Answers
Questions & answersOne hundred and one questions, each answered with the thing it rests on.
Every question patients actually arrive with, answered in three parts: the answer itself, the grounds underneath it, and the limit that qualifies it. Where the grounds are a published paper it is named with its identifier and links to its own page; where they are the clinic’s own explanation rather than a published finding, it says so. Search the list, or filter it by operation.
- In one line
- One hundred and one questions patients ask before these operations, each answered with the grounds it rests on and the limit that qualifies it.
- Whom it suits
- Anyone deciding whether an operation is the right one, and what it will cost them in recovery.
- Whom it does not
- Anyone looking for a diagnosis without an examination — none of these answers replaces one.
- What this rests on
- Each answer names either a published paper with its identifier, or states that it is the clinic’s own explanation rather than a published finding.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Jung Su Lee, M.D., Ph.D., board-certified plastic surgeon · Last checked 13 September 2026
Nothing matches that. Try a shorter word — the search looks in the questions, the answers and the grounds.
Endoscopic malar reduction
The cheekbone — how the bone is reached, what holds it, and what a revision has to read first.
Can the cheekbone be reduced without an incision inside the mouth?
Yes. The bone is reached through a single incision inside the temporal hairline, and the mouth is not opened.
Grounds The 32 patients reported in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2003 were operated on this way (PMID 12496619).
The limitWhere the anterior cheekbone projects strongly and a wide movement is needed, an intraoral approach may suit the face better.
Where to check it
What actually separates the temporal approach from the intraoral one?
Not the position of the incision, but how far the bone must move and how it is held afterwards.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. The temporal route lets the segment pivot and seat itself; the intraoral route cuts and then fixes with plates.
The limitWhich is appropriate depends on the shape and the degree of projection in that particular face.
What does “one incision and two dissection planes” mean?
From a single temporal incision, the route to the zygomatic body and the route to the zygomatic arch are separated into two different planes.
GroundsThe technique as defined in the 2003 paper in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PMID 12496619).
The limitHow far each plane is carried, and at what depth, is adjusted to the bone in front of the surgeon.
Where to check it
What is the L-rotation osteotomy?
The inner cortex of the zygomatic body is left as an axis, the arch is cut through, and the resulting L-shaped segment is rotated inward.
Grounds261 cases, reported in the Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 2021 (PMID 32810601).
The limitAll 261 in that series were operated on under local anaesthesia; that is a record of those patients, not a rule about anaesthesia now.
Where to check it
How does the L-rotation differ from the original 2003 method?
The 2003 method was built around the lateral cheekbone. The L-rotation extended the reach to include the anterior zygomatic body.
GroundsA comparison of the technique described in the 2003 series of 32 (PMID 12496619) and the 2021 series of 261 (PMID 32810601).
The limitWhich suits a given face depends on how far the anterior cheekbone projects and how much movement is required.
Where to check it
Without plates, won’t the cheekbone separate again?
The segment is rotated while the inner cortex at the junction of the anterior and lateral cheekbone stays connected, so it seats itself without separate fixation.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. The retained cortical connection acts as both the axis of rotation and the interlock.
The limitWhere a large movement is needed, or where there is too little bone contact, another method of fixation may be necessary.
Is my face an anterior-cheekbone type or a lateral one?
If the face looks wide from the front, the arch dominates; if the projection stands out in profile, the body does.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitThe two types occur together more often than not, so the distinction needs examination and imaging rather than a mirror.
Why do cheeks sag after malar reduction?
Soft tissue that loses the bony support it sat on can descend, and a wide dissection makes that more likely.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitHow much descent appears depends on age, skin elasticity and the extent of the operation.
What is checked first in a malar revision?
CT and examination, to separate four things: where the old osteotomy ran, where the segment sits and whether it united, the left-right difference, and soft-tissue descent.
GroundsThe eleven revision cases reported in Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 19(2):95-100, 2013, as sole author.
The limitWhether the cause is bone or soft tissue changes the order of what is done — re-osteotomy, fixation, or a soft-tissue correction.
Where to check it
There is still a prominence after my malar surgery. Is it the bone, or sagging?
It takes both: CT to see where the bone segment sits, and examination to see whether soft tissue has descended over it.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitThe two occur together often enough that a single cause should not be assumed.
