Analysis Report

Like Plastic Surgery

In-Depth Analysis of Representative Director Lee Yong-woo

Perioral Aesthetics Scar Minimization Precision Suturing

Executive Summary

Expertise & Specialization

Like Plastic Surgery excels in perioral aesthetics (philtrum, mouth corner, lip surgery), with Director Lee Yong-woo earning the nickname "Human Sewing Machine" for his precise techniques.

Medical Philosophy

Driven by his personal experience with severe burns, Director Lee's core philosophy is "minimizing scars," a key differentiator in lip and philtrum procedures.

Surgical Methodology

The clinic adopts a conservative approach, avoiding excessive muscle resection. Instead, it uses a triple suturing technique (muscle, subcutaneous tissue, skin) for aesthetic improvement with reduced functional side effects.

Reputation & Risk Management

Maintaining high satisfaction (4.6-9.4/5 on major platforms), the clinic is thorough in providing prior notice regarding scar recovery periods, essential for philtrum surgery.

โ€œ

Representative Director Lee Yong-woo: Profile & Philosophy

Education & Major Career

  • Hanyang University College of Medicine: Graduated & Board Certified in Plastic Surgery.
  • Hanyang University Graduate School: Master's/Doctoral courses (estimated).
  • Global Medical Management MBA: Completed.
  • UCLA Medical Center (USA): Advanced plastic surgery training.
  • Hanyang University Hospital: Adjunct Professor of Plastic Surgery.
  • Previous Clinics: Director at Glovi, Noblesse, and Hyundai Aesthetics Plastic Surgery.
  • Academic Member: Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, MIPS (Minimal Invasive Plastic Surgery) executive director, ICALA (International Clinical Anatomy Leaders Academy) regular member.

Personal Background & Medical Philosophy

Director Lee Yong-woo's philosophy of "minimizing scars" stems from his deeply personal experience of suffering 2nd to 3rd-degree full-body burns in childhood, undergoing treatment for about 6 years.

This experience cultivated a single-minded determination to help those suffering from scars, making scar minimization the top priority in his surgeries. His meticulous suturing has earned him the nickname "Human Sewing Machine."

Academic & Writing Activities

  • Author: Contributed to specialized books like 'Clinical Application of Botulinum Toxin' and 'The Art and Science of Filler Procedures' published by Springer.
  • Lecturer: Key Doctor for global pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Galderma, Hugel), regularly lecturing on lip/philtrum surgery, fillers, and thread lifting at domestic and international conferences.
โ€œ

Clinic Overview & Operational Status

Basic Information & Location

  • Location: 7th floor, Juryuseong Building, 435 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul.
  • Accessibility: Strategically located between Gangnam Station (Exit 10) and Sinnonhyeon Station (Exits 6/7) in the heart of the Gangnam aesthetic medical district.
  • Clinic Hours:
    • Weekdays (Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri): 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    • Saturdays: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    • Closed: Thursdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
  • Scale & Facilities: Expanded and relocated in June 2018, designed with a 'square (ใ…)' structure to optimize patient movement flow.

Operational Systems & Safety Measures

  • Operating Room CCTV: Installed to ensure transparency and address concerns about ghost surgery.
  • Real-Name & Single Director System: Representative Director Lee Yong-woo personally handles consultation, surgery, and post-operative care. While Director Seong Eun-yu is also affiliated, the clinic's core identity revolves around Director Lee.
  • Anesthesia & Emergency System: Features collaborative monitoring with anesthesia pain medicine specialists, equipped with emergency rescue equipment, and conducts regular staff safety training.

Major Treatment Fields & Procedures

While Like Plastic Surgery handles general plastic surgery such as eyes, nose, and lifting, the data shows the most prominent field is lower facial (philtrum and lip) surgery.

Philtrum Reduction

  • Medial Philtrum Reduction: Shortens the central part of the philtrum by an incision under the nose, hiding the scar in the shadow.
  • Lateral Philtrum Reduction: Reduces the philtrum length on the outer side of the lips, often concurrently with a mouth corner lift.
  • Surgical Characteristics: Director Lee opposes excessive resection of the orbicularis oris muscle, preferring a method of preserving the muscle while firmly fixing it through triple suturing.

