🇰🇷 South Korea · Plastic surgery
Breast Augmentation in South Korea
Surgery to increase breast size and improve shape using implants or fat transfer.
Researched & fact-checked by the MedTraveling editorial teamLast reviewed 21 June 202633 sourced referencesNo rankings or leads sold
Bhakua / flickr · BY- Typical price
- $8,790–$10,794
- Clinics tracked
- 22
- Recovery
- 2–6 weeks
- Final results
- 2–3 months
Why South Korea for breast augmentation
South Korea has the highest rate of cosmetic surgery per capita in the world, and Seoul's Gangnam district is the densest concentration of plastic surgery and dermatology clinics anywhere. The country is the global reference point for rhinoplasty, facial contouring, double-eyelid surgery and advanced skin treatment, backed by heavy investment in technology and a deep specialist workforce — supported by dedicated international patient centres at the larger hospitals.
World-leading cosmetic expertise
Unrivalled volume and specialisation in rhinoplasty, facial contouring and double-eyelid surgery.
Technology and precision
Heavy investment in advanced imaging, lasers and surgical technology, especially in dermatology and plastics.
International patient infrastructure
Larger hospitals run dedicated international healthcare centres with English-language coordination.
Aesthetic specialisation
A refined, detail-oriented aesthetic culture that many patients travel specifically to access.
Is breast augmentation in South Korea safe?
The single most-asked question — answered straight, with what to verify rather than reassurance.
Breast Augmentation carries the same core medical risks wherever it's performed — the variable that matters most is the provider, not the country. Confirm the clinic is a KHIDI-registered international healthcare provider and that the operating surgeon is a board-certified specialist (e.g. KSPRS for plastic surgery). Insist on a written guarantee that the named surgeon operates. Verify the surgeon on the national medical register, confirm accreditation in the issuer's public registry (we link it on every clinic profile), and get the complication and revision policy in writing. We flag what each clinic does and doesn't disclose.
What breast augmentation involves
Breast augmentation enlarges and reshapes the breasts using silicone or saline implants, or in some cases the patient's own fat. It is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic operations worldwide and a frequent reason for medical travel where accredited facilities offer it at lower cost.
Choices about implant type, size, placement (over or under the muscle) and incision location shape both the result and the recovery. Implants are not lifetime devices and may eventually need replacement, so understanding the long-term commitment — and arranging local follow-up — is part of planning, especially when treated abroad.
Why people seek it
- Increased breast size
- Improved shape and symmetry
- Restored volume after weight loss or pregnancy
- Reconstruction after surgery
Techniques & options
Silicone implants
Gel-filled implants that feel more natural; the most common choice.
Saline implants
Saltwater-filled; firmer feel but adjustable volume and a smaller incision.
Fat-transfer augmentation
Modest enlargement using liposuctioned fat — no implant, limited size increase.
Submuscular vs subglandular
Implant placed under the chest muscle or under the gland, affecting look and recovery.
The treatment process
- 1Consultation, sizing and implant selection
- 2General anaesthesia
- 3Incision (inframammary, periareolar or axillary)
- 4Implant placement over or under the muscle
- 5Closure and supportive surgical bra
Recovery timeline
Week 1
Soreness and tightness, especially with submuscular placement; limited arm use.
Weeks 2–6
Return to light activity; implants begin to settle ('drop and fluff').
Months 2–3
Final shape and position settle; scars continue to mature.
Breast Augmentation cost in South Korea
Published provider prices vary with technique, surgeon and what each package includes. Use these as a starting range — not a personalised quote.
Typical price range
$8,790–$10,794
Full spread $4,755–$15,000 across 4 provider quotes
Prices are published provider figures, not personalised quotes. Confirm inclusions directly.
