What counts as "beauty surgery" in Korea, and why does it matter for a trip from Canada?
"Korea beauty surgery" is a loose search term. It covers operations such as double eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty and liposuction, and it is often used for non-surgical skin and injectable treatments too. The difference matters for your planning: an operation can involve anesthesia, stitches and follow-up visits, and all of that has to fit between your surgery date and your flight back to Canada.
So the first question to ask a clinic is simple: is what you are considering an operation or a non-surgical treatment? This guide focuses on operations — what you should be told before you sign, how to think about the flight home, and which papers to carry back with you.
What does the Government of Canada say about surgery in South Korea?
The Government of Canada's travel advice for South Korea says medical services and facilities meet Canadian standards, and that private hospitals and clinics in cities are often better staffed and equipped than public or rural facilities (Government of Canada, Travel advice and advisories: South Korea). The same page also says Canadian citizens have had serious health complications following cosmetic or other elective surgeries abroad, and it recommends travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays. The page was last updated on October 15, 2026.
The Government of Canada's general guidance on medical care abroad adds practical steps: talk to a health care provider in Canada before you decide, do not go to an unofficial medical facility, find out whether the facility is accredited by the body responsible for regulating health care in that country, and find out what legal rights you have if something goes wrong (Government of Canada, Travelling outside Canada to receive medical care). It also warns that you may be pressured into undergoing procedures you don't fully understand or consent to. Korea's registration details for clinics that treat international patients are shown further down this page; the next section covers what Korean law says about consent.
What does Korean law say a doctor must explain before you sign?
Under Article 24-2 of Korea's Medical Service Act, when a doctor performs surgery, a blood transfusion or general anesthesia that may cause serious harm to a person's life or body, the doctor must explain specific points to the patient and obtain the patient's consent in writing, which includes an electronic document (Medical Service Act, Article 24-2, Korea Law Information Center). There is one exception: the rule does not apply where the explanation and consent process would delay the procedure so that the patient's life would be at risk or the patient would suffer a serious physical or mental impairment.
| What the doctor must explain (Article 24-2(2)) | What you can ask as a visitor from Canada |
|---|---|
| The diagnosis of the symptoms you have or may have | How does the doctor describe the concern being treated? |
| Why the procedure is needed, how it is done and what it involves | Can I have the planned method in writing? |
| The name of the doctor giving the explanation and of the main doctor or doctors taking part | Is the name of the operating doctor on the form? |
| After-effects or side effects typically expected from the procedure | Which of these could appear after I am back in Canada? |
| What you must follow before and after the procedure | Do these instructions affect my flight date? |
The same article lets you ask for a copy of the consent form, and the doctor may not refuse without a justifiable reason. If the method or content of the procedure, or the main doctor taking part, changes after you have consented, you must be told the reason and the details in writing. The article does not say which language the form must be in, so if you don't read Korean, ask before your consultation day whether an English version or a translation will be provided.
How long should you wait after surgery before flying back to Canada?
Ask the surgeon who treats you to suggest the earliest date for your case, and get it in writing before you book a return flight. The sources below do not set one waiting period for everyone. The Government of Canada warns that flying soon after surgery may increase your risk of complications, including blood clots in the legs, blood clots in the lungs and air becoming trapped in a blood vessel after an operation (Government of Canada, Travelling outside Canada to receive medical care).
As a general guide, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons suggests waiting five to seven days before flying after body procedures such as liposuction and breast augmentation, and seven to 10 days after cosmetic procedures of the face, including facelifts, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty and laser treatments (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Briefing paper: cosmetic surgery tourism). The society also says vacation activities should be avoided after surgery, naming examples such as sunbathing, drinking alcohol, swimming and extensive walking or bus tours. Use these figures to start the conversation with your surgeon, not as a rule for your own procedure.
- When does the surgeon expect to remove stitches or hold the last check-up before I leave Korea?
- Which date would the surgeon consider reasonable for my flight back to Canada?
