South Korea has the highest per capita rate of cosmetic surgery in the world, so it stands to reason that a fair number of people coming to Korea are coming for the sole reason of getting something done. Cosmetic Surgery Tourism, or medical tourism in Korea, attracts people from around the world each year and if it were me, I’d want to know who I could really trust to get the job that I want done, done. That’s where Mona Hanson and Dean Seol, the creators of Seoul Cosmetic Surgery, come in.
Photo Courtesy of Soo Choi
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)
I met Mona a couple years ago and have attended events where she was a major player and have watched as she and her partner have worked to grow their government licensed medical concierge service into what it is today.
Their goal is to introduce clients to state of the art medical facilities, innovative procedures, and the best world-class physicians located in Korea. At this point, quite a few of my fellow friends and bloggers have used and raved about the service they received, so I wanted to bring the information together because the services each has received is varied but putting them all together paints a better picture of the complete service that Seoul Cosmetic Surgery provides.
Working with a concierge service such as this is a way to increase the odds of a client being satisfied with their procedure.
By decreasing the inconveniences that come with traveling abroad for treatments, the overall stress and having someone by your side that speaks English, you will have a higher chance of walking away happy… I sure did. Check out my experience at Banobagi with Mona by my side.
Talking With Mona Hanson:
What does the service include?
We serve as a concierge basically providing the following services at no cost to our customers: 1) Airport pickup/dropoff, 2) Flight & Accomodation Arrangement , 3) Reserving Consultation, 4) Accompanying Patients, 5)Price Negotiation for Surgery, 6) Pre & Post Op Support.
Do you work with specific clinics? How do you choose the clinics and doctors that you work with?
We have an internal scoring system based on the reputation of the surgeon or clinic based on how foreign friendly the clinic is, their experience with Western customers, innovation and whether they are leaders in their industry.
Can someone use you if they have their own clinic or doctor in mind to work with?
They can definitely recommend the doctor or clinic and we will follow up with them and see if the clinic works with a medical tourism concierge service.
What are the most popular concierge services requested?
The most popular procedures requested among non-Asian clientele is body work i.e. breast augmentation, liposuction. I would also say that rhinoplasty is definitely in the top 3 especially since Korea is very popular with rhinoplasty (nose) surgery. Anti-Aging treatments and procedures are also very popular.
Kate Carter Hickey of That Girl Cartier
I’ve been a client and collaborator with Seoul Cosmetic Surgery since 2016. Mona encouraged me to take care of my skin, and I enjoyed a variety of interesting facials at her suggestion. I was working out and losing weight steadily. Because of this, my face thinned out. Great, right? Well, it also left me with a bunch of crow’s feet. This was when I first tried botox. My first experience was scary, but having English-speakers on hand really helped. I suggest demanding the thinnest needle and encouraging your surgeon to take it easy so you have a natural look. I guess botox was a bit of a gateway for me!
My breast augmentation surgery came about quite quickly, but I never felt rushed. I went for two consultations with my surgeon, my coordinator at TL Plastic Surgery, Mona, Dean, and I felt like I was in really good hands. My surgeon immediately indicated that my surgery would be a little more difficult because of a developmental issue: tuberous breasts. Such a professional, he didn’t make me feel bad at all. My doctor suggested breast implants which I thought would add a lot of volume, and in turn make me look fat (again). I was afraid I’d look like Dolly Parton! We agreed on a particular size and booked the surgery date.
Now that it’s been 5 months, I describe my breasts implants as being like tampons. You can’t really feel them, but you know they’re there. Having my tuberous breasts fixed has enabled me to breathe more easily, believe it or not. I rarely wear a bra – I don’t have to! If I want to wear something sexy I finally have the shape which suits my tall, athletic frame. I think most people assume that when someone gets breast implants it’s because there’s an underlying self-esteem issue. There really isn’t. I went through breast augmentation for me (and my wardrobe!) and it’s one of the better decisions I’ve made throughout my tenure in Korea. I wouldn’t have put my physical health and peace of mind in the hands of anyone other than Seoul Cosmetic Surgery.
I had my rhinoplasty through Seoul Cosmetic Surgery. Considering how daunting any procedure is, it’s safe to say that surgery abroad is even more nerve wracking. When you’re not in possession of the native language, or aware of the medical industry; It is a relief to have a company such as SCS advocate for you.
What I appreciated the most was their extensive knowledge of both procedures and clinics. From the consultation, to surgery day and post op check-ups, they were extremely supportive! Remaining transparent and professional, they communicated to the doctor what I wanted as a Westerner. Their translation services were also a huge help for any questions I had or medical jargon/paperwork that I didn’t quite understand. Yes, I could have gone directly to the doctors or sifted through the clinics on my own, but I’m glad I chose to do it this way.
Currently, 4 months post rhinoplasty, I have also had skin treatments through Seoul Cosmetic Surgery at a different clinic. I can’t express how happy I am with the results of both the skin laser and rhinoplasty.
Just looking to pamper yourself a bit while you’re here? Check out some of these great spots:
At the end of January, I had the chance to partner with Seoul Cosmetic Surgery, when they invited me out to Banobagi Hospital for a skincare treatment. Going into the consult, I knew I didn’t want anything invasive and that my main concerns were hyperpigmentation + anti-aging. The plastic surgeon decided to focus on the latter and suggested that I receive Ultherapy – the immensely popular non-invasive procedure that lifts + tightens the skin … which meant that I was finally getting a jawline! Something that has plagued my existence since the tender age of 25.
Although I wasn’t nervous about the procedure, it was a relief to know that Seoul Cosmetic Surgery was in the room. I also appreciated the doctors’ patience and I felt comfortable to ask questions which he answered (with the assistance of a translator) and even more importantly impressed with his knowledge for treating patients from different ethnic backgrounds with darker skin tones, which was an unexpected bonus.
Overall, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced so much joy in getting a skin procedure — which of course all comes down to the professionalism and amazingness of Seoul Cosmetic Surgery, who went above and beyond to make sure I would enjoy my experience and get what I came for. Needless to say, I’m a fan! Especially, now that I can proudly show off my new angular features and my card-carrying membership into the defined jawline squad.
Choosing to undergo both breast augmentation and facial fillers, as well as various laser treatments was a long and thought out decision that I did not take lightly. Feeling vulnerable and needing a trusted guide through an incredibly diverse and wide array of clinic options, I chose Mona and Dean of Seoul Cosmetic Surgery as my concierge service.
As a top concierge service for medical tourism here in Seoul, they help to facilitate a safe and easy experience for foreign clients, such as myself. Their professionalism, invaluable personal relationships with top doctors at world renowned clinics, and invaluable knowledge of the industry and procedures made the experience truly life changing.
To have SCS by my side through pre-surgery and post-op care insured a feeling of security that I personally needed. With their guidance, my experience and the results have been phenomenal but, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. I highly recommend their services to those visiting Seoul.
I am in Seoul for work in July and staying at the intercontinental Coex. I was wondering if you can help with guiding me to a place where I can get a facial. I have some acne scars and hyperpigmentation with oily skin.
Thanks.
3 Comments
Puja khagram
I am in Seoul for work in July and staying at the intercontinental Coex. I was wondering if you can help with guiding me to a place where I can get a facial. I have some acne scars and hyperpigmentation with oily skin.
Thanks.
Denisse nossar
I Need Rinoplastia
O hace 4 before
I need orices Of All process
Hallie Bradley
If you email Seoul Cosmetic Surgery, they can help you out with that.