Know exactly what you're getting

A plain-English guide to the most popular Korean medical-beauty procedures — what each one is, how it's done, recovery, a realistic price range, and the honest things to know before you decide.

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Plastic Surgery

Surgical procedures

Rhinoplasty (Nose)

$2,500–8,000

Reshapes the bridge, tip or nostrils for better facial balance. Korea is known for tip-refinement and augmentation using implants or your own cartilage.

How Closed/open technique under sedation or general anesthesia, ~1–3 hrs.
Recovery Splint ~1 week; swelling settles 2–3 weeks; final shape over 6–12 months.
  • Revision rhinoplasty is harder & pricier ($3,000–8,500).
  • Implants carry small long-term risks; own cartilage avoids this.

Double Eyelid Surgery

$1,000–4,500

Creates or defines an upper-eyelid crease for larger, more open eyes — the most common cosmetic procedure in Korea.

How Non-incisional (sutures) or incisional (full cut), local anesthesia, 30–60 min.
Recovery Sutures out day 5–7; swelling 2–4 weeks; natural look by 2–3 months.
  • Non-incisional heals faster but can loosen over years; incisional is permanent.
  • Asymmetry is the most common reason for revision.

Ptosis Correction

$1,100–5,800

Tightens the muscle that lifts a droopy upper eyelid making eyes look sleepy or uneven. Often combined with double-eyelid surgery.

How Levator muscle shortened/refixed via the crease, local + sedation, 30–90 min.
Recovery Swelling 2–3 weeks; height settles over 1–3 months.
  • Under/over-correction is the main risk; symmetry is demanding.
  • Combined with double-eyelid often $3,700–6,600 in one sitting.

V-Line / Facial Contouring

$5,500–14,000

Bone surgery that narrows a wide or square lower face into a slimmer "V" by reducing the jaw angle and chin; can add cheekbone reduction.

How General anesthesia, incisions inside the mouth (no external scars), 1.5–3 hrs.
Recovery Swelling peaks week 1, eases by 2–3 weeks; final contour 6–12 months.
  • True bone surgery — the most serious risk profile here (nerve, bleeding, infection).
  • Transient lip/chin numbness is the norm; permanent damage uncommon with experts.

Deep Plane Facelift

$8,000–18,000

Advanced facelift that repositions the deep muscle-fascia (SMAS) layer — not just skin — for longer-lasting, natural results on jowls and neck.

How General anesthesia/deep sedation, incisions hidden around ears & hairline, 3–5 hrs.
Recovery Presentable ~2 weeks; refined results over 2–3 months.
  • Most invasive anti-aging option; surgeon experience matters greatly.
  • Lasts ~10–15 years but doesn't stop natural aging.

Facial Fat Grafting

$2,000–6,000

Uses your own fat (harvested by liposuction) to restore volume to cheeks, temples and under-eyes for a softer, younger look.

How Fat suctioned, purified, re-injected via tiny punctures, local + sedation, 1–2 hrs.
Recovery Swelling/bruising 1–2 weeks; ~40–60% of fat survives over 3–6 months.
  • Very natural (your own tissue) but retention is less predictable than fillers.
  • Surgeons often over-fill; a second session is sometimes needed.
Dermatology & Skin

Non-surgical skin & lifting

Ulthera (HIFU) Lifting

$760–3,150

Non-surgical ultrasound that lifts and firms sagging skin by stimulating collagen — no incisions, essentially no downtime.

How Ultrasound handpiece delivers heat in "lines/shots", 30–60 min.
Recovery No downtime; mild redness for a few hours.
  • Priced by shot/line count — always confirm the number, not a flat "full face".
  • Builds over 2–3 months, lasts ~1–1.5 years; tightens but isn't a facelift.

Thermage FLX

$600–2,300

Radiofrequency treatment that heats deeper skin to tighten and smooth — great for overall firmness and the jawline. Complements HIFU.

How RF tip with cooling, sold by shot count (e.g. 600/900), 45–90 min.
Recovery No downtime; brief redness.
  • Compare on shot count & whether neck is included, not headline price.
  • Results over 2–4 months, last ~1–2 years.

Laser Toning

$100–370 /session

Gentle laser that breaks up excess pigment to fade melasma, freckles and dullness and brighten overall tone.

How Low-fluence laser in quick passes, often with LED, 15–30 min.
Recovery Virtually none; mild redness for an hour or two.
  • Melasma usually needs a course of 5–10 sessions — budget for the full plan.
  • Wrong settings can worsen pigment; an experienced clinic matters.

Skin Boosters / Rejuran

$110–460 /session

Injectable "skin-quality" treatments that improve hydration, elasticity and texture from within (Rejuran uses salmon-DNA polynucleotides).

How Micro-injected across the face with fine needle/gun, 20–40 min.
Recovery Tiny bumps & small bruises 1–3 days.
  • A course of 3–4 sessions is standard for lasting results.
  • Specialized formulas (under-eye, scars) cost more than standard.
Dental & Hair

Smile & hair restoration

Dental Implants

$1,000–2,800 /tooth

A titanium screw placed in the jawbone acts as an artificial root, topped with a custom crown — a permanent replacement for a missing tooth.

How Implant placed under local anesthesia; crown fitted after healing.
Recovery Soreness a few days; full process spans 2–6 months.
  • Price depends on brand — Korean Osstem (budget) vs Swiss Straumann (~50% more).
  • Bone grafts/sinus lifts add cost; confirm what's included.

Dental Veneers

$400–1,200 /tooth

Thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of teeth to fix color, chips, gaps and shape for a uniformly bright smile.

How Light enamel prep, scan, custom veneers bonded — usually 2 visits.
Recovery No real downtime; brief sensitivity.
  • A full smile of 8–16 veneers commonly totals $8,000–12,000.
  • Irreversible (enamel removed); typically replaced after 10–15 years.

FUE Hair Transplant

$3,000–13,000

Moves healthy follicles from the back of the scalp to thinning areas. FUE harvests follicles individually, leaving no linear scar.

How Local anesthesia; follicles extracted & implanted one by one, 4–8 hrs.
Recovery Scabs heal 7–10 days; results from 6 months, full at ~12 months.
  • Cost scales with graft count (~$1.20–4.50/graft); a 4,000-graft case ~$6,000–6,800.
  • Results depend on donor density and realistic coverage expectations.

Prices you can actually plan around

Every range here is indicative for planning. Your exact, itemized quote — with our No Hidden Fees guarantee — is confirmed after a free consultation.

All figures are indicative USD ranges and vary by clinic, doctor, technique and your individual case. This guide is general information, not medical advice.

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