New Yorkers are traveling to South Korea for cosmetic procedures, drawn by claims that treatments are five years ahead of those available in the United States and, in many cases, offered at lower prices. The trend has been amplified by a star-studded run of recent getaways: last month Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, La La Anthony and several others joined a girls’ trip to Seoul to sample non-surgical and surgical beauty treatments.
The uproar around medical tourism has grown on social media and in interviews with beauty-minded travelers. Y. Lee, a New York–based influencer who previously spent time in Korea, told The Post that “The US and the rest of the world are at least five years behind.” Lee, who documented a 15-procedure itinerary in spring 2024—from fat-dissolving injections in the chin and arms to Juvelook skin boosters, lasers, Botox and eye-sizing to fit colored contacts—has since built a following with posts about glow-ups abroad. She says the results are worth the expense, noting that jaw Botox, for example, costs about $100 in Korea, versus roughly $700 in the United States. Lee left her corporate job in December to focus on advising would-be travelers and launched BookDoctra.com in July to review Korean doctors and enable direct booking.
The Kardashian-led glow-up trips have brought attention to a broader trend: a mix of celebrities, influencers and skincare obsessives seeking cheaper procedures that purportedly offer advanced technology. Kardashian herself posted about traveling to Korea for beauty treatments, highlighting how a country with a renowned beauty industry is shaping perceptions of what is possible abroad. In addition to the famous faces, a network of Korean clinics and patient coordinators has evolved to accommodate international patients, with English-speaking staff and expedited preoperative processes that can minimize downtime for those traveling from the United States.
One visible participant in the broader conversation is Annette Bragas, a makeup artist from Germany living in New York’s Murray Hill. Bragas traveled to Seoul for a facelift, neck lift and stem cell therapy with Dr. Song Hyungmin at DRSONG4U Plastic Surgery Clinic. She paid about $35,000 for the procedures, plus nearly three weeks in a hotel to heal, post-op recovery treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and a driver to attend appointments. She said the experience has been life-changing. “It doesn’t look like I had surgery, I just look younger,” she said, adding that she believes the same surgery in the United States would have cost at least $50,000, not counting aftercare or hotel stays. Bragas emphasized that language barriers were navigable—her doctor did not speak English, but several staff members did—and that the recovery period was a key part of the decision to travel.
In many cases, the procedures marketed abroad are marketed as less invasive alternatives or as more advanced iterations of familiar techniques. Bragas described a treatment climate that she found both professional and approachable, with a focus on recovery and post-treatment support. The package included hyperbaric oxygen therapy and a suite of follow-up services, illustrating how medical tourism can blend surgery with concierge-like care. Still, she acknowledged the realities of travel for major surgery: the need to plan for weeks out of work and to navigate post-operative transportation and care away from home.
Dr. Song Hyungmin’s clinic is one of several that attract international patients with a combination of rapid scheduling and a “one-stop” approach to testing and preoperative workups. In a parallel assessment, Dr. Roy Kim, a plastic surgeon with offices in San Francisco and Beverly Hills and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said he is “in favor” of Americans traveling to South Korea for skin care procedures and plastic surgery, provided they do their homework. “Korea has very high standards of medical care, sanitation, cleanliness and ethics,” Kim told The Post. “The Korean government is quite aware of the economic gains of foreign citizens coming to Korea for medical and surgical care, and the same high standards for Korean citizens are the same for non-Korean citizens.” Kim cautioned that patients seeking more invasive operations should allow for weeks of recovery before flying and be mindful of language barriers that can complicate understanding of medical terminology. He also warned that some clinics may have a “factory” feel and urged patients to verify who is performing each procedure and what exactly is being done.
The patient-wrangling model is common in Korea, where the main point of contact for many international patients is a patient ambassador rather than the surgeon. Clinics often offer same-day or next-day preoperative testing, including blood work, EKGs and imaging, with surgery scheduled soon after. Advocates argue that the streamlined process lowers barriers to care and connects patients with highly specialized doctors who focus on one to three procedures. Lee’s platform, BookDoctra, has become a resource for those seeking reviews of doctors and direct booking options, underscoring how the ecosystem has grown beyond mere cosmetic marketing into a structured marketplace for medical tourism.
Still, the conversation around medical tourism remains cautious. Proponents point to Korea’s strong reputation for cosmetic care, while critics emphasize the importance of post-operative monitoring, continuity of care, and the risks inherent in getting surgery far from home. Recovery logistics, potential complications, and the ability to access follow-up care if something goes wrong are central considerations for anyone contemplating a journey for cosmetic procedures.
As more celebrities and everyday travelers weigh the options, the trend raises broader questions about safety, regulation, and the evolving relationship between culture, entertainment and the global beauty market. The blend of luxury travel, influencer culture and medical innovation presents a case study in how cultural aspirations—youth, beauty, and prestige—can drive people to seek treatments far from home, in places that promise both affordability and cutting-edge results.
As this story unfolds, the balance between opportunity and risk will continue to shape how individuals navigate cosmetic treatment options across borders, and how clinics, doctors and platforms adapt to an increasingly connected, image-conscious world. The conversations around safety, language, and standards will be central to assessing whether the trend will endure beyond the celebrity spotlight.