What are non-union and malunion of the cheekbone, and what is done about them?
Bone that did not knit, or knitted in the wrong position. Either may need firm fixation added.
GroundsThe 2021 series of 261 cases also reports segment instability and re-fixation among its cases.
The limitNon-union has to be confirmed on CT, and the approach depends on the degree.
Where to check it
Can cheekbone asymmetry be corrected surgically?
Yes — by setting the osteotomy lines and the amount of rotation differently on each side.
GroundsAdjustment of the osteotomy line for asymmetry is described in the 2021 series of 261 cases.
The limitWhere the bony difference is large, or soft-tissue asymmetry is present as well, the result is limited.
Where to check it
Why does sensation dull after malar reduction?
The sensory nerves that pass around the cheekbone lie close to the operative field, so temporary dulling is usual.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitHow quickly it returns, and how long it lasts, varies with the individual nerve anatomy and the extent of dissection.
If all 261 cases in the 2021 paper were under local anaesthesia, is it always local now?
No. That is a record of what those patients had; it is not the basis for deciding anaesthesia today.
GroundsThe anaesthesia recorded in the 2021 L-rotation series of 261 (PMID 32810601).
The limitAnaesthesia is decided by the extent of surgery, any concurrent operations, general health, and whether it is a revision.
Where to check it
What is the J-saw?
An osteotomy saw drawn for this passage, because the distance and the curve from the temporal incision to the arch and to the body are not the same.
GroundsRegistered with the Korean Intellectual Property Office as a design (no. 0331118, 2003) and its name as a trademark (no. 0560740, 2003), both in Dr. Lee’s own name. No patent is claimed.
The limitAn instrument does not decide a result. The dissection plane and the osteotomy design matter more than the tool that cuts.
Where to check it
Can malar reduction and jaw-angle reduction be done together?
They are sometimes done in one session, but the order, the anaesthesia and the recovery plan have to be considered together.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitFor some bone structures and some states of general health, doing both at once is not appropriate.
How does recovery from malar reduction go?
Sutures out and early recovery usually within one to two weeks; swelling and bruising settle gradually after that.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. Per the clinic’s procedure information sheet.
The limitHow fast swelling settles varies with constitution and with how much was done.
Does using an endoscope remove the risk of nerve injury altogether?
No. The endoscope helps identify the boundary of nerve and vessel in a narrow corridor; it does not abolish the risk.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitActual risk depends on identifying the layer, on instrument handling, on how much adhesion is present, and on the surgeon’s experience.
Who were the 32 patients in the 2003 paper?
Thirty-two patients operated on between December 1999 and August 2001, selected for lateral cheekbone prominence.
GroundsPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery 111(1):461-467, 2003 (PMID 12496619).
The limitThe selection criteria excluded strong anterior projection, so it is not a result that applies to every cheekbone.
Where to check it
I had malar reduction at another clinic. Can it be revised here?
Where prominence or asymmetry remains after an earlier operation, it can be re-examined endoscopically and corrected.
GroundsThe 2013 series of eleven revisions was drawn entirely from patients who had had earlier malar surgery.
The limitWhat kind of revision is possible depends on the method used before and on the state of the bone now.
Where to check it
Endoscopic forehead lift
The brow, the four causes of a heavy eye, and what the operation will not do.
Why do my eyes feel heavy, or my expression look severe?
It is one of four things, and which one leads decides the operation: the brow has descended, the eyelid skin is in excess, the levator is weak, or the forehead has been doing the lifting.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitMore than one is usually present at once, which is why they are separated by examination before anything is proposed.
In my case, is it an endoscopic forehead lift or upper-eyelid surgery?
If the brow position is the cause, the forehead lift addresses it. If excess eyelid skin is the cause, eyelid surgery is more direct.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere both are present, both may be considered — in an order decided by which one leads.
What is bone-tunnelling fixation?
Small tunnels are made in the outer cortex of the frontal bone and a suture is passed through them, fixing the lifted tissue to the bone itself.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. As described in the surgeon’s own writing.
The limitThe position and the tension depend on the state of the scalp and periosteum and on the thickness of the bone.
Which is better, bone tunnelling or an absorbable fixation device?
