Introduction
Breast augmentation is a popular cosmetic procedure that has been gaining traction worldwide. South Korea, in particular, has emerged as a leading destination for this kind of treatment. With its advanced medical technology, experienced surgeons, and high - success rates, Korean breast augmentation hospitals and clinics attract patients from all over the globe. In this article, we will dive deep into the ranking of Korean breast augmentation hospitals, exploring various factors that contribute to their standing, and also shed light on other important aspects related to breast augmentation in Korea.
Top Breast Augmentation Hospitals in South Korea
South Korea is home to numerous high - quality hospitals and clinics offering breast augmentation services. Here are some of the top institutions based on different evaluation criteria:
Hospital Name | Location | Establishment Year | Number of Beds | Specialty | Awards | Cost Range (Approximate) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soonchunhyang University Hospital – Cheonan | Cheonan, South Korea | 1982 | 736 | Super specialty | It became the first among Korea's university hospitals to start free onsite cancer education in 2001, opened the first day - clinic of the region in 2011, and launched 8 - channel multi - detect spiral CT in 2003 | Not specified in all sources |
Keimyung University – Dongsan Medical Center | Daegu, South Korea | 1982 | 965 | Multi - specialty | Recognized as a medical center for excellence in foreign patient attraction in 2011 | Not specified in all sources |
Kyung Hee University – Hospital at Gangdong | Seoul, South Korea | 1970 | 800 | Multi - specialty | Equipped with advanced medical equipment like 3.0T MRI, EMR system, and 64MD CT | Not specified in all sources |
Asan Medical Center, Seoul | Seoul, South Korea | 1989 | 2705 | Multi - specialty | Honored as the most respected hospital in Korea for 14 consecutive years by Korean Management Association Consulting (KMAC) (2007 - 2019), many other awards including JCI accreditation, HIMSS Stage 6 certification | $15,000 - $17,000 |
Samsung Medical Center | Seoul, South Korea | 1994 | 1979 | Multi - specialty | Won first place 14 times for the national customer satisfaction index - NCSI, 16 times the leader in the value of the Korean customer satisfaction index – KCSI | Price from 13233.74 (for breast augmentation with breast implants) |
Kyung Hee University Medical Center | Seoul, South Korea | 1971 | 1047 | Multi - specialty | Ranked no. 1 in 2005 for customer satisfaction by the medicine industry, highest rating of “quality of medicine and patient safety" by the Ministry of Health and Welfare | Not specified in all sources |
Chonbuk National University Hospital | Jeonju, South Korea | 1909 | 1150 | Multi - specialty | Ranked first in the proper use of antibiotics post - surgery, managing brain - dead patients and in hemodialysis evaluation | Not specified in all sources |
Gachon University – Gil Medical Center | Incheon, South Korea | 1958 | 1600 | Multi - specialty | Recognized as the first hospital to focus on scientific research and to have the first air ambulance, introduced 'Navio', Korea's first artificial joint robotic surgery system | Price on request |
Kang Buk Samsung Hospital, Seoul | Seoul, South Korea | 1968 | Not specified | Multi - specialty | Awarded the patient satisfaction no. 1 hospital in 1994 in a hospital survey by the press, selected by HIRAS as the best operational hospital for three kinds of cancer in 2012 | Not specified in all sources |
Kosin University – Gospel Hospital | Busan, South Korea | 1951 | 1000 | Super specialty | Has 40 departments and 15 special centers and clinics offering treatments for multiple advanced medical conditions | Not specified in all sources |
Popular Clinics for Breast Augmentation
In addition to hospitals, many specialized clinics in South Korea are well - known for breast augmentation:
- Saero Plastic Surgery: Located in Seoul, with a surgeon Park Young Kyu having 24 years of experience. It ensures experienced care, prioritizes honesty and warmth, and offers personalized medical plans. The cost for basic breast augmentation with GC Aesthetics® Impleo™ breast implants is around $4,000 - $3,630.
- JK Plastic Surgery Center: Also in Seoul, it has a 100% success rate of all procedures performed with over 6,000 medical tourists visiting annually. Dr. Kwon Soon - Hong and Dr. Kwon Hyeok - Moon lead the clinic. The price for breast augmentation is $15,000 per package.
- VG Plastic Surgery: Based in Seoul, it is recognized for high safety and trust, attracting 1,000 patients annually for various procedures including breast augmentation. Dr. Park Sang Wook is a skilled surgeon here. The price is on request.
- Banobagi Clinic: An official medical center for a renowned Asian show. It conducts thorough pre - surgery examinations, has partnerships with leading implant manufacturers, and annually serves 2,000 individuals for plastic surgery. The price is on request.
Factors Affecting the Ranking of Breast Augmentation Facilities
When ranking breast augmentation hospitals and clinics in South Korea, several important factors are considered:
- Surgeon Experience: Surgeons with a long - standing career, extensive training, and a high number of successful breast augmentation procedures are a significant factor. For example, surgeons at clinics like JK Plastic Surgery Center, who have decades of experience, contribute to the high - ranking of the clinic.
- Success Rate: Facilities with high success rates, such as those performing breast augmentation with up to 100% success, are more likely to be highly ranked. For instance, Asan Medical Center's high success rates in multiple surgical areas give it an edge in the overall ranking.
- Technology and Equipment: The use of advanced medical technology like 3.0T MRI, EMR systems, and robotic navigation in hospitals like Kyung Hee University – Hospital at Gangdong is crucial. State - of - the - art equipment ensures better surgical precision and patient outcomes.
