Analysis Report

Atelier Plastic Surgery

Director Ko Joo-young In-depth Analysis

Artistic Plastic Surgery Patient Safety First Mommy Makeover Expertise

Key Highlights

Institution Overview

Atelier Plastic Surgery is a plastic surgery clinic located in Seorae Village, Seocho-gu, Seoul, operating under the philosophy of 'sublimating plastic surgery into art.' The clinic name 'Atelier' signifies an artist's workshop, reflecting the will to treat each patient's unique beauty like a work of art.

Director Expertise

Representative Director Ko Joo-young is a board-certified plastic surgeon who graduated from Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine and obtained a Ph.D. in Medicine from the same graduate school. As a former specialist and outpatient professor at Samsung Medical Center's Department of Plastic Surgery, she possesses extensive clinical experience in high-difficulty surgeries such as breast reconstruction and abdominoplasty. In particular, she aims for medical treatment that combines medical technology with artistic sense, based on her deep knowledge of Fine Arts.

Core Clinical Areas

The main clinical areas are breast surgery (augmentation, reduction, lift, revision) and body contouring (abdominoplasty, liposuction). The clinic shows particular strength in the 'Mommy Makeover' program, which restores physical changes in women after childbirth. Additionally, the clinic comprehensively performs eye surgery, anti-aging lifting, and female intimate surgery.

Safety & Aftercare

The clinic operates a one-person representative director dedicated treatment system with no ghost surgeries. Patient safety is prioritized through the presence of an anesthesiologist, a university-hospital-level sterilization system, and the installation of CCTVs in operating rooms. After surgery, a systematic aftercare program utilizing professional equipment such as Capsulitis and SmartLUX is provided to focus on rapid recovery and prevention of side effects.

Hospital Information

1.1 Origin of the Name and Brand Identity

Atelier Plastic Surgery was established by borrowing the concept of an 'Atelier,' a space where artists create works, going beyond the image of a general medical institution. This reflects Director Ko Joo-young's treatment philosophy of rediscovering and sculpting the inherent individuality and beauty of patients from an artistic perspective, beyond simple appearance improvement. The hospital aims to be a space where body and mind are healed beyond being a space for surgery or procedures, and this philosophy is projected throughout the hospital's interior and services.

1.2 Location and Spatial Characteristics

The clinic is located on the 1st floor of the Uin Building, 89 Donggwang-ro (Bangbae-dong), Seocho-gu, Seoul. Taking advantage of the geographical characteristics of Seorae Village, it provides a private and quiet environment, and being situated on the 1st floor with good lighting gives psychological stability. The interior uses modern design, wood textures, and white tones to create a cozy and calm atmosphere like a hotel lobby, intended to help patients relax and feel comfortable from the moment they enter. All consultation rooms, procedure rooms, and recovery rooms are operated on a strict reservation basis with private movement flows to protect patients' privacy.

Director Ko Joo-young: Profile

2.1 Education and Early Background: Convergence of Art and Medicine

Director Ko Joo-young showed artistic talent from childhood, winning awards in various art competitions and preparing for art school entrance exams. However, she entered medical school to realize her dream of becoming a doctor who heals people. She chose the path of a plastic surgeon after being impressed by Kliner's definition: "Plastic surgery is medicine and science, and because it pursues the ultimate in beauty, it is art." This background serves as the foundation for her approach to surgery not merely as a medical act, but as an artistic task dealing with the formative beauty of the human body.

2.2 Specialist Career and Academic Activities

Director Ko graduated from Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, trained at Samsung Medical Center, and obtained her board certification in plastic surgery. She later added academic depth by obtaining a Ph.D. in Plastic Surgery from the same graduate school.

  • Major Career:
    • Served as Specialist and Clinical Instructor at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center
    • Outpatient Professor, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
    • Advisor, Samsung Medical Center Biomedical Connect Center (BMCC)
    • Former Director at Wonjin Plastic Surgery, Apgujeong The Plastic Surgery, and DH Plastic Surgery
    • Training at MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA (Authority in Breast Reconstruction)
    • Training at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan (Microsurgery and Reconstruction)
  • Academic Achievements:
    • Awarded Best Paper by the Korean Society for Microsurgery
    • Published papers and presented at conferences in various fields including breast reconstruction, abdominoplasty, and female genital reconstruction
    • Books: Participated in writing "Latest Injection Therapies for Minimally Invasive Plastic Surgery Taught by Paper Factories and Key Doctors," etc.

2.3 Treatment Philosophy and Patient Communication

Director Ko has expressed her wish to be remembered as "a director who made me beautiful, regardless of result or process, and a trustworthy director." During consultations, she places importance on visualizing the patient's vague desire to become pretty into a specific medical plan. In particular, she uses 3D virtual plastic surgery systems (Crisalix) to predict surgical results and share them with patients, thereby relieving anxiety and building trust. Also, as a mother of two, she deeply empathizes with the physical changes women undergo due to childbirth and aging, aiming for 'empathy treatment' that helps restore confidence and provides psychological comfort beyond simple appearance improvement.

