Grand Plastic Surgery · Lee Se-hwan Analysis Report

Key Insights

Hospital Scale & System

Grand Plastic Surgery is a large-scale clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, known for its extensive facilities (formerly a 21-story building) and a comprehensive one-stop medical system with specialized centers.

Director Lee Se-hwan

A board-certified plastic surgeon from Hanyang University, Dr. Lee Se-hwan currently leads Grand Plastic Surgery. He has international training and expertise in diverse surgical fields, recently featured in The Washington Post.

Core Procedures & Safety

Specializes in facial contouring, breast surgery, anti-aging (Deep Plane Facelift), and revision eye/nose surgery. Emphasizes university-hospital-grade safety equipment and permanent anesthesiologist presence.

Reputation & Past Controversy

Impacted by a past "ghost surgery" scandal, the clinic now focuses on trust restoration through "real-name surgery" and "CCTV observation." Online, systematic operations are praised while past issues remain a concern.

Director Lee Se-hwan Profile

Education & Career

Graduated from Hanyang University College of Medicine.
Completed Master's and Ph.D. courses at Hanyang University Graduate School.
Board-certified plastic surgeon at Hanyang University Hospital.
Served as a consultant and adjunct professor at Hanyang University Hospital, Plastic Surgery Department.
Completed training at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Northwestern University Hospital, Chicago, USA.

Expertise & Activities

Extensive surgical experience in facial contouring, breast, eye/nose, and anti-aging (lifting).
Active member of Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, etc.
Former Academic Chair of Minimally Invasive Plastic Surgery Research Group.
Interviewed by *The Washington Post* on Korea's plastic surgery trends.

Medical Philosophy

“ "A doctor's most important virtue is skill," and expressed his philosophy that a doctor's duty is to accurately identify and resolve the patient's problems. ”

Hospital Overview & Infrastructure

Establishment & Scale

Grand Plastic Surgery opened in April 2004 and is located in a key hub for medical tourism in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Around 2013, it boasted Korea's largest single plastic surgery building (4,300㎡, 6 underground to 15 above-ground floors). Currently located on Nonhyeon-ro, it maintains large-scale facilities.

Global Medical Services

It is also active in attracting foreign patients, providing dedicated coordinators and interpretation services for patients of various nationalities, including English-speaking countries, China, Japan, Russia, Vietnam, and Mongolia. This contributed to establishing it as one of the major hospitals leading the "Plastic Surgery Hallyu."

Medical System & Safety Facilities

**One-Stop Total Medical System**: Equipped with a system where everything from consultation to surgery, recovery, and post-discharge care takes place in one location.
**Interdisciplinary Cooperation**: Operates a cooperative system with resident specialists not only in plastic surgery but also in oral and maxillofacial surgery, anesthesiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, and internal medicine.
**Safety Infrastructure**: Created an environment capable of responding to emergencies by being fully equipped with uninterruptible power supply (UPS) self-generation systems, automated external defibrillators (AED), and advanced monitoring equipment.
**Anesthesiologists**: Permanently stationed for all general anesthesia procedures.

Major Procedures & Clinical Characteristics

Facial Contouring & Orthognathic Surgery

**3D Malar Rotation**: A technique pioneering cheekbone rotation to minimize sagging and enhance dimensionality.
**Ensuring Safety**: Precise analysis using 3D-CT to identify nerve pathways, pursuing simultaneous functional and aesthetic improvements through collaboration with oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Anti-aging & Lifting

**Deep Plane Face Lift**: A high-difficulty surgery dissecting and pulling layers deeper than the SMAS layer, a focus area for Director Lee Se-hwan.
**Minimally Invasive Procedures**: Maximizes anti-aging effects by combining non-surgical lifting devices such as Thermage and Ulthera with fat grafting.

Eye/Nose Surgery & Revision

**Customized Design**: Aims for 1:1 customized surgery tailored to individual facial proportions, emphasizing expertise in revision surgery as "The Last Surgery."
**Functional Rhinoplasty**: Performs surgeries that resolve functional problems such as deviated septum along with aesthetic improvements.

Breast & Body Contouring

Performs breast augmentation using implants, as well as correction of sagging breasts and reduction surgeries.
**Safety**: These procedures requiring general anesthesia are conducted safely under the constant presence of an anesthesiologist.

Reputation Analysis

Positive Factors & Strengths

**Systematic System**: As a large hospital, it receives positive evaluations for its division of labor and systematic approach to consultation, examination, surgery, and post-operative care.
**Rich Clinical Experience**: Numerous surgical cases and data accumulated over a long period of operation support the proficiency of the medical staff. In particular, Director Lee Se-hwan is recognized for his expertise through academic activities and overseas training experience.
**Global Awareness**: It is still perceived by foreign patients as one of the plastic surgery clinics representing Korea and possesses high brand awareness.

Considerations & Risks

**Stigma of Past Events**: The "Ghost Surgery" incident is still discussed in online communities and blacklists, acting as a factor that causes hesitation in choosing the hospital. Some consumers perceive it as a "factory-style hospital" and express anxiety about surrogate surgeries.
**Polarization of Ratings**: Evaluations on aesthetic medical platforms such as Sungyesa and Gangnam Unni are mixed. While there are reviews satisfied with the facilities and kindness, there are also complaints about consultation and surgical results, or opinions that it falls short of expectations compared to its past reputation.

Current Responses

**Introduction of Real-Name Surgery System**: Operates a system guaranteeing that the doctor who consulted performs the surgery personally.
**CCTV Observation System**: Making efforts to fundamentally block suspicions of surrogate surgery through CCTV recording and observation of the operating room.
**Safety First Policy**: Continuously promoting the constant presence of anesthesiologists and possession of university-hospital-grade safety equipment to build an image of "safe plastic surgery."

Conclusion

Grand Plastic Surgery is a symbolic hospital that led the industrialization of Korean plastic surgery, but it also shares a history of causing major social repercussions due to medical ethics issues. Under the current leadership of Representative Director Lee Se-hwan, the hospital is seeking a resurgence by clearing the stigma of "ghost surgeries" from the era of former Director Yoo Sang-wook, utilizing advanced medical technologies (deep plane face lift, 3D malar rotation, etc.) and reinforced safety systems (real-name surgery system, CCTV).

From an academic perspective, Grand Plastic Surgery is a case study that simultaneously demonstrates the **advantages (efficiency, advanced equipment, interdisciplinary cooperation) and disadvantages (past ethical laxity, concerns about factory-style treatment) of a "corporate-type medical institution" where large-scale capital and medical technology are combined**. From a patient's perspective, there is the advantage of utilizing the hospital's excellent infrastructure and Director Lee Se-hwan's expertise. However, considering the past history, a cautious approach, such as clearly verifying whether the operating surgeon takes responsibility for the treatment, is recommended.

Trust Restoration

Dedicated efforts to rebuild patient trust through transparent systems and ethical practices.

Advanced Techniques

Continued commitment to innovative and complex surgical procedures, maintaining high standards.

Patient Safety

Prioritizing patient well-being with university-hospital-grade equipment and constant professional oversight.