There is no evidence yet that either is better for every patient, and this site does not claim that one is.
GroundsA 2025 literature review of fixation in endoscopic forehead lift — 27 studies, 2,519 patients, by other authors — found no universal superiority.
The limitWhich suits a particular patient depends on the direction of brow descent and on whether there has been previous surgery.
Are fewer incisions always better?
No. What matters is the number that matches the degree of descent, not the smallest possible number.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. Two to four incisions, 1.5 to 2.0 cm, decided by the degree of descent.
The limitHow many are needed varies with the depth of the forehead lines and with skin elasticity.
Which muscles pull the eyebrow down?
Four: the corrugator, the depressor supercilii, the procerus, and the medial part of the orbicularis oculi.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitHow far each is addressed is designed around the pattern of brow descent, not applied uniformly.
Can brow asymmetry be corrected by a forehead lift?
Yes — by adjusting the amount of muscle release and the fixation point differently on each side.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere the cause lies in bone or another structure rather than in the brow muscles, the result is limited.
Will a forehead lift leave me looking startled?
It can, if the brow is raised too far or in the wrong direction — which is why the direction is designed rather than maximised.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitThe result varies with the original brow position and with how much lift is applied.
When is a brow lift combined with a sub-brow excision?
When the brow itself has not descended much but skin remains redundant immediately beneath it.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhether to combine them is decided after examining brow position and skin condition together.
Why are thread lifts limited for a descended brow?
The retaining ligaments at the lateral brow hold firmly, and pulling on skin alone does not move them far.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere descent is slight, a thread lift may still give some improvement.
How does a forehead lift differ from forehead reduction?
A lift raises the descended brow and forehead tissue. A reduction lowers the hairline to shorten the forehead. They are opposite operations.
GroundsForehead reduction in 641 cases, mean central excision 16.64 mm — Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 45(4):1551-1560, 2021.
The limitWhere brow position and forehead length are both at issue, the two can be considered together.
Where to check it
How much do forehead lines improve after a lift?
As the brow rises and the compensatory lifting stops being necessary, the horizontal lines usually soften with it.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. The frontalis is the muscle that raises the forehead and brow, so it is preserved as a rule.
The limitWhere lines are very deep, part of the frontalis is sometimes excised, and results vary between individuals.
Does hair loss or loss of sensation occur after a forehead lift?
Temporary reduction in sensation, and local change around the incisions, can occur.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitThe degree and duration vary with individual recovery and with the extent of the operation.
How is botulinum toxin for the brow different from a forehead lift?
Toxin temporarily reduces muscle action. A lift dissects the tissue and moves its position.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere descent is slight, toxin alone may achieve part of what is wanted.
In middle age, with drooping eyelids, in what order are operations decided?
Brow position, skin redundancy and the strength of eye opening are examined together, and the cause that leads is planned first.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere several causes overlap, whether to operate once or in stages depends on the individual.
Is a second forehead lift possible?
Yes, but the fixation points and the extent of dissection have to be designed again around the adhesions the first operation left.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitThe difficulty depends on how much adhesion there is and on how the brow was fixed the first time.
How long is recovery, and when can I go back to work?
For desk work, usually around seven days. If bruising persists it can be about fourteen.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. Per the clinic’s own guidance.
The limitRecovery varies with occupation, constitution and the extent of the operation.
How can I check for ptosis myself?
In a mirror, without raising your brows, see how much of the iris the upper lid covers.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitThat is an indication, not a diagnosis; the diagnosis needs a specialist’s examination.
When can I massage my face after a forehead lift?
Forehead and facial massage is best avoided for about six weeks.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. Per the clinic’s aftercare guidance.
The limitThe starting point can be brought forward or back at a review visit, depending on recovery.
Is the frontalis always cut in a forehead lift?
No. The frontalis raises the forehead and brow, so preserving it is the rule; partial excision is considered only where lines are severe.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhether and how much is excised depends on the depth of the lines and on the intended brow position.
When does sensation in the forehead come back?
Much of it within six months; in some cases it takes one to two years.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. Per the clinic’s own guidance.
The limitItching or tingling can accompany the recovery, and the degree varies between individuals.
How long does the operation take, and what about the scar?
