Rhinoplasty in Seoul: 2026 Prices and Clinics for U.S. Patients
Seoul's Gangnam clinics are known for augmentation rhinoplasty, which builds up the bridge and refines the tip. Plan one trip of 9 to 10 days: the splint comes off after about a week.
Flights and extra hotel nights are not included in either price. Final quotes depend on your case.
Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) clinics in Seoul: prices and independent ratings
Prices are each clinic's own quoted range in USD, as of October 2026. Ratings come from independent review platforms and link to the source.
| Clinic | Price | Independent ratings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAERO Plastic Surgery xcuro partner Seoul | $1,187 - $1,330 | ||
| Lienjang xcuro partner Seoul | From $2,200 | ||
| JK Plastic Surgery xcuro partner Seoul · ISO 9001, KAHF | $2,518 - $4,400 | ||
| VG Plastic Surgery xcuro partner Seoul | $3,500 - $6,800 | ||
| ID Plastic Surgery xcuro partner Seoul | From $4,500 | ||
| INIQUÉ Plastic Surgery Clinic xcuro partner Seoul | From $7,500 |
How clinics get listed: our methodology. Clinics do not pay for position on this page.Compare the clinics side by side.
Your trip, day by day
Typical, from the “Your trip for rhinoplasty” section of this guide; plan on 9 to 10 days in Seoul. Your clinic’s schedule may differ — ask for it in writing.
- Day 1Arrive. Consultation with the surgeon who will operate; agree in writing on the materials: your own cartilage, an implant, or both.
- Day 2Surgery, about 1.5 to 3 hours; you may stay a night (NHS).
- Day 3–7Splint and tape on the nose, breathing through your mouth, swelling and bruising around the eyes. Rest near the clinic.
- Day 8Splint and stitches off at the clinic; photos and aftercare instructions.
- Day 9–10Last check, then fly home with your operative notes and the name and type of any implant.
Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) in Seoul: pros and cons for U.S. patients
- Gangnam clinics specialize in augmentation and Asian rhinoplasty.
- A single trip of 9 to 10 days is usually enough.
- Clinics sit within a few subway stops, so you can compare surgeons in person.
- You can ask for the surgery to be filmed under Korea's CCTV law.
- The final shape takes up to 6 months, long after you are home.
- Busy clinics may route you through coordinators: insist on meeting the surgeon.
- Follow-up happens at home, and complications may not be covered by U.S. insurance (CDC).
How xcuro works
- Free for you
You don't pay xcuro anything. If you go ahead with treatment at an xcuro partner clinic, that clinic pays us a referral fee.
- Rankings aren't for sale
Clinics can't pay to be listed, to appear higher or to change their reviews.
- Ratings you can check
Clinic ratings come from Google and Trustpilot, and each one links to its source.
- Prices with sources
Every U.S. price we compare against names its source. Your own quote comes from the clinic in writing.
Rhinoplasty in Seoul: what to expect
A nose job in Seoul is often an augmentation: building up a low bridge and refining the tip, sometimes with an implant on the bridge and cartilage from the septum, ear or rib for the tip. U.S. patients come for this style, for revisions of an earlier nose job, and because many clinics combine it with eyelid surgery in the same trip. Americans are a growing group: 173,000 U.S. patients came to Korea in 2025, up 70.4% on 2024, and 9.3% of them came for plastic surgery (Ministry of Health and Welfare).
Getting to Seoul from the U.S.
Nonstop flights land at Incheon (ICN). Typical nonstop times: Seattle 12h 03m (Kayak), San Francisco 12h 59m (Kayak), Los Angeles 13h 26m (Kayak), Chicago 15h 04m (Kayak), Dallas 15h 20m (Kayak), New York 15h 43m (Kayak) and Atlanta 15h 57m (Kayak).
The AREX express train reaches Seoul Station in about 43 minutes from Terminal 1 and 51 from Terminal 2 (VisitKorea), but Seoul Station is not in Gangnam, so you would change to the subway or a taxi there. For Gangnam, the airport limousine bus is more direct: route 6020 stops at Gangnam Station and Yeoksam, and 6703 runs to Gangnam and COEX (Incheon Airport). Many clinics also arrange a pickup.
Where the clinics are
All six Seoul clinics on xcuro's list are in Gangnam-gu or next-door Seocho-gu, along the strip from Sinsa and Apgujeong down to Gangnam Station: ID Plastic Surgery is by Sinsa Station, JK on Nonhyeon-ro in the Apgujeong area, SAERO by Sinnonhyeon Station and Lienjang in Gangnam Tower on Gangnam-daero. INIQUÉ and VG are also in Gangnam-gu. If you compare several surgeons in person, staying around Sinsa or Gangnam Station keeps every consultation within a short subway ride.
Your trip for rhinoplasty
Plan one trip of 9 to 10 days. The splint stays on for about 7 days and stitches come out after about a week (NHS), and ASPS suggests waiting 7 to 10 days before flying after facial surgery (ASPS).
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive. Consultation with the surgeon who will operate; agree in writing on the materials: your own cartilage, an implant, or both. |
| Day 2 | Surgery, about 1.5 to 3 hours; you may stay a night (NHS). |
| Day 3–7 | Splint and tape on the nose, breathing through your mouth, swelling and bruising around the eyes. Rest near the clinic. |
| Day 8 | Splint and stitches off at the clinic; photos and aftercare instructions. |
| Day 9–10 | Last check, then fly home with your operative notes and the name and type of any implant. |
What can go wrong
The NHS lists permanent breathing difficulty, damage to the wall between the nostrils, a changed sense of smell and heavy nosebleeds; swelling can take up to 6 months to settle fully (NHS). If an implant is used, ask what happens if it ever has to come out, and who pays for a revision. Because the final shape takes months, plan how you will be seen at home after the trip.
Is Seoul safe for this surgery?
The U.S. State Department rates South Korea Level 1, the lowest level: “Exercise normal precautions in the Republic of Korea.” It adds that “large-scale demonstrations may occur with little notice” (State Department, May 27, 2025). The legal protections for foreign patients are explained in Is It Safe to Get Plastic Surgery in South Korea?, and travel basics in our Seoul city guide.
How to check a clinic and surgeon in Seoul
- The clinic: find it on Medical Korea's list of registered hospitals; a clinic that treats foreign patients must register, employ at least one specialist in each department serving them and carry malpractice insurance (law, art. 6).
- The surgeon: look the name up in the member search of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.
- Who operates: Korean law requires the consent form to name the principal surgeon and any change to be explained in writing (Medical Service Act, art. 24-2).
- CCTV: since September 25, 2023, clinics operating under general anesthesia or sedation must have operating-room cameras and film the surgery if you ask; footage is kept at least 30 days (Ministry of Health and Welfare).
In busy rhinoplasty clinics, the consultation is sometimes done by a coordinator. Make sure you meet the surgeon before the day of surgery and that the same name is on the consent form. See our questions to ask a plastic surgeon.
Recovery and the flight home
A taped nose and bruised eyes make public transport tiring, so stay within walking distance or a short taxi ride of your clinic. Bring a written prescription for your medicines. For prices and techniques, read our rhinoplasty in Korea guide and the U.S. cost of rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) doctors in Seoul
Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) before & after: surgeons in Seoul
Results from surgeons listed on xcuro. Individual results vary; ask your surgeon for results in patients similar to you.
If something goes wrong after rhinoplasty (nose job) in South Korea
Emergency? In the U.S., call 911; in South Korea, call 119 (ambulance); 112 (police). Then tell the clinic in writing.
Get help now if you notice these after cosmetic surgery
- Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or a racing heart: call 911 (possible blood clot).
- Confusion, clammy skin, fever with shivering or extreme pain: call 911 (possible sepsis).
- Swelling, pain, warmth or redness in one leg: see a doctor the same day.
- Increasing redness, swelling, or yellow or green drainage at an incision, or a fever of 100°F or higher: call your surgeon today.
- Sudden swelling of one breast or a collection of fluid or blood under the skin: call your surgeon today.
Where to complain in South Korea
- Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency (K-MEDI): Mediation and arbitration of medical disputes, including for foreign patients living abroad.Download the application form and annexed paper from K-MEDI's English site, sign them, and email them as PDFs. Documents must be in Korean, or in English with a Korean translation. K-MEDI asks for Korean bank details for refunds and does not cover exchange losses for foreign accounts.
- Medical Korea call center (Korea Health Industry Development Institute, KHIDI): Registers foreign patients' complaints about Korean healthcare providers and medical disputes, and gives basic consulting after a medical accident.1577-7129 in Korea, +82-1577-7129 from abroad; 24 hours, in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian and Arabic (per KHIDI).
The U.S. embassy keeps a list of local doctors and hospitals.
What to do if something goes wrong: the full guide for U.S. patients →
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need to stay in Seoul after a nose job?
About 9 to 10 days. The splint stays on for about 7 days (<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/nose-reshaping-rhinoplasty/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">NHS</a>), and ASPS suggests waiting 7 to 10 days before flying after facial surgery (<a href="https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/briefing-papers/briefing-paper-cosmetic-surgery-tourism" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ASPS</a>).
Is revision rhinoplasty done in Seoul?
