Key Insights
Institution Overview
DM Plastic Surgery is located near Apgujeong Station, Seoul. It's a clinic with two Yonsei University alumni specialists (Yoo Won-min, Lee Ju-hong) offering field-specific treatments.
Rep. Dir. Yoo Won-min
A plastic surgery specialist and Ph.D. with over 25 years of experience. Former Chief/Professor at Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University. Main field: anti-aging (facelift, lifting).
Major Procedures
Core competencies are 'SMAS Facelift' (corrects fascia layer and retaining ligaments) and 'SMAS Mini Facelift (Micro Lifting)', focusing on minimal incisions.
Reputation & Safety
Emphasizes safety with a real-name practice and CCTV. Director Yoo's honest, firm consultation style is valued as 'professional' by many, though some find it 'level-headed'.
Representative Director Yoo Won-min
Education & Qualifications
- Education: Graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine, Ph.D. in Medicine.
- Specialist: Obtained Plastic Surgery Specialist certification at Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital.
Major Career & Academic Activities
- Professorship: Former Professor of Plastic Surgery at Yonsei University Severance Hospital.
- Chief Position: Former Chief of Plastic Surgery at Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital (approx. 16 years).
- Experience: Over 25 years in plastic surgery, 20+ years specifically in lifting.
- Overseas Training: Exchange Professor at Yale University Hospital, USA.
- Advisory: Advisory Doctor for Mylike Plastic Surgery Hospital (China), Judge for Miss Korea Finals (5 times).
- Societies: Lifetime Member of KPRS, Regular Member of KSAPS, Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, Sub-specialist of Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand.
DM Plastic Surgery Information
Operational Philosophy & Medical Staff
DM Plastic Surgery operates under the slogan "Your beauty is DM's pride." Its core philosophies are **Safety** and **Harmony**, aiming for natural results tailored to each patient's facial characteristics without compromising function.
The clinic adopts a 'Dedicated Attending Physician System' to maximize expertise. Representative Director Yoo Won-min leads the Anti-Aging Center, specializing in facelifts and youth plastic surgery, while Representative Director Lee Ju-hong focuses on eye, nose, and revision surgeries.
Location & Facility Features
- Location: 2F Jinwoo Bldg., 158 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (579-1 Sinsa-dong). Situated near Apgujeong Station, a central area for plastic surgery in Korea.
- Medical Hours: Weekdays 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Saturdays 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. (Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays)
- Safety Features: The clinic ensures patient safety with CCTV in operating rooms, cooperative resident anesthesiologists, emergency rescue equipment, and dedicated recovery rooms. It also practices a real-name system, free from "shadow doctor" concerns.
Major Fields of Practice (Anti-Aging Focus)
Director Yoo's practice emphasizes **'resolving the fundamental causes of aging'** by manipulating the deep fascia layer (SMAS) and retaining ligaments for natural and long-lasting results.
SMAS Facelift
DM Plastic Surgery's signature, high-difficulty procedure that simultaneously corrects skin and muscle sagging due to aging. It involves dissecting, pulling up, and fixing the **SMAS layer**—a thin fibrous fascia layer deep within the skin—rather than just pulling the skin.
Precise dissection of retaining ligaments under the SMAS layer is crucial to avoid limited or unnatural lifting effects, ensuring natural tissue relocation. It targets middle-aged patients with significant cheek sagging, nasolabial folds, and collapsed jawlines.
SMAS Mini Facelift (Micro Lifting)
An alternative for patients concerned about the long incisions and recovery of traditional facelifts. This method uses a micro-incision of about 3~5cm inside the hairline.
Distinguished from general mini lifts that often only pull the skin, DM's approach **pulls the SMAS layer together and dissects parts of the retaining ligaments** through the small incision. This maximizes the lifting effect while significantly reducing scar burden, leading to minimal scarring and rapid recovery.
Other Anti-Aging Procedures & Surgical Philosophy
- Forehead Lift: Endoscopic correction of forehead wrinkles and sagging eyebrows.
- Facial Fat Grafting: Volume restoration by grafting autologous fat into hollowed areas.
- Neck Lift: Improvement of neck wrinkles and 'turkey neck' deformity.
Director Yoo emphasizes a philosophy of **"Non-Recommendation"** and **"Honest Practice."** He will not recommend surgeries with minimal expected effects, prioritizing patient safety and long-term satisfaction over commercial gain. He gives clear, firm medical opinions, even if it means dissuading a patient from a requested procedure if it's not medically advisable.
Reputation and Patient Experience
Positive Evaluations
- High Expertise & Reliability: University hospital professor background and over 20 years of experience instill great confidence. Patients value clear explanations of surgical principles and limitations based on abundant anatomical knowledge.
- Natural Results: High satisfaction among those preferring a younger look while maintaining their original impression, avoiding an unnaturally pulled or 'plastic monster' appearance.
- No Overtreatment: Many describe the consultation style as "conscientious" and "trustworthy," appreciating that only necessary procedures are recommended.
- Safety System: The real-name surgery policy and CCTV installation, mitigating concerns about shadow doctors (ghost surgery), are highly regarded.
Negative or Mixed Evaluations & Ratings
- Consultation Style (Likes/Dislikes): Director Yoo's style is sometimes perceived as "firm," "chic," or "abrasive." He tends to be direct and draw firm lines, especially when patients insist on specific methods based on self-diagnosis. Director Yoo acknowledges his "firm way of speaking" stems from his university hospital background, preferring clear conclusions over vague promises.
- Waiting Time: As a popular institution, longer waiting times for consultation or surgery are occasionally mentioned.
Rating Data:
- Gangnam Unni: 9.4~9.7 / 10.0 (Over 6,400 reviews)
- Sungyesa: 3.9 / 5.0 (149 evaluations) - Considered a decent level within plastic surgery communities.
Comprehensive Analysis & Conclusion
Competitiveness of DM Plastic Surgery
DM Plastic Surgery represents a unique model, successfully combining **'university hospital-level expertise'** with the **'customized service of a private clinic'**. Director Yoo Won-min's approach to facelifts extends beyond mere cosmetic enhancement, incorporating principles of reconstructive surgery to restore anatomical structures, a methodology refined over decades in university hospital settings.
Recommended Target
- Middle-aged Anti-Aging: Patients aged 40 and above seeking definite and fundamental improvement in wrinkles and sagging.
- Safety-Oriented Patients: Individuals highly concerned about ghost surgery who prioritize safety systems like resident anesthesiologists and CCTV monitoring.
- Valuing Professional Opinion: Patients who prefer a doctor's clear, firm diagnosis and appreciate honest counseling, even if it means being advised against unnecessary surgeries.
Considerations
- Consultation Preparation: Given Director Yoo's preference against patients dictating surgical methods based on internet information, it's advisable to clearly explain concerns but approach the consultation with an open mind to the medical staff's professional proposals regarding methodology.
- Cost: This is not a low-cost event clinic. It is suitable for patients who prioritize the perfection and safety of the surgery over minimizing expenditure.
In conclusion, DM Plastic Surgery and Representative Director Yoo Won-min are analyzed as holding a position close to the **'Orthodox'** in the Korean plastic surgery market, emphasizing surgical results and medical principles rather than flashy marketing.