Usually within one to two hours. The scars sit inside the hairline, planned so the hair covers them.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. Per the clinic’s procedure information sheet.
The limitOperating time changes with concurrent procedures and with the degree of descent.
Revision rhinoplasty
Noses operated on before: what decides whether another operation is possible, and when.
My nose has failed several operations. Is another one possible?
Whether it is possible is judged by the tissue that remains and its blood supply — not by how many operations there have been.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere repeated surgery has damaged the tissue badly, a staged approach using the patient’s own tissue may be necessary.
When is the right time for a revision?
Generally between six months and a year after the first operation.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitIt is not a fixed interval. The right time depends on the state of the nose and on the method used before.
Why is my bridge crooked, and how is it corrected?
Most often the pocket the implant sits in was made off to one side. The correction is to make the pocket correctly again.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere the septum itself is deviated, cartilage correction is needed as well.
Why does my implant keep moving?
Because it was not seated accurately in the subperiosteal pocket, or the periosteum was damaged during surgery.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitHow much it moves, and why, has to be confirmed by examination and imaging.
Why can I see the outline of my implant through the skin?
Because the skin is thin — congenitally or from surgery — or because the implant is too thick or too high.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere the skin has thinned a great deal, the plan may move to the patient’s own tissue only, with no implant.
How is a deformed nasal tip corrected?
The material that was pressing on it is removed, and the tip’s support is rebuilt with the patient’s own cartilage.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitHow much cartilage is available, and which method is possible, depends on the damage already done.
How is a contracted, shortened nose lengthened?
The hardened scar is released fully, and the tip is supported and lengthened with septal cartilage or equivalent.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere contracture is severe, additional tissue such as rib cartilage may be required.
My nose was infected. When can it be operated on again?
After the inflammation has settled — as a rule, never into unsettled tissue. Depending on the state, it may be done in stages.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitHow long settling takes depends on the degree of infection and on what material was in place.
Silicone, Gore-Tex or mesh — which, and when?
Silicone is widely used because it carves and removes easily; mesh is used mainly to reinforce the support of the patient’s own cartilage.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitGore-Tex has become less common following import restrictions, and material choice depends on skin thickness and on what was used before.
Ear cartilage, septum, rib or dermis — how is the choice made?
By how much is needed, what the donor site costs, and what the tip has to be supported with.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere repeated surgery has left little cartilage, a source that yields more — such as rib — may be necessary.
If no cartilage is left, how is a revision done?
The support is rebuilt from tissue taken elsewhere — rib cartilage, or the patient’s own dermis.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitHarvesting rib cartilage needs its own incision and its own recovery, and that is explained before it is agreed.
If cartilage is taken from my ear, what happens to the ear?
The donor site has its own cost: pain that lasts longer than patients expect, a change in the contour of the ear, and a scar behind it.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. It also changes what is available later — cartilage already harvested is not there for the next operation.
The limitHow much is taken, and whether to take it at all, is decided with the whole sequence of operations in mind.
My tip droops, or turns up. How is that corrected?
The structure that supports the tip is rebuilt with the patient’s own cartilage and its direction and angle reset.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitHow much tissue is needed depends on the degree and on which material caused it.
My columella is crooked or dropped. What is done?
A support is reinforced inside the columella and the two sides matched.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhich support material can be used depends on the state of the septum.
What does the 3D CT show before a revision?
The bony framework, the state of the septal cartilage, and the degree of deviation — so the operation can be planned rather than discovered.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitCT does not show everything about soft tissue; examination is needed alongside it.
Is the skin of a nose operated on many times safe?
Repeated incision and dissection can weaken the blood supply to the skin, so the extent of dissection has to be decided carefully.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitDepending on the state of the skin, how much can be corrected in one operation may be limited.
Can breathing and appearance be addressed in the same operation?
Yes, when the septum and the nasal valve are assessed alongside the shape.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere the functional problem is significant, an ENT assessment may be needed as well.
How long between one revision and the next?
Long enough for the tissue to settle fully before the next operation is planned.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitThe interval depends on the extent of the previous operation and on whether there was inflammation.
What are the long-term results of secondary tip plasty after a PCL mesh degraded?
