Once you have decided on a procedure, the next set of questions is practical: how do I actually pay a Korean clinic from abroad, is a deposit needed, and what happens if my plans change? This guide walks through deposits, payment methods and refunds so the money side holds no surprises.
Because your surgery date is reserved specifically for you, many clinics ask for a deposit to confirm a booking, with the remaining balance paid in person before the procedure. A deposit protects the held slot for both sides, and it is normal practice rather than a sign of pressure. What matters is that the amount, the deadline and the conditions are clear before you send anything.
Ask how the deposit is treated if your plans change: is it refundable, transferable to a new date, or applied to the final balance? A clinic that explains this plainly — ideally in writing — is giving you exactly the information you need to plan with confidence. The total your deposit and balance add up to should match the quote you discussed during your cost consultation, so there are no late surprises.
In Korea, the balance for a procedure is most often paid by card or by bank transfer, and clinics that treat international patients are used to coordinating this with overseas visitors. Some patients pay the full balance on the day of surgery, after the final in-person consultation; others arrange part of it in advance. The right approach depends on the clinic's policy and what is convenient for you.
Before you travel, confirm which methods your clinic accepts, whether an international card or transfer is suitable, and whether any processing or currency-conversion costs apply. International card payments and transfers can carry fees set by your own bank, so it is worth checking those separately so the amount that leaves your account matches what you expect.
Keep a clear record of every payment — the deposit, the balance, and what each one covers. A written quote and simple receipts protect you and make it easy to reconcile the surgical fee against the figure you were quoted, separate from your travel and accommodation spending.
Quotes from a Korean clinic are typically set in Korean won, and the amount you actually pay can shift slightly with the exchange rate between the day you are quoted and the day you pay. It is sensible to budget a small margin for currency movement rather than assuming a single fixed figure in your home currency.
Plan the surgical fee and the cost of the trip as two separate lines. The clinic's quote covers the operation and its after-care; flights, accommodation, local transport and translation are yours to arrange and pay for. Keeping them apart — and confirming the surgical figure at consultation — gives you an honest total. For the wider picture of what shapes a surgical quote, see our guide on plastic surgery cost in Korea.
Plans change, and it is fair to ask what happens to your money if yours do. Refund and rescheduling policies vary from clinic to clinic and often depend on how close you are to the surgery date — a change made weeks ahead is usually handled differently from one made at the last minute. The key is to know the rules before you pay, not after.
Ask directly: under what circumstances is a deposit refundable, can a date be moved without losing it, and what applies if surgery cannot go ahead for medical reasons found at the final consultation? A clinic that gives you clear, written answers is helping you make an informed decision. If a procedure turns out not to suit you, an honest clinic will say so — and a transparent refund policy is part of that honesty.
A short list keeps the money side simple: Is a deposit required, and is it refundable or transferable? What is the full balance, and when and how is it paid? Which payment methods do you accept, and in what currency? What is your refund and rescheduling policy if my plans change? Does the quote include anaesthesia, facility and after-care?
You can ask all of this before you commit to travel, usually in an online enquiry alongside your medical questions. Getting the answers in writing means the figure you agreed to is the figure you pay, and it lets you plan your first consultation and your trip with a clear head.
Garnet is a single-surgeon clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul, registered with Korea's foreign-patient programme, so coordinating consultation, scheduling and after-care for visitors from abroad is part of how it works. Dr. In-Soo Baek, a board-certified plastic surgeon, consults and operates himself, and there is no charge for the consultation or CT review — so the figure you discuss reflects the surgery your case needs.
The clearest way to understand the money side for your own case is to ask before you travel: what a quote includes, how a deposit and balance are handled, which payment methods apply, and what the refund policy is. You can raise all of this in a no-obligation online enquiry and have the details confirmed in writing before you decide anything.
Send photos and your question before you travel. An English-speaking coordinator reviews every enquiry and replies with honest guidance on whether surgery is appropriate, the likely plan and timing.
Prefer to chat now? Reach the coordinator directly: