Analysis Report

The Ciel Clinic

In-depth Analysis of Representative Director Lee Seung-yoon

#HandmadeLiposuction #AntiAgingExpert #CustomizedCare

Executive Summary

Key Figures

Representative Director Lee Seung-yoon is an authority in liposculpture (suction and grafting) and thread lifting. He is renowned for minimizing tissue damage and creating precise lines through 'Handmade Liposuction' technology that excludes mechanical vibration. He also serves as a Key Doctor and advisory committee member for the global filler brand Ellansé, participating in international medical protocol development.

Medical Philosophy

Under the philosophy of "Doing our best every moment to become artists beyond craftsmen," they avoid factory-type procedures and prioritize 1:1 customized design and safety. They earn high trust for their conscientious medical attitude of not recommending unnecessary procedures and dissuading patients from procedures expected to be ineffective.

Major Procedures

Face and body handmade liposuction, full-face fat grafting (pentagon face correction, etc.), premium lifting lasers such as Ulthera and Thermage, and Ellansé and Silhouette Soft lifting are core treatment subjects.

Reputation

They maintain a high rating in the mid-to-high 4-point range out of 5 on major cosmetic medical platforms such as Gangnam Unni, Modoodoc, and Sungyesa. Patient satisfaction is particularly high regarding "natural results" and "meticulous design."

Medical Staff In-depth Analysis

Representative Director Lee Seung-yoon

Education and Major Career:

  • Graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine (Seoul Campus)
  • Completed residency at Yonsei University Severance Hospital (Sinchon Main Branch)
  • Former director at TL Plastic Surgery

Areas of Expertise and Procedure Statistics:

  • Core areas: Liposuction & Fat Grafting, Thread Lifting
  • Over 10,000 liposuction surgeries alone (as of 2023)
  • Lectures on at the Korean Academy of Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine
  • Key Doctor for 'Ellansé' and member of Asia-Pacific Advisory Board (ICE)

Procedure Style and Characteristics:

Adheres to the 'Handmade' method, not relying on machines. Famous for firmly refusing procedures if no effect or if there are concerns about side effects during consultation. Prioritizes patient welfare by reducing unnecessary expenditure and physical burden.

Representative Director Choi Min-hee

Education and Major Career:

  • Graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine
  • Trained at Severance Hospital
  • Former director of Picasso Dermatology

Medical Philosophy: "Direct Empiricism"

Her biggest characteristic is the principle of "recommending only procedures I have received myself." She personally undergoes all procedures offered, such as Thermage, Ulthera, and thread lifting, to verify pain, downtime, and effectiveness. This allows her to provide realistic advice and empathy based on actual experience.

Hospital Information

Location & Brand Identity

The Ciel Clinic is located on the 3rd floor of the Sangwon Building, 436 Apgujeong-ro (Cheongdam-dong), Gangnam-gu, Seoul, within the prestigious Cheongdam-dong Luxury Street. This prime location, corresponding to the Saint Laurent building, emphasizes the hospital's 'premium' and 'luxury' brand image. The interior features high-end decor, designed to provide a private and comfortable resting space for patients.

Establishment Background and Operational Structure

Opened around September 2014 by Drs. Lee Seung-yoon and Choi Min-hee, a married couple of doctors from Yonsei University. The clinic operates with a unique dual structure, leveraging their respective sub-specialties:

  • Liposculpture & Lifting Center: Dedicated by Representative Director Lee Seung-yoon, focusing on surgical skills for face/body liposuction, fat grafting, and thread lifting.
  • Skin & Anti-aging Center: Led by Representative Director Choi Min-hee, specializing in non-invasive lifting and skin improvement procedures such as Ulthera, Thermage, lasers, Botox, and skin boosters.

This collaborative model maximizes synergy between surgical and dermatological procedures, providing total anti-aging solutions.

Medical Philosophy: Craftsmanship and Honesty

The Ciel Clinic's slogan, "Working with craftsmanship, doing our best every moment to become artists beyond craftsmen," embodies their pursuit of aesthetic design tailored to each patient's unique face and body. Inheriting Yonsei University's academic tradition, they strictly avoid unverified procedures, prioritize genuine tips, and adhere to safety regulations.

Through their YouTube channel 'Dr. Ciel,' they transparently disclose procedure side effects and limitations, engaging in honest marketing that sets realistic patient expectations.

"Doing our best every moment to become artists beyond craftsmen."

— The Ciel Clinic's Philosophy

Key Procedures and Technical Advantages

Handmade Liposuction

The Ciel Clinic's signature 'Handmade Liposuction' involves the doctor directly manipulating a micro-cannula to extract fat, without using a vibration machine (PAL).

  • Limitations of Mechanical Suction: While fast, mechanical suction struggles with delicate sculpting and carries higher risks of tissue damage, bleeding, and unevenness.
  • Advantages of Handmade: Dr. Lee Seung-yoon precisely removes subcutaneous fat layer-by-layer. Though more time and physically demanding, it minimizes bruising, swelling, and ensures a smooth skin surface.

