First-Timer Guide: My Complete Korean Rhinoplasty Journey from Research to Recovery

If you are like me - someone who spent months researching Korean plastic surgery but felt overwhelmed by all the information - this review is for you. I am going to share every detail of my rhinoplasty journey at 21 Plastic Surgery, from initial research to six months post-op.

Who Am I:
29-year-old Asian American male from San Francisco. I had always been self-conscious about my nose - it was flat with a bulbous tip. After years of considering surgery, I finally committed to making it happen in 2024.

Phase 1: Research (3 months)
I started by joining every Facebook group, Reddit forum, and online community related to Korean plastic surgery. Key resources that helped:
- Korean plastic surgery forums with real patient reviews
- YouTube vlogs from people who documented their journeys
- Instagram accounts of surgeons showing their work
- RealSelf reviews specifically about Korean clinics

I made a spreadsheet comparing clinics based on: specialty focus, English support, before/after galleries, patient reviews, pricing, and location in Gangnam.

Phase 2: Narrowing Down Clinics
I narrowed my list to five clinics and requested consultations with each. Most offered free video consultations for international patients. Key questions I asked:
- What technique do you recommend for my nose type?
- How many rhinoplasties do you perform monthly?
- What is your revision rate?
- Can I see before/after photos of male patients?
- What materials do you use (silicone, cartilage, Gore-Tex)?

After consultations, I chose 21 Plastic Surgery because the surgeon specialized in male rhinoplasty and recommended using my own ear cartilage rather than implants for a more natural result.

Phase 3: Booking and Preparation
Timeline:
- 2 months before: Booked surgery date and flights
- 1 month before: Booked accommodation near clinic (Airbnb in Gangnam)
- 2 weeks before: Stopped taking any blood thinners, vitamins, alcohol
- 1 week before: Final video consultation to confirm details

What I Packed:
- Button-up shirts (cant pull shirts over your head post-op)
- Neck pillow for sleeping elevated
- Saline spray for inside nose
- Entertainment (books, tablet, downloaded shows)
- Comfortable slip-on shoes
- Sunglasses and face mask for going outside

Phase 4: Surgery Day
Arrived at clinic at 9 AM. Process:
1. Final consultation with surgeon - marked up my nose
2. Blood test and health check
3. Changed into surgical gown
4. IV sedation and local anesthesia
5. Surgery took about 2 hours
6. Woke up in recovery room around noon
7. Left clinic around 3 PM with cast on nose

The staff took excellent care of me. They even arranged a taxi back to my accommodation and called to check on me that evening.

Phase 5: Recovery in Seoul (10 days)
Day 1-3: Stayed in accommodation. Some bruising under eyes. Breathed through mouth. Slept elevated with neck pillow. Mild discomfort but manageable with prescribed medication.

Day 4-5: Could go outside with mask. Visited clinic for check-up. Swelling peaked then started decreasing.

Day 7: Cast removal day! First glimpse of new nose. Still swollen but could see the improved profile immediately.

Day 8-10: Follow-up appointments. Clinic cleared me for flight home.

Phase 6: Recovery at Home (ongoing)
Week 2: Back at work with glasses instead of contacts (cant wear anything resting on nose bridge). Told coworkers I had sinus surgery.

Week 3-4: Bruising completely gone. Swelling continuing to decrease. Tip still felt stiff.

Month 2: 70% of swelling resolved. Started to really like what I saw.

Month 3: Could wear sunglasses again. Nose feeling more natural.

Month 6 (now): Final results visible. Profile is dramatically improved. Tip is refined but still looks masculine. Nobody would guess I had surgery - I just look like a better version of myself.

Cost Breakdown:
Rhinoplasty surgery: 5500 USD
Accommodation (10 nights): 800 USD
Flights from SF: 850 USD
Food and transport: 400 USD
Total: approximately 7550 USD

US equivalent quotes I received: 12000-18000 USD

Lessons Learned:
1. Research thoroughly but dont overthink - at some point you have to commit
2. Video consultations are essential for choosing a clinic
3. Male rhinoplasty requires different techniques than female - find a surgeon experienced with male patients
4. Recovery is easier than I expected - I was too worried beforehand
5. Take lots of before photos from every angle
6. Trust the process - swelling takes months to fully resolve

Final Thoughts:
This was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The combination of skilled surgeons, reasonable pricing, and comprehensive care made Korea the obvious choice. If you are on the fence, I encourage you to at least do some consultations. The worst case is you get more information. The best case is you finally get the nose you have always wanted.

Feel free to reach out if you have questions. I know how overwhelming the research phase can be, and I am happy to share more details about my experience.