Executive Summary
Hospital Status
Braun Plastic Surgery is a large-scale clinic in Seoul with high recognition in facial contouring, rhinoplasty, and lifting.
Director Lee Ji-won
A board-certified plastic surgeon, holding US medical qualifications (ECFMG, USMLE), an authority in rhinoplasty (including revision) and face lift.
Key Features
Promotes 'naturalness' and 'safety', utilizes 3D-CT for precise diagnosis, and operates a cooperative center system.
Reputation & Risks
Positive results reported, but past controversies related to a 2021 death incident necessitate careful safety verification.
Representative Director Lee Ji-won
Education & Credentials
- • Board Certification: Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in South Korea.
- • US Medical Qualifications: Passed all steps of USMLE, ECFMG Certified.
- • Other: Completed Korean Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) expert course.
Career & Academic Activities
- • Current Position: Representative Director (Co-CEO) of Braun Plastic Surgery.
- • Society Memberships: KSPRS, KSAPS, ISAPS, JSAPS Regular Member.
- • Academic Presentations: Presented on MACS lift combined with facial bone contouring at PRS KOREA (2018, 2019).
Specialties
Rhinoplasty
Excels in augmentation, revision, and contracture nose correction. Utilizes various materials including autologous and donated costal cartilage, pursuing a 'natural yet flashy' line tailored to facial proportions.
Face Lift & Anti-aging
Specializes in lifting surgeries to address cheek sagging post-facial contouring. Leads anti-aging procedures using minimal incision methods like MACS lifting.
Hospital Information
Overview & Location
- • Location: 475 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul (near Sinnonhyeon Station).
- • Scale: Large-scale clinic occupying a single building, with specialized centers.
- • Medical Staff: Composed of specialized doctors by field, operating a cooperative system.
Philosophy & Approach
Braun Plastic Surgery emphasizes 'naturalness' and 'safety' in its approach. They promote precise diagnosis using advanced equipment like 3D-CT and a cooperative system between specialized centers, such as the Facial Contouring Center and Nose/Lifting Center.
Anesthesia and Safety System
- • Anesthesiology Specialists: Reside and conduct real-time monitoring during surgery.
- • Dantrolene Availability: Importance of equipping safety equipment and drugs like Dantrolene (for malignant hyperthermia) is highlighted, especially since past accidents.
Marketing & Patient Services
- • Global Response: Offers multilingual interpretation (English, Chinese, Thai, Japanese) to attract foreign patients.
- • Digital Presence: Actively uses YouTube and social media to share surgical processes and recovery insights, enhancing transparency.
Major Procedures & Technology
Facial Contouring
- Led by Representative Director Kim Tae-gyu.
- Emphasizes technical prowess with proprietary methods such as 'Inverted-V osteotomy'.
- Utilizes 3D-CT for precise analysis, minimizing nerve damage and controlling bone resection.
Rhinoplasty
- Led by Director Lee Ji-won.
- Diagnoses functional and aesthetic problems simultaneously via 3D-CT.
- Promotes transparency by releasing unedited before-and-after photos/videos on platforms like YouTube.
Face Lift & Anti-aging
- A specialty of Director Lee Ji-won.
- Focuses on improving cheek sagging post-facial contouring.
- Utilizes minimal incision techniques such as MACS lifting for anti-aging results.
Reputation Analysis
Positive Feedback
- ✓ Aesthetics of Surgical Results: Lee Ji-won's rhinoplasty is praised for being "not excessive and natural" and "asymmetry was well corrected even though it was a revision surgery."
- ✓ Expertise in Consultation: Based on CT analysis, unnecessary surgeries are not recommended, and patient's needs are accurately identified. Overseas patients expressed satisfaction with interpretation services and medical staff's English communication ability.
- ✓ Post-operative Care: The post-operative care system, including swelling laser and shampoo service, is systematic.
Negative Feedback & Complaints
- × Waiting Time & Communication: Some opinions exist that waiting times are long because the hospital is large and has many patients, or that communication with consultation managers is not smooth.
- × Lack of Consultation Time: There are opinions expressing regret that consultations end quickly because the directors look very busy.
- × Cost: There is a perception that costs are somewhat high as a premium strategy is adopted.
Controversies & Safety Issues
Caution: This section is a factual description based on research materials and includes important information that consumers must consider when selecting a hospital.
2021 Facial Contouring Surgery Patient Death Incident
Braun Plastic Surgery was involved in a medical accident where a female university student in her 20s died while undergoing facial contouring surgery around 2021.
- • Incident Overview: The victim, Ms. Jeong, showed symptoms of high fever and muscle rigidity during facial contouring surgery and was transferred to a university hospital but died.
- • Malignant Hyperthermia Controversy: The hospital claimed that the patient's cause of death was an inevitable accident caused by a genetic disease called 'Malignant Hyperthermia'. Malignant hyperthermia is a rare disease in which body temperature rises rapidly in response to general anesthetics.
- • Appropriateness of Response: The bereaved family raised allegations of medical negligence, claiming that the medical staff failed to detect changes in the patient's condition (high fever, etc.) in time and that emergency treatment and transfer were delayed. In particular, as a result of checking the operating room CCTV, there were reports of circumstances suggesting simultaneous surgeries (suspicion of factory-style surgery), such as the doctor leaving the seat in one operating room or appearing to operate on another patient at the same time.
- • Suspicion of Drug Use: The bereaved family raised suspicions of a cover-up pointing out the absence of records for the use of specific drugs (Labetalol), but the hospital denied this.
Legal and Social Repercussions
- • CCTV Mandate: This incident is mentioned as one of several medical accidents that influenced public opinion on the 'Mandatory Installation of CCTV in Operating Rooms'.
- • Investigation: During the police investigation, medical staff were booked and investigated, and an appraisal was requested from the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency.
- • Reference: Note that the 'Kwon Dae-hee Case' is an incident that occurred at a different plastic surgery clinic (Small Face Plastic Surgery), so care must be taken not to confuse them. However, the incident at Braun Plastic Surgery shares similar issues of negligence in monitoring during anesthesia and insufficient emergency response.
Comprehensive Analysis & Conclusion
Comprehensive Evaluation
Braun Plastic Surgery and Representative Director Lee Ji-won are a representative aesthetic plastic surgery institution in Korea equipped with **technical expertise** and **large-scale medical infrastructure**. Director Lee Ji-won has gained high trust based on solid specs, including US medical qualifications (USMLE), and numerous clinical experiences, especially in the fields of rhinoplasty and lifting. Patient reviews are generally satisfied with the aesthetic results.
Key Takeaways for Patients
However, the safety issue related to the death accident that occurred in 2021 is a risk factor that cannot be overlooked when selecting a hospital. Although the hospital claimed a rare disease (malignant hyperthermia) as the cause, there are critical views regarding the ability to cope in emergency situations and the operating room management system (suspicion of simultaneous surgeries, etc.).
Therefore, patients considering this hospital should note the following:
- • Verify Safety Systems During Consultation: In addition to the residence of an anesthesia specialist, it is advisable to directly verify the specific transfer manual in case of an emergency and the availability of essential drugs such as Dantrolene.
- • Prevention of Ghost Surgery: It is necessary to receive a clear confirmation on whether operating room CCTV viewing is possible and whether the operating surgeon is in charge from consultation to surgery and finishing (no shadow doctor).
- • Sufficient Consultation: Since Director Lee Ji-won is popular, consultation times may be short, so it is recommended to prepare a question list in advance to communicate efficiently.
This report was written based on objective data and press releases, and the final medical decision must be made through the patient's own careful judgment and direct consultation with a specialist.