Mouth Corner Surgery (Smile Lipt)

  • Technical Approach: Lifts drooping mouth corners by weakening downward-pulling muscles and strengthening upward-lifting ones, using skin and muscle rearrangement for a natural smile.
  • Scar Management: Employs special fine sutures for precise stitching to minimize scarring in this frequently moving area.

Philtrum Hollow & Lip Surgery

  • Philtrum Hollow Surgery: Creates a three-dimensional effect (C-curl) to a flat philtrum for improved facial profile, adjusting muscle if tissue is thick.
  • Lip Surgery: Adjusts lip volume (augmentation/reduction) or makes the M-shaped line (Cupid's bow) of the upper lip distinct.

Other Medical Subjects

  • Eye/Nose Surgery: Natural adhesion double eyelids, epicanthoplasty/canthoplasty, and nose revision surgery.
  • Lifting & Petit Procedures: Non-surgical facial improvements through thread lifting, lip fillers, Botox, etc.

Technical Features & Differentiation

The 'Human Sewing Machine' Suturing Technique

  • Triple Suture System: During philtrum reduction, sutures muscle layer, subcutaneous fat layer, and skin layer separately to disperse tension and prevent scar widening or drooping.
  • Micro Suturing: Uses extremely thin threads and tight intervals to minimize scars, prolonging surgery time but enhancing scar quality.

Conservative Muscle Resection

  • Function Preservation: Avoids aggressive removal of orbicularis oris muscle to prevent sensory abnormalities, blood circulation disorders, or unnatural mouth movements.
  • Natural Movement: Preserves muscles to allow for natural expressions when pursing lips or smiling after surgery.

Honest Counseling & Acknowledgment of Limitations

  • Scar Notification: Emphasizes that philtrum surgery cannot result in zero scars and warns in advance that scars may remain depending on the patient's skin type or management.
  • Refusal of Surgery: If a patient's conditions suggest a poor surgical outcome, or if expectations are unrealistically high, the surgery is dissuaded or refused.

Reputation & Market Analysis

Positive Evaluation

  • High Satisfaction: Maintains high ratings on major platforms, such as 9.4/10 on Gangnam Unni (over 2,300 reviews) and 9.2/10 on Goodoc.
  • Result-Oriented: Many reviews state "The face looks smaller after philtrum reduction" and "The impression became brighter after mouth correction."
  • Reliability: Responsible care by a single director, meticulous suturing, and absence of overtreatment are cited as major advantages.
  • Attraction of Overseas Patients: High recognition among Japanese patients, supported by Japanese subtitles on its YouTube channel and understanding of Japanese patient characteristics.

Negative Evaluation & Considerations

  • Scar Issues: There are mentions of scars, an inevitable side effect of philtrum and mouth corner surgery. Reviews such as "Scars are still visible" and "Redness lasts a long time" exist, which can be a stress factor for patients.
  • Wait Time: Opinions suggest long waiting times because the director performs surgery and consultations meticulously.
  • Cost: While event prices exist, costs may increase for revision surgeries or complex procedures.

Conclusion

Like Plastic Surgery and Representative Director Lee Yong-woo are a specialized clinic and surgeon that have established a solid position in the Korean plastic surgery market, particularly in the field of philtrum and lip surgery.

Key Strengths

  • Philosophy of 'minimizing scars' derived from Director Lee Yong-woo's burn experience.
  • Precise 'Human Sewing Machine' suturing technique.
  • Safe surgical design based on anatomical knowledge (e.g., muscle preservation).

Distinguishing Characteristics

  • Aims for 1:1 customized care where the representative director is responsible from start to finish.
  • Demonstrates an ethical attitude by honestly conveying the limitations and risks of surgery to patients.

Recommendation

  • An optimized clinic for patients considering philtrum and lip surgery.
  • Suitable for patients who can strictly follow the clinic's guidelines for crucial scar management.

This report was written by synthesizing publicly available objective data, patient reviews, the director's interviews, and academic activities, suggesting that Like Plastic Surgery is a medical institution with high expertise that values technical perfection and patient safety.