Last fact-checked: 11 November 2020

With a tummy tuck in Seoul, you can undergo this popular body contouring surgery for less while getting to know the fascinating South Korean capital. Read on to find world-class surgeons with Medical Departures.

Tummy tucks are often sought by women who are left with loose skin and stretched abdominal muscles following childbirth or weight gain. With age, too, once that elasticity goes, no amount of exercise of dieting will help it just magically firm back up. This surgery can trim away excess skin, leaving your abdominal area flatter and smoother.

Often, liposuction may also be used together with a tummy tuck to remove small amounts of fat—but it should be noted that this should not be viewed as a weight loss surgery. 

South Korea has some of the world’s highest plastic surgery rates per capita. As such, it's become a well-known fact that the quality of care here rivals anywhere in the world—with surgeons here just as experienced and qualified as those with client bases comprised of A-list celebrities in LA. 

The South Korean capital has been welcoming medical travelers for many years now, most of whom come from nearby Japan, China and parts of Southeast Asia. However, as word of mouth spreads, more and more western patients are choosing Seoul for its combined quality and competitive prices. In fact, there is now even a Medical Tourism Information Center at Seoul’s international airport, where new arrivals can find and book surgery.

Seoul’s prices are extremely competitive, even when compared to more popular destinations in neighbouring countries like Thailand, and this isn’t because the care is in any way inferior. In fact, many patients find it to be just the opposite.

We always urge prospective patients to do their own research before booking any surgery. Do your due diligence–on the clinics and surgeons you have shortlisted–compare facilities and do as much background checking as you can.

At Medical Departures we do our own research as well: clinics are visited; qualifications and professional memberships are verified; real patient reviews are collated. You can check out our findings, as well as compare prices and see high-definition clinic photos under each listing on our website, making the job of finding your surgeon in Seoul so much easier.

The tummy tuck procedure takes, on average two hours, and is dependent upon how much skin needs to be removed, as well as the particular technique your surgeon uses.

Long scars may be required to remove the excess tissue, but your surgeon will generally make every effort to ensure the scars won’t show and can be hidden underneath, for example, bikini bottoms.

The particular tummy tuck technique used will depend on what you want to achieve, as well as your surgeon's advice. For instance, the procedure may be:

• A full tummy tuck where one incision is made across the lower abdomen and another around the navel. 
• A partial or mini tummy tuck where a single incision is made in the pubic area.
• An extended/high lateral tension tummy tuck which removes excess skin excess after significant weight loss or pregnancy. 

Depending on your goals, a tummy tuck can be quite an extensive procedure, and you may feel very uncomfortable afterward. Although you will be given pain medication you will be stiff and bruised and may be taken aback as to just how much you use those tummy muscles.

Following surgery, it should also be noted that:

• You may be wearing a compression garment after surgery to control the swelling and surgical drains that remove fluid away from the wound site may be in place.
• You will be advised to keep the wounds clean and dry and bathing or swimming will not be allowed until the wounds have healed.
• You probably won’t feel like doing too much for a week or two after the surgery, but you will be encouraged to walk around as soon as you can as this helps with the healing process.
• Vigorous exercise or activities should be avoided for at least six weeks.
• It could be up to a year before you have healed completely inside and out.

Tummy tucks cost around 50% less in Seoul compared to Australia.

For up-to-date prices, as well as clinic photos, surgeon profiles, patient reviews and other useful information, check out these three leading clinics in Seoul for tummy tucks:

• Oracle Clinic (Cheongdam)
• The Plus Plastic Surgery
• View Plastic Surgery

Find out about our quality-checked surgeons in Seoul and book through our site to guarantee the best prices online.

You can also chat with a representative from our Customer Care Team if you’ve any questions about tummy tucks in Seoul.

Sources:

Shen, Lucinda. Here are the vainest countries in the world. Business Insider. 2016. https://www.businessinsider.com/here-are-the-vainest-countries-in-the-world-2015-8?r=UK

New medical tourism support center opened at Incheon Int’l Airport. Korea.net. 20 December 2018. http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Travel/view?articleId=166500

What are the steps of a tummy tuck procedure? American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Website accessed: 11 November 2020. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/tummy-tuck/animation

Kennedy, Madeline. What is liposuction? 13 February 2020. https://www.insider.com/what-is-liposuction

Image by Hajo Schatz