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International Patients · Step by Step
How Surgery in Seoul Works for International Patients
Uncertainty is often the heaviest part of planning surgery abroad. Here is the whole path laid out plainly, so you know what comes next at every stage.
Surgery in Seoul at Will Be follows a clear sequence: an online photo consultation, trip planning with the coordinator, an in-person consultation with Dr. Kim Jun-young, surgery, daily or scheduled check-ups, suture removal where needed, and a final review before you fly home. Remote follow-up continues afterwards through photos and messages.
Surgery in Seoul, step by step
Every journey is individual, but most international patients who plan surgery in Seoul at Will Be move through the same stages. Knowing them in advance lets you plan leave from work, choose accommodation and prepare questions. Throughout, one surgeon, Dr. Kim Jun-young, is responsible for your care, so the person you meet online is the person who operates and the person who checks your healing.
What to prepare before you start
A little preparation makes the first contact more useful. Gather any records from previous surgery, especially if you are considering revision; operation notes, dates and earlier photos help Dr. Kim understand what was done and how your tissue has healed. Write down your goals in your own words, including what you do not want to change. Many patients say they want to look rested or refreshed rather than different, and that is a helpful starting point. Note any medical conditions, regular medications, supplements and allergies, and think about your realistic travel window. None of this needs to be polished or formal. A short, honest list gives the review a clear foundation and saves time later.
Step 1: Online consultation and photo review
You begin with a virtual consultation. You send photos in good natural light from several angles, a short medical history and a description of what bothers you. Our guide to taking photos for an online consultation explains the angles that matter. For eyelid concerns, for example, a photo with eyes gently closed shows the skin and fold, while one looking straight ahead reveals how strongly the levator muscle, the main muscle that lifts the lid, opens the eye.
Dr. Kim reviews these himself. He may suggest an approach, ask for more photos, or explain that a procedure is unlikely to meet your goals. A remote review is a starting point, not a final plan.
Step 2: Planning your dates
Once the likely procedure is clear, the coordinator helps you choose dates. Your length of stay depends on the operation and on how early you are comfortable flying; how long to stay in Korea lists conservative ranges. This is also the moment to check entry requirements for your nationality, arrange accommodation and review which medications and supplements to pause before surgery with your own doctor.
Step 3: In-person consultation in Sinsa
Usually on your first or second day in Seoul, you visit the clinic in Sinsa-dong, near Sinsa Station. Dr. Kim examines you directly: skin thickness, fat distribution, muscle function, bone structure and symmetry. Some details, such as how the orbital septum (the thin membrane that holds eyelid fat in place) behaves, are only clear in person. The plan is confirmed or adjusted, risks are explained, and you have time to ask questions. You are never expected to decide on the spot.
Pre-operative checks, such as blood tests where appropriate, are arranged according to the procedure and anesthesia. Our safety and anesthesia standards page explains the clinic's approach.
Step 4: Surgery day
On the day, Dr. Kim reviews the design with you, often marking the skin while you sit upright so gravity is accounted for. The procedure is performed under the anesthesia agreed at consultation. Afterwards you rest at the clinic until you are steady, receive written aftercare instructions and medications, and return to your accommodation. It is wise to have a companion with you on the first evening, especially after sedation.
Step 5: Check-ups and suture removal
Follow-up visits are scheduled according to your procedure. After incisional eyelid surgery, for example, sutures are commonly removed about five to seven days later. Each visit is with Dr. Kim, who checks swelling, wound healing and early symmetry. Swelling at this stage is normal and does not reflect the final result; tissues keep settling for weeks to months.
If something does not feel right during your stay
You are never expected to wait for your next scheduled visit if something worries you. Increasing pain on one side, swelling that grows rapidly rather than slowly settling, bleeding that does not ease with gentle pressure, fever or any change in vision should be reported to the clinic promptly. Early swelling, mild bruising, tightness and some asymmetry are expected parts of healing, but you do not have to judge the difference alone. Send a message and a photo, and Dr. Kim will advise whether you should come in. Being near the clinic during these days is one of the main reasons the recommended stay exists.
Step 6: Final check and flying home
Before you leave, Dr. Kim reviews your healing and confirms that it is reasonable for you to fly. You receive guidance for the journey and for the weeks ahead. Our guide to flying after plastic surgery covers cabin pressure, swelling and practical comfort on long flights.
Step 7: Follow-up care from home
Healing continues at home. You can send photos at agreed intervals, and Dr. Kim will review them. We also recommend telling your local doctor about your surgery and keeping your operation notes. See follow-up care from abroad for details on what to watch for and when to seek local help.
Questions, answered
Frequently asked questions
Still wondering about something? Ask Dr. Kim directly — every consultation at Will Be is with the surgeon himself.
Do I have to decide on surgery during the online consultation?
No. The online consultation is for information and an initial opinion. Dr. Kim reviews your photos and explains what may be possible, but the surgical plan is only confirmed after an in-person examination in Seoul. You can take time to think, ask more questions, and decide whether to travel without any pressure to commit at the first contact.
How soon after arriving in Seoul can I have surgery?
Many patients have their in-person consultation on the day they arrive or the following day, with surgery shortly after if the plan is confirmed and any pre-operative tests are clear. Allowing a day to recover from the flight is sensible, particularly after a long-haul journey with a large time difference. The coordinator will help you plan realistic timing.
Who will perform my surgery?
Dr. Kim Jun-young, the representative surgeon, performs every operation at Will Be. He also conducts the consultation and each follow-up visit. There are no hand-offs between surgeons. This continuity helps when you are visiting from abroad, because the person who designed your procedure is the one who assesses your healing before you return home.
What if the in-person examination changes the plan?
It sometimes does. Photos cannot fully show skin elasticity, muscle strength or how tissues behave when you move. If Dr. Kim finds that a different or smaller procedure would suit you better, he will explain why. You can then decide whether to proceed, adjust your plan, or take more time before making any decision.
How many clinic visits should I expect after surgery?
It depends on the procedure. Many surgical patients return for at least one or two check-ups, including suture removal where relevant, and a final review before flying. More complex operations or combined procedures can need additional visits. Dr. Kim will give you a visit schedule at consultation so you can plan your stay and accommodation around it.
One surgeon · Consultation to follow-up
Send your photos for a first review, and we will walk through each step with you.
Consultations in Seoul and online. Dr. Kim Jun-young personally reviews every case.