Don’t Go to 365MC Hospital in Seoul Until You Read This

So... I did it. I actually flew halfway around the world to get liposuction in South Korea. And before you roll your eyes and think "another one of those stories," hear me out. I wasn't some impulsive person who saw a TikTok and booked a flight. I'm Leah from Denver who spent literally months researching this decision. And honestly? It was one of the best things I've ever done for myself, but NOT for the reasons you'd expect.

Let Me Paint You a Picture of American Healthcare Costs

Picture this: You walk into a plastic surgeon's office in the US, and before they even look at you properly, you're dropping $300 just for the consultation. Then they hit you with numbers that make your student loan debt look reasonable. I got quotes from three different surgeons in the Denver area:

- Clinic at Cherry Creek: $14,200 (plus "additional fees that may apply")
- Clinic at Lakewood: $11,800 (but that didn't include anesthesia - surprise!)
- Clinic at Boulder: $16,500 (the "premium experience" apparently)

And here's the kicker - that's just for abdominal liposuction. Not even the fancy stuff. Just good old-fashioned "suck the fat out" liposuction. Oh, and good luck getting your insurance to cover even a penny of it, even if you have legitimate health reasons.

Down the Korean Plastic Surgery Rabbit Hole

So there I was, scrolling through Reddit at 12 AM (as one does), when I stumbled across a post about Korean plastic surgery. Now, I'd heard the rumors - Seoul being the plastic surgery capital of the world and all that. But I figured it was just hype, right? Wrong.

The more I dug, the more intrigued I became. We're talking about a country where plastic surgery is so normalized that parents give their kids procedures as graduation gifts. Where the technology is years ahead of what we have in the States. And where the prices... well, let's just say they don't require you to take out a second mortgage.

365MC Hospital kept coming up in my research. Not just mentioned in passing, but like, genuinely recommended by actual patients. And not in that "this is totally not a paid review" way, but in that brutally honest "here's what actually happened to me" way that you can usually trust.

The "I Can Totally Handle This Myself" Phase

You know that feeling when you're planning a trip and you think you're being super smart by doing everything yourself? That was me. I had ChatGPT, people. Color-coded spreadsheets with flight times, hospital ratings, and currency conversion rates in real-time.

365MC seemed legit - like, really legit. They're not some sketchy back-alley clinic. We're talking about Korea's obesity treatment specialists with over 20 years in the game. They've got 23 locations, government recognition, and they've literally written the book on some of these procedures. Their main Seoul location is this massive "Fat Tower" (yes, that's actually what they call it, and I love the honesty).

But here's where my American overconfidence kicked in: "I speak English, they speak English, how hard can this be?" Famous last words, my friends.

Reality Check: Week One in Seoul

Seoul is INTENSE, y'all. Like, imagine New York City had a baby with Blade Runner, and that baby really, really loved skincare. The subway system puts our Denver light rail to shame, and everywhere you look, there are these gorgeous humans with skin that looks like they drink unicorn tears for breakfast.

My first consultation at 365MC was... overwhelming. The facility is insane - it's like walking into the future of medicine. Dr. Kim was incredibly professional, and yes, his English was good. But "good English for medical consultations" and "good enough English to discuss the nuances of body contouring while you're nervous and in a foreign country" are two very different things.

The 3D body analysis was cool as hell though. They basically scan your entire body and show you exactly what they can do. It's like having a preview of your future self, which is both exciting and terrifying.

Plot Twist: Meeting Jennifer from Portland

So I'm sitting in this cute little café in Gangnam (yes, THAT Gangnam), stress-eating Korean fried chicken and questioning all my life choices, when this woman at the next table overhears me FaceTiming my sister about my confusion with the pre-op instructions.

"Excuse me," she says, "are you here for 365MC too?"

Meet Jennifer, 41, from Portland, who was getting their diet IV therapy program. And this woman looked RELAXED. Like, vacation-level relaxed, not "I'm-about-to-have-surgery-in-a-foreign-country" tense like I was.

Turns out, Jennifer had used something called ChatDoc for her entire trip coordination. "Girl," she said (and I loved her immediately), "I almost went solo too, but my friend who did her boob job here last year told me I was crazy not to use a coordinator."

The ChatDoc Game Changer

I'm gonna be real with you - I was skeptical. I'd already made it this far on my own, and I'm generally the type of person who reads all the instructions and organizes everything myself. But Jennifer introduced me to her coordinator, Linda, and within five minutes of talking to her, I realized how much I'd been missing.

Linda didn't just translate - she EXPLAINED. Like, when Dr. Kim mentioned the dietary guidelines, I heard "eat healthy foods." But Linda explained that Korean post-op nutrition focuses on specific foods that reduce inflammation and promote healing in ways that are different from typical American post-surgery recommendations.

She also broke down the pricing structure (365MC gives partner discounts to coordinated patients), explained the cultural aspects of Korean healthcare that I was completely clueless about, and basically turned my stressful medical tourism experience into something that felt... manageable.

Let's Talk Numbers (Because Americans Love Spreadsheets)

Okay, here's where it gets interesting. I'm a numbers person, so I tracked EVERYTHING:

What I would have paid in Denver:

• Consultation fees: $300 × 3 surgeons = $900
• Procedure (Dr. Johnson's quote): $14,200
• Time off work (unpaid): $2,800
• Aftercare/follow-ups: $600
• Denver Total: $18,500

My original Seoul solo plan:

• Round-trip flights: $1,150
• Hotels (14 days): $980
• 365MC procedure: $5,400
• Food/transport: $420
• Extended stay due to confusion: $380
• Emergency translation help: $150
• Solo Seoul Total: $8,480

With ChatDoc coordination:

• Flights: $1,150 (same)
• Hotels (12 days, better location): $840
• 365MC procedure (partner discount): $4,860
• ChatDoc coordination: $450
• Food/transport (with guidance): $320
• Zero confusion, zero emergencies: $0
• Coordinated Total: $7,620

Bottom line: I saved $10,880 compared to Denver, and $860 compared to going solo in Seoul.

The Actual Surgery Experience

Not gonna lie - I was nervous as hell the morning of surgery. But 365MC's setup is incredible. They have dedicated anesthesiologists (which, fun fact, not all Korean clinics do), real-time monitoring, and safety protocols that honestly exceeded what I've experienced in US hospitals.

The surgery itself took about 2.5 hours. I had abdominal and flank liposuction - nothing crazy, just addressing those stubborn areas that refused to budge despite my best efforts at the gym. Dr. Kim was meticulous, and the nursing staff was amazing.

Recovery was... well, recovery. It sucked, but it sucked in the expected way. Having Linda check in on me daily and translate any concerns I had to the medical team made a huge difference. She even helped me navigate the Korean pharmacy system when I needed additional pain medication.

Six Months Later: The Real Talk

Alright, here's what you actually want to know - was it worth it?

Physically? Hell yes. The results are exactly what I hoped for. Dr. Kim knew what he was doing, and the contouring looks natural. I don't look like I had "work done" - I just look like a better version of myself.

But here's the thing that surprised me the most: the comprehensive approach 365MC takes actually changed how I think about health and body image. They don't just suck out fat and send you home. Their nutritionist taught me about inflammation and metabolism in ways my regular doctor never had. Their follow-up program (which continues virtually even now that I'm back in Denver) has helped me maintain the results better than I expected.

Financially? No contest. Even with all the travel costs, I spent less than half of what I would have in the US, and honestly got better care.

Emotionally? This is where ChatDoc really made the difference. Instead of feeling like a medical tourist who was just trying to survive the experience, I felt supported and informed throughout the entire process.

My Brutally Honest Recommendations

Look, I'm not going to tell you that Korean medical tourism is right for everyone. It's not. But if you're considering 365MC specifically, here's my take:

Do it if: - You've done your research (like, REAL research, not just Instagram stories) - You're comfortable with international travel - You want access to specialized expertise at a fraction of US costs - You're looking for comprehensive care, not just a quick fix

Don't do it if:

• You're impulsive and haven't thoroughly researched
• You're not comfortable being away from your support system
• You expect everything to work exactly like it does in America
• You're not willing to follow post-op instructions religiously

And for the love of all that's holy, use a coordinator like ChatDoc. Seriously. I cannot stress this enough. The peace of mind alone is worth the fee, but the financial savings and cultural guidance make it a no-brainer.

The Bottom Line

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Will I recommend 365MC to friends? Already have. Would I go without ChatDoc coordination? Not a chance in hell.

This whole experience taught me that sometimes the best decisions are the ones that scare you a little bit. Seoul gave me more than just a better body - it gave me confidence, a new perspective on healthcare, and honestly, some of the best Korean BBQ I've ever had in my life (shoutout to that place in Myeongdong that Linda recommended).

If you're sitting there researching Korean plastic surgery at 2 AM like I was eight months ago, take this as your sign. Do your homework, use a coordinator, and maybe pack some extra antacids for all that incredible Korean food you're about to eat.

Questions? Drop them in the comments. I'll answer what I can, and Linda from ChatDoc has told me she's happy to help anyone who reaches out.

Peace out, Denver. Seoul was real. ✈️

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