Major Clinical Areas & Procedures

Atelier Plastic Surgery offers a wide range of treatments, centering on breast and body contouring—Director Ko's specialties—as well as facial surgery and anti-aging procedures.

3.1 Breast Surgery

Director Ko has professionally handled breast reconstruction and surgery since her tenure at Samsung Medical Center, demonstrating outstanding expertise in cosmetic breast surgery based on this experience.

  • Breast Augmentation and Reduction: Implementation of natural shape and feel through customized implant selection considering the patient's body balance and precise dissection.
  • Breast Revision: Performing revision surgery through precise analysis of various causes such as capsular contracture, implant breakage, and dissatisfaction with shape. In particular, she carefully decides whether to remove the capsule depending on its condition and possesses know-how to minimize pain during revision surgery.
  • Nipple/Areola Surgery: Delicate correction resolving functional and cosmetic problems simultaneously.

3.2 Mommy Makeover & Body Contouring

A surgical program that restores a woman's body deformed after childbirth to its pre-pregnancy state. As a female doctor who has experienced childbirth herself, Director Ko deeply understands and approaches patients' concerns.

  • Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): Resecting sagging abdominal skin caused by pregnancy and childbirth and tightening separated rectus abdominis muscles to create a resilient waistline. It is also effective in improving existing scars such as C-section scars.
  • Sagging Breast Correction (Breast Lift): Lifting breasts that have sagged after breastfeeding and filling volume using implants if necessary.
  • Liposuction and Fat Grafting: Removing unnecessary fat and grafting it into areas needing volume to sculpt the overall body line.

3.3 Facial Surgery and Anti-aging

  • Eye Surgery: Pursuing natural lines considering individual eye characteristics, also handling revision cases.
  • Lifting and Petit Surgery: Providing non-surgical anti-aging solutions utilizing Ulthera, Pico Toning, fillers, Botox, and skin boosters (Rejuran, Radiesse, etc.).

3.4 Female Surgery (Intimate Surgery)

Director Ko, who has accumulated experience in female genital reconstruction surgery since her university hospital days, personally consults and operates. Procedures such as labiaplasty, which increase aesthetic satisfaction as well as functional improvement, are conducted in a private environment.

Medical System & Safety Management

Atelier Plastic Surgery guarantees patient safety throughout the entire surgical process through its 'Relief Management System.'

4.1 Surgical Safety System

  • Real-name System and Prevention of Ghost Surgery: All surgeries and procedures are performed directly by Representative Director Ko Joo-young, and CCTVs are installed in the operating room to fundamentally block anxiety about ghost surgeries (shadow doctors).
  • Anesthesia Safety: Equipped with university-hospital-level anesthesia equipment, and through a system where an anesthesia specialist resides or cooperates, the patient's vital signs are managed exclusively before and after surgery.
  • Sterilization and Disinfection: Operating a thorough sterilization system at the university hospital level to prevent infection.

4.2 Systematic Aftercare

Operating a customized management program for each period for fast recovery and optimal results after surgery.

  • Utilization of Professional Equipment:
    • SmartLUX: Suppresses pain and inflammation, promotes wound recovery.
    • Capsulitis: Equipment that aids micro-blood circulation after breast surgery and reduces swelling and bruising to prevent capsular contracture.
    • Picocare: Prevents pigmentation of surgical scars and manages scar tissue.
    • Omega Light: Skin regeneration and soothing effects.
    • Ultrasound Examination: Regularly checking implant status and the occurrence of seroma after breast surgery.
  • Management Schedule Example (Breast Surgery):
    • Day after surgery: Disinfection and SmartLUX care.
    • Weeks 1~2: Progress check, Capsulitis, Picocare laser management.
    • Months 2~6: Continuous scar laser and ultrasound examination.

Reputation & Patient Reviews

5.1 Patient Evaluations and Reviews

According to data from major plastic surgery communities and applications such as Sungyesa and Gangnam Unni, Atelier Plastic Surgery maintains a positive reputation.

5.2 Media and External Activities

Director Ko actively communicates with patients through the YouTube channel 'Da-Go-Cheo Go Won-jang TV'. On this channel, she shares correct information about plastic surgery, methods to prevent side effects, and actual surgical cases (e.g., reconstruction of defects caused by accidents), demonstrating sincerity as a doctor. She also delivers medical information on specialized fields such as Mommy Makeover to the public in an easy-to-understand manner through media contributions.

Conclusion

Atelier Plastic Surgery is a specialized medical institution combining Representative Director Ko Joo-young's solid medical background (Samsung Medical Center, Ph.D. in Medicine) and artistic sense. Its greatest strength is possessing both the systemic safety of a large hospital and the private, attentive care of a personal clinic.

In particular, in the fields of breast surgery and Mommy Makeover, the clinic has gained high trust from patients by demonstrating empathy and expertise as a female specialist. The treatment philosophy prioritizing patient safety and natural beauty over unreasonable surgeries, along with a thorough aftercare system, are analyzed as key factors establishing Atelier Plastic Surgery's differentiated position in the competitive Korean plastic surgery market.

Core Values

Artistic Vision & Medical Expertise Unwavering Patient Safety Empathetic, Personalized Care