Yes, many Gangnam clinics offer it. It is more complex than a first nose job, so ask how many revisions the surgeon does a year and exactly what the quote includes.
Where is the best area in Seoul for rhinoplasty?
Most clinics are in Gangnam: around Sinsa and Apgujeong, and near Gangnam and Sinnonhyeon stations. Choose the surgeon first, then stay near that clinic.
Is rhinoplasty in Seoul safe for Americans?
The State Department rates South Korea Level 1, “Exercise normal precautions” (<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/south-korea-travel-advisory.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">State Department</a>). Check that the clinic is on Medical Korea's <a href="https://www.medicalkorea.or.kr/en/registeredhospitals" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">list of registered hospitals</a> and that the consent form names your surgeon.
When will I see the final result?
It can take up to 6 months for the swelling to go down completely (<a href="https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/nose-reshaping-rhinoplasty/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">NHS</a>).
Getting to South Korea from the U.S.
Visa. U.S. passport holders do not need a K-ETA through 31 December 2026; an electronic Arrival Card is required instead. From 1 January 2027 the K-ETA requirement returns, so check the official portal before you book.Official source.
Flights and time zone. Nonstop service to Seoul from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, New York and Washington. West-coast flights run about 13 hours, east-coast about 14 to 15.
U.S. State Department advisory. Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions. The advisory notes that large demonstrations can occur with little notice.Read the advisory.
Before you travel: what the CDC recommends
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes guidance for Americans traveling abroad for medical care. These are its recommendations, not ours.
- Check the qualifications of the clinician who will perform the procedure and the credentials of the facility.
- Bring copies of your medical records, including lab and other test results related to your condition.
- Make sure you can get follow-up care in the United States. Care for complications can be expensive and might not be covered by your health insurance.
- Obtain international travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation back to the United States.
- See your own healthcare provider 4–6 weeks before the trip to discuss risks specific to your health.
Sources
- Foreign patients in 2025 (press release, in Korean) — Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea
- Seattle to Seoul Incheon: nonstop flight time and airlines — Kayak
- San Francisco to Seoul Incheon: nonstop flight time and airlines — Kayak
- Los Angeles to Seoul Incheon: nonstop flight time and airlines — Kayak
- Chicago to Seoul Incheon: nonstop flight time and airlines — Kayak
- Dallas/Fort Worth to Seoul Incheon: nonstop flight time and airlines — Kayak
- New York to Seoul Incheon: nonstop flight time and airlines — Kayak
- Atlanta to Seoul Incheon: nonstop flight time and airlines — Kayak
- Airport transportation guide (AREX travel times) — Korea Tourism Organization (VisitKorea)
- Bus search: airport limousine routes 6020 and 6703 — Incheon International Airport
- Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) — NHS
- Cosmetic surgery tourism briefing paper — American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- South Korea Travel Advisory (Level 1, May 27, 2025) — U.S. Department of State
- Registered hospitals — Medical Korea (KHIDI)
- Act on Overseas Expansion of Medical Services and Attraction of International Patients (art. 6) — Korea Legislation Research Institute
- Search member — Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
- Medical Service Act (arts. 24-2, 38-2) — Korea Legislation Research Institute
- Operating-room CCTV rules take effect September 25, 2023 (in Korean) — Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea
Read before you decide
Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) in other cities, and more in Seoul
More cost guides for U.S. patients
What the research shows about rhinoplasty outcomes and safety
13 peer-reviewed sourcesRhinoplasty is among the most studied facial procedures, with a growing body of systematic reviews and meta-analyses comparing surgical techniques, graft materials, and approaches. Evidence consistently shows high patient satisfaction and measurable gains in quality of life when surgery is well planned and matched to realistic expectations, while also documenting revision rates and the functional impact on breathing and smell. The studies below span aesthetic and functional outcomes, open versus closed techniques, preservation versus structural methods, and psychosocial considerations. Because the nose serves both appearance and airflow, the best results come from procedures that protect or improve nasal function as well as shape. Outcomes depend heavily on surgeon experience and individual anatomy, so these findings describe general trends rather than guaranteed results.
- Preservation rhinoplasty versus conventional structural reduction: a systematic review
- Piezoelectric Versus Conventional Rhinoplasty: A GRADE-assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Does Dorsal Preservation Rhinoplasty Preserve Nasal Airway Function? A Systematic Review
- Complications Associated With Polycaprolactone (PCL) Use in Septorhinoplasty: A Systematic Review
- Fresh Frozen vs Autologous Costal Cartilage in Rhinoplasty: A Meta-Analysis of Complications
Compiled from peer-reviewed medical literature indexed on PubMed. This overview is for general education and is not medical advice. · Last updated 2026-06-15