I am still on my recovery, but I am feeling much better.
It's been 12days since my surgery and I am still staying in the clinic.
I am very private person and I am not going to share my picture.
But, since I had great experience in this clinic, I wanted to share it with especially for some English speaker who is curious about surgery in South Korea but want to have little more information before deciding procedure.
Updated on 12 Apr 2018:
I am going to be mid 30’s this year and I always have been conscious about my aging since 26yo. I always look younger to my age, but I was always the one can notice difference with aging.
I started having consultation with doctor since 26yo and they always recommended me doing thread lift, which I have done few time through my 26 to 30. The effect was really temporary like 6month, even the non absorbable one.
I also have done multiple rhinoplasty which made my nose funnier than my original nose. I fix my nose again with another doctor and he did pretty good job. But It was not perfect since I didn’t harvest any thing for project to tips.(I already have high bridge for Asian, so I only needed tip projection)
I also have done mini lift with him around 31 yo. He thought I am too young for any full face lift and he did perform only mini to me. Which I appreciate his concern but my main goal is real improvement for whole face. After my mini lift swelling reduced, I could see the little change in face line where around ear. But nothing improved around corner of my mouth, that’s the area I was concern and starting to see the loose.
After I told him that, he said that area is only effective from full face lift but that too early for me. I still look much younger than my age since I have been always maintenance my youth. But I was little disappointed that I couldn’t treat area that I wanted to improve.
I always looking for doctor who can perform deep plane face lift. Because by my research that’s the only lift that can be long lasting and lift entire face including corner of mouth.i have friend who did it earlier and she looks like in her early 20’s. And many western ppl can improve by mini lift but Asian have different type of aging and I experience that.
I have been searching all the doctor who can perform deep plane face lift in USA,but non of them are clicked with me perfectly. I had my Tragus shape changed due to my previous mini lift. When I found Dr Taek Kwon and send him my picture, he notice about my Tragus shape which Non of USA doctor actually notice. When I ask them about my Tragus shape they even said that’s unavoidable from having face lift. But Dr Taek Kwon was only one who find it and told me he can fix it.
But he also said I’m too young and still beautiful, I should wait my procedure 5-10years later. I explain to him that I’m in the industry always better to look 20’s, and I see lot of friend suddenly aged after mid 30’s. So I like to have it earlier that I can prevent that happen.
Dr Taek Kwon recommended me to have rhinoplasty instead of face lift, since I am still young and having little projection to my nose make my face more youthful. He showed me with computer image and I really did like it.
But I still have concern to my looseness around my mouth.
I was still bit nervous to flight to far away in Korea for surgery.
So I was still keep reserving doctor in USA, but when I see some of there deep plane face lift procedure video, they are either just releasing ligament around mouth but not check area.
And I felt right after I saw all the Dr Taek Keon’s video (face lift, forehead lift, rhinoplasty ) and make really sense.
I was constantly asking questions to Stella who speak English thorough Email and Chat app.
I asked her crazy amount of questions from begging to decide my surgery, and even more after.
Not many of USA doctor’s assistant actually answering all my question and be this patient. ( except Dr Kwak’s office. That’s also the reason I went for surgery with him. And don’t get me wrong his work was great. But just I wanted to have more improvement)
Anyway I decide to go with Dr Taek Kwon for my Face&Neck lift , Rhinoplasty, Forhead Brow lift and fat injection to my upper eyes hollow.
Updated on 12 Apr 2018:
I stopped eating or drink or even ship water 8hour before.
Nurse woke me up to wash face and brush teeth before 6am.
Went to surgery room around 7am. Doctor go over all the explanations and draw on my face and body( fat harvest area).
I fall sleep from general anesthesia.
Waking up from surgery was hard.
He explained to me that I have choked feeling from neck lift. Also my face is covers up with gauze and I can’t hear anything. My eyes are swelling and hard to see. Seems like my surgery done around 2 pm. Till 6pm I was half conscious and nurse were there with me in my room.
At night they asked me if I want porridge, but I couldn’t think about eating. I just try to sip water. I didn’t need to wake up to go bath room since I have urinary catheterization. Which I was so afraid of it but I am glad that I had it. I couldn’t move at all, and first coughing was painful cuz I also took some of my ribs for rhinoplasty.
I’m also glad that the bed is an Electric Bed, I can use remote controller to lay down and wake up.
It was really tough day that I almost regret doing it. Also it was hard to fall a sleep even I had sleeping pill.
I also vomit from nausea .
Nurse stay with me in my room while night and made me feel so safe.
Also doctor came to see me after. Doctor goes to everyone’s room at night and check up with them which is good.
I was afraid of falling sleep cuz It was hard to breath. My mouth was swollen and feel like my tongue is also bothering me for breath.