South Korea (typical)
$9,790
$4,760–$15,000
Home (indicative)
$8,000
typical private price
You could save
No benchmark available
Home-country figures are indicative typical private list prices, not quotes. Destination figures are published provider prices we track. Add travel, accommodation and any revision cost before comparing — a low headline is not the full bill. Currency conversions are approximate.
| Provider | Published price (USD) | Typically includes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| I.KNOW.U Plastic Surgery Clinic | $4,755–$10,808 | surgery, VAT, Mentor implants (higher tier) | Verified |
| URBAN Plastic Surgery | $6,800 | Mentor MemoryGel implants, vitamin infusions, airport transfer | Reported |
| Banobagi Plastic & Aesthetic Clinic | $10,780 | surgery | Reported |
| JK Plastic Surgery Center | $15,000 | surgery | Reported |
What drives the price: Implant brand and type · Surgeon experience · Accredited facility and anaesthesia · Over vs under-muscle placement · Country and clinic tier. See the full cost guide →
What's included in South Korea breast augmentation packages
Most providers quote all-inclusive packages — but inclusions vary. Here's what tracked clinics typically cover, and what to budget separately.
Typically included
- ✓surgery
- ✓Mentor MemoryGel implants
- ✓vitamin infusions
- ✓airport transfer
- ✓VAT
- ✓Mentor implants (higher tier)
Usually excluded
- ×flights
- ×accommodation
- ×Flights
Always confirm the exact inclusions in writing — a low headline price often excludes hospital stay, medication, aftercare or revision.
Clinics offering breast augmentation in South Korea
22 tracked providers. Profiles list accreditation, named surgeons and sources.
ID Hospital
seoul
ID Hospital is one of South Korea's largest plastic surgery hospitals, located in the Gangnam area of Seoul and known internationally for facial bone contouring, two-jaw orthognathic surgery and rhinoplasty. It operates a multilingual international patient department serving more than a dozen language groups.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare certification
- KHIDI recognition (facial bone contouring)
Banobagi Plastic & Aesthetic Clinic
seoul
Banobagi is a large plastic and aesthetic clinic on Nonhyeon-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, reported to have roughly 30 plastic surgeons on staff. It runs a dedicated rhinoplasty unit and offers free interpreter services for international patients.
from $10,780
JK Plastic Surgery Center
seoul
JK Plastic Surgery is a hospital-level cosmetic clinic in the Sinsa area of Gangnam, Seoul, reported to have treated patients from over 110 countries and to have been the first Korean plastic surgery hospital to pass KAHF accreditation for facilities serving foreign patients. It offers a full range of facial contouring, eye, nose, breast and body procedures.
- KAHF accreditation (hospitals serving foreign patients)
- Ministry of Health and Welfare international patient permit
from $15,000
VG Plastic Surgery
seoul
VG Plastic Surgery is a sought-after Gangnam clinic specializing in eye surgery, rhinoplasty and facial contouring, reporting patients from dozens of countries and multilingual coordination. It states it performs over 1,000 rhinoplasty procedures annually and uses tools such as 3D-CT scanning.
- KOIHA accreditation
- Seoul Mayor Healthcare Provider Certificate
Wonjin Plastic Surgery (Wonjin Beauty Medical Group)
seoul
Wonjin is a well-known Gangnam plastic surgery and beauty medical group operating since around 1999, with a multi-department staff spanning plastic surgery, dermatology and anesthesiology. It is widely recognized for facial contouring, eyelid surgery and body contouring.
DA Plastic Surgery
seoul
DA Plastic Surgery is a Gangnam clinic on Teheran-ro, Seoul, offering a broad range of cosmetic procedures including rhinoplasty, facial contouring, and breast and body surgery. It markets all-inclusive packages for international patients.
Dream Medical Group (Dream Plastic Surgery)
seoul
Dream Medical Group is an Apgujeong/Gangnam plastic surgery group founded in 1999 by Dr. Park Yang-Soo and built around surgeons trained at Seoul National University. It has grown into a multi-surgeon practice that added dermatology and aesthetic dentistry, and is known for eyelid surgery, fat grafting and body contouring.
SAERO Plastic Surgery
seoul
SAERO Plastic Surgery is a single-surgeon clinic in Seoul's Gangnam district where Dr. Park Young Kyu performs all procedures, treating roughly 700 international patients a year. It focuses on natural-looking results across rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, facial contouring and body work.
THE Plastic Surgery
seoul
THE Plastic Surgery is a Gangnam (Nonhyeon-ro) clinic operating since 2002 with dedicated centers covering eyes, nose, facial contouring, breasts, anti-aging and body contouring. It markets to international patients with multilingual staff.
