2026 COST GUIDE
VAT refund eliminated January 1, 2026. Concierge markup exposed (3–5×). Direct booking. How the fee is quoted.
VAT Eliminated
Effective Jan 1, 2026
No Markup
Direct Booking via WhatsApp
Direct Booking
No Third-Party Concierges
Plastic surgery in Korea in 2026: VAT refund for cosmetic procedures was eliminated effective January 1, 2026. Concierge platforms (Bookimed, MediGo) typically inflate quotes 3–5×. ETONNE books direct via WhatsApp with no nationality markup and no concierge fee.
The 2026 pricing landscape for plastic surgery in Korea is materially different from prior years. Three changes matter for international patients:
CRITICAL UPDATE
For roughly a decade prior to 2026, foreign patients undergoing certain medical procedures in Korea — including most cosmetic surgeries — could recover approximately 10% of the procedure fee through the Value Added Tax refund program at Incheon Airport.
Effective January 1, 2026, the VAT refund program for cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medical procedures was officially abolished. Enacted through the 2026 tax-law revision; applies to all aesthetic procedures performed on or after January 1, 2026.
CONCIERGE MARKUP EXPOSED
A pattern documented repeatedly in international plastic-surgery forums in 2025 and 2026: a patient receives a quote from a "Korean medical-tourism concierge" platform — Bookimed, MediGo, similar — for an amount that, on subsequent direct contact with the named clinic, turns out to be 3 to 5 times the actual clinic fee.
"I was quoted $18,000 USD for a deep plane facelift through [a major concierge]. When I messaged the clinic directly, the actual fee was around $6,000."
— paraphrased from r/SeoulPlasticSurgery, April 2026
"Bookimed quoted me $12,000 'discounted from $14,000' for a procedure that the clinic charges $4,000 for local Korean patients."
— paraphrased from r/SeoulPlasticSurgery, April 2026
ETONNE does not work with third-party medical-tourism concierge platforms. Booking is direct via WhatsApp, and the surgical fee on your invoice is the fee quoted to you at consultation, regardless of nationality.
2026 PRICING
| Procedure | Fee | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Facelift | Quoted at consultation | 2–3h |
| SMAS Facelift | Quoted at consultation | 3–4h |
| Deep Plane Facelift | Quoted at consultation | 4–5h |
| Extended Deep Plane (Face + Neck) | Quoted at consultation | 5–6h |
| Ponytail Lift (Faberge vector) | Quoted at consultation | 1.5–2.5h |
| Procedure | Fee | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Non-incisional Double Eyelid | Quoted at consultation | 30–45 min |
| Partial Incision Double Eyelid | Quoted at consultation | 45–60 min |
| Incisional Double Eyelid | Quoted at consultation | 60–90 min |
| Ptosis Correction (add-on) | Quoted at consultation | 30–45 min |
| Epicanthoplasty | Quoted at consultation | 30 min |
| Lateral Canthoplasty | Quoted at consultation | 45 min |
| Transconjunctival Lower Blepharoplasty | Quoted at consultation | 45–60 min |
Fees are quoted individually at consultation (WhatsApp) according to the surgical plan and anesthesia. International support services (translator, transfer) are itemized separately and optional.
REGIONAL COMPARISON
| Region | Surgical Fee (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New York (top board-certified) | $25,000 – $40,000 | + anesthesia, OR fee separate |
| Los Angeles | $20,000 – $35,000 | + anesthesia, OR fee separate |
| London | £15,000 – £25,000 | + VAT (20%), OR fee separate |
| Seoul (ETONNE, 2026) | Quoted at consultation | All-inclusive surgical fee |
Your quote from ETONNE is given at consultation. When you compare, add travel and accommodation to the figures above, and note that the VAT refund for cosmetic surgery ended on January 1, 2026.
FAQ
No. Eliminated January 1, 2026. Reconstructive procedures may still qualify; cosmetic surgery does not.
The concierge platform marks up the wholesale clinic fee substantially before quoting the international patient. Direct booking (e.g., WhatsApp) avoids this markup. ETONNE does not work through any concierge.
No. There is no markup for international patients.
A small deposit (~10%) confirms your booking. Balance paid at the clinic on the day of surgery via wire transfer or credit card.
Cancellation more than 14 days before surgery typically results in a full deposit refund minus a small processing fee. Within 14 days, the deposit is non-refundable.