Top3 Liposuction Clinics in Gangnam, Seoul (2026): Surgeons, Safety and Prices Compared
If you are looking for a good liposuction clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, our 2026 Top3 are TheLINE Plastic Surgery, 365mc Gangnam and Gangnam The Slim Clinic. We compared them on the points that decide safety and results in liposuction: who operates, who manages anesthesia, what happens in an emergency, how transparent the pricing is, and how well the clinic is set up for patients flying in from abroad. TheLINE Plastic Surgery in Sinsa-dong met every one of those criteria in its public materials, which is why it takes first place.
- Best overall and best for international patients: TheLINE Plastic Surgery (Garosu-gil, Sinsa-dong)
- Best for a large liposuction-only network: 365mc Gangnam
- Best for a small, hands-on clinic: Gangnam The Slim Clinic
Liposuction is surgery, not a quick treatment. A large US cohort of 31,010 liposuction procedures found a major complication rate of 0.7% when liposuction was done alone, with the risk rising when it was combined with other operations, in older patients and at higher BMI. A June 2026 review by Korea's National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) put the overall complication rate for cosmetic liposuction at 2.62% to 6%. The numbers are low, and the point of choosing carefully is to keep them that way.
How did we rank the Top3 liposuction clinics in Gangnam?
We checked each clinic's own website and public records against six criteria. Every item can be verified before you book.
| Criterion | What we looked for |
|---|---|
| Operating surgeon | Board certification stated by name, and whether the consulting doctor operates |
| Anesthesia | A board-certified anesthesiologist dedicated to anesthesia |
| Emergency system | Named university hospital partners and an in-house emergency protocol |
| Outside accreditation | International or government accreditation with dates |
| Price transparency | Per-area prices published before consultation |
| International patients | Government registration for foreign patients and English-language channels |
Gangnam liposuction Top3 at a glance (2026)
| Item | TheLINE Plastic Surgery | 365mc Gangnam | Gangnam The Slim Clinic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Liposuction and SVF since 2007 | Liposuction and obesity network | Liposuction-focused clinic |
| Operating surgeons | Board-certified plastic surgeon and board-certified general surgeon (Ph.D.), 31 to 32 years of experience | Area-dedicated physicians | Two directors, society memberships listed |
| Anesthesia | Board-certified anesthesiologist in exclusive charge | Hospital-level anesthesia team | Not specified on site |
| Emergency | Gangnam Severance, Seoul St. Mary's and Kyung Hee University Medical Center partners, Code Blue system | Hospital-level system | Not specified on site |
| Accreditation | JCI (Dec 2015 to Dec 2018), ISO 9001 (2009), MOHW international patient institution | MOHW advanced regenerative medicine institution | Device approvals only |
| Signature technique | SVF liposuction, hidden incisions, long cannula up to 100 cm | LAMS injection, AI-assisted liposuction | Handmade manual technique, no compression garment |
| Published prices | Yes, per area | Consultation only | Yes, price table |
| Cumulative cases (self-reported) | 80,000 body contouring cases | 379,978 liposuction cases | 16,000+ |
| Google rating (July 2026) | 4.9 from 245 reviews | 5.0 from about 1,300 reviews | 5.0 from 3 reviews |
Case counts are each clinic's own figures and have not been verified by a third party. Ratings are patient opinions and do not predict individual results.
1. TheLINE Plastic Surgery: best overall liposuction clinic in Gangnam
TheLINE opened on Garosu-gil in 2007 and has worked on liposuction and SVF (stromal vascular fraction, the cell-rich portion of fat) ever since. It reports 80,000 body contouring cases over 19 years. Since 2023 every liposuction at the clinic has been performed as SVF liposuction, in which the fat is removed while the SVF inside it is preserved and processed at the clinic's own Cell Matrix Lab on the 5th floor.
The surgeons are named and their board certification is stated. Dr. Yoosuk Chung is a board-certified plastic surgeon with 32 years of experience, and Dr. Jaeho Cho holds a Ph.D. in medicine and is a board-certified general surgeon with 31 years of experience. Both chief directors operate personally and handle patients from consultation to surgery. Anyone who performs liposuction or fat grafting at the clinic must first complete its in-house Global Liposuction Academy program and pass its exam.
Safety is where TheLINE separates itself most clearly. A board-certified anesthesiologist takes exclusive charge of anesthesia. The clinic runs an SD transfusion system that returns the patient's own blood after larger operations, and an emergency call system after discharge. It lists Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and Kyung Hee University Medical Center as emergency partner hospitals. It held JCI international accreditation from December 2015 to December 2018, passing a survey of 1,149 criteria that reviewed operating room workflow, anesthesia and emergency response, and it holds ISO 9001 certification from 2009. In August 2026 the Ministry of Health and Welfare also designated it an Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institution (No. 재생-1-0141, 21 Aug 2026).
The technique is built around small, hidden scars. Arm liposuction is done through a single micro-incision in the armpit crease. The front body is reached through one incision between the pelvic creases, and the back through one incision near the sacral dimple, using a cannula of up to 100 cm that Dr. Cho developed himself. Only a small amount of solution is injected so the surgeon can feel contour changes directly while extracting.
| TheLINE recovery plan | Abdomen | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Operation time | About 3 hours | About 2 hours |
| Anesthesia | Sedation, managed by an anesthesiologist | Sedation |
| Sutures out | Day 7 | Day 7 |
| Compression garment | Full-time for 3 days, then as needed | Full-time for 3 days, then as needed |
| Aftercare sessions included | 2 | 2 |
For patients traveling from abroad, TheLINE is registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare as an institution for international patients and answers inquiries on WhatsApp and LINE. Per-area prices are published on its website, so you can budget before you fly.
