2026 COST GUIDE
VAT refund eliminated January 1, 2026. Concierge markup exposed (3–5×). Direct-booking pricing. What you actually pay.
VAT Eliminated
Effective Jan 1, 2026
No Markup
Same Fee for Everyone
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 at the same fee a local Korean patient pays — no nationality markup, 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 same fee we publish on this site, regardless of nationality.
2026 PRICING
| Procedure | Price (USD) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Facelift | [TBD] | 2–3h |
| SMAS Facelift | [TBD] | 3–4h |
| Deep Plane Facelift | [TBD] | 4–5h |
| Extended Deep Plane (Face + Neck) | [TBD] | 5–6h |
| Ponytail Lift (Faberge vector) | [TBD] | 1.5–2.5h |
| Procedure | Price (USD) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Non-incisional Double Eyelid | [TBD] | 30–45 min |
| Partial Incision Double Eyelid | [TBD] | 45–60 min |
| Incisional Double Eyelid | [TBD] | 60–90 min |
| Ptosis Correction (add-on) | [TBD] | 30–45 min |
| Epicanthoplasty | [TBD] | 30 min |
| Lateral Canthoplasty | [TBD] | 45 min |
| Transconjunctival Lower Blepharoplasty | [TBD] | 45–60 min |
All prices reflect Etonne's actual clinic fee. The fee is identical for local Korean and international patients. 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) | [TBD] | All-inclusive surgical fee |
When travel and accommodation are included, Seoul typically remains 40–60% lower than US/UK total cost — even after VAT refund elimination — for English-speaking patients seeking SMAS or deep plane techniques.
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. Same surgical fee for everyone. Promise 8.
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.