Treatment

What is Rhinoplasty?

Korean rhinoplasty (코성형) is usually an augmentation: raising a low bridge with an implant and building up the tip with cartilage. It differs from Western reduction surgery, which mainly removes a hump.

Bridge implants are typically silicone or ePTFE (Gore-Tex), and tips are shaped with septal, ear or rib cartilage. Some clinics use donor dermis or your own fascia for a softer bridge.

How it works

Most tip work is done through an open approach, with a small cut across the columella. The surgeon builds a stable base with a septal extension graft, then shapes the tip with grafts and sutures. A bridge implant is placed in a pocket on the bone. Osteotomies narrow wide nasal bones if needed. A splint is worn for about a week.

Who it suits

Low or flat nasal bridge
Rounded or bulbous tip
Short or upturned nose
Small dorsal hump with a low radix
Wide nasal bones

Who should skip it or wait

Patients under about 18, before facial growth ends
Anyone with an active nasal infection or uncontrolled sinusitis
Those expecting a specific celebrity nose

Side effects and risks

Implant shifting, showing or causing redness of the skin
Infection, sometimes needing implant removal
Tip over-projection or stiffness
Breathing changes
Capsular contracture causing a short, upturned nose

Aftercare

Keep the splint dry until removal
Sleep on your back with head raised for 2 weeks
No glasses resting on the bridge for 4 to 6 weeks
Avoid blowing your nose for 2 weeks

Planning around your trip

Stay at least 10 days: stitches and splint come off on day 5 to 7, and surgeons prefer a check before you fly, usually from day 7.

Plastic Surgery clinics near Apgujeong

Nana Plastic Surgery Clinic (나나성형외과의원)
Plastic Surgery, 1 min walk from Apgujeongrodeo Station
View Plastic Surgery Clinic (뷰성형외과의원)
Plastic Surgery, 1 min walk from Sinnonhyeon Station
Pop Plastic Surgery Clinic (팝성형외과의원)
Plastic Surgery, 7 min walk from Apgujeong Station
Shinsang Plastic Surgery Clinic (신상성형외과의원)
Plastic Surgery, 8 min walk from Sinsa Station
Wooa Plastic Surgery Clinic (우아성형외과의원)
Plastic Surgery, 4 min walk from Sinnonhyeon Station
Mojerim Plastic Surgery Clinic (모제림성형외과의원)
Plastic Surgery, 6 min walk from Apgujeong Station
Jewelry Plastic Surgery Clinic (쥬얼리성형외과의원)
Plastic Surgery, 2 min walk from Sinsa Station
The Plastic Surgery Clinic (더성형외과의원)
Plastic Surgery, 2 min walk from Apgujeong Station

Last reviewed October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. A doctor confirms what suits you at consultation.

Rhinoplasty price in Apgujeong

₩4,500,000–₩7,500,000
bridge and tip combined, before VAT

Typical range at clinics around Apgujeong, Sinsa and Cheongdam, checked 2026-10. Source: Korea Experience, Korea Plastic Surgery Cost Guide 2026. Cosmetic treatments in Korea carry 10% VAT; ask whether a quote includes it.

Full Rhinoplasty price breakdown →

Rhinoplasty questions

Silicone or Gore-Tex for the bridge?

Silicone is easy to remove and shape but can move or show through thin skin. Gore-Tex integrates with tissue and moves less, but is harder to remove if infected.

Where does the tip cartilage come from?

Usually from the septum. If there isn't enough, surgeons use ear cartilage, rib cartilage or donated rib cartilage.

Can I wear glasses after a nose job?

Avoid resting glasses on the nose for 4 to 6 weeks. Use contact lenses or tape the frames to your forehead.

Is the VAT refund available for foreign patients in 2026?

No. The refund for foreign cosmetic patients expired on 31 December 2025, and a bill to restore it was still pending in the National Assembly in October 2026.

When can I fly after rhinoplasty?

Most surgeons clear you from about day 7, after splint removal. Cabin pressure can make the nose feel blocked, so use saline spray.

Will my nose look swollen in photos?

The bridge looks fairly normal by 2 to 3 weeks. The tip stays slightly thick for months, which is easy to see in close photos.

Questions before you visit?

Surgery · 코성형

Rhinoplasty in Apgujeong and Sinsa

Quick facts