Surgery in South Korea

[RAW210]

I am going to have consultations with 4 different clinics in Busan, South Korea over the next month. I would really like to have surgery before I leave Korea to go back to the States in 2014, but I am in no rush.

Besides the language barrier, should I be worried about anything else regarding surgery here? Would it be worth the increased expence and inconvenience of having the surgery elsewhere?

Additionally, I was hoping someone might have any information or advice on the clinics I am looking at or my surgery in general.

The four clinics I was recommended (by a Korean Tourism Organization Agent) are:

"1. H nobless plastic surgery clinic
 Tel: 818-1800
 noblesseclinic.co.kr/main/main.php
 Has a lot of expereineces with Gynecomastia, The estimate is about 2,500,000won but it may differ depending on patient's status.
The bad point is "No English speaking staff", but there is a  free translator.
 
 
2. Smart hospital
 Tel: 930-5017
 smarthos.com
 General hospital has the doctor from Haeundae Paik university Hospital.
 Good facility since it is recently built. Has International Medical Center.
 Bad point is that it is relatively expensive, from 4,000,000won.
 
3. Nobless Lee Myeong-Jong plastic surgery clinic
Tel: 806-1101
noblesseclinic.com
has good experience and especially renowned among Chinese.
No English speaking staff or English website. The estimate is about 2,500,000 won.
 
4. ABC plastic surgery clinic
 Tel: 817-0100
abcclinic.com/english/
 It has recently got JCI certification and also has Enlgish coordinator.
 The estimate is about the same,  2,500,000 won.
 
 The surgery method will be decided after consultation - whether by the liposuction method only or with the incision method. Those estimates are only for the guide and it may differ after consultation."


Anyone have any advice for my consultation experience? Especially since I speak a different language. The way I look at it, I am going to make sure they have a catalog of experience with Gyne surgery, I will ask a lot of questions, and play the field.


I will certainly post more information after my consultations, but if anyone can find any sort of report on these clinics, or South Korea in general, it would be much appreciated.

Also, is JCI certification worth anything?

[Litlriki]

I have no knowledge of any of the clinics (or much of anything at all in Korea) you've mentioned.  With regard to surgical tourism, you are taking significant risk going to a country where you don't speak the language and trying to maneuver through the process of finding a surgeon you trust and who is skilled at the specific procedure you're exploring.  It's a different situation when one travels to a surgeon who specializes in a particular procedure for the sake of that expertise.  Similarly, patients  sometimes travel to their home country for less expensive surgery, where they have family and support systems and speak the language, and that makes financial and practical sense.  While gynecomastia surgery is not the most technically demanding operation in most cases, the best opportunity for the best result is at the time of the primary procedure.  You may find a bargain overseas, but remember that your health and your outcome are not worth the risk to save a few thousand dollars.

Good luck,

Rick Silverman

[RAW210]

Thank you very much for your insight Dr. Silverman.

I had my first consultation today. The staff and surgeon spoke English very well and I felt confident in my visit. The surgeon is a specialist in breast surgery, whilst predominately female enlargement, he has done a number of gynecomastia cases (the few before/after photos he showed looked good). I am certain he is nowhere near the expert on the procedure as someone such as yourself.

That being said, he strongly advised lipo only (Power Lipo) and not gland excision. His reasoning was that it is far more difficult, unpredictable, and painful. I am worried this translates into him merely lacking experience in such a procedure. When would you advise lipo only? From what I have read on the boards, there seems to be a profound consensus of dissatisfaction from lipo only.

I have three more consultations over the next few weeks here in Korea and am not ready to make any decisions. Your expert opinion is highly valued during my decision process. The possibility of having the surgery back home in the states is still on the table.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Strongly agree with Dr. Silverman.  Trying to save some money by going overseas to an unknown surgeon is risky.  More to the point, if you have a post op problem or question, or need treatment with cortisone or even a revision, what are you going to do?

Dr Jacobs

[Litlriki]

I rarely do just liposuction, and I would be unlikely to tell someone ahead of time that they'd only be getting liposuction, since I don't know until after I've done the initial liposuction if there's "gland" present, which must be excised.  I think your first surgeon is NOT experienced with this surgery.  Pain is rarely a big problem from excision--the part that hurts is the liposuction part!

RS

[RAW210]

I have had four more consultations in Korea since my last post.
All of which were more experienced than than first.

One especially stuck out. The surgeon showed me dozens of before and after photos, provided a great deal of information, and communicated in English very well. I asked him how many times he has done Gynecomastia surgery and his response was, "I have done it twice today".

After meeting with a few more clinics and mulling it all over with my loved ones, I pulled the trigger on this clinic and made an appointment one month from now.

I will undergo IV anesthesia on Saturday January 5th, be an out-patient a few hours later, go back to work Monday morning (teaching children, which can be nearly hands free), have 3 appointments throughout the first week to clear the drainage and dress the wounds, and when ready have my stitches removed.


I do have a few questions (Besides my recent post on supplementation)...

I have heard surgeons may communicate with a patient during IV anesthesia. What is the extent of this? Should I be worried about miscommunications or a lack of communication because of the language barrier?

Besides not eating 8-12 hours before anesthesia, not smoking (which I don't), and not drinking (I have heard one week before surgery), what else might I need to do to have my body fully prepared for IV anesthesia and surgery?

Do you have any other expert advice to give?


Finally, I must add that I am deeply grateful for your insight and accessibility to myself and all the others on this forum. You are very generous and kind people. Thank you Dr. Silverman and Dr. Jacobs.

[Litlriki]

It's unlikely that you will need to worry about communication during the surgery.  If you need to understand something, the surgeon can speak to you in English.  I'd guess you'll not remember most of that interaction anyway. 

You should get a list of things to avoid (aspirin and other NSAIDS, fish oils, excessive Vitamin E, etc.).  They may have instructions for you to use a surgical scrub for your shower prior to surgery.  Otherwise, not much to worry about--Just follow their instructions.

Good luck.

RS