Of 86 patients, 56 were followed for 24 months or more; tip projection (Goode ratio) tended to decrease somewhat over the long term.
GroundsLong-term outcomes of secondary nasal tip plasty after degradation of a polycaprolactone mesh, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 46(5):2358-2365, 2022 — published with an invited discussion.
The limitThat study covers patients who had had a PCL mesh. It does not describe revision rhinoplasty in general.
Where to check it
Why is a revision said to be harder than a first operation?
Because the cause has to be found again on top of the scar and the tissue change the earlier operation created.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitHow hard depends on how many operations there have been, what materials were used, and the state of the tissue.
My bridge is too low, or too high. How is that corrected?
The existing implant is removed and the height reset with an implant or the patient’s own tissue, matched to the whole face.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitThe right height is a proportion of that face; there is no single correct figure.
After a silicone implant is removed, must it always be autologous tissue from then on?
No. Depending on the skin and on what caused the problem, autologous tissue and implant material are sometimes used together.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere the skin has thinned a great deal, the plan may move to autologous tissue only.
Can a revision solve everything at once, or should it be staged?
Where there is inflammation or a risk of infection, settling comes first and the problems are addressed in stages.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere the problem is local and the tissue stable, a single operation may be planned.
Facial foreign-body removal
Filler, fat and implants another clinic could not take out.
When should an old forehead implant be removed?
When there is fluid collection, headache, a foreign-body sensation, or the outline of the implant has become visible.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitEven without symptoms, removal may be advised where there is concern about bone erosion.
Why remove material from the forehead, glabella and temple under endoscopic view?
Because nerves and vessels run through those areas, and the endoscope gives a magnified view of them while the material is taken out.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitDepending on where the material sits and how hard it is, a cannula or an open approach may be used alongside.
Can filler still be in the body years after the injection?
Depending on the type, yes — semi-permanent and permanent fillers can remain for years.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitHyaluronic acid filler breaks down comparatively easily and tends to remain for a shorter time.
What is a lump that does not respond to hyaluronidase?
A semi-permanent filler made of collagen or a calcium compound rather than hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronidase does not dissolve it.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhat the material actually is has to be established from the treatment record or by imaging; it cannot be judged by eye.
Why does a foreign-body granuloma appear years after the injection?
The immune response to the material accumulates over time and can present as a firm lump.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhen it appears, and how large it becomes, depends on the material and on the individual immune response.
Why does a fat-grafted area become hard?
Grafted fat that does not receive enough circulation can undergo necrosis or calcify.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere the hardening is slight, watching it may be the right course.
How is material under the eye distinguished from the fat that belongs there?
By ultrasound — the boundary and depth of the material and its relation to normal fat.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitPalpation alone is often not enough, which is why imaging is done alongside.
What can ultrasound actually establish about foreign material?
Its position and depth, and whether it has adhered to surrounding tissue — in real time, during the examination.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitIt cannot usually identify the exact product or composition.
Why is the material not all removed in one operation?
Because normal fat and nerve tissue have to be preserved while it comes out. Forcing a complete removal raises the risk of damage.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhere the material is localised and there is little adhesion, most of it may come out in a single operation.
How is hollowing or sagging after removal dealt with?
Where needed, fat grafting or a lift is planned separately afterwards to restore volume and support.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitAny further procedure is usually considered after an interval, once the removal has settled.
Before and after surgery
The consultation, the record, and what this site does and does not show.
What happens at the first consultation?
Examination first, then 3D CT, and ultrasound where it is needed — bone, muscle, fat and skin read together before anything is proposed.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. The findings decide the plan, and the plan is explained with its limits attached.
The limitWhere the findings say that not operating now is the better course, that is said first.
Who performs the operation?
Dr. Jung Su Lee is chief surgeon at Uvom Plastic Surgery Clinic, a board-certified plastic surgeon with a Ph.D.
GroundsThe clinic’s second chief surgeon, Dr. Chang Min Kang, practises facial foreign-body removal and endoscopic malar reduction from the same temporal approach.
The limitTheir records are separate and are never combined on this site. Which of them will operate is settled at the consultation.
Why does this site not show before-and-after photographs?
Because a pair of photographs shows one face and settles nothing about another, and the faces that come here have usually been photographed persuasively already.
