Plastic Surgery Centers in Republic of Korea

Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty that allows reconstructing, restores, or changes the human body. Plastic surgery unites two subspecialties:

• Reconstructive plastic surgery. It is done when a patient needs to reconstruct some body parts caused by trauma, diseases, tumors, congenital deformities. Reconstructive surgery allows to restore/improve the functioning of some parts of the body and appearance.
• Cosmetic plastic surgery. It is carried out when a patient needs only to improve the appearance not body parts structure or their functioning.

Indications for plastic surgery depends on the case. However, there are general signs when a procedure is indicated:

• correct cosmetic defects caused by age changes
• improve body contour
• get rid of excess fat
• enlarge or reduce some parts of the body
• improve the functioning or esthetic look of some parts of the body caused by diseases or trauma.

If you have any medical issues, get a consultation with a doctor to decide whether plastic surgery is a proper option for you. 

Performing of plastic surgery can be limited or canceled if a patient has some contraindications. The most common are:

• Oncological diseases. When plastic surgery is processed, malignant cells can be replaced by accident and cause cancer spread. Also, the risk of clotting is increased.
• Diabetes. In the case of diabetes, the blood supply is reduced, which can lead to necrosis in the operated area.
• Smoking. A patient needs to give up smoking at least for several weeks before and after surgery. Nicotine narrows down the vessels and capillaries reducing the blood supply of tissues. As a result, the healing process goes slow and with complications.
• Infections. If you have any infection, you need to warn your doctor and decide whether it can be a contraindication for surgery.
• Pregnancy. Anesthesia or some medications applied during or after surgery can negatively affect the fetus.

A patient has to discuss with a plastic surgeon all existing health problems and, if necessary, undergo the medical tests. It will help to avoid possible side effects of plastic surgery and worsening health conditions.

The preoperative preparation for plastic surgery includes the following steps:

1. Arrival at a chosen plastic surgery clinic.
2. Seeing a doctor who will perform a procedure.
3. Medical testing (blood and urine analysis + some specific tests depending on the plastic surgery type)

If you have no contraindications for plastic surgery, a doctor appoints an operation the next day after a visit. 

The length of the recovery period depends on the plastic surgery type that has been performed. On average, it takes about 2-3 weeks before a patient returns to work and daily routine life. For some surgeries, it can take a year to see a final result, get rid of swelling and scars.

Plastic surgery is considered a safe procedure only in case you choose a qualified doctor to manage an operation. Also, you need to be realistic about the changes of your appearance and not to demand some extreme corrections of the body. To minimize complications, warn a plastic surgeon about your health conditions, some chronic diseases, infections, and bad habits.

Plastic surgery does not bring many side effects in case an experienced doctor carries out a procedure. However, you have to be aware of the following side effects and risks:

• Hematomas. This is a frequent complication that occurs after all types of surgeries, not only plastic ones. Hematomas take place in about 1% of patients after breast augmentation or facelift. 
• Swelling. After almost all intervention a patient can observe swelling. Usually, it disappears in several weeks after surgery. In some cases, it may take place for a couple of months.
• Blood loss. Blood loss is a rare complication that can happen on the operating table or after surgery. If you feel weakness after an operation, inform your doctor.
• Infection. This side effect takes place in about 1-2.5% of cases. To manage this condition, antibiotics can be prescribed.
• Nerve damage. Patients often feel the numbness of the area where the operation has been performed. In most of the cases, it is temporary, and sensitivity recovers after a while.
• Scarring. Scarring remains visible rare. In most of the cases, it disappears over time or becomes almost invisible.
• Thrombosis. It can happen in 0.09% of all plastic surgeries. However, this is a severe complication and some cases can be even fatal. 

Cosmetic surgery is rarely covered by health insurance. Things are different with reconstructive surgery: if a patient needs to correct defects of appearance caused by disease or trauma, recover the functioning of some parts of the body, the insurance will cover the cost of the procedure. 

Our doctors practice a lot. Maybe even much more than our colleagues in other countries. I think this is the reason.

My name is Dr. Selçuk Aytaç. I am a plastic surgeon from Turkey with more than 20 years of experience in plastic surgery. I specialize in body reshaping, breast augmentation, breast lift, butt lift, post-bariatric surgeries. Also, I perform some facial operations. Our clinic (Estetik International - Ed.) works with Bookimed, so some of my patients come from the Bookimed platform. They are happy with the results. Our clinic invites everyone who wants to do plastic surgery.