For plastic surgery in Korea, price is set per operation, with listed surgical packages starting from ₩1,200,000 before VAT. A typical package covers the surgeon's fee, the anesthesia, the operating room, routine medicines, early review visits and stitch removal, though some clinics bill anesthesia or pre-operative tests on a separate line. The operation itself drives most of the difference: a short procedure under local anesthesia sits far below facial bone or body work under general anesthesia. The table below shows current listed fees from 10 clinics, all before VAT, and 10% VAT is added at payment.
Prices
Plastic surgery cost in Gangnam
Prices below come from the listed clinics' own price lists, before VAT. 10% VAT is added at payment.
Non-incisional (buried) double eyelid
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $873₩1,200,000 + VATCompare clinicsMedial epicanthoplasty
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $873₩1,200,000 + VATCompare clinicsLateral/lower/upper canthoplasty
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $873₩1,200,000 + VATCompare clinicsEpicanthoplasty — medial or upper (each)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $945₩1,300,000 + VATCompare clinicsNon-incisional (buried suture) double eyelid
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $1,164₩1,600,000 + VATCompare clinicsPartial-incision double eyelid
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $1,309₩1,800,000 + VATCompare clinicsDouble eyelid — buried (non-incisional)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $1,455From ₩2,000,000 + VATCompare clinicsIncisional double eyelid surgery
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $1,455₩2,000,000 + VATCompare clinicsPrice factors
What changes the price
- Type of operation: the plastic surgery cost in Korea follows the length and complexity of the procedure, so a short lid or minor nose operation and a jaw reduction sit on very different lines of the same menu.
- Anesthesia: local anesthesia, sedation and general anesthesia are priced differently, and a separate anesthesiologist for longer cases is part of what the fee pays for.
- Technique and materials: implants, cartilage grafts, fixation plates or fat transfer change the quote, so ask which material is used and what it adds.
- Combined procedures: pairing related areas in one session is often quoted below booking each one alone, but it lengthens time under anesthesia and recovery.
- Who operates: some clinics list a different fee when a particular surgeon performs the operation, which is worth confirming in writing.
- What the package includes: review visits, medicines, compression garments, scar care and the revision policy vary between clinics and between quotes.
- Evidence behind the method: for upper lid surgery, a 2023 systematic review by Rodrigues and colleagues in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery compared six techniques and found no significant differences in pooled eye-surface outcomes, with few complications reported, so a pricier technique is not automatically a safer one.
- VAT: cosmetic surgery fees are listed before VAT, and 10% VAT is added at payment, so the quote and the final bill differ by that share.
Compare
How the options compare
| Option | What it covers | Who it suits | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single short operation, local anesthesia | One area, same-day discharge | First-timers on a short trip | Is stitch removal included in the fee? |
| Single operation, general anesthesia | One larger area with recovery monitoring | People planning one bigger change | Who gives the anesthesia and is it billed apart? |
| Combined session | Two related areas in one sitting | Visitors with a longer stay | Total time under anesthesia and the expected flight date |
| Staged plan over two visits | Main operation first, refinement later | People spreading recovery and budget | Is the second stage priced in advance? |
| Revision operation | Correction of an earlier result | Patients unhappy with previous surgery | Are earlier records needed and what changes the fee? |
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty: Surgical Techniques and Results—Systematic Review and Meta-analysisAesthetic Plastic Surgery · 2023 · doi:10.1007/s00266-023-03436-6
Reviewed twenty studies on six upper blepharoplasty techniques and found no significant differences in pooled eye-surface outcomes, with few complications and satisfied patients.
FAQ
Questions about Plastic surgery in Gangnam
Are surgery fees on clinic menus shown with or without VAT?
Cosmetic surgery fees in Seoul are usually listed before VAT, and 10% VAT is added when you pay. That means a quote of a given amount becomes a bill one tenth higher at the front desk. Ask each clinic to show the VAT line separately on the written quote so you can compare like with like. Medically necessary treatment is handled differently, but elective cosmetic operations carry the tax.
What does a surgical package normally include?
Most packages cover the surgeon's fee, the operating room, anesthesia and early follow-up, but the details differ from clinic to clinic. Some include blood tests, medicines, stitch removal and a compression garment; others list them as extras. Ask for an itemized quote that also states how many review visits are included and what happens if a revision is needed. The fuller the list, the easier it is to compare offers honestly.
How do I compare quotes from two clinics fairly?
Compare complete written quotes for the same operation, not the headline figure on a menu. Line up the technique, the anesthesia type, the materials, the number of reviews and the revision policy, then check that both are shown before VAT. If one clinic plans a combined session and the other a single operation, the totals are not comparable. Ask each clinic to explain any line you do not understand before paying a deposit.
Why can the same operation cost different amounts at different clinics?
Plastic surgery costs in Korea differ because clinics use different techniques, materials, anesthesia set-ups and aftercare. One may include a separate anesthesiologist, an overnight stay or several reviews, while another bills them apart. The experience of the operating surgeon and the clinic's location can also shape the fee. A lower quote is not a problem in itself, but it should be checked line by line so nothing essential has been left out.
Is a deposit required before the surgery date?
Many clinics ask for a deposit to hold an operation slot, especially in busy months. Before paying, get the cancellation and refund terms in writing, including what happens if the surgeon advises against the operation at the in-person consultation. Avoid paying the full fee before you have met the operating surgeon. Keep receipts for every payment so the final bill can be matched against the quote.
How do clinics usually take payment from international patients?
Most clinics accept international credit cards, and many also take bank transfers or cash in Korean won. Card payments may carry a foreign transaction fee from your own bank, and some cards have daily limits that a surgical fee can exceed, so tell your bank before traveling. Ask the clinic which methods it accepts for the deposit and the balance, and whether it issues an itemized receipt in English.
Are revision operations charged again?
It depends on the clinic's revision policy, which should be written down before surgery. Some clinics cover a minor correction within a set period, others charge part of the fee, and many treat a major change of plan as a new operation. Ask what counts as a revision, who decides whether one is needed, and whether anesthesia and VAT are charged again. Keep the policy with your quote and consent form.
Does travel insurance cover elective cosmetic operations?
Standard travel insurance usually excludes elective cosmetic surgery and its complications, so do not assume you are covered. Some insurers sell specific medical travel policies that cover complications after a planned operation. Read the policy wording, check whether it applies to treatment received abroad, and ask what documents a claim would need. Keeping the operation note and receipts in English makes any later claim or local follow-up simpler.