- ISAPS membership
- Medical Tourism Association membership
View Plastic Surgery
seoul
View Plastic Surgery is a Seoul clinic founded around 2005 offering breast surgery, facial bone contouring, bimaxillary (jaw) surgery, and eye and nose surgery. It serves international patients through aggregator listings.
BBAE Plastic Surgery Clinic
seoul
BBAE is a Gangnam plastic surgery clinic specializing in body contouring, including liposuction, re-liposuction and fat transfer, alongside facelift and gynecomastia procedures. It is approved by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and treats international patients.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare approval
Grand Plastic Surgery
seoul
Grand Plastic Surgery is one of Korea's largest cosmetic surgery facilities, occupying a 21-storey building in the Sinsa-dong area of Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It operates multiple specialized centers and reports a team of roughly 20 plastic and cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists and anesthesiologists. It uses 3D-CT planning and offers septal cartilage grafting for rhinoplasty.
Opera Plastic Surgery
seoul
Opera Plastic Surgery was established in 2006 on Gangnam-daero in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and is licensed by Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare. It specializes in facial bone contouring, rhinoplasty, breast surgery and body contouring, with an on-site anesthesiologist and 24-hour post-operative care. The clinic supports international patients.
- MOHW licensed clinic
Wannabe Plastic Surgery
seoul
Wannabe Plastic Surgery in Seoul is organized into six departments: eye, nose, facial contouring, anti-aging, breast and body. It uses 3D-CT and Vectra X3 imaging for diagnosis and planning. Procedures are performed by three board-certified directors trained at Seoul National University and Samsung Medical Center.
VIP International Plastic Surgery Center
seoul
VIP International Plastic Surgery Center has operated in Gangnam, Seoul since 2001 under founder and medical director Dr. Myung Ju Lee. It specializes in deep plane facelift, rib cartilage rhinoplasty, facial contouring (genioplasty, cheekbone and jaw reduction), body contouring and breast surgery. The clinic provides multilingual coordinators.
NAMU Plastic Surgery
seoul
NAMU Plastic Surgery is located on Gangnam-daero in Seocho-gu, Seoul, near Gangnam Station. It offers facial surgery, breast surgery, body contouring, eyelid and nose surgery, with an emphasis on natural, non-excessive results. The facility has an in-house anesthesiologist and a dedicated patient-safety monitoring system.
The Regen Plastic Surgery
seoul
The Regen Plastic Surgery is a 15-floor clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, whose head doctors are Seoul National University graduates and former professors. It covers two-jaw surgery, V-line and zygoma reduction, forehead reshaping, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, breast and body contouring, and stem-cell fat grafting.
INIQUE Plastic Surgery Clinic
seoul
A private aesthetic clinic reporting roughly 12,000 patients annually with 8 inpatient beds, led by board-certified surgeons trained at major Korean university hospitals. Its head doctor specializes in eyelid and revision-eyelid surgery.
URBAN Plastic Surgery
seoul
A newer Gangnam clinic with three surgeons treating roughly 8,000 patients annually, including many from the USA and Canada, focused on facial surgery, breast augmentation, and body contouring. English-speaking staff and airport transfers are offered.
from $6,800
I.KNOW.U Plastic Surgery Clinic
busan
A Busan plastic-surgery clinic in the Seomyeon medical district (Busanjin-gu) offering surgical and non-surgical treatments across eyes, nose, breast, face contour, and body. It is one of the most-reviewed Busan clinics on the Unni platform and publishes itemized USD prices with VAT, anesthesia, and aftercare stated as included.
from $4,755–$10,808
MIMISOME Clinic (Busan Deokcheon)
busan
A Busan clinic in the Deokcheon area of Buk-gu combining plastic surgery, dermatology, and obesity care with 1:1 chief-doctor procedures. Rated highly over 500+ reviews on the Unni platform, it publishes USD prices and runs a budget double-eyelid offer.
Lian Plastic Surgery Clinic
busan
A surgeon-led Busan plastic-surgery clinic in Seomyeon (Busanjin-gu) offering breast surgery, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, facial-bone contouring, and liposuction. Director Dr. Jae Young Hurh is a former Pusan National University Hospital professor and the clinic lists IPRAS membership.
