25 Questions to Ask During Your Korean Surgery Consultation

Korean cosmetic surgery consultations with the surgeon typically last 5 to 20 minutes — sometimes as few as five. The surgeon will not draw out your goals or walk you through risks unprompted. If you don't ask, you won't be told.

This is not rudeness. It's how the system works. Korean surgeons see high volumes of patients daily, and the cultural expectation is that the patient comes prepared. International patients who arrive without specific questions leave with a surface-level impression and no real basis for comparison.

These 25 questions are designed to surface the information that matters most — credentials, surgical process, risk management, and logistics. Print them. Bring them to every consultation. The answers will tell you more than any before-and-after gallery.

Surgeon Credentials and Experience

1. "Are you certified by the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (KSPRS)? Can I have your full legal name to verify?"

Any licensed doctor in South Korea can legally perform cosmetic surgery — board certification requires roughly 11 years of specialized training. If the surgeon won't provide a full legal name for verification, that is a red flag.

2. "How many procedures of this exact type do you perform per year?"

Volume matters for skill. A surgeon who performs 200 rhinoplasties per year will have different outcomes than one who performs 20. Ask for the specific procedure you're considering, not "cosmetic surgeries" in general.

3. "Can I see before-and-after photos of patients with similar anatomy to mine?"

Before-and-after galleries on websites are curated highlights. Ask to see cases that match your specific situation — similar age, ethnicity, anatomical starting point, and desired outcome. A surgeon who can show comparable cases has relevant experience. One who deflects or only shows ideal results is showing you marketing, not evidence.

4. "Is this procedure your primary area of specialization, or do you perform a wide range of surgeries?"

Surgeons who specialize narrowly tend to have more refined outcomes than generalists. High-volume "menu" clinics often staff different surgeons for different procedures — which means the surgeon you consult with may not be the one who operates.

5. "How long have you been performing this specific procedure, and has your technique evolved?"

This tells you both experience depth and whether the surgeon stays current. A surgeon who describes how their approach has improved over time is demonstrating reflective practice — a good sign.

Surgical Process

6. "Will you personally perform the entire procedure — from incision to closure?"

This is the number one documented safety concern in Korean cosmetic surgery. Ghost surgery — where a different surgeon performs part or all of your procedure — remains a real risk. Korean law requires surgeon name disclosure on consent. Do not accept "the clinic" or "the operating surgeon" as an answer. Require a named individual.

7. "Will your full legal name appear on my consent form as the operating surgeon?"

The follow-up that makes question 6 binding. A verbal commitment means nothing under anesthesia. The consent form is your legal document.

8. "Is the operating room CCTV-monitored? Under what circumstances can I request footage?"

Since September 25, 2023, Korean law mandates CCTV in all operating rooms handling patients under general anesthesia. Patients have the legal right to request filming. A clinic that hedges or refuses to confirm this is a red flag.

9. "Who provides and monitors anesthesia — a dedicated board-certified anesthesiologist, or rotating staff?"

Of 50 documented cosmetic surgery deaths in South Korea from 2016 to 2024, 23 were anesthesia-related, and only 6 cases had a specialized anesthesiologist present. High-volume clinics sometimes use rotating anesthesia staff shared across multiple operating rooms simultaneously.

10. "How many other surgeries are scheduled on my surgery day, and will you be performing any of them?"

This reveals two things: the clinic's volume model and whether your surgeon will be fresh or fatigued. If the surgeon is performing 8 procedures that day and yours is number 7, that's a data point worth knowing.

Risk and Complications

11. "What are the most likely complications for my specific case?"

Korean surgeons often do not proactively discuss risks unless directly asked. The Supreme Court of Korea has ruled that in cosmetic surgery, the duty to obtain informed consent is especially strict. If a surgeon becomes impatient with this question, consider another clinic.

12. "What is your complication rate for this procedure, and what are the most common issues you see?"

A surgeon who claims zero complications is either lying or hasn't performed enough procedures. An honest answer with specific numbers demonstrates both experience and integrity.

13. "What is your protocol if a complication occurs during surgery?"

You want to hear specifics: equipment on hand, emergency response, hospital transfer arrangements. Vague answers ("we handle it") are not reassuring.

14. "What does your revision policy cover — surgeon fee only, or anesthesia and facility costs as well?"

Many clinics offer "free revisions" that exclude the anesthesia fee and facility fee — which can add ₩1,000,000 to ₩3,000,000 to what you thought was covered.

15. "What is the revision time window, and how do you handle revision requests from patients outside South Korea?"

Most revision policies require the patient to return to South Korea. If you live 12 hours away by plane, understand exactly what "free revision" means in practice.

Recovery and Aftercare

16. "How long will I need to stay in Seoul before I can safely fly home?"

Leaving too early is a common mistake. Community consensus minimums:

Stitches are typically removed on days 5 to 7. Do not schedule a flight before stitch removal.

17. "What does the post-operative care schedule look like — how many follow-up visits, and what happens at each one?"

Some clinics include 3–5 follow-up visits. Others include one. Know what's covered before surgery, not after.

18. "What is your remote follow-up process for international patients after I return home?"

Post-operative follow-up is the most cited structural disadvantage of Korean medical tourism. A Korean patient walks back to the clinic. An international patient submits photos on KakaoTalk and waits. Get the name and direct contact of the person responsible for your aftercare in writing.

19. "What medications will I need post-surgery, and will you provide them or do I need to source them at home?"

Some medications prescribed in Korea are not available in your home country. Understand this before surgery so you can plan accordingly.

Pricing and Logistics

20. "Can I have a written, itemized quote in Korean Won (KRW)?"

The quote should include: surgeon fee, anesthesia, OR/facility, implants or materials, medications, compression garments, follow-up visits, and potential extras. Verbal quotes — especially through a coordinator — are routinely revised upward on surgery day.

21. "Are there any additional costs not included in this quote that I should expect?"

Anesthesia, garments, and follow-up dressings are commonly added as surprise charges at checkout. Ask explicitly so there are no surprises.

22. "Can I receive my consent form in English before surgery day?"

Reading a legal document for the first time on the morning of your surgery — in a language you may not fully understand — is not informed consent. Request it in advance.

23. "Will I receive my operative note, medical records, and all implant documentation in English before I leave South Korea?"

Without English records, your home-country physician cannot treat complications safely. Implant lot numbers and brand information should be documented. Ask before surgery — not after.

24. "Can I communicate directly with the surgeon, or will all communication go through a coordinator?"

If every interaction is mediated by a coordinator, you're getting a filtered version of the surgeon's assessment. Direct communication — even briefly, even through a translator — gives you a better read on the surgeon's approach and personality.

25. "What happens if I need emergency care after hours or on a weekend?"

Know the emergency protocol before you need it. A direct phone number for after-hours emergencies is significantly more useful than a general clinic email that gets checked on Monday morning.

How to Use This List

You won't ask all 25 questions in a 15-minute consultation. Prioritize based on your situation:

Non-negotiable (ask every time): Questions 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 20

High priority for international patients: Questions 16, 18, 22, 23, 25

Important for comparison shopping: Questions 2, 3, 10, 12, 14, 15

Print this list. Bring it to every consultation. Take notes on the answers — not just what the surgeon says, but how they respond. A surgeon who welcomes detailed questions is demonstrating confidence. One who becomes impatient or dismissive is telling you something about how they'll handle your care.

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This article is based on Korean medical law, patient community reports from Naver and Sungyesa, regulatory data from the Korean Medical Association, and publicly available clinical guidelines. Canvass Research has no affiliation with any clinic or surgeon.