Updated on 12 Apr 2018:
Felt better than the day of surgery.
But it’s still discomfort that I want to remove my head and throw it to somewhere.
In the morning, nurse found some blood circulation problem on my left neck, I went to surgery office again and doctor treat that area( I’m sorry I am not really able to explains what happen about it. But seems like blood got stuck and I lost circulation?)
My urinary catheterization tube was removed in the evening. Which made me more able to move my lower body in my bed. But still drain tube is connected to machine and I can’t walk out side of my room.
I had small cup size of porridge in the morning and lunch time. And for the dinner they gave me rice porridge and pumpkin porridge. (Pumpkin porridge was so yummy) I am usually huge eater. This is my chance to make my stomach shrink.
Still having problem with sleeping due to swelling and pain. I try to ice on and off, I can do it only cuz I didn’t fat transfer to entire face. I’m avoiding icing on my eyes. I am not sure if this is good but I really can’t sleep cuz my face is getting too much heat.
Nurse pushes my head every few hour for draining blood. Which is pretty painful but kinda feel good.
Updated on 12 Apr 2018:
Feel much better but still I want take my head off. Some how my left side of head is not bad but right side is been really painful.
Still having hearing problem but it seems this is normal.
I had rice porridge and pumpkin porridge as break fast. Drains are removed from machine but still connected from my head to portable bottle. I am encourage to walk around the corridor from today for faster recovery. I still can’t open my right eyes due to swelling.
Nurse cleaned my nose and ears today.
Updated on 12 Apr 2018:
Swelling is still bad that I can’t open my eyes.
First time I could sleep 6hour in row with sleeping pill last night. I don’t think I can take airplane back to home in one week. Other patients who stay in clinic told me I look less swelling but I definitely still look like a monster now.
I really glad that I stay in clinic where have 24/7 nurse care with provided porridge meals.
After breakfast, nurse washed my hair without touching incision. Feel little more refreshed.
After noon, IV was took out. I still having hearing problem so we decide to go to ENT to check up, It was just my ear wax was stuffed but my ear is too swelling to clean up now, so I am going back there again on Monday.I don’t have any insurance in Korea but it was only $15 to check up. We also stopped by dentist since my wisdom tooth is so hurting. Which was only $13 to check up.
I love this country. Just seeing doctor in USA without insurance will cost few hundred bucks .....
My swelling got bit better at evening. I can start to open my both eyes.
still painful sometimes but not as I want to cry. Finally able to use my laptop.
I was too painful to use it before.
Updated on 12 Apr 2018:
My eyes are open now.
Still painful especially when I wake up. But overall got much better. I feel like my body and head are totally different person since My body want move more but my head feeling like got huge car accident.
I walk around corridor for fast recovery. I had dry sauna which is also attached to here for recovery. There is also light therapy for fast recovery.
Tonight I gonna start to eat at cafeteria,still having trouble chewing but I was able to eat tangerine today.
I will remove drains tonight too.
I still look like monster or alien or whatever called.
Updated on 12 Apr 2018:
5th day drained was removed.
I had oxygen therapy.
6th day I had drain back to my left side. Seems like blood accumulation happening. Doctor came to check again at evening. He said I might need to get drain back to right side too.
Doctor told me I am coming from over seas. So he wants to treat anything ASAP if he found something for faster recovery.
actually having drain and able to remove blood faster is feeling good to me.
7th day
I got another drain on my head again.
I also changed my flight back home for 1 week later since I am too swelling to take airplane right now. Clinic can give you the letter that you got surgery. But I prefer going home while I look like little more my self.
some of stitches are removed today.
Still having trouble sleep at night, feel like someone choking my neck and hard for me to lay down even though I keep my head elevated. Some how my head start to swell and get heat at night.
8th day. During the day I am feeling really better. My eyes are still looks pulled but I start to see my real face too.
9th day we had korean BBQ on lunch time. I was surprised.
Updated on 12 Apr 2018:
since my 10th day to 2 week post op.
I am getting better everyday little by little.
my lower face start to look puffy since my upper face swelling went down.
I have been having sauna, oxygen therapy everyday,and light therapy for every other day. today(2weeks from surgery) I walk 1hour on treadmill.
I really recommend bringing your sneaker with you, so you can start to walk on treadmill after 2 weeks of surgery.
I have feeling little depressed recently, but after I walk for 1 hour, my mood got much better. I still have pain on my head sometimes, have discomfort when I'm sleeping. but overall everything got much better.
Doctor gave me free laser treatment to remove mole since I am having lot of surgery.
that's very generous and made me happy.
Updated on 12 Apr 2018:
I try to type cost was $20000, but it shows on KRW..... I try to fix it, but not working ....
and plus staying the clinic is $50 a day with 24/7 nurse care and 3 meal and snacks and tea coffee all included.