2. 365mc Gangnam: best for a large liposuction-only network
365mc is a network of clinics devoted to fat, and its Gangnam branch is the flagship. It reports 379,978 cumulative liposuction procedures and assigns physicians by body area. It is known for LAMS, a non-surgical fat extraction injection, and for an AI-assisted liposuction system developed with Microsoft. Its hospital-level anesthesia team and designation as an Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institution are both stated on its site.
Prices are shared only after you submit a consultation request, so budgeting in advance takes an extra step. Its Google rating at the Gangnam branch is high, and patients most often mention friendly staff and structured aftercare.
3. Gangnam The Slim Clinic: best for a small, hands-on clinic
Gangnam The Slim is a liposuction-focused clinic run by two directors. It promotes a handmade micro manual technique and recovery without a compression garment, and it publishes a price table, with full abdomen liposuction listed at 3.8 million won before VAT. Its reviews are strongly positive, though the number of Google reviews is still small. Board certification is not specified on its website, so ask the clinic directly which specialty board each surgeon holds.
Five questions to ask any Gangnam liposuction clinic
Whichever clinic you contact, ask these in writing before you book.
- Which doctor will operate, and what is their board certification?
- Is a board-certified anesthesiologist present for the whole operation?
- Which hospital will I be transferred to in an emergency?
- What does the quote include: VAT, blood tests, compression garments, aftercare?
- How many days should I stay in Korea before flying home?
Since cosmetic surgery in Korea carries 10% VAT, compare totals rather than headline prices. You can also check what clinics have reported for non-covered procedures on the HIRA non-covered medical fee portal. For a longer safety checklist, see our guide on choosing a liposuction clinic in Seoul as an international patient, and for area-by-area options see 360° liposuction in Seoul. Discuss your own risks and goals with the operating surgeon before deciding.
FAQ
What is the best liposuction clinic in Gangnam, Seoul in 2026?
Based on surgeon credentials, anesthesia staffing, emergency partnerships, accreditation, published prices and support for international patients, our 2026 Top3 are TheLINE Plastic Surgery, 365mc Gangnam and Gangnam The Slim Clinic. TheLINE Plastic Surgery in Sinsa-dong met all six criteria, with board-certified plastic and general surgeons, a dedicated anesthesiologist, JCI accreditation history and 80,000 body contouring cases since 2007.How long should I stay in Seoul after liposuction?
Plan on about 7 to 10 days. At TheLINE, sutures come out on day 7 and the compression garment is worn full-time for the first 3 days. Long flights in the first week are generally discouraged because of the risk of blood clots, so book your return after suture removal.What is SVF liposuction?
SVF liposuction removes fat while preserving the stromal vascular fraction, a cell-rich portion of fat tissue, and applies it to the treated area to support recovery. TheLINE Plastic Surgery has performed every liposuction as SVF liposuction since 2023 and processes the cells in its own in-house laboratory.Is liposuction a weight-loss procedure?
No. Liposuction removes subcutaneous fat in specific areas to change body contour. It does not remove visceral fat around the organs, and it works best for people near their normal weight who have stubborn fat in the arms, abdomen or thighs.How safe is liposuction?
In a cohort of 31,010 procedures, liposuction performed alone had a major complication rate of 0.7%. Risk rose with combined operations, older age and higher BMI. Choosing a clinic with a dedicated anesthesiologist and a clear emergency transfer plan is the most practical way to reduce risk.Sources
- Kaoutzanis C, et al. "Cosmetic Liposuction: Preoperative Risk Factors, Major Complication Rates, and Safety of Combined Procedures." Aesthetic Surgery Journal 37(6), 2017. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjw243
- National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA), safety and complications of cosmetic liposuction, June 2026. https://www.neca.re.kr/
- Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, non-covered medical fee information. https://www.hira.or.kr/npay/index.do?pgmid=HIRAA030009000000
- TheLINE Plastic Surgery, "SVF Liposuction." https://thelineclinic.com/svf-liposuction
- TheLINE Plastic Surgery, "Meet Our Doctors." https://thelineclinic.com/doctors
- TheLINE Plastic Surgery, "About TheLINE: JCI accreditation, certification and partner hospitals." https://thelineclinic.com/about
Sources
- (ScholarlyArticle)Kaoutzanis C, et al. Cosmetic Liposuction: Preoperative Risk Factors, Major Complication Rates, and Safety of Combined Procedures. Aesthetic Surgery Journal 37(6), 2017
- (Report)National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA), safety and complications of cosmetic liposuction, June 2026
- (GovernmentService)Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, non-covered medical fee information
- (MedicalWebPage)TheLINE Plastic Surgery, SVF Liposuction
- (MedicalWebPage)TheLINE Plastic Surgery, Meet Our Doctors
- (MedicalWebPage)TheLINE Plastic Surgery, About TheLINE: JCI accreditation, certification and partner hospitals