- IPRAS member
- KSPRS member
Surgeons & specialists
Named clinicians associated with this procedure, drawn from clinic and registry sources.
Breast Augmentation by city
What to verify before you book
Travelling shifts the burden of due diligence onto you. These are the checkable signals that matter most.
For this destination
- Premium pricing. Korea is a premium market; expect to pay more than in Turkey or Mexico for comparable cosmetic procedures.
- Broker and 'ghost surgery' risk. Confirm in writing that your named surgeon performs the operation — Korea has had documented 'ghost surgery' cases.
- Language and logistics. Outside international centres, English support varies; use clinics with formal international patient services.
Questions to ask
- ›Which implant brand and type do you recommend for my goals, and why?
- ›Over or under the muscle, and what incision will you use?
- ›What warranty covers the implants?
- ›What is the plan for follow-up and any complications once I'm home?
Accreditation context. Confirm the clinic is a KHIDI-registered international healthcare provider and that the operating surgeon is a board-certified specialist (e.g. KSPRS for plastic surgery). Insist on a written guarantee that the named surgeon operates.
Risks & complications
- Capsular contracture (scar tissue hardening)
- Implant rupture or leakage
- Rippling or malposition
- Changes in nipple sensation
- Need for future revision surgery
Take this with you
Everything to carry into a consultation — yours to print, no sign-up.
Patient decision kit
Breast Augmentation in South Korea — take this with you
Yours to keep. No sign-up, no contact details, nothing sold.
Questions to ask
- Which implant brand and type do you recommend for my goals, and why?
- Over or under the muscle, and what incision will you use?
- What warranty covers the implants?
- What is the plan for follow-up and any complications once I'm home?
Get these in writing
- The exact named surgeon who will operate — and their registration number
- A full itemised quote: what is and isn't included, in your currency
- The complication and revision policy, including who pays if something goes wrong
- The aftercare plan once you are home, and how follow-up is handled remotely
- Accreditation certificates and their expiry dates
Walk away if you see
- The surgeon who operates won't be named or confirmed in writing
- Pressure to pay a large deposit fast, or a 'today only' price
- No written complication or revision policy
- Accreditation claimed but no certificate or registry you can check
- Reviews only on the clinic's own site, none independent
- A quote far below every other provider with no explanation of what's excluded
How to verify claims
- Confirm the clinic is a KHIDI-registered international healthcare provider and that the operating surgeon is a board-certified specialist (e.g. KSPRS for plastic surgery). Insist on a written guarantee that the named surgeon operates.
- Cross-check the surgeon on the national medical register, not just the clinic page
- Confirm accreditation currency in the issuer's public registry (we link to it on each profile)
- Ask for independent reviews and the source — not screenshots
MedTraveling is independent: we don't sell rankings or your details, and listing a provider is not an endorsement. This kit is decision support, not medical advice — confirm everything directly with a qualified clinician before treatment.
Frequently asked questions
How much does breast augmentation cost in South Korea?
Across 4 published quotes we track, breast augmentation in South Korea runs $4,755–$15,000, with a typical range of $8,790–$10,794 — roughly -22% below an indicative US private price of about $8,000. Always confirm what a quote includes — the headline figure rarely covers everything.
Is Korea good for breast augmentation?
"Good" depends on the specific clinic and surgeon, not the destination. South Korea has highly experienced plastic surgery providers, but quality varies widely — which is why we score every clinic on a published transparency index and show what's verifiable (accreditation, named surgeons, sources) and what's missing, so you judge a provider rather than a country.
Which country is best for breast augmentation?
We don't crown a single "best" or "cheapest" country — quality lives at the clinic level, not the border. For breast augmentation, South Korea is a major destination with tracked prices of $8,790–$10,794; compare it head-to-head with other destinations on our comparison pages and rank individual clinics by the MedTraveling Transparency Index rather than trusting a national reputation.
How long to stay in Korea for a boob job?
For breast augmentation, most people are back to everyday activities in about 2–6 weeks, with fuller results developing over 2–3 months. Plan your trip and any follow-up around that, and confirm in writing who manages aftercare once you're back home.