Key Points
Dual Board Certification
Representative Director Ahn Sung-Yeol holds board certifications in both Plastic Surgery and Dermatology, offering a unique combined approach to intractable scar treatment.
Specialization in Keloids & Scars
The clinic focuses on high-difficulty scar restoration and removal surgeries, including Keloids, hypertrophic scars, and burn scars, rather than general cosmetic surgery.
Combination Therapy with Electron Beam
A protocol combining Electron Beam Therapy with university hospitals after surgical excision is established to significantly lower keloid recurrence rates.
Humanitarian Medical Activities
Director Ahn has dedicated over 20 years to free reconstructive surgery for Hansen's disease patients, earning national recognition for his contributions.
Representative Director Ahn Sung-Yeol In-Depth Analysis
Profile and Education
- Education: Graduated from Kyungpook National University School of Medicine in 1973; Master's and Ph.D. degrees from the same graduate school.
- Board Certification: Double Board doctor in Dermatology and Plastic Surgery.
- Major Career:
- Completed Dermatology Residency at Kyungpook National University Hospital.
- Served as Head of Dermatology at Daegu Integration Hospital.
- Completed Plastic Surgery Residency at Tokyo Women's Medical University in Japan (7 years).
- Researcher at the Burn Center, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) (1 year).
- Served as Head of Plastic Surgery at Daegu Fatima Hospital and Kangbuk Samsung Hospital.
Medical Philosophy and Volunteer Activities (Treatment of Hansen's Disease Patients)
The most notable part of Director Ahn's background is his **long-term medical volunteer work for Hansen's disease (leprosy) patients**. This serves as a model in the medical community, providing actual reconstructive surgery to marginalized groups who could not receive proper treatment due to social prejudice.
- Beginning of Service: Connected with Hansen's disease patients in the 1970s. Studied plastic surgery in Japan to reconstruct collapsed faces, hands, and feet of these patients.
- Continuous Activity: Since returning to Korea in 1989, he has performed full-scale treatment, visiting St. Lazarus Village and the Korean Hansen Welfare Association every Monday since 1992 for free surgeries.
- Achievements and Awards: Performed surgeries for approximately 2,000 Hansen's patients over 20 years. Awarded the **Grand Prize at the 25th Boryeong Medical Service Award in 2009**.
Hospital Overview and Identity
Clinic Identity & Philosophy
Ahn Sung-Yeol Plastic Surgery & Dermatology Clinic has built an unrivaled position in scar treatment over the past 20 years. Its most distinctive feature is that the single representative director possesses specialist qualifications in both plastic surgery and dermatology.
Unlike general plastic surgery clinics, Ahn Sung-Yeol Plastic Surgery & Dermatology advocates itself as a "Scar-Focused Hospital," concentrating on difficult-to-treat keloid skin diseases and various surgical aftereffect scar restorations.
Hospital Operation Information
Location:
2nd Floor, Nonhyeon Building, 116 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (near Exit 1 of Sinsa Station).
Medical Hours:
- Weekdays (Mon-Fri): 10:00 AM ~ 6:30 PM (Lunch time 13:00~14:00)
- Saturday: 10:00 AM ~ 3:00 PM (No lunch time)
- Night Clinic: Varies by period; confirmation by phone is required.
- Sunday and Public Holidays: Closed
Medical Staff:
Representative Director Ahn Sung-Yeol, accompanied by Director Park Hyang-jun (Dermatologist).
Analysis of Major Medical Fields and Procedures
Intensive Keloid Treatment
Keloids are abnormally proliferating fibrous tissue. Director Ahn's treatment focuses on 'prevention of recurrence' through a complex protocol.
- Surgical Excision: Complete removal of the keloid core with microsuturing to minimize tension and create a fine linear scar.
- Combination with Electron Beam Therapy: Mandatory combination with Electron Beam Therapy immediately after surgery (usually next day) at cooperative university hospitals for 3-4 days to suppress fibroblast proliferation and lower recurrence.
- Injection and Laser Therapy: For small keloids or post-operative management, steroid injections (2-week intervals) and vascular laser treatment (585nm/1064nm) are used to control redness and height.
Scar Removal and Restoration (Scar Revision)
Customized surgical methods for various types of scars (surgery, trauma, burns).
- Elliptical Excision: Basic method of excising scar tissue in a spindle shape and precisely suturing normal skin to reduce scar width.
- Z-plasty and W-plasty: Used for scars misaligned with skin crease lines or with contracture, to change scar direction, disperse tension, and make it less noticeable.
- Deep Regeneration and Laser Peeling: For depressed scars (acne, chickenpox marks), chemical peeling or lasers improve skin texture.
Other Special Clinics
- Ear Keloid: Precise surgery to remove earlobe lumps (e.g., from piercings) while preserving the ear's original shape.
- Cleft Lip Scar: Improvement of lip and philtrum scars from congenital cleft lip surgery via microsuturing and tissue correction.
- Tattoo Removal: Combination of surgical excision (for small tattoos) and pigment destruction with Pico lasers.
Analysis of Hospital Reputation and Patient Reviews
Positive Evaluations (Pros)
- Overwhelming Expertise: Known as the "final destination for keloid treatment," sought by patients after failed treatments elsewhere.
- Definite Results: Significantly low recurrence rate due to electron beam combination protocol. High satisfaction for ear keloid and C-section scar treatments.
- Honest Practice: Does not recommend unnecessary cosmetic procedures and clearly explains treatment limitations.
Negative Evaluations and Considerations (Cons)
- Short and Direct Consultation: Director Ahn's consultation style is concise and sometimes blunt, which can be unsettling for patients expecting more detailed comfort.
- High Cost: Overall treatment cost is high due to surgical approaches combined with electron beam therapy (separate costs at university hospitals).
- Waiting Time: Due to a large patient volume, waiting times can be long even with a reservation, and advance booking is essential.
- Facilities: Some opinions suggest that the hospital facilities are somewhat older compared to modern large plastic surgery clinics in Gangnam.
Conclusion and Suggestions
Ahn Sung-Yeol Plastic Surgery & Dermatology Clinic is a specialized medical institution focused on 'treatment' and 'reconstruction' rather than 'beauty'. Director Ahn Sung-Yeol holds a unique position in intractable scar treatment based on professional knowledge encompassing dermatology and plastic surgery, decades of clinical experience, and reconstruction surgery know-how honed through treating Hansen's patients.
Target Audience for Recommendation:
- Patients suffering from repeated keloid recurrence.
- Patients wishing to remove severe scars on the ear, shoulder (BCG injection marks), chest, C-section areas, etc.
- Patients who prioritize definite treatment results over flashy service.
Considerations Before Visiting:
- Availability for Electron Beam Therapy: Must secure a schedule for outpatient treatment at a university hospital for 3-4 consecutive days after surgery.
- Cost and Insurance: Check for clear cost estimation and possibility of insurance documents during consultation, as coverage varies.
- Consultation Style: Be aware that the Director's consultation is short and core-focused; prepare questions in advance.
Core Values
- Healing Psychological Wounds
- Dual Expertise in Scar Treatment
- Decades of Dedicated Clinical Experience