What Korean Clinics Prescribe at Discharge
Korean clinics issue a 처방전 (cheobangjeон, prescription) at discharge alongside a sealed pharmacy bag. The standard discharge pack covers five to ten days of post-operative management. Every medication in the pack serves a specific clinical role — do not skip categories, even if you feel well on day two.
Keep everything in the original labelled packaging. The pharmacy label — printed with your name, the clinic name, and the drug name in Korean and often English — is the document that border officers and home-country pharmacists both need to see.
| Medication type | Common Korean prescriptions | Purpose | Typical course length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analgesic (pain relief) | Tramadol (트라마돌); Celecoxib (셀레콕시브) | Post-surgical pain control | 3–7 days |
| Antibiotic | Augmentin (아목시실린/클라불라네이트); Cephalexin (세팔렉신) | Surgical site infection prophylaxis | 5–7 days |
| Stomach protectant | Pantoprazole (판토프라졸); Famotidine (파모티딘) | Protects stomach lining from analgesics and antibiotics | Co-prescribed with analgesic/antibiotic course |
| Short steroid course | Methylprednisolone (메틸프레드니솔론) dose pack | Reduces post-operative swelling | 3–5 days tapering |
| Scar gel / topical | Contractubex; Cicatrix; clinic-branded silicone gel | Scar maturation support | 4–12 weeks post-healing |
Customs Rules by Country
The single most important rule: carry all medications in hand luggage, in original pharmacy packaging, with a copy of your Korean discharge letter. Controlled substances — primarily Tramadol in this context — attract scrutiny at every border listed below. “Personal use quantity” is the legal threshold that determines whether importation is a declaration matter or a permit matter.
| Country | Tramadol status | General prescription rules | What to declare | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Schedule 8 controlled substance (Poisons Standard) | Personal use quantities with original packaging and prescription documentation permitted under TGA Traveller's Exemption. No import permit required for up to 3 months supply. | Declare Tramadol on the Incoming Passenger Card if quantity exceeds 3 months supply, or if unsure. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories: no declaration required. | TGA — tga.gov.au (Travellers and medicines) |
| United Kingdom | Class C controlled drug (Misuse of Drugs Act 1971) | Up to 3 months personal supply permitted without a personal import licence. Original prescription required. Must carry a letter from the prescribing doctor. | Declare at the red channel if quantity exceeds 3 months supply. Standard antibiotics and NSAIDs: no declaration required. | MHRA / Home Office — gov.uk (travelling with controlled drugs) |
| United States | Schedule IV controlled substance (DEA) | Personal importation of Schedule IV drugs in quantities up to 50 dosage units (approximately 50 tablets) is tolerated at US Customs and Border Protection discretion. Original prescription required. | Declare all prescription medications on CBP Form 6059B. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories: declare if asked, no permit required. | FDA — fda.gov (personal importation policy); CBP — cbp.gov |
| Canada | Schedule I controlled substance (Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) | Personal importation of Tramadol is not permitted without a Health Canada exemption. If prescribed Tramadol in Korea, consult Health Canada or request an alternative analgesic before departure. | Declare all prescription medications. Non-controlled antibiotics and NSAIDs: no permit, carry prescription documentation. | Health Canada — canada.ca (controlled substances) |
| New Zealand | Class C controlled drug (Misuse of Drugs Act 1975) | Up to 3 months personal supply permitted with original prescription. A Ministry of Health import certificate is recommended for quantities above 1 month supply. | Declare Tramadol on the New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card. Antibiotics: no declaration required. | Medsafe / Ministry of Health — health.govt.nz (travelling with medicines) |
If You Run Out of Medication at Home
Running out of a post-surgical analgesic or antibiotic after returning home is manageable — it does not require contacting the Korean clinic directly in most cases.
For antibiotics: Take your Korean discharge letter, the empty antibiotic packaging (showing drug name and dosage), and your medical summary to your GP. Most GPs will prescribe an equivalent antibiotic to complete the course. Explain that you are completing a post-surgical prophylaxis course, not requesting a new prescription for a new indication. Do not restart an antibiotic course from day one — if you completed four of five days, your GP can prescribe the remaining days.
For analgesics (Tramadol or Celecoxib): Your GP can prescribe an equivalent. For Tramadol, the GP will assess whether continued opioid analgesia is appropriate at your recovery stage — in many cases, over-the-counter ibuprofen or paracetamol is sufficient by the time you return home. Bring the original Korean packaging.
For scar gel: No prescription is required. Equivalent silicone-based scar gels (Dermatix, Kelo-cote) are available at Australian, UK, and US pharmacies without a prescription.
If there is any clinical concern — signs of infection, unusual swelling, or wound changes — contact your Korean clinic’s international coordinator by email or messaging app before seeing your GP, so the GP has current clinical context.
Can I bring Korean prescription medication through Australian customs?
Yes, for personal use quantities with original packaging and a Korean prescription or discharge letter. Standard antibiotics and anti-inflammatories require no declaration. Tramadol is a Schedule 8 controlled substance in Australia — importation in quantities up to 3 months personal supply is permitted but you may be required to declare it at the border. The TGA Traveller's Exemption covers personal use quantities. If in doubt, declare — failing to declare controlled substances at the Australian border carries penalties significantly worse than a brief customs conversation.
My antibiotic course is only 5 days but I'm flying home on day 7 — will I have enough?
Most Korean clinic antibiotic courses cover 5–7 days, which is designed to span the typical post-operative window. If your flight falls on day 7–10 and you're concerned about having enough medication, ask your clinic coordinator at your post-op appointment — they can extend the prescription if clinically appropriate. Most antibiotics for post-surgical infection prophylaxis are 5–7 days; completing the course fully is more important than extending it unnecessarily.