Application Area: Pentagon Face Correction
This concept addresses the characteristic 'pentagonal' face shape (developed cheekbones, square jaws) common in Korean faces. Dr. Lee uses handmade liposuction to precisely remove fat from prominent cheekbones and jawlines, and grafts fat into sunken temples or front cheeks to refine the angular face into a soft, egg shape. It effectively reduces facial size and defines lines without bone-shaving surgery.

Image Placeholder: Handmade Liposuction Illustration

Image Placeholder: Fat Grafting Diagram

Premium Fat Grafting

The Ciel's fat grafting protocol prioritizes naturalness over excessive injection.

  • Fresh Fat Use Principle: Prefers using fat immediately refined after harvesting rather than frozen fat to maximize survival rates.
  • Design Philosophy: Volumizes sunken areas (forehead, front cheekbones, nasolabial folds) by injecting minutely, layer-by-layer, ensuring the face does not appear artificially 'plastic surgery-like.' Patient reviews frequently praise the "natural and satisfying" results after initial swelling subsides.

Anti-aging Lifting

The Lifting Center, led by Director Choi Min-hee, specializes in advanced lifting procedures.

Ulthera & Thermage FLX:

  • Genuine Tip Guarantee: Strictly excludes illegal recycled tips, operating a transparent process where patients verify the opening and completion of genuine tips.
  • Pain Management and Protocol: Based on Director Choi's direct experience, energy levels and shot counts are custom-designed for each individual to maximize effects while minimizing discomfort.

Ellansé and Silhouette Soft:

  • As a Key Doctor recognized by Ellansé headquarters, Director Lee Seung-yoon focuses on natural aging restoration through collagen production, beyond simple volume augmentation.
  • Heart Line Procedure: Applies Ellansé to create a 'Heart Line' design, yielding a youthful effect by making the mid-face appear shorter and more three-dimensional.
  • His deep understanding extends to participating in Ellansé's new lifting program launch and guidebook production.

Image Placeholder: Lifting Procedures

Reputation and Patient Analysis

Analysis of Reviews on Major Platforms

Gangnam Unni & Yeoshin Ticket:

  • Rating: Maintains high satisfaction levels with an average of 4.1~4.5 points out of 5.
  • Positive Feedback: Common praises include "The director designs meticulously," "Unlike factory-type hospitals, they provide meticulous 1:1 care," and "No excessive recommendations." Director Choi Min-hee's consultations are especially well-regarded for accurately pinpointing troubled areas.
  • Procedure Volume: Over 250 procedure reviews and over 165 reviews specifically for Director Lee Seung-yoon on the Gangnam Unni app indicate active treatment.

Sungyesa (Plastic Surgery Community):

  • Real Reviews: Known for more objective evaluations. "Naedonnaesan (My money, my purchase)" reviews note: "I chose after researching for 2 years" and "It's expensive, but I'm satisfied because it's natural without side effects."
  • Mention of Precautions: Experienced users advise that "It suits people who pursue naturalness rather than dramatic changes" and "Do not be greedy during the 2nd procedure," indicating suitability for patients seeking safe, natural improvement over flashy results.

YouTube Channel 'Dr. CL'

The Ciel Clinic's YouTube channel, 'Dr. CL,' boasts approximately 18.3k subscribers and over 360 uploaded videos, serving as a significant platform for transparent communication.

  • Content Features: Dominantly features honest content that informs patients, such as "Do not do fat grafting on this kind of face" and "The truth about Ulthera upgrade version."
  • Videos where Director Lee Seung-yoon explains "3 types that hit the jackpot with fat grafting" or clearly outlines cases where procedures would be ineffective have garnered high views, significantly enhancing the clinic's credibility.

"The transparency offered through 'Dr. CL' ensures patients make informed decisions, building profound trust."

Conclusion

The Ciel Clinic and Representative Director Lee Seung-yoon exemplify "High-end Medical Care Faithful to Basics." They cultivate a loyal patient base through high-difficulty manual procedures like Handmade Liposuction and a steadfastly honest medical philosophy, rather than relying on flashy marketing or low-price strategies.

This hospital is an optimal choice for individuals who:

  • Pursue natural beauty and strongly dislike any signs of having had plastic surgery.
  • Desire precise manual procedures and are concerned about potential side effects (irregularities, scars) of mechanical liposuction.
  • Seek an absolute guarantee on safety and the exclusive use of genuine products.
  • Require an accurate diagnosis and customized design tailored to their specific face shape (especially pentagonal or peanut-shaped faces).

Conversely, the clinic's approach may not align with patients seeking dramatic, bold changes at a low cost, or those desiring to remove a large amount of fat in a short timeframe. Director Lee Seung-yoon's medical style, characterized by a firm "what cannot be done, cannot be done," might elicit varied opinions, but ultimately stands as the strongest advantage for long-term patient safety and satisfaction.