GroundsWhat stands instead is the part of the record a reader can check: papers with their PubMed and KCI identifiers, the design and trademark registrations, the textbook page that names the method, and two invited discussions that journals commissioned.
The limitPatients’ own reviews are printed on their own page, as written, with the disappointments left in.
Where to check it
What does the clinic say it cannot do?
Every technique page here carries the faces the method does not suit — a large movement that calls for the intraoral approach, an eyelid problem a brow operation will not answer, a nose whose remaining tissue does not support another operation yet.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitA beginner talks about advantages; experience talks about boundaries.
Where to check it
Is a price quoted before the examination?
No. A fee is quoted after the findings have been read, and the quotation says what is and is not included.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitA number given before anything has been examined is set by the marketing rather than by the face.
What should I bring to a first consultation about a revision?
Whatever record exists of the earlier surgery — the operative note, the material used, any CT or ultrasound — and photographs of the face before that operation.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. Records from the earlier surgery are worth more than any photograph taken since.
The limitWhere no record exists, imaging here can establish much of it, but not the brand of a material that was implanted.
I live abroad. What can be settled before I fly?
Whether the problem is one this clinic treats, what would have to be examined in person, and whether the timing is right.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. Photographs and records are read first and answered in writing.
The limitA plan cannot be finalised from photographs. If the answer is that you should not fly yet, it is given before anything is booked.
Where to check it
How long should I stay in Seoul?
Long enough for the dressings and review visits that follow the operation, rather than flying home between them.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. The number of days a particular operation needs is given in writing before flights are booked.
The limitIt is given for that face and that operation, not as a standard package.
Where to check it
Can I see the imaging myself?
Yes. The findings are read with the patient before a plan is proposed.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitImaging that is taken but never discussed is decoration; asking to be shown it is a reasonable test of any clinic.
What is the single most useful question to ask any surgeon?
Whom the operation does not suit. A surgeon who cannot name the faces a method fails on has either not met them or is not counting them.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitExperience shows up as boundaries far more reliably than as advantages — which is why that question is the third of seven on the Choosing page.
Where to check it
Are results guaranteed?
No. No clinic can guarantee a result. All surgery carries the possibility of side effects and complications, and results differ between individuals.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. What can be given is the reasoning behind a plan, its limits, and what will be done if the result falls short.
The limitThose are explained at consultation, before anything is agreed.
The surgeon and the clinic
Who operates, since when, and what is published under whose name.
Who is Dr. Jung Su Lee?
Chief surgeon at Uvom Plastic Surgery Clinic in Seoul; a board-certified plastic surgeon with a Ph.D., who has reported endoscopic forehead lift and endoscopic malar reduction — the single temporal incision with two dissection planes, and the L-rotation — in the journals.
GroundsPapers of 2003, 2013 and 2021 (PMID 12496619, PMID 32810601) and the clinic’s own records.
The limitSome details of education and the years of qualification still need confirmation against the clinic’s official documents, and the site says so where that is the case.
Where to check it
Who wrote the papers on endoscopic malar reduction?
Dr. Jung Su Lee, chief surgeon at Uvom, reported 32 cases in 2003, eleven revision cases in 2013, and 261 L-rotation cases in 2021.
GroundsPMID 12496619 (2003); Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 19(2):95-100 (2013); PMID 32810601 (2021).
The limitOther academic reports on endoscopic malar surgery exist besides these three, in Korea and elsewhere.
Where to check it
What has Dr. Lee published?
Ten papers and two theses between 1997 and 2022, four of the papers indexed on PubMed and four on KCI, with four as first or sole author and one as corresponding author.
GroundsPlast Reconstr Surg 2003;111(1):461-467 · Arch Aesthetic Plast Surg 2013;19(2):95-100 · J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg 2021;122(3):229-234 · Aesthetic Plast Surg 2021;45(4):1551-1560, and the rest listed item by item on the Academic Record page.
The limitTwo of the co-authored papers were published with an invited discussion; the remainder were not, and the distinction is kept.
Where to check it
What kind of clinic is Uvom Plastic Surgery?
A plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on one floor, where board-certified plastic surgeons practise alongside an anaesthesiologist.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitThe departments and the staffing change from time to time, as the clinic’s own notices record.
