My Rhinoplasty and Face Contour Experience with Girin Plastic Surgery

I had been considering jaw and cheekbone reduction surgery for a long time and wanted a clinic that prioritized patient safety, clear communication, and truly understood my goals. Since this was my first time traveling abroad for plastic surgery, avoiding language barriers and feeling supported was extremely important to me. I contacted Girin and several other clinics for online consultations via WhatsApp, and Girin stood out for being responsive, friendly, and transparent. They did not upsell unnecessary procedures and only quoted what they believed I genuinely needed based on my concerns. The consultation was detailed and honest, unlike other clinics that mainly focused on pricing while critiquing my appearance. I also appreciated that Girin offers four days of accommodation for procedures over 20 million KRW, along with airport pickup and drop-off, which made the experience feel organized and safe. I researched Girin on platforms such as Reddit, UNNI, and RealSelf and was impressed by the natural-looking results from patients with similar procedures, which gave me confidence to move forward and place my deposit. Even though my surgery was scheduled months later, Girin stayed in contact and reassured me that everything was prepared for my in-person consultation and surgery date. When I arrived in Korea, the process was smooth. I was picked up from the airport and taken to the clinic. The consultation process took time due to documentation and waiting for the doctors, but I appreciated that the doctors were not rushed and were fully focused on their patients. They carefully listened to my concerns, did not push unnecessary procedures, and made thoughtful recommendations. I felt welcomed, supported, and genuinely cared for.

I originally planned to undergo jaw surgery, cheekbone reduction, double eyelid surgery, and rhinoplasty to soften my facial structure and better align my appearance with how I see myself. After my in-person consultation, I replaced the double eyelid surgery with a forehead lift, under-eye fat grafting, and smile line fat grafting. This felt right because the doctors’ recommendations aligned with my goals of achieving a balanced, natural-looking result rather than an overdone appearance.

After meeting with the doctors and translator during the consultation, I felt comfortable and reassured moving forward. They took the time to listen to my concerns, answer my questions, and explain what to expect in a calm and honest way, which helped me feel at ease with my decision. Dr. Yoon Seung Gyu performed my jaw surgery, Dr. Jeon Ji In performed my rhinoplasty, forehead lift and fat grafting. The doctors were gentle, professional, and reassuring throughout the process. On the day of surgery, everything was explained clearly and at a comfortable pace. My translator was with me through each step of the process. I felt pretty calm going in. I laid down, went to sleep, and woke up. I was greeted by my translator and was helped to the recovery room.

The first few hours after waking up from surgery were difficult. I felt extremely thirsty and cold, though I believe the shaking was mostly due to anxiety. I stayed overnight at the clinic with a nurse monitoring me, which was very reassuring. My translator even brought in the flower my boyfriend got for me and helped me up to see him briefly, which meant a lot to me emotionally. The nurse who cared for me overnight was attentive, regularly changing my ice packs, checking on me, and administering medication. After discharge, the swelling was intense, and I had difficulty seeing, breathing, sleeping, eating, and drinking. Pain was manageable with medication and additional Tylenol, and I had to slowly syringe water and food due to swelling. The day after discharge, my drainage tubes and nose packing were removed. Over the next few days, I experienced headaches, fever, and ongoing swelling, and sleeping was difficult as I woke up frequently throughout the night.

I did not experience major complications, but recovery was challenging. When I accidentally misplaced my medication while switching hotels, Girin quickly provided replacements. On day six, I experienced severe headaches and contacted the clinic, and they responded promptly and provided medication to help manage the pain. Throughout my recovery, the Girin team remained responsive, supportive, and reassuring, and knowing I could reach out and receive help made a significant difference during a difficult recovery period.

I will update this post with more photos of my recovery but as for now, this is what my nose looks like.