What Your Korean Clinic Provides
Most Korean plastic surgery clinics include a standard post-operative supply pack in the procedure fee — but the contents vary by clinic and are worth confirming at your pre-op consultation.
Standard items most clinics provide:
- Surgical tape and wound dressings — typically enough for the first 7–14 days
- Antibiotic ointment — usually Fucidin (fusidic acid) or Mederma, applied to incision lines until sutures are removed
- Oral antibiotics — a 5–7 day course, dispensed from the clinic pharmacy on discharge day
- Mild oral pain relief — an NSAID (such as ibuprofen) or paracetamol for the first 3–5 days
- Saline wound wash or cleanser — for daily wound cleaning
- Printed aftercare instructions — most Gangnam clinics provide these in English
Items clinics sometimes, but do not reliably, include:
- One tube of silicone scar gel (roughly one-third of clinics include this)
- Extended compression garments beyond the immediate post-op period
Because pack contents differ, do not assume silicone gel is included. Ask directly: “Is silicone scar gel included in my aftercare pack?” — and plan to buy it yourself if it is not.
What to Buy Before You Fly Home
Seven items are worth sourcing before you leave Seoul. Korean pharmacies (약국, yakguk — the green cross symbol found on almost every Gangnam block) stock all of them. Olive Young (Korean health and beauty retail chain) stocks the cosmetic-grade items.
| Item | When to start | Where to buy in Seoul | Korean brands / options | Estimated cost (KRW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone scar gel | Week 3–4 (wound fully closed) | Yakguk (pharmacy), Olive Young | Dermatix, Kelo-Cote, Hiruscar | ₩18,000–35,000 per 15g tube |
| SPF 50+ PA++++ sunscreen | Day wound is closed | Olive Young, CU / GS25 convenience stores | Isntree, Beauty of Joseon, Round Lab | ₩12,000–22,000 per 50ml |
| Arnica gel | Immediately post-op (unbroken skin only) | Yakguk | Arnigel, Traumeel gel | ₩8,000–15,000 |
| Micropore tape (3M or equivalent) | From discharge; nose taping from week 2 | Yakguk | 3M Micropore (stocked widely) | ₩3,000–6,000 per roll |
| Second compression garment (body procedures) | From discharge, alternating with clinic-issued garment | Gangnam Underground Mall (exit 10) | Maroo, Bra Bazaar | ₩40,000–90,000 |
| Saline wound wash (top-up) | From discharge | Yakguk | CJ Wound Wash, GreenCross saline | ₩4,000–8,000 per 200ml |
| Oral pain relief (top-up) | As needed days 3–10 | Yakguk (no prescription needed for OTC) | Tylenol Korea, Advil Korea | ₩5,000–9,000 |
For facial scars, a 15g silicone gel tube covers approximately 1–2 months of twice-daily use on a single incision line. For body scars (breast fold, abdomen), buy a 30–50g tube or silicone sheets, which are more practical for longer incision lines.
Procedure-Specific Items
Standard aftercare covers all patients. The following additions are specific to common procedures.
Rhinoplasty (코성형, ko seonghyeong — nose reshaping surgery) Buy 2–3 rolls of 3M Micropore tape (1.25cm width) for external nose taping during weeks 2–4, if your surgeon recommends this protocol. Plan for glasses: frames that rest on the nasal bridge must be avoided for at least 6–8 weeks post-osteotomy (bone reshaping). Either switch to contact lenses or tape frames to the forehead — this is common and your surgeon can demonstrate the technique.
Breast augmentation or lift The clinic-issued surgical bra needs laundering; without a second garment you will have a day without compression. Buy one additional soft surgical bra in the same compression grade before discharge — Gangnam Underground Mall stocks Korean post-surgical bra brands in a range of cup sizes.
Liposuction or body contouring Compression garments for the abdomen, flanks, or thighs must be worn continuously for 4–6 weeks. One garment is not practical. Buy a second from Gangnam Underground Mall (Gangnam Station exit 10); Korean compression brands (Maroo, Bra Bazaar) are cut for Asian body proportions and are significantly cheaper than equivalent brands at home — ₩40,000–90,000 (≈$30–67 USD / $45–100 AUD).
Eyelid surgery (쌍꺼풀, ssangkkeopul — double eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty) No procedure-specific garments needed, but bring a pair of sunglasses with large, wrap-style lenses — these protect healing incisions from UV and wind without applying pressure to the eyelid itself.
Where to Buy Near Gangnam Clinics
Pharmacies (약국): The green cross pharmacy sign appears on nearly every block between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station — a 5-minute walk covers three or four. All stock Fucidin, Micropore tape, arnica gel, saline wash, and silicone scar gel brands. Most pharmacists near Gangnam tourist areas speak basic English; pointing to items on a phone screen is always sufficient.
Olive Young: Two large branches in the area — Gangnam Station branch (street level, exit 11) and Apgujeong branch. Both stock the full range of SPF 50+ sunscreens, silicone gel, and sheet masks suited to post-procedure skin.
Gangnam Underground Mall: Accessed from Gangnam Station exit 10. Compression garment shops are concentrated near the central corridor — fitting is available and staff are used to post-surgical customers.
Lotte Mart Yeoksam or E-Mart Banpo: For bulk pharmacy supplies at lower per-unit prices — useful if you need multiple boxes of tape or large volumes of saline wash.
Gangnam Tourist Information Center (near COEX): English-speaking staff who can direct you to pharmacies carrying specific international brands if Korean-brand equivalents are not acceptable.
Can I bring my Korean surgery aftercare supplies home through customs?
Yes — all standard aftercare supplies (silicone gel, wound dressings, antibiotic ointment, oral antibiotics in original packaging, surgical tape, compression garments) clear customs without issue. Liquids in carry-on must comply with the 100 ml rule. Oral antibiotics in sealed original packaging with a prescription label — clinics can provide this in English on request — will not cause problems. A surgeon's letter is useful if questioned but is generally not required for standard aftercare supplies.
When do I start scar gel after Korean plastic surgery?
Start silicone scar gel only after the wound is fully closed — typically 2–3 weeks after suture removal, not immediately after. For sutures removed at day 7–10, this means starting around week 3–4. Your surgeon specifies the exact start date at the suture removal appointment. Apply twice daily, morning and evening. Continue for at least 3 months for facial scars, 6 months for body scars, which take longer to mature.
What is the best Korean sunscreen for healing surgery scars?
Choose a lightweight, non-comedogenic SPF 50+ PA++++ formula — the highest UV-A rating in the Korean system. Reliable options at Olive Young Gangnam: Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Sun Cream SPF 50+ (hydrating, suits dry post-op skin), Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50+ (gentle, minimal irritants), Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturising Sunscreen (lightweight, sensitive-skin friendly). Avoid fragrance, alcohol, AHAs, and retinol on healing incisions. Re-apply every 2 hours outdoors for the first 6 months.