Analysis Report

View Plastic Surgery

Representative Director Choi Soon-woo In-depth Analysis

Plastic Surgery Choi Soon-woo Safety Issues

Executive Summary

01

Established Presence

View Plastic Surgery is a large-scale institution in Gangnam, Seoul, established in 2005 with significant medical infrastructure.

02

Renowned Leadership

Founder Choi Soon-woo is an SNU-trained specialist, gaining wide recognition through his appearances on the TV show *Let Me In*.

03

Patient-Centric Philosophy

The hospital has historically championed "Patient Safety First" and an "accident-free" operational approach.

04

Recent Safety Challenges

Recent 2023 vision loss and 2024 patient death incidents have raised concerns and challenged the hospital's safety reputation.

Hospital Information

Location & Scale

Established in 2005, View Plastic Surgery is located at 107 Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (near Sinnonhyun Station). It operates as a 'Comprehensive Plastic Surgery Hospital', utilizing an entire 19-story building (4 basement levels to 15th floor above ground) as medical facilities.

  • **Surgery & Treatment Center:** 11F~14F, equipped with university-hospital level safety.
  • **Inpatient Center:** 7F, 8F, 10F, with 24-hour nursing staff.
  • **Counseling Center:** 4F~5F, specialized counseling by field.
  • **Breast Surgery & Checkup Center:** B1F, for precise examinations (ultrasound, Mammotome).
  • **Other Facilities:** Dermatology (3F), Dental Clinic (15F), Auditorium (9F) for one-stop treatment.

Medical Philosophy

The hospital's core philosophy is **"Patient Safety First,"** emphasizing honest medical treatment without shadow doctors (surrogate surgery). It establishes a collaborative system where specialists from plastic surgery, anesthesiology, general surgery (breast examination), and dermatology work together.

"Safety is not an option, but a fundamental principle."

Representative Director Choi Soon-woo

Education & Board Certification

  • Graduated from **Seoul National University College of Medicine**.
  • Obtained Ph.D. in Medicine from Seoul National University Graduate School.
  • Completed residency at Seoul National University Hospital's Department of Plastic Surgery.
  • Adjunct Professor at Seoul National University Hospital's Department of Plastic Surgery.

Major Career & Public Activities

  • Regular doctor on makeover show **《Let Me In》** (Seasons 2, 3, 4, 5).
  • Lifetime member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.
  • Regular member of the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and IPRAS.
  • Selected as a Key Doctor (KOL) by breast implant manufacturers (Mentor, BellaGel, Motiva).
  • Primary fields of practice: **Breast Surgery** and **Facial Contouring/Orthognathic Surgery**.

Major Clinical Fields

Breast Surgery

View Plastic Surgery records a high volume of surgeries, holding titles such as 'No. 1 in Breast Implant Usage'.

  • Collaborative system with plastic surgeons and general surgeons for examinations and management.
  • Stocks and utilizes diverse premium implants (Motiva, Sebbin, Mentor).
  • Ensures safety by checking for breast diseases through precise pre-operative examinations and performing Mammotome procedures if necessary.

Facial Contouring & Orthognathic Surgery

The facial contouring technology proven by Director Choi Soon-woo on 《Let Me In》 is a core competence.

  • Branded unique surgical styles such as 'Doll Line' and 'Face Off'.
  • Implements 3D Custom Plastic Surgery using 3D-CT analysis and personalized implants.
  • Operates university-hospital level safety equipment and a system with stationed anesthesiologists for emergencies.

Eye/Nose Surgery & Anti-aging

  • **Eye/Nose Surgery:** Emphasizes custom design considering individual facial proportions and operates a separate revision surgery clinic.
  • **Anti-aging:** Operates a dermatology center with laser lifting devices (Ulthera, Thermage FLX), combining surgical and non-surgical methods.

Hospital Reputation & Safety Analysis

Positive Reputation & Achievements

  • **Large-scale System & Convenience:** A standalone 19-story building for all medical processes offers high patient convenience.
  • **International Recognition:** Active in attracting foreign patients, high recognition overseas, awarded Grand Prize in Facial Contouring (Medical Asia 2018).
  • **Successful "Accident-Free" Marketing:** Successfully built an image as a safe hospital through long-term promotion of being accident-free until recent events.
  • **Safety System:** Implements a surgeon real-name system, staffs anesthesiologists 365 days a year, possesses Dantrolene, UPS, and cardiac defibrillators.

Controversies & Safety Issues

  • **2023 Vision Loss Accident:** A man in his 50s lost vision in one eye after under-eye fat repositioning surgery. Hospital's initial passive response drew criticism.
  • **2023-2024 Chinese Patient Death Case:** A Chinese woman in her 20s died from necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis after liposuction. Allegations of delayed appropriate treatment were raised, leading to a Chinese Embassy warning.
  • **Other Medical Disputes:** Reports include a tip-off about a woman in her 20s suffering facial paralysis side effects after facial contouring/orthognathic surgery.
  • **Surrogate Surgery Suspicions:** While the hospital publicly promotes a surgeon real-name system to prevent it, the broader issue of 'ghost surgery' in Gangnam clinics sometimes appears in search results associated with high-profile clinics, though no direct legal records of View Plastic Surgery being punished for this were confirmed in the provided information.

Conclusion

**View Plastic Surgery** and **Representative Director Choi Soon-woo** are significant entities that have led the large-scale expansion and specialization of the Korean plastic surgery market over the past 19 years. Director Choi Soon-woo's expertise, the brand power built through 《Let Me In》, and the advanced medical system of 19 floors are powerful factors that draw both domestic and foreign patients. In particular, the technical know-how and systematic collaborative system in the fields of **breast surgery** and **facial contouring** receive high evaluations.

However, the recently occurred **vision loss accident** and **foreign patient death case** pose a significant challenge to the "accident-free" reputation the hospital has promoted for a long time. These incidents give rise to critical views not only on the risk of surgery itself but also on the hospital's ability to cope with emergencies and its method of communicating with patients.

Therefore, an evaluation of View Plastic Surgery needs to be approached from a dual perspective: the positive aspect of being a **"large hospital with advanced medical infrastructure and abundant clinical experience,"** and the aspect of being a **"hospital where verification of safety management and post-incident response is required due to recent major medical accidents."** From a patient and academic perspective, while acknowledging the hospital's technical capabilities, a cautious attitude is required when deciding on surgery, comprehensively considering not only the proficiency of individual medical staff but also emergency response manuals, recent accident history, and the results of legal disputes.

Key Values for Consideration

Advanced Medical Infrastructure Specialized Clinical Expertise Enhanced Safety Verification