Nose surgery is the most searched surgical procedure among our English-speaking guests. Most questions we get are not about technique. They are about time: how long to stay, when the swelling goes down, and when it is safe to fly. This guide answers those first.
How long to stay: plan 10 to 14 days
A typical schedule for our guests looks like this:
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Arrive, consultation(s), pre-op tests |
| Day 1–2 | Surgery. You go back to your hotel the same day or the next morning |
| Day 2–3 | First check-up at the clinic |
| Day 5–7 | Splint and stitches removed |
| Day 8–10 | Final check-up, then you can usually fly |
If you can only stay a week, tell the clinic at the first message. Some patients fly with the splint on, but the decision is the surgeon's, not ours.
What the consultation should cover
Rhinoplasty in Korea is rarely one fixed package. At consultation, the surgeon will look at your nose and suggest a combination. Ask these questions at every clinic so you can compare answers side by side:
- Implant or own cartilage? Silicone implants, septal cartilage, ear cartilage and rib cartilage are all used. This changes the price and the recovery the most.
- Tip only, bridge only, or both?
- Who performs the surgery, and who does the follow-up?
- What is included: anesthesia, pre-op tests, medicine, splint removal, follow-up visits.
- What happens if you need a revision?
Write the answers down. After two or three consultations, the differences between clinics are usually clear.
How to compare quotes
Prices for "a nose job" are not comparable until the plan is the same. Put each quote in the same table: material, scope (tip / bridge / both), what is included, and whether VAT is included. We do this for our guests and send the comparison before they decide. See our rhinoplasty guide for recovery details by method.
Clinics our guests often consult
These Gangnam clinics see many foreign patients and are used to English coordination. KBW partner clinics can be booked through us for a free consultation.
KBW DirectDA Plastic SurgeryGangnam · Plastic surgery · ★ 4.8Get a free consultation ›
KBW DirectVIEW Plastic SurgeryGangnam · Plastic surgery · ★ 4.9Get a free consultation ›
KBW DirectVery Good Plastic SurgeryNonhyeon · Plastic surgery · ★ 4.9Get a free consultation ›Gangnam Station and Sinsa are where most surgery clinics are. If you stay nearby, you can walk to check-ups instead of taking taxis while you are swollen.
Where to stay during recovery
During the first week you will spend a lot of time indoors. A room with a kitchen and a washing machine makes this much easier, and being 10 minutes from the clinic matters more than being near the sights.
Things our guests say they were glad to have: a neck pillow for sleeping upright, lip balm (you breathe through your mouth for a few days), and soft food delivered to the room.
Next step
Send us your travel dates and a short description of what you want to change. We set up consultations at clinics that fit your plan and send you the quotes in one comparison.