- Patient Reviews and Satisfaction: Positive patient reviews regarding the procedure results, after - care, and overall experience play a vital role. Samsung Medical Center's numerous awards related to customer satisfaction reflect its good standing among patients.
- Accreditation and Awards: International accreditations like JCI and awards from various healthcare organizations indicate high - quality standards. Asan Medical Center's JCI accreditation and multiple national and international awards are a testament to its excellence.
- Cost - effectiveness: South Korea is known for offering relatively affordable breast augmentation options compared to Western countries. However, within Korea, cost - effectiveness also matters in the ranking, especially for patients on a budget.
Types of Breast Augmentation Techniques in South Korea
South Korean medical facilities offer different breast augmentation techniques to suit patients' needs:
Breast Augmentation with Fat Transfer
This technique involves transferring fat from other body areas to the breasts. Some of its features are:
- Advantages: It uses the patient's own fat, reducing the risk of rejection. It provides more natural - looking results compared to pectoral implants and avoids the use of foreign materials like silicone or saline implants.
- Disadvantages: It typically achieves a smaller increase in size compared to tear - drop implants and requires enough donor fat from other body areas.
- Effectiveness: It has a success rate of 60 - 80% for fat survival in the transferred area.
- Duration: The procedure usually takes 3 - 5 hours.
- Recovery: The recovery period is around 2 - 4 weeks.
- Cost: In South Korea, the cost for breast augmentation with fat transfer starts from $4,000.
Breast Augmentation with Implants
Implants used in South Korea are usually hypoallergenic and come in different shapes:
- Anatomic - like Implants: These are mainly for slim women with little breast (size 0 - 1).
- Round Implants: Used for women with bigger breasts (size 2 - 3) or sagging breasts.
- Placement: The implants can be placed under the breast muscle if a woman is planning to have children and breastfeed, or under the mamma gland if she is not planning to have children in the future. This procedure has a 99% success rate in Korea.
Cost of Breast Augmentation in South Korea
The cost of breast augmentation in South Korea can vary based on multiple factors:
- Clinic or Hospital Choice: Well - known clinics and hospitals with international certifications and high - end facilities may charge more. For example, JK Plastic Surgery Center, being a premium center with a long history and many awards, has a relatively high cost for breast augmentation.
- Surgeon's Experience: More experienced surgeons who have participated in international conferences and have positive patient feedback often charge higher fees.
- Type of Implants: Silicone implants generally cost a little more than saline implants.
On average, the cost of breast augmentation in South Korea ranges from $2,800 to $4,000 for basic procedures. However, breast augmentation with specific features like fat transfer or tear - drop implants may cost more. For instance, breast augmentation with fat transfer starts from $4,000, and breast augmentation with tear - drop implants can cost from $5,046.
Pre - surgery and Post - surgery Care
Pre - surgery
Before the breast augmentation procedure, patients need to undergo several steps:
- Medical tests to exclude contraindications such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, diabetes, and syphilis.
- Consultation with a plastic surgeon and an anesthesiologist to discuss the procedure, expectations, and potential risks.
- Complete blood count with cancer markers and a proteinogram, as well as breast ultrasound or mammogram if necessary.
Post - surgery
After the surgery, the following care is usually provided:
- Initial recovery in the hospital or a hotel for 1 day, during which patients are closely monitored.
- Removal of stitches in about a week, followed by an assessment of the result by the doctor.
- Patients are advised to wear a surgical bra 24/7 for a certain period and restrict physical activities, gradually resuming normal activities over weeks to months. The swelling usually disappears in 2 weeks in 80% of cases, and scars may take several months to 1 year to fade.
Why South Korea is a Preferred Destination for Breast Augmentation
South Korea has become a top choice for breast augmentation due to the following reasons:
- Advanced Medical Technology: The country is equipped with state - of - the - art medical equipment and facilities, ensuring high - precision and safe procedures.
- Experienced Surgeons: Korean surgeons have extensive training and experience, often honing their skills both in Korea and abroad.
- High Success Rates: South Korean clinics and hospitals perform breast augmentation and other procedures with high success rates, up to 100% in some cases.
- Cost - effectiveness: Compared to Western countries, the cost of breast augmentation in South Korea is relatively low, making it accessible to a wider range of patients.
- International Recognition: Many Korean clinics and hospitals have international accreditations, which assures patients of the quality of treatment.
- Good Service Level: Patients appreciate the attentive, friendly, and professional staff in Korean clinics, as well as the seamless logistics provided, such as airport transfers and hotel bookings.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite the many advantages, there are also some challenges and considerations for patients seeking breast augmentation in South Korea:
- Language Barrier: Not all staff members in Korean clinics and hospitals speak fluent English, which may cause communication difficulties for non - Korean speaking patients.
- Post - operative Care: While the immediate post - operative care is generally good, some patients feel that long - term follow - up care could be improved.
- Travel Distance: For patients coming from far - off countries, the long travel distance can be inconvenient and may pose additional stress on the recovery process.
Conclusion
South Korea has a rich selection of world - class hospitals and clinics for breast augmentation. Factors such as experienced surgeons, advanced technology, high success rates, and cost - effectiveness make it a highly sought - after destination. However, patients should also be aware of the potential challenges like language barriers and post - operative care issues. By carefully considering all these aspects and doing thorough research, patients can make an informed decision about their breast augmentation journey in South Korea.
If you're considering breast augmentation in South Korea, take the time to explore different hospitals and clinics, review patient testimonials, and consult with medical professionals. You can also reach out to medical tourism agencies that can provide further guidance and assistance in your medical journey. Don't miss the opportunity to achieve the look you desire with the help of Korean expertise!