01 / Language
Surgeon speaks English
Dr. Lee consults every international patient in English directly. No coordinator-filtered conversations, no translator-app misunderstandings.
International Patients · Medical Tourism · 2026
Liposuction in Busan for international patients.
Medical tourism to Korea — done right. English consultation directly with Dr. Lee Jong-gun, 25-minute airport transfer from Gimhae (PUS), and ArtFat Premium Liposuction delivered under the strictest international patient standards. A complete 5-day itinerary, no translator apps, and 3 months of remote aftercare through your preferred messenger.
Why Busan
Korea's second city — easier , cheaper , just as safe.
Seoul gets the marketing budgets and the celebrity endorsements, but most international patients discover Busan deserves the bookings. Gimhae International Airport (PUS) is 25 minutes from Seomyeon — compared to Seoul's 60-minute-plus ride from Incheon. Direct flights from Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, and Ho Chi Minh City land at PUS daily.
Accommodation, meals, and post-procedure logistics cost 20 to 35 percent less than the Gangnam equivalent. More importantly, Busan clinics have shorter wait times — you will not queue behind 50 Chinese tour-group patients for your consultation slot.
Artner Clinic Busan built its international program around three non-negotiables: English consultation directly with the operating surgeon, one patient per operating day under the 1-Day 1-Case policy, and remote follow-up for three months after you fly home — through your preferred messenger app, not a call center.
English Consult
PUS 25 min
3-Month Remote
Transparent Pricing
· Destination Comparison
Busan vs Seoul vs Bangkok.
The three most-considered destinations for medical-tourism liposuction in Asia, compared on factors that matter to international patients: physician access, airport logistics, total cost, and English-language quality.
| Factor | Busan · Artner | Seoul · Gangnam | Bangkok |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct surgeon consult in English | Standard | Coordinator-mediated | Variable |
| Airport transfer time | 25 min (PUS) | 60+ min (ICN) | 30–45 min (BKK) |
| 1-Day 1-Case policy | Yes (ArtFat) | Rare | Rare |
| Sleep anesthesia required | No — local only | Often yes | Often yes |
| Total cost index (single area) | Base | +20–35% | −15%, variable safety |
| Remote follow-up included | 3 months | Varies | Rare |
| Typical surgical quality | KMOH-regulated | KMOH-regulated | Variable by clinic |
· Logistics
The international experience in numbers.
Every international patient receives the same standardized care pathway — no VIP tiers, no hidden fees, no upsells. These are the consistent service metrics every foreign patient can expect at Artner Busan.
25 min
Gimhae International Airport (PUS) to Artner Clinic Seomyeon by taxi.
4 apps
KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat — pick your preferred messenger.
3 mo
Remote follow-up window with Dr. Lee after you return home.
20 %
Refundable deposit to secure your surgical date from overseas.
· Designed for International Patients
Four reasons foreign patients choose Artner.
02 / Schedule
1-Day 1-Case policy
We do not run an assembly-line clinic for foreign tour groups. One patient per operating day, surgeon's full attention on your case.
03 / Safety
Local anesthesia only
ArtFat is performed without sleep anesthesia. Fewer anesthesia risks for long-haul travelers, easier to fly home.
04 / After
Remote aftercare
Three months of weekly photo reviews and messenger consultation. We do not disappear once your flight takes off.
· Itinerary
The 5-day Busan liposuction journey.
A typical single-area ArtFat itinerary for international patients. Multi-area and full-body staged programs extend proportionally — Dr. Lee confirms your specific timeline during pre-flight video consultation.
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Arrival |
Fly into Gimhae (PUS), 25-min taxi to Seomyeon | In-person consultation with Dr. Lee, InBody + 3D body scan, consent forms | Hotel check-in, pre-surgical fasting |
| Day 2 Procedure |
ArtFat Premium Liposuction (local anesthesia) | Recovery and first dressing change at clinic | Return to hotel, light meal, early rest |
| Day 3 Recovery |
First Accent Prime RF aftercare session | Light walk through Seomyeon or hotel rest | First Artner Injection aftercare (optional) |
| Day 4 Aftercare |
Second RF session + Dr. Lee review | Light sightseeing — Haeundae Beach or Jagalchi Market | Packing, KakaoTalk follow-up onboarding |
| Day 5 Departure |
Final check-in, English medical report issued | Taxi to Gimhae (PUS) for return flight | Remote follow-up begins within 48 hours |
· Who Travels
Who flies to Busan for liposuction?
Artner Clinic's international liposuction patients share consistent profiles across source countries. Your country-specific flight options, seasonal timing, and tax-refund eligibility are mapped during pre-flight consultation.
- 01
Japanese patients flying from Fukuoka, Osaka, or Tokyo — PUS 1-hour direct→
- 02
Southeast Asian patients from Singapore, Bangkok, or Manila — direct PUS flights→
- 03
Chinese / Hong Kong / Taiwan patients on K-ETA or visa-exempt entry→
- 04
North American Korean-diaspora patients combining family visits with ArtFat→
- 05
European patients stopping in Busan during broader Asia-Pacific travel→
- 06
Middle Eastern patients via Incheon + KTX train to Busan (2h 40min)→
· Pre-Flight to Post-Return
The international patient process.
1
Step 01 · Inquiry
First message
Reach Dr. Lee via KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat, or email. Share photos of treatment areas and your goal.
2
Step 02 · Pre-Consult
Video consultation
30-minute video call with Dr. Lee. Candidacy confirmed, estimated price range, travel window recommendation.
3
Step 03 · Booking
Deposit & dates
20% refundable deposit secures your operating day. Flight and hotel recommendations sent with your confirmation.
4
Step 04 · Arrival
Day 1 in Busan
Airport pickup coordination, hotel check-in, in-person consultation, InBody + 3D scan at the clinic.
5
Step 05 · Procedure
ArtFat & recovery
Day 2 procedure under local anesthesia, Day 3–4 aftercare sessions, Day 5 English medical report and departure.
6
Step 06 · After
3-month remote
Weekly photo review for month 1, bi-weekly for month 2, monthly for month 3 via your preferred messenger.
· International Patient FAQ
Your questions, answered.
Most visitors to Korea do not need a visa for stays under 90 days (including citizens of the US, UK, EU, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, and 50+ other countries under K-ETA). Medical tourism does not require a special visa if your stay fits within the standard visa-free window. For longer stays or from non-exempt countries, a C-3-3 Medical Tour Visa can be issued through the Korean embassy.
We coordinate airport transfers on request. Gimhae International Airport is approximately 25 minutes from Seomyeon by taxi or KRW 5,000 by airport limousine. For patients arriving at Incheon (ICN) in Seoul, we advise the KTX high-speed train — 2 hours 40 minutes directly to Busan Station, then 10 minutes to Seomyeon.
No. Dr. Lee Jong-gun conducts all consultations in English directly — no translator app, no phone relay. Our international concierge team also provides support in Japanese and Chinese by advance booking. All pre-surgical documents, consent forms, and aftercare instructions are issued in English.
For single-area ArtFat: 4 to 5 days is typical. For multi-area or full-body staged: 7 to 10 days. Our recommended itinerary: Day 1 arrival and consultation, Day 2 procedure, Day 3–4 aftercare sessions, Day 5 return flight. Long-haul travelers may prefer to extend by 1–2 days for recovery.
Yes. We strongly recommend a pre-flight video consultation with Dr. Lee via KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, LINE, or WeChat. This confirms candidacy, estimates pricing, and avoids wasted travel if ArtFat is not the right option for your body type or goal.
A 20% refundable deposit secures your surgical date. Full payment is made on Day 1 in Busan after in-person consultation. We accept Korean KRW, USD, and most major international credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, JCB, UnionPay). Refund policy is transparent and documented in your pre-arrival email.
For single-area ArtFat under local anesthesia, most patients safely fly home on Day 4 or later. Flight DVT risk is managed through compression socks, hydration, and in-flight leg movement. We do not recommend flying within 48 hours of the procedure. Dr. Lee will confirm your specific travel window during consultation.
Remote follow-up via your preferred messenger (KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat) is included for 3 months post-procedure. Dr. Lee reviews photos of the treatment site weekly for the first month. If local medical attention is needed in your home country, we provide a detailed English medical report documenting your procedure for your doctor.
Light sightseeing is possible from Day 3 onward — Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi Fish Market, and the Busan Tower are all accessible. We recommend avoiding direct sun on the treatment site and skipping hot springs / jjimjilbang for 2 weeks. Intensive exercise and swimming are restricted for 4 weeks.
Aesthetic liposuction is considered elective and is not covered by Korean National Health Insurance nor by most international private policies. Some international insurance plans cover medically-indicated body contouring (post-bariatric, lipedema). We issue detailed receipts in English for insurance submission, but do not directly bill international insurers.
· Begin Your Busan Journey
Your liposuction,
planned in English.
Book a free video consultation with Dr. Lee Jong-gun — in English, no translator. We will confirm candidacy, estimate your price, and send your pre-flight itinerary within 48 hours.