What happens in RNWOOD's online assessment before you travel?
The online assessment is the first clinical step at RNWOOD Plastic Surgery, and it happens before you travel. You send photographs and your medical and procedure history; the clinic replies with an estimated price, an in-person consultation arrangement, deposit information and a general list of tests. The decision to operate is not made online. It is made by Dr. Min-Hee Ryu at the in-person consultation in Seoul.
What do I send?
Four things:
- front and side photographs taken straight on, at right angles to the face, without make-up or coloured lenses
- your past surgery and procedure history, with the name of each procedure and the year and month it was done
- any medical conditions
- the medications and supplements you take
How should the photographs be taken?
Straight on, so that the face is square to the camera in the front view and at a right angle in the side view. No make-up and no coloured lenses. Even lighting helps. The aim is to show the face as it is, because the actual degree of sagging is one of the main factors in the assessment.
Why does the clinic need procedure dates?
Previous thread lifting, fillers and energy-based lifting can affect the condition of the tissue. The type of procedure and when it was done both matter. Name each one (for example Botox, filler, threads or HIFU) with the year and month. If you have had a facelift before, include its date: after a recent facelift, revision is generally assessed only after at least six months of recovery.
What does the clinic look at?
The same factors Dr. Ryu uses for any surgical recommendation:
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Facial anatomy | The structure of the face shapes what can change |
| Degree of sagging | Surgery is recommended based on symptoms |
| Skin condition | Elasticity affects whether a surgical lift is needed |
| Volume loss | Volume and position are separate problems |
| Previous procedures | Past treatments can affect the tissue |
| Patient goals | Some changes cannot be improved by a facelift |
| Medical history | Part of planning sedation and surgery safely |
What do I receive back?
At the email or online consultation stage, the clinic provides an estimated price, arranges the in-person consultation, explains the deposit and gives a general list of tests. The cost is confirmed at your consultation after Dr. Ryu's assessment.
What can the online stage not decide?
The final judgement. Photographs show a great deal but not everything, and Dr. Ryu's own manual assessment in Seoul confirms the plan. If that assessment shows the sagging is not significant and the skin still has enough elasticity, he does not recommend a deep plane facelift. RNWOOD's short rule is "No symptoms, no surgery."
What comes after the online stage?
The steps that follow are the in-person consultation, the surgical recommendation, schedule confirmation, pre-operative preparation, surgery, recovery and aftercare. Before surgery, an electrocardiogram and blood tests are carried out in Seoul.
Frequently asked questions
Q1) What photos should I send?
A1) Straight-on front and side photographs taken without make-up or coloured lenses.
Q2) Why are procedure dates needed?
A2) Previous thread lifting, fillers and energy-based lifting can affect tissue condition, so both the procedure and its timing matter.
Q3) Is the online assessment the final decision?
A3) No. The final decision is made at the in-person consultation after Dr. Ryu's own assessment.
Q4) Will I get a price online?
A4) An estimated price is given at the online stage. The final price is confirmed at the in-person consultation.
Q5) Where do I send the information?
A5) By email to consult@rnwoodseoul.com, on WhatsApp at +82 10-6254-8672, or through the website or Instagram.
Q6) Should I include medications and supplements?
A6) Yes, all of them, together with any medical conditions.
Q7) I had a facelift before. Should I mention it?
A7) Yes, with the date. After a recent facelift, revision is generally assessed only after at least six months.
Q8) Can the online stage say surgery is not needed?
A8) It can give an early view, but the judgement is confirmed in person. If surgery is not needