The short answer: at SM Plastic Surgery, breast augmentation with implants is usually a same-day procedure, and most people return to light daily routines in about 3 days. The follow-up plan, however, runs for a full year — dressing and progress visits at about one week and one month, then check-ups at 3, 6 and 12 months. Plan your trip around the follow-up schedule, not around the surgery date.
Hello from SM Plastic Surgery in Gangnam, Seoul. If you live outside Korea, the question that shapes your whole trip is not only "which clinic?" but "how many times do I need to be here, and when?"
The short answer: at SM Plastic Surgery, breast augmentation with implants is usually a same-day procedure, and most people return to light daily routines in about 3 days. The follow-up plan, however, runs for a full year — dressing and progress visits at about one week and one month, then check-ups at 3, 6 and 12 months. Plan your trip around the follow-up schedule, not around the surgery date.
How long does the surgery itself take, and do I stay overnight?
A standard first-time implant insertion at SM Plastic Surgery takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Revision surgery, or combining it with another procedure, takes longer. The clinic's principle is same-day discharge: you rest and are observed after surgery, then go home. If an overnight stay is needed, one night is arranged.
Anesthesia is part of the planning too. Sedation is given by the director himself. When general anesthesia is required, a visiting anesthesiologist is brought in for that surgery. There is no anesthesiologist stationed at the clinic full-time, and we would rather say so plainly than let it be assumed.
What does the follow-up schedule look like over the first year?
Here is the visit pattern the clinic uses for breast augmentation. Each line is a separate trip to the clinic, so it is worth reading this table before you look at flights.
| Stage | What happens | What it means if you live abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation and tests | One visit to examine, measure and decide the plan | Scheduled together during consultation |
| Surgery day | About 1 to 1.5 hours for a standard first-time insertion; same-day discharge in principle | Stay close to Gangnam that night |
| Dressing and progress visits | 2 to 3 visits in total, including visits at about one week and one month | Decide whether you stay, or return for the one-month visit |
| Regular check-ups | 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery | Plan these as separate trips |
Light daily activity typically resumes in about 3 days, but individual recovery differs. "Back to daily routine" is not the same as "the doctor has finished checking your surgery." The one-week visit exists for a reason, and leaving before it shortens the period in which the surgeon can see your wound in person.
When is it safe for me to fly home?
There is no single number that fits everyone, and we do not give one in an article. The decision depends on how your wound looks at the follow-up visit, on whether you had general anesthesia, and on how long the flight is. Airlines also have their own rules for passengers after surgery. Ask about your flight at the consultation, and confirm it again with the surgeon at your post-operative visit before you change your ticket.
Two practical suggestions from the way the schedule works:
- Avoid booking a non-refundable flight home before your one-week visit.
- Ask in advance whether a written summary of your surgery (implant type, incision site and dates) can be prepared for you to show a doctor at home if needed.
Which implants and incisions are used at SM Plastic Surgery?
Two implant brands are currently used for new surgeries: Motiva and Mentor. For Motiva, only the first-generation line is imported into Korea. For Mentor, both the Classic and Xtra lines are used. Classic is designed for a soft, natural movement; Xtra has a higher gel fill, which gives a fuller volume at the same width and is intended to help reduce rippling (manufacturer information).
The incision is chosen from three sites: around the areola, in the armpit, or along the fold under the breast (inframammary). Implant placement uses techniques such as the dual plane method. For deep stitching, STRATAFIX barbed suture is used mainly in breast surgery; it spreads tension along the whole thread without knots, which may help reduce wound separation and scar widening.
Why does a breast exam before and after surgery matter?
Breast surgery is not only a cosmetic decision. The breast is an organ that needs regular screening throughout life. For this reason, breast examinations before and after surgery at SM Plastic Surgery are referred to a radiology clinic that works in cooperation with us. These exams are not performed inside our clinic; they are arranged through that referral.
Dr. Lee Moo-young described why this matters to him in a 2014 magazine interview:
"Breasts are a part of the body where breast cancer can develop, so … it is important to check whether there is a system to examine for breast cancer before and after surgery, not just to have breast surgery for cosmetic purposes."
— Dr. Lee Moo-young, Weekly People vol.895, 11 April 2014 (excerpt)
If you are comparing clinics from abroad, this is a fair question to ask every one of them: how are breast exams handled before and after surgery?
What is CAPS, and how is it used after surgery?
CAPS is an ultrasound-based device made specifically for aftercare following breast surgery. SM Plastic Surgery has introduced it for early care of the capsule — the thin layer of tissue the body forms around an implant. It is one part of aftercare and does not replace your follow-up visits.
Frequently asked questions
Q1) Can I come to Seoul for surgery and leave the next day?
A1) Surgery is same-day in principle, but the follow-up visits at about one week and one month are part of the plan. Leaving the next day means missing the one-week visit. Discuss your exact dates at the consultation.
Q2) Who performs the surgery?
A2) Dr. Lee Moo-young, the medical director and a plastic surgery specialist certified in Korea, handles your care directly from consultation to surgery.
Q3) How many breast surgeries has the clinic performed?
A3) More than 4,500 breast surgeries since the clinic opened in 2013, by the clinic's own count. This is a combined figure for patients from Korea and abroad.
Q4) I had implants placed elsewhere years ago. Can I have a check-up here?
A4) Yes. Revision surgery, implant exchange and capsular contracture correction are part of the clinic's breast practice. Bring whatever information you have about your previous implant and incision so the examination can start from what is already known.
Q5) Can I shower soon after surgery?
A5) When skin glue (Dermabond) is used for closure, showering is usually possible relatively early. Your surgeon will tell you the timing that fits your wound.
Results and recovery differ between individuals. Please make decisions after a full consultation with a specialist.
Breast implant surgery can cause swelling, bruising, pain, bleeding, infection, hematoma, seroma, and scarring at the incision, and capsular contracture, in which a firm capsule forms around the implant and makes the breast hard or changes its shape, may occur. The implant may rupture, leak, or shift, asymmetry or rippling may occur, and sensation in the nipple or breast may change. Implants do not last a lifetime, so replacement or revision surgery may be needed, and regular check-ups are required after surgery. Results vary from person to person.