Plastic surgery clinics fight 'ghost surgery' suspicions

Korean plastic surgery clinics try to reassure people about ghost surgery. / Courtesy of Jewelry Plastic Surgery

By Kim Da-hee

More plastic surgery clinics are moving to restore the industry’s reputation in the face of “ghost surgery,” sources said Thursday.

Ghost plastic surgery is where the patient’s surgeon is substituted by another while the patient is anesthetized.

Some clinics are now recording procedures as a way of restoring trust.

In April, a director of Grand Plastic Surgery in Gangnam, which is said to be among Seoul’s top-three plastic surgery clinics, was charged with fraud involving ghost surgery.

Thirty-three patients who were scheduled to undergo operations by the director, surnamed Ryu, found that Ryu had other doctors, including dentists and otolaryngologists, stand in for him without the patients’ permission. He allegedly saved 150 million won ($126,000) by carrying out that.

/ Courtesy of Regen Beauty Medical Group

With growing concerns among patients, many plastic surgery clinics have moved to offer reassurance.

“We never do unethical operations like the ghost plastic surgery,” Regen plastic surgery in Gangnam said on its website.

Another major plastic surgery clinic ― Jewelry Plastic Surgery ― said it will record the surgery if patients request it.

Sein Plastic Aesthetic Clinic said it had installed closed-circuit cameras in operating rooms and patient rooms to allow people to check whether operations went well.

“Medical laws have been revised to eradicate ghost surgery but there are still ways to cheat patients,” said Cha Sang-myun, chairman of the Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons. “More realistic and effective measures, such as giving a reward to whistleblowers, are required to eradicate the ghost surgery.”