🇰🇷 South Korea · Plastic surgery
Liposuction in South Korea
Surgical removal of localised fat deposits to reshape and contour the body.
Researched & fact-checked by the MedTraveling editorial teamLast reviewed 21 June 202638 sourced referencesNo rankings or leads sold
P L Chadwick / geographorguk · BY-SA- Typical price
- $1,261–$4,744
- Clinics tracked
- 25
- Recovery
- 2–6 weeks
- Final results
- 2–3 months
Why South Korea for liposuction
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 liposuction in South Korea safe?
The single most-asked question — answered straight, with what to verify rather than reassurance.
Liposuction 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 liposuction involves
Liposuction removes stubborn, diet-resistant fat from areas such as the abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms or chin to refine the body's contour. It is a shaping procedure, not a weight-loss method, and works best on patients near their target weight with good skin elasticity.
Modern techniques — including VASER (ultrasound-assisted) and laser-assisted methods — can improve precision and skin retraction. It is frequently combined with other procedures (such as a tummy tuck or BBL) and is widely offered to travel patients, where the priority should be a properly accredited facility and an experienced surgeon to avoid contour irregularities.
Why people seek it
- Removes stubborn fat deposits
- Reshapes and contours the body
- Pairs with other body procedures
- Defined, sculpted result
Techniques & options
Tumescent liposuction
Fluid is injected to firm the area and reduce bleeding before suction — the standard method.
VASER (ultrasound-assisted)
Ultrasound liquefies fat for more precise removal and better skin retraction; used for definition.
Laser-assisted
Laser energy melts fat and may stimulate some skin tightening.
Power-assisted (PAL)
A vibrating cannula eases removal of larger or fibrous fat volumes.
The treatment process
- 1Consultation and marking of treatment areas
- 2Anaesthesia (local, sedation or general by extent)
- 3Tumescent fluid infiltration
- 4Fat removal via cannula through tiny incisions
- 5Compression garment applied
Recovery timeline
Week 1
Bruising, swelling and soreness; compression garment worn continuously.
Weeks 2–6
Return to light activity; swelling gradually subsides.
Months 1–3
Contour refines as swelling resolves; final shape emerges.
Liposuction 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
$1,261–$4,744
Full spread $573–$12,800 across 6 provider quotes
Prices are published provider figures, not personalised quotes. Confirm inclusions directly.
South Korea (typical)
$3,000
$570–$12,800
Home (indicative)
$7,000
typical private price
You could save
$4,000
≈ 57% less
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HERSHE Plastic Surgery Korea | $573–$1,718 | surgery | Provider-stated |
| I.KNOW.U Plastic Surgery Clinic | $937 | surgery, VAT | Verified |
| 365mc Liposuction Hospital | $1,171–$4,488 | surgery | Provider-stated |
| Wonjin Plastic Surgery (Wonjin Beauty Medical Group) | $1,350–$12,800 | procedure | Reported |
| Banobagi Plastic & Aesthetic Clinic | $2,040–$5,384 | surgery | Reported |
| BBAE Plastic Surgery Clinic | $5,000 | surgery | Reported |
What drives the price: Number and size of treated areas · Technique (VASER/laser vs standard) · Surgeon experience · Accredited facility · Whether combined with other procedures. See the full cost guide →
What's included in South Korea liposuction 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
- ✓procedure
- ✓VAT
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 liposuction in South Korea
25 tracked providers. Profiles list accreditation, named surgeons and sources.

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 $2,040–$5,384

JW Plastic Surgery Center
seoul
JW Plastic Surgery is a Gangnam cosmetic surgery clinic with more than two decades of operation, notable for rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty. Its lead surgeon Dr. Man Koon Suh is an internationally recognized rhinoplasty specialist and former president of the Korean Academic Association of Rhinoplasty Surgeons.

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

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.
from $1,350–$12,800

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.

Nana Plastic Surgery Hospital
seoul
Nana Plastic Surgery Hospital offers face and body plastic surgery plus dermatology, reported to have around 15 specialist doctors and in-house anesthesiologists. It serves a multilingual international clientele in Seoul.

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

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
from $5,000

Cinderella Plastic Surgery Clinic
seoul
Cinderella is a cosmetic clinic near Gangnam Station (Seocho-gu, Seoul) offering facial contouring, eyelid surgery and other aesthetic procedures.

Cheongdam Oracle Dermatology Clinic
seoul
Oracle Dermatology is Korea's largest dermatology network clinic, first opened in 2004, with its head office in Cheongdam, Gangnam, Seoul. It provides laser skin treatments, anti-aging, body contouring and scalp/hair therapy across many branches.

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.

Hyundai Aesthetics Plastic Surgery
seoul
Hyundai Aesthetics Plastic Surgery is located in the Sooil Building, Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is organized into specialist departments for eye, nose, lip, facial contouring, anti-aging, body-breast and dermatology, each led by its own surgeon. The clinic operates a safe-operation system with an anesthesiologist and serves international patients.

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.

Lydian Plastic Surgery
seoul
Lydian Plastic Surgery is a clinic on Nonhyeon-ro in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, best known for liposuction and body sculpting, including 5D body contouring and revision liposuction. It is led by Dr. Kyung Chun An, a body-contouring specialist with over 25 years of experience and a reported 20,000+ operations.

HERSHE Plastic Surgery Korea
seoul
A long-established Gangnam (Cheongdam) aesthetic-surgery clinic operating for over 30 years, focused on anti-aging facial surgery and minimally invasive techniques. It is staffed by long-tenured senior surgeons and serves a multinational patient base.
- ASPS member
- Seoul Mayor healthcare-provider certificate
from $573–$1,718

365mc Liposuction Hospital
seoul
A high-volume hospital group in Seocho-gu focused exclusively on fat reduction and liposuction, certified by Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare. It runs a dedicated foreigner team for interpretation and aftercare and prices liposuction by body part.
- Ministry of Health and Welfare certified
from $1,171–$4,488

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 $937
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.
Liposuction 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
- ›How many areas are you treating and what volume of fat is expected?
- ›Which technique do you recommend and why?
- ›Is my skin elasticity good enough to avoid loose skin?
- ›Is this done in an accredited facility with appropriate anaesthesia?
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
- Contour irregularities or lumpiness
- Loose skin if elasticity is poor
- Fluid accumulation (seroma)
- Numbness
- Asymmetry
Take this with you
Everything to carry into a consultation — yours to print, no sign-up.
Patient decision kit
Liposuction in South Korea — take this with you
Yours to keep. No sign-up, no contact details, nothing sold.
Questions to ask
- How many areas are you treating and what volume of fat is expected?
- Which technique do you recommend and why?
- Is my skin elasticity good enough to avoid loose skin?
- Is this done in an accredited facility with appropriate anaesthesia?
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 is liposuction in South Korea?
Across 6 published quotes we track, liposuction in South Korea runs $573–$12,800, with a typical range of $1,261–$4,744 — roughly 57% below an indicative US private price of about $7,000. Always confirm what a quote includes — the headline figure rarely covers everything.
Which country is the best for liposuction surgery?
We don't crown a single "best" or "cheapest" country — quality lives at the clinic level, not the border. For liposuction, South Korea is a major destination with tracked prices of $1,261–$4,744; 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.
Is it worth going to South Korea for plastic surgery?
"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.
How long to stay in Korea for liposuction?
For liposuction, 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.