Analysis Report

Labom Plastic Surgery

Representative Director Kim Tae-heon In-depth Analysis

Anti-aging Face Lift Stem Cell

Executive Summary

Specialized Focus

Labom Plastic Surgery specializes in anti-aging, face lifts, and innovative stem cell therapies in Seoul's competitive Apgujeong area.

Expert Leadership

Led by Representative Director Kim Tae-heon, a veteran plastic surgeon with over 30 years of experience, board-certified since 2002.

Signature Techniques

Renowned for his unique M.I.F.T. (Minimal Incision Face Lift) technique specifically designed for addressing "Indian folds."

Advanced Regenerative Medicine

Actively integrates stem cell research into procedures, aiming to enhance post-operative recovery and optimize fat graft engraftment rates.

Director Profile: Kim Tae-heon

Education & Qualifications

  • Medical License Acquisition: May 5, 1993
  • Board Certification (Plastic Surgery): February 28, 2002
  • Experience: Over 30 years in medicine, over 20 years as a specialist, classified as a 'Senior Doctor'.

Major Career & Academic Activities

  • Former Head of Plastic Surgery, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Daejeon Sun Medical Center
  • Former Representative Director, Seoul S1 Plastic Surgery Group
  • Current Representative Director, Labom Plastic Surgery Group & Director of Stem Cell Research Center
  • Regular Member, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
  • Regular Member, Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
  • Regular Member, International Confederation of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (IPRAS)
  • Regular Member, Korean Academy of Stem Cell Therapy

Areas of Expertise & Philosophy

Director Kim's core competencies are sharply focused on 'Anti-aging' and 'Facial Reconstruction'. He has established a unique domain in lifting surgeries that address sagging facial tissues due to aging, and in the intricate removal of "Indian folds", which demands a profound understanding of anatomical structures.

His leadership extends to serving as the director of the Labom Stem Cell Research Center, actively integrating biological agents into aesthetic procedures to pioneer advancements in regenerative plastic surgery.

Hospital Overview & Infrastructure

Basic Information & Location

Labom Plastic Surgery is strategically located on the 1st and 2nd floors of 842 Nonhyeon-ro (Sinsa-dong, Apgujeong Building) in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Its prime position near Apgujeong Station, a hub for plastic surgery clinics, ensures excellent accessibility. This facilitates the influx of not only domestic patients but also international medical tourists seeking specialized care.

Medical Philosophy & Operational System

Labom Plastic Surgery champions a '3-No Campaign', prioritizing patient safety and ethical treatment. This commitment includes the eradication of surrogate surgery (ghost/shadow doctors), avoidance of overtreatment, and an uncompromising stance on safety protocols. Transparency is upheld through the installation of CCTVs in operating rooms and a strict real-name system for medical staff.

Beyond conventional procedures, the clinic operates the 'Labom Stem Cell Research Center', actively incorporating regenerative medicine into plastic surgery. This scientific approach is geared towards enhancing post-operative recovery speeds and improving the engraftment rate of fat grafts.

Specialized Centers

Anti-aging Center

Face lift, forehead lift, neck lift, removal of Indian folds (mid-cheek grooves).

Eye/Nose Surgery Center

Functional rhinoplasty, revision surgery, upper/lower blepharoplasty.

Stem Cell Plastic Surgery Center

Stem cell fat grafting, skin regeneration.

Body/Breast Center

Liposuction, breast augmentation/reduction.

Key Procedures & Technical Differentiation

Signature Technique

M.I.F.T. (Indian Fold Removal)

M.I.F.T. (Mini Mid Face Lift) is a signature procedure developed and specialized by Director Kim Tae-heon. It's a mid-face lift aimed at fundamentally resolving 'Indian folds' (diagonal grooves under the cheekbones), which are often difficult to address with general fat grafting or fillers.

