The Department of Plastic Surgery at Asan Medical Center has treated more than 3,000 international patients from more than 70 countries in the past decade. Through active exchanges and medical skills transfer with medical professionals around the world, the Department of Plastic Surgery has gained global recognition for its excellence, attracting a growing number of international patients. Professor Tae Suk Oh of the Department of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgeon in South Korea specializing in both cleft lip/palate and facial paralysis, shares his experiences treating international patients.

What are your guiding principles when treating patients?

Cleft lip/palate and facial paralysis are both related to the face, making surgical outcomes visible to others. Therefore, there must be absolutely no room for errors or mistakes. It is crucial to constantly develop better surgical methods to provide the best possible outcome for each patient. The phrase ‘Imagine the unimaginable!’ is infallible because you will be inspired to design more effective procedures if you constantly think about new, unimaginable surgical methods. I believe striving to implement seemingly unthinkable, evidence-based treatments is a virtue that all AMC doctors should have. Even to this day, I work on my imagination to develop new treatments and develop them further.

▲ Professor Tae Suk Oh of the Plastic Surgery Department at Asan Medical Center is consulting a patient with facial paralysis.

Tell us how you came to choose your medical specialty and about your medical experience so far

My journey to medicine began while pursuing a master’s degree in inorganic materials engineering, focusing on semiconductor manufacturing processes. Driven by a growing curiosity about the human body, I retook the College Scholastic Ability Test and entered medical school. Drawn to the challenge of restoring beauty and harmony, I chose to specialize in plastic surgery. I was particularly inspired by the remarkable achievements of Professor Kyung Suk Kho, renowned for the world’s best outcomes in facial paralysis and cleft lip and palate surgeries, and decided to follow in his footsteps.

To acquire advanced medical techniques and engage in knowledge exchange, I had training at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan in 2013, and at Duke University Medical Center in the United States from 2019 to 2020, focusing on cleft lip, palate, and facial paralysis surgeries. Building upon the training and other experiences accumulated since then, I have performed 100 free-flap reconstructions for facial paralysis and 3,000 cleft lip/palate-related surgeries, including 1,000 cleft lip surgeries and 1,000 cleft palate surgeries over the past 10 years at AMC, treating the most patients in South Korea. I have published over 50 SCI papers and participated in writing various textbooks on cleft lip/palate and facial paralysis reconstruction, including contributing to the ‘facelift’ section of an international plastic surgery textbook.

What are the points you consider when treating international patients?

International patients have facial skeletal structures that differ from those of Koreans. It is essential to communicate with international patients and adequately understand their preferences in treatment. At Asan Medical Center, communication with international patients is facilitated with the help of the International Healthcare Center through professional medical interpretation by coordinators from various countries. Ensuring that patients fully understand the treatment plan before proceeding has led to high levels of patient satisfaction. Also, I am learning the languages and cultures of various countries, such as Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar, through medical volunteer services for pediatric cleft lip/palate patients overseas and international medical trainees at the Department of Plastic Surgery at Asan Medical Center. Such experiences have greatly helped me communicate with international patients who visit our hospital.

▲ Professor Tae Suk Oh of the Plastic Surgery Department at Asan Medical Center is performing surgery on a pediatric patient with a cleft lip.

Do you have any memorable international patients?

In 2019, a Vietnamese mother, pregnant with a fetus diagnosed with cleft lip, sought treatment at Asan Medical Center. I could sense her deep concern about whether her child would be born healthy. Later, through an online preliminary consultation arrangement in Vietnam, I explained to the mother that cleft lip/palate treatment would allow the child to grow up healthy without significant issues. We developed a treatment plan together. Starting with corrective treatment two weeks after birth to prevent nasal asymmetry and lip separation, I performed surgery at three months. I still remember the mother expressing her gratitude after the successful surgery.

Additionally, in 2024, the parents of a Mongolian-American cleft lip patient chose Asan Medical Center over a U.S. hospital, hoping for better surgical outcomes. The surgery was successful, and the patient and family expressed their deep appreciation before returning to the United States. I believe that a patient’s face and, by extension, their life is a crucial mission for a plastic surgeon. It is immensely rewarding to know that our positive surgical outcomes enable both domestic and international patients to reintegrate confidently into their communities.

Any words you would like to say to international patients?

Asan Medical Center provides world-class, advanced surgeries and treatments through its excellent patient-centered care system. Notably, the Department of Plastic Surgery at Asan Medical Center prides itself on outstanding treatment outcomes achieved through the extensive surgical experience accumulated by its medical professionals over many years. Each medical professional specializes in a specific area, allowing patients to receive more precise and expert care. The staff of the Department of Plastic Surgery is proficient in English for daily communication and meetings, which minimizes any language barriers when treating international patients. For non-English speaking patients, the International Healthcare Center offers interpretation services in their native languages. I hope many patients can experience the highest quality care and medical services at Asan Medical Center, a hospital comparable to the world’s leading medical institutions.

※ 'Meet AMC Experts' features dedicated doctors at Asan Medical Center(AMC) who shed light on international patients coming a long way from home for treatment.

Plastic Surgery
Professor Tae Suk Oh

Specialty : Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate, Facial Paralysis, Head and Neck Reconstruction, Facial Fracture, Facelift
Position : Professor for International Healthcare Center
Academic Activities :President of Facial Nerve Association, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons / Director of Academic Affairs Committee, Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery / Director of Academic Affairs Committee, Korean Facial Nerve Society / Director of Academic Affairs Committee, Korean Skull Base Society / Published over 100 research papers, including 50 SCI-indexed papers