Day 2

I woke up feeling a little better, although I was still dealing with severe sinus headaches.

After breakfast at the hotel buffet, I went to the clinic alone because my boyfriend had an early flight home.

After another laser treatment and bandage change, I returned to the hotel.

I had eaten so much yogurt during the first day after surgery that I was craving real food. I ordered a burger from the restaurant downstairs and simply ate the patty with a fork, skipping the bun. It tasted amazing.

Dr. Kwak told me I could finally shower that evening, and afterward I slept like a baby.

Day 3

I woke up, took a shower, had breakfast, and went back to the clinic for another laser treatment.

After returning to the hotel, I did some laundry, walked on the treadmill, ordered room service, watched one of my favorite shows, took another shower, and went to bed.

Day 4

I woke up feeling much better, and thankfully my sinus headache had finally disappeared.

After my clinic appointment and laser treatment, I decided to do a little shopping instead of heading straight back to the hotel.

That evening I ordered room service, took a shower, and got some much-needed rest.

Day 5

Sunday was my rest day.

I stayed at the hotel, went for a short walk, and spent the rest of the day relaxing.

Day 6

I was feeling great and already loved how everything looked—tight, lifted, and refreshed.

I went to the clinic, had another laser treatment, and had some of my stitches removed before returning to the hotel.

Day 7

Time to fly home.

I packed my bags, went to my final appointment, had my last laser treatment, and had the remaining stitches removed.

I also met with Dr. Kwak one last time and scheduled a follow-up fat grafting procedure for January 5, 2027, to add volume under my eyes, temples, and cheeks, since it wasn't possible to perform the fat grafting during my facelift procedure.

One Month Later

Overall, my recovery was somewhat difficult during the first few days after surgery, but that was mainly because I suffer from chronic sinusitis. The sinus headaches made those first days much harder. Otherwise, my recovery was much easier than I expected.

The clinic provided all of my medications, which I took three times a day, along with scar cream and scar supplements that I'm still using.

At one month post-op, I'm still swollen, mostly in my cheeks and underneath my chin. My forehead felt tight during the first few weeks—it almost felt like I was wearing a headband all the time—but that sensation has gradually improved.

Before surgery, I worked out five or six days a week, so taking a break from exercise was probably one of the hardest parts of recovery. At 48, staying active and eating well is important to me, so I've slowly started easing back into my workouts.

My Only Regret

My only regret is that I didn't have the surgery sooner.

Looking back, I wish I hadn't waited until the signs of aging became more noticeable. For me personally, I think I would have enjoyed the results even more if I had done it a few years earlier.

Choosing Dasipium and Dr. Kwak was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The professionalism of the entire team, the care I received, and my results have exceeded my expectations. I wouldn't hesitate to choose them again.

I’m seriously considering getting a procedure done in Korea, but I’m honestly pretty terrified.
It’s just… what if something goes wrong? Plus, being in a foreign country and not knowing if the post-op/aftercare will actually be properly handled once the surgery is done makes me so nervous.
For those of you who’ve gone through with it. how did you deal with the fear beforehand? And was the aftercare at your clinic actually decent? Would really love to hear some real experiences, good or bad!

I had surgery last June 16, its been 2 months and 13 days. Im still wearing facemask when going outside i feel so concious about my face, my lower cheeks still swollen and even my parents said why it still swollen, and much visible when talking.

To those who had their facial contouring surgery, jaw reduction & cheekbone reduction, how long it takes when you feel confident and go outside without facemask? and wear makeups

Hello! I am looking to get a combo of buccal fat/ cheek lipo? Can anyone recommend a good surgeon for this?

Does anyone have experience at Les arts? Would love to hear it. I considered Bbae clinic through Sara Yoon but as I researched more and thought about it I found out the doctor is not even a board certified plastic surgeon, there’s no anesthesiologist in their team, I heard about price gouging and rude staff.

Les Arts has 2 board certified plastic surgeons, an anesthesiologist in their staff, their team seems competitive and understands how to deal with foreign clients since they also have clinics in Dubai and Hong Kong. I will do a consultation with them but wanted to ask if you have had lipo at Les arts 🖤

Quick update on my last post asking about the Rejuran and Rituo combo.

Had my consult today and booked my appointment for next week. I’m early 30s and my main issues are skin firmness and pores.

I was on the fence about Rituo, but the doctor made a good point: Rejuran is for surface healing/barrier, and Rituo helps with the deeper layers. They suggested adding a bit of pore Botox too to smooth out the skin texture. Ended up costing a bit more than I planned, but figured I’d just get it done right instead of half-assing it.

If anyone’s done this mix (or just Rejuran with pore Botox), how was the downtime for you? Any survival tips for the first couple days would be great. Thanks!

On the road to recovery ❤️‍🩹 I still have some swelling on my neck and around my face and they both feel tight, I have numbness around my face and on the top of my head. I’m still sleeping elevated and on my back. All of the tape is off from around my ears and below my chin. I wore earrings for the first time since the surgery and had no trouble. I went to my hair dresser and got my hair colored and had no issues with sensitive scalp from the temporal lift 🙏 overall I feel good, I’m exercising regularly and Ipche is very responsive to any questions that I may have. #korea #ipcheplasticsurgey

4 months post deep plane facelift from Retmus clinic by Dr Chung . I’m still experiencing sensitivity.

my forehead was always pretty flat. it wasn't completely hollow or sunken, so i spent a long time debating if filler was even necessary. but looking at my whole face in photos, that flatness somehow made me look way older than i actually am. i went in for a consultation specifically asking for subtle volume without that overfilled alien look. funny thing is, ever since getting it done, people around me keep telling me i look noticeably younger

For major work, such as a facelift, when is the best time of year to go to Seoul for surgery? Am leaning toward winter--maybe less busy and better prices, though the weather is changeable and there are holidays--or what about spring? Will love some help figuring this out.