- What should I do during the flight, and which signs mean I should get medical help?
- Whom do I contact at the clinic if my condition changes before I leave Korea?
Which records should you bring home to Canada?
The Government of Canada recommends getting copies of all medical records related to your procedure before departure, including X-rays and scans, and notes that you may need to translate this information into English or French (Government of Canada, Travelling outside Canada to receive medical care). Back in Canada, it advises reviewing everything with a health care provider, including the results of medical tests, descriptions of the procedures you had and information about the medications you received, and seeing a provider immediately if you notice any changes in your condition or signs of infection.
Keep your copy of the signed Korean consent form with those records. It names the doctor who explained the procedure and the main doctor taking part, and it sets out the method and the instructions you were given, which helps a Canadian provider understand what was planned.
How COMEDI helps
COMEDI is not a clinic and does not give medical advice. We help you send the questions in this guide to Korean clinics in English, collect the written answers — including whether an English consent document or a translation is available and what the follow-up schedule looks like — and arrange consultation and booking times around your travel dates. Whether surgery suits you, and when you can fly, are decisions for the doctor who treats you.
Double eyelid surgery: what is used
| Devices, products and methods | |
|---|---|
| Full-incision method | A cut is made along the planned crease so that skin, and fat if needed, can be removed and the crease fixed to deeper tissue; it is generally used when there is extra skin or fat in the upper lid. |
| Partial-incision (mini-incision) method | One or a few short cuts are used to reach the fat and fix the crease; it is generally used when there is extra fat but little extra skin. |
| Non-incisional (buried suture) method | Fine threads are passed through tiny openings and buried under the skin to hold the crease; it is generally used for thin lids without extra skin or fat, and the crease can loosen over time. |
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Approach | The surgeon chooses a full-incision, partial-incision or buried-suture method according to how much skin and fat the upper lid has. The crease is made by linking the lid skin or muscle to the deeper lifting layer of the eyelid. |
| Anaesthesia | Published surgical series describe local anaesthetic injected into the eyelid, sometimes with a mild sedative. The exact method varies by clinic and patient. |
| Stitches | With incision methods, skin stitches are generally removed about 4 to 7 days after surgery. With the buried-suture method the threads stay under the skin, so there are usually no stitches to remove. |
| Recovery | Bruising generally settles over about 2 weeks, and published series describe recovery over roughly 2 to 4 weeks. Timing differs with the method used and from person to person. |
| Known risks | Reported problems include uneven creases, a crease that fades or disappears, a visible or raised scar, and a buried thread working its way out. In one large study of the buried-suture method, creases were lost more often in puffy eyelids. |
Full details and sources: Double eyelid surgery
Facts to check before you book
| Registration | Clinics and agencies that work with international patients must be registered with Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare. Medical Korea lists 3,114 registered medical institutions and 1,927 registered agencies (as of March 2025), and registered institutions have had to carry medical malpractice liability insurance since 2016. Ask for the registration number before you pay a deposit. [1] |
| Official help line | The Medical Korea Information Center answers on +82-2-1577-7129, daily 09:00 to 18:00 Korea time, and has desks at Seoul Station (B2, Airport Railroad) and Incheon Airport Terminal 1. It gives information on clinics, takes complaints and dispute enquiries, and takes reports of illegal brokers. [2] |
| Tax refund | Korea's VAT refund for cosmetic procedures for foreign visitors (Restriction of Special Taxation Act, Article 107-3) applied only to procedures received at registered clinics on or before 31 December 2025, and the refund had to be claimed within three months of the procedure. Procedures received now are not covered, so do not plan your budget around a refund, and ask the clinic whether VAT is included in the written quote. [3] |
| If something goes wrong | The Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency accepts mediation applications from foreign patients. Patients living abroad apply by email or fax ([email protected]), and the counselling line is +82-2-1670-2545. Keep your records, receipts and consent forms. [4] |
Checked on 2026-10-07. Rules change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.