The ultimate guide to Hair Transplant in South Korea

Last fact-checked: 25 October 2019

Find out about hair transplants in South Korea – the most effective solution for hair loss that's normally incredibly expensive in western countries like the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. This Medical Departures guide shows how much you can save by going abroad, as well as how to book your free appointment at a quality-checked clinic in South Korea.

Why Have a Hair Transplant in South Korea?

Both men and women can lose their hair, but we tend to think of hair loss as just aging men going bald. However, hair loss or thinning problems can also happen to women, and also include loss of eyebrows, eyelashes and thinning beards.

An up-and-coming medical tourist destination, South Korea has been a favorite of Japanese and Chinese clients for a while. Specializing in cosmetic surgery, the country is also becoming renowned for other medical treatments, and is expected to soon be competing alongside other Asian countries that have already booming medical tourism industries. For international patients, this is good news as competition usually ensures quality remains high.

South Korea is a modern country, with its economy having grown dramatically since the Seoul Olympics in the 1980s. It is technologically advanced – with high-speed internet available across the whole country and internationally-accredited hospitals.

Medical staff have thorough training, are highly skilled and are just as capable as Western doctors to administer the latest innovative treatments and advances in the field of hair restoration – and the good news is that it will cost considerably less here than it would at home.

Booking with Medical Departures

As with any service when you are ‘shopping around’, you should always do your own research to ascertain the credentials of your practitioner and clinic. Medical Departures help make it easier as we already do legal/criminal background checks, confirm qualifications & professional memberships and verify online testimonials.

You can find it all on our website with our high-definition clinic photos, virtual clinic tours and other useful information. There’s no absolutely foolproof way of ascertaining quality, but qualifications, reputation and the presentation of the clinic can provide a good indicator.

Get started now by checking out three of our top-rated clinics in South Korea for hair transplants:

• Oracle Clinic (Cheongdam)
• VG Plastic Surgery
• Renewme Skin Clinic

How Long Does a Hair Transplant Take?

This depends on what technique you have, as there are several different ones available, as well as the method by which the hair is harvested. Obviously, a small transplant will take less time than a large one.

Small transplants may take around 90 minutes, whereas a large one may take the best part of a day (around six hours).

Is a Hair Transplant Painful and How Long Is the Recovery Time?

Before the procedure starts you will be given an anesthetic, and although you shouldn’t feel any discomfort during the procedure, afterward your scalp will feel tender. There will be redness and scabbing from the areas where the hair was harvested from.

It is possible to fly back home after a few days' rest at your hotel. As for going back to work, most people wait until their scalp doesn’t look so sore – which may take a week or two.

How Much Can I Save on a Hair Transplant in South Korea Compared to Australia or New Zealand?

Hair transplants cost around 50% less in South Korea than they do in Australia and other western countries. 

This is a rough estimate; check out our full list of partner facilities in South Korea that offer hair transplants to international patients.

What Now?

If you’re ready to book, see below for ways to arrange an appointment or get in touch with our Customer Care Team if you’ve any questions about hair transplants in South Korea.

Sources:

Hair Transplants: What to Expect. WebMD. Website accessed: 25 October 2019.
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/men-hair-loss-17/hair-transplants

Salmon, Andrew. A sporting host: how South Korea has continued to build on the legacy of the Seoul Olympics. South China Morning Post. 5 July 2015.
http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/1832623/south-korea-just-loves-hosting-big-sporting-tournaments

Hannan, Catherine. Everything You Need to Know About Hair Transplants. Healthline. 4 January 2019.
https://www.healthline.com/health/does-hair-transplant-work

Image by Mendhak.