Close Menu
Surgical Times
    X (Twitter) Instagram TikTok
    Surgical Times
    • The Pulse
    • Under the Knife
    • Daily Chart
    • Cutting Edge
    • Doc Talk
    Thursday • May 29, 2025
    Surgical Times
    Home»Under the Knife

    In South Korea, Embassy Warns of Plastic Surgery Risks, ‘Failures and Even Fatalities’

    Chinese embassy in Seoul, South Korea, warns of failures, fatalities, stand-in surgeons, and facial changes so significant they can cause immigration difficulty in returning home.
    By Surgical TimesJanuary 22, 2024

    The Chinese embassy in Seoul, South Korea is warning citizens of the risks involved in undergoing plastic surgery in South Korea, which it says range from death, to deceptive advertising, to medical disputes.

    It cautions visitors also against “ghost surgeries,” wherein assistants, non-healthcare providers, or others stand-in in place of a licensed medical professional.

    It also speaks of surgery that changes one’s appearance so significantly that it can affect immigration procedures, and advises that proof of surgery be brought with one prior to traveling, if still in the recovery phase.

    Visitors are advised to get surgery by professional plastic surgeons, such as members of The Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons.

    South Korea is a popular destination for medical tourists, most of whom come from China and the United States, seeking less costly cosmetic surgery.

    That fact has led to medical disputes, “surgery failures and even fatalities,” the Embassy warned.

    The Embassy’s note to the public reportedly follows the death this month of a Chinese woman who underwent liposuction surgery at a clinic in Seoul’s Gangnam District, Reuters reports.

    The Embassy’s warning suggests visitors:

    • “Avoid blindly following advertising.”
    • “Choose intermediaries carefully.”
    • “Choose formal medical institutions and professional plastic surgeons.”
    • “Strictly standardize the diagnosis and treatment process,” such as by singing a contract prior to surgery that stipulates who the surgeon is, what results are expected, who’s liable for breaches of contract, and what resolution options are in place.
    • “When medical disputes occur, rationally safeguard [your] rights through legitimate channels,” by using such avenues as negotiating with the hospital, legal proceedings, or arbitration through the Korean Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Court.

    “If your appearance changes significantly after surgery,” the Embassy notes, “or you are still in the recovery stage, you should bring proof of surgery when you leave the country and return to your country, so as not to affect your check-in or subsequent immigration procedures.”

    View the warning from the Chinese Embassy in South Korea here.

    Safety World
    Top News

    America’s Best Plastic Surgeons Announced

    Superior Court Strikes SLAPP Suit Brought by Surgery Center

    Breast Implant Statistics

    30 Months Removed, Woman’s Breast Implants Are Full of Mold

    Top Exclusives

    Death Prompts Public Dig Into Surgeon’s Past: Jessica Jones’s ‘Justice for Hillary’

    Infrared Saunas a ‘Catalyst’ for ‘Breast Implant Illness’ Healthcare CEO Says

    FDA Analysis: Top 10 Symptoms of BII, Reported Rate of Improvement Post Explant

    Surgeon Counters Claims he Botched Woman’s Nose, Deletes Bad Reviews

    Objective. Independent. Informative. Public interest reporting on the practice of plastic surgery not affiliated with or funded by any surgeon, device manufacturer, or practice.

    Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok Facebook YouTube Pinterest
    • Terms
    • Contact
    • Privacy

    © 2025 Surgical Times. All Rights Reserved.

    • Best Of
    • Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery
    • Breast Implants
    • Breast Implant Illness
    • Celebrities
    • Death
    • Ethics
    • Exclusive
    • Florida
    • Uplifting
    • Legal
    • Marketing
    • Mold
    • Money
    • Podcasts
    • Safety
    • Social
    • Statistics
    • Studies
    • Türkiye
    • U.S.
    • U.S. FDA
    • World
    • Press Releases

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.