Executive Summary
Hospital Overview
Onyoo Plastic Surgery, located near Apgujeong Station, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. True to its name 'Onyoo' (gentle and soft), it stands for warm and honest medical care. Led by Chief Director Ahn Yong-soo, it features a collaborative system of medical staff specialized in various fields.
Director's Expertise
Chief Director Ahn Yong-soo is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 18 years of experience and a former professor at Hanyang University College of Medicine. He is evaluated as having both academic depth and clinical skills, notably publishing a paper in the world-renowned journal (PRS) in the field of forehead reduction and lifting.
Key Procedures
The core competencies are Forehead Surgery (Forehead Reduction, Endoscopic Forehead Lift) and Facial Lifting. In particular, they possess a proprietary surgical method (Multiplane Forehead Reduction) that preserves nerves and muscles, and they emphasize personalized designs for eye, nose, and fat grafting surgeries.
Reputation & Characteristics
The honest consultation attitude of "not recommending unnecessary surgery" has gained high trust among patients. It is characterized by avoiding factory-style surgery and aiming for precise surgery tailored to each patient's anatomical structure.
Chief Director Ahn Yong-soo Profile
Education and Major Career
- Education: Graduated from Hanyang University College of Medicine and obtained a Master's degree in Plastic Surgery from the same graduate school.
- Professorship: Served as a fellow in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Hanyang University Hospital and worked as an adjunct professor.
- Clinical Experience:
- Former) Chief Director at ATOP Plastic Surgery
- Former) Director at Wonjin Plastic Surgery
- Former) Director at Start Plastic Surgery
- Former) Director at Gate Plastic Surgery
- Former) Head of Plastic Surgery at Wonju Medical Center
Academic Activities and Social Contribution
- SCI-level Paper Publication: Published a paper in PRS (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) on "Multiplane forehead shortening with sparing frontalis muscle and supraorbital nerve," recognized for proprietary technology.
- Academic Society Activities: Regular member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery; active in various affiliated research societies (Eye Plastic Surgery, Rhinoplasty, Anti-aging, Minimally Invasive Plastic Surgery). Consistently lectured at international academic conferences.
- Medical Volunteering: Continued overseas medical volunteer activities in places like Cambodia for over 10 years and recently went on a medical volunteer trip to Mongolia with his son.
- Media Presence: Communicates with patients through his YouTube channel 'Standard of Face', sharing plastic surgery information, case reviews, and vlogs.
Hospital Information
Location and Philosophy
Onyoo Plastic Surgery is located on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Kukje Building, 828 Nonhyeon-ro (Sinsa-dong), Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Situated near Exit 3 of Apgujeong Station, it offers excellent accessibility.
The hospital name 'Onyoo' means gentle and soft, reflecting Chief Director Ahn Yong-soo's medical philosophy. Dr. Ahn aims to be "the hospital patients can trust the most" and strictly excludes recommending excessive surgeries for profit.
The hospital opened with the 'Onyoo' brand around the second half of 2023, building on Dr. Ahn Yong-soo's extensive clinical experience of over 18 years.
Facilities and Infrastructure
- Diagnostic Equipment: 3D-CT is used to analyze facial bone structures and nerve positions three-dimensionally for precise diagnosis.
- Surgical Equipment: Full HD endoscopic equipment has been introduced to secure visibility and minimize nerve damage during delicate surgeries like forehead lifts.
- Safety System: The hospital is prepared with safety equipment such as AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) for emergencies and ensures the presence of anesthesiologists. It is also a member of the Korea Medical Indemnity Mutuals, providing patient protection mechanisms.
Major Clinical Fields and Specialized Procedures
Forehead Surgery
Chief Director Ahn Yong-soo is a 'Key Doctor' in forehead surgery, possessing proprietary technical skills.
- Hidden Scar Forehead Reduction: Incision at a 45-degree angle along the hairline to preserve hair follicles and naturally conceal scars. Utilizes a 'multiplane' dissection method to preserve frontalis muscle and supraorbital nerve, minimizing sensory loss. Special suturing techniques ensure firm fixation without foreign materials.
- Endoscopic Forehead Lift: For drooping eyebrows or severe forehead wrinkles. Accurate, nerve-avoiding dissection with an endoscope, selective corrugator muscle resection. Strength in complex surgeries combining reduction and lift.
Facial Lifting and Fat Surgery
Customized approaches based on anatomical knowledge for natural results.
- Facial Lift and Lifting: Pulls up to the SMAS layer based on anatomical knowledge. Offers thread lifting, mini lift, or full face lift customized to the degree of skin sagging.
- Facial Liposuction/Fat Grafting: Through 3D-CT analysis, unnecessary fat is removed and lacking areas are filled to smoothly correct facial contours.
Eye/Nose Surgery
Comprehensive solutions for both aesthetic and functional improvements.
- Eye Surgery: Natural adhesion double eyelid surgery, canthoplasty, and ptosis correction, including revision surgery cases.
- Rhinoplasty: Pursues both functional improvement (rhinitis, etc.) and aesthetic enhancement. Performed after precise diagnosis of deviated septum using 3D-CT.
Analysis of Reputation and Patient Reviews
Positive Evaluations (Pros)
- Honest Consultation (Exclusion of Overtreatment): Many reviews praise the absence of "excessive recommendation," highlighting the trust built by firmly refusing unnecessary surgeries.
- Calm and Professional Explanation: Dr. Ahn's consultation style is described as very calm and logical, explaining surgical principles with anatomical grounds.
- Natural Results: Many reviews state that he pursues natural results, complementing flaws while preserving the patient's individuality, avoiding a uniform "factory-style" design.
- High Ratings: Maintains a very high rating of around 9.7 (out of 10) on plastic surgery information apps (such as Gangnam Unni), with over 900 abundant reviews.
Points to Consider and Some Complaints (Cons)
- Communication in Post-care: Some patients felt answers to questions during progress observation were shorter or lacked friendliness, especially regarding anxiety during recovery.
- Waiting Time: As a popular clinic, longer waiting times for consultation or treatment may occur.
Media and Communication Channels
Dr. Ahn Yong-soo communicates with patients through his YouTube channel 'Standard of Face', sharing plastic surgery information, case reviews, and surgery vlogs, including sincere content like Mongolia medical volunteer vlogs, contributing to credibility.
Comprehensive Analysis and Conclusion
Onyoo Plastic Surgery and Chief Director Ahn Yong-soo are analyzed as a hospital that puts forward 'Skill' and 'Honesty' rather than flashy marketing.
Core Values:
- Verification of Expertise: Dr. Ahn Yong-soo possesses unrivaled expertise in forehead surgery, evidenced by his publication in PRS.
- Trust-Centered Care: The principle of "sending patients back if surgery is not needed" aligns with the hospital's 'Onyoo' philosophy, fostering great patient trust.
Target Patient Group:
- Patients concerned about a wide forehead or sagging eyebrows, considering forehead reduction/lifting.
- Patients who avoid "factory-type" hospitals and seek responsible treatment by the chief director.
- Patients preferring natural and safe results over flashy changes.
In conclusion, Onyoo Plastic Surgery is a hospital combining Chief Director Ahn Yong-soo's solid medical knowledge and skills with a conscientious medical philosophy, establishing itself as a competitive medical institution in Korea, especially in the fields of anti-aging and forehead surgery.