Where to check it
Since when has the clinic done endoscopic surgery?
Since 1999, beginning with endoscopic forehead lift and extending to malar reduction and foreign-body removal.
GroundsThe clinic’s own record of its opening and the start of endoscopic forehead lift in 1999, together with the December 1999 start date recorded in the 2003 paper.
The limitThe year-by-year detail of that history still needs confirmation against the clinic’s official documents.
Where to check it
Who are the clinic’s chief surgeons?
Two board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Jung Su Lee and Dr. Chang Min Kang, with an anaesthesiologist as part of the same team.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding. Per the clinic’s own introduction of its medical staff.
The limitWhich surgeon takes which procedure differs by procedure, and is settled at the consultation.
Coming from outside Korea
What can be settled before a flight, what cannot, and what a reader outside Korea can check without taking anyone’s word for it.
Can anything be decided before I fly to Seoul?
Yes — whether the problem is one this clinic treats, what would have to be examined in person, and whether the timing is right.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitA face that has been operated on before cannot be planned from photographs; what can be settled in advance is whether the journey is worth making.
What should I send in the first message?
Photographs — front, both three-quarters, both profiles, and for a nose a view from below — in daylight and without makeup, with what was done before, when, where and with what.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitOperative records, CT or ultrasound from the earlier surgery are worth more than any photograph. A one-line enquiry gets a one-line answer.
What language is the consultation conducted in?
Korean and English, as the clinic lists them.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhether interpretation into another language is arranged for a particular appointment is confirmed when the appointment is made, rather than promised on a page.
Does the clinic arrange a package — airport pickup, a hotel, a fixed number of days?
No. None of those are offered, and no number of days is promised in advance.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitWhat a particular operation needs in the way of stay, review visits and cost is given in writing before anything is booked, for that face rather than as a tariff.
How many separate visits does it take once I am in Seoul?
Examination, 3D CT and ultrasound are all on the same floor, so the findings, the reading and the plan happen on one visit rather than across a week of appointments.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitSurgery is not performed on the day of the first consultation, and the dressings and review visits that follow it are at the same desk.
What happens to follow-up once I have flown home?
Follow-up continues by message, with photographs, and a review visit is arranged if something needs to be seen rather than described.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitSwelling and numbness resolve over months rather than weeks, so most questions arrive during that period rather than before it.
How can I check this clinic from outside Korea, without taking its word for it?
Four of the papers are indexed on PubMed; the instrument’s design and trademark numbers are held by the Korean Intellectual Property Office; the method is set down under the surgeon’s own name in an American textbook; and Korea’s Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service publishes which doctors are registered at which institution.
GroundsPubMed, KIPRIS, KCI and HIRA are all outside this clinic, and all four are listed with their identifiers on the Choosing a surgeon page.
The limitNone of those registries says anything about how a particular operation will turn out. They establish the record, not the result.
Is it cheaper to book directly than through an agency?
Yes. An enquiry that reaches the clinic through this site carries no agency commission, and the surgery fee is quoted with a reduction applied and shown as its own line in the written estimate.
GroundsThe clinic's own explanation, not a published finding.
The limitIt applies to enquiries from outside Korea, where an agency would otherwise be the route in; patients resident in Korea are quoted the clinic’s own fees in the usual way. It is a reduction in the clinic’s own fee, not a discount off a raised one, and it is written as its own line in the estimate under the fee it comes off.
Has the surgeon actually operated outside Korea?
Cleft lip and palate surgery abroad every year since 1996 — Vietnam first, and since then Uzbekistan, Laos, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Myanmar, Mongolia, Cambodia, Chad, Eswatini, India and Türkiye.
GroundsThe 33rd Boryung Medical Service Award, 2017, was given for volunteer surgery abroad since 1996; the countries are listed in the clinic’s mission archive.
The limitThat is volunteer reconstructive surgery, not aesthetic practice abroad, and it is recorded for the clinic as a whole.
The limits are named first.
Answers on this page are explanations, not outcomes. Results differ between individuals, and all surgery carries the possibility of side effects and complications, which are explained at consultation. Medically reviewed by Dr. Jung Su Lee, board-certified plastic surgeon.
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