  • Technical Principle: Approaching through minimal incisions under the eyes or near the temples, the procedure dissects the retaining ligaments that cause Indian folds and repositions the sagging anterior malar fat pads to create a lifting effect.
  • Differentiation: Adopts a method of removing the anatomical cause (Lifting & Release) rather than a simple filling method, lowering the recurrence rate and aiming for natural, long-lasting results.
Foundation of Lifting

SMAS Face Lift

Regarding face lifts, Director Kim adheres to the traditional, comprehensive method of pulling not only the skin but also the underlying SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System) layer. This ensures a deeper, more effective, and longer-lasting lift.

  • Surgical Philosophy: Customized lifts are applied not only to patients in their 50s and 60s with advanced aging but also to patients in their 20s and 30s who experience sagging after facial contouring surgery, demonstrating versatility.
  • Approach: Emphasis is placed on minimizing incision lines in front of the ears and expertly hiding scars. The 'Deep Plane' concept is applied, involving the release of facial retaining ligaments to maximize the lifting effect and achieve natural rejuvenation.
Regenerative Aesthetics

Stem Cell Plastic Surgery

Through its in-house research center, Labom Plastic Surgery utilizes advanced stem cell technology. Stem cells are meticulously extracted from fat harvested during liposuction and are then integrated into fat grafting or skin regeneration procedures.

  • Benefits: This innovative approach significantly contributes to increasing the survival rate of grafted fat, ensuring more stable and lasting results. It also plays a crucial role in aiding the recovery process in the surgical area, promoting faster healing and improved tissue quality.

Reputation & Market Reaction Analysis

Quantitative Evaluation (Ratings)

Gangnam Unni

Recorded 9.1 out of 10 (586 reviews), classified as an 'Excellent Customer Evaluation Hospital'.

Sungyesa

Recorded 3.6 out of 5 (169 evaluations). Considering Sungyesa is a platform with relatively critical reviews, a score of 3.6 is evaluated as a respectable level.

Safety & Reliability

CCTV & Real-Name System

The installation of CCTVs in operating rooms and the disclosure of medical staff's real names effectively alleviate patients' anxiety regarding 'ghost surgery'.

Medical Accidents

Within the searched data, no reports of serious legal disputes or major medical accidents directly related to Labom Plastic Surgery or Director Kim Tae-heon were confirmed.

Qualitative Evaluation (Feedback)

Positive Reactions

  • Professionalism in Consultation: Many reviews state that Director Kim does not make excessive recommendations during consultations and offers honest and professional opinions on the patient's condition. Specific reviews such as "He has a good character and does not badmouth other hospitals" and "He does not recommend unnecessary surgeries" are confirmed.
  • Naturalness of Results: Reactions dominate that the results in lifting and eye surgery fields are natural and not artificial.

Negative / Mixed Reactions (Considerations)

  • There are intermittent points regarding waiting times or the attitude of some staff members (consultants/managers).
  • Dissatisfaction cases due to individual differences in surgical results (e.g., residual wrinkles after Indian fold removal) are discussed in some communities, but this appears to be within the normal scope of issues characteristic of plastic surgery.

Comprehensive Analysis & Conclusion

Labom Plastic Surgery and Representative Director Kim Tae-heon are analyzed as a medical institution that successfully balances 'trendy aesthetics' with 'traditional surgical techniques'.

Expertise

Director Kim is a specialist with nearly 30 years of clinical experience, possessing high technical proficiency, especially in face lifts and Indian fold removal (MIFT).

Trustworthiness

Adhering to principles such as real-name surgery without ghost doctors and excluding overtreatment, he has earned a reputation among patients as a "trustworthy doctor."

Innovation

The attempt to incorporate regenerative medicine into existing surgical methods by operating a stem cell research center is the hospital's differentiated competitive edge.

Recommendation

It is judged to be a suitable hospital for patients considering facial aging improvement or high-difficulty revision surgeries. However, since specialized surgeries like Indian fold removal (MIFT) may have varying effects depending on individual anatomical structures, it is important to clarify the limitations and expectations of the surgery through direct and in-depth consultation with Director Kim Tae-heon.

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