‘Cosmetic Surgery Tourism Has Limits’ Says A South Korean Research Institute Despite Increase In Chinese Patients For Aesthetic Operations

The government of South Korea is forecasting over one million medical tourists to travel to the country every year by 2020 as more and more Chinese patients are having cosmetic surgery procedures done in the country, reported International Medical Travel Journal on Dec. 21.

In 2014, the number of Chinese people coming to South Korea for cosmetic surgery rose twice to 56,000, but with the increase in patients came the increase in complications as well.

These Chinese medical tourists are willing to pay more for their preferred procedures than they would in their own country, expecting better and safer results, unaware that out of South Korea's 100,000 cosmetic surgeons, only 2,000 have the necessary qualifications to perform the treatment.

With all the complications and complaints from Chinese patients, protesters have urged the Korean Embassy in China to increase awareness that diplomatic relations may be affected from the negative public image that South Korea is getting from failed cosmetic procedures.

But despite the growing number of medical tourists in the "plastic surgery capital of the world," president of the Biomedical Research Institute at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) Bang Yung Jue believes that the hype in cosmetic surgery in the country will not be around for long, noted Korea Times on Sunday.

"The trend will not last long," said the 62-year-old Bang. "Medical tourism driven by plastic surgery has its limits."

"Chinese surgeons are learning how to perform cosmetic procedures fast," Bang added. "I think, within five or 10 years, few will come here to get the surgery. In fact, Chinese Botox products are already replacing Korean ones here."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare reported that cosmetic surgery tourists in South Korea rose from 2,851 in 2009 to 36,224 in 2014, while profits increased from $4.8 million to $105 million.

"The essence of medical tourism is to treat patients with serious diseases, which cannot be treated elsewhere," said Bang. "That is the only thing that will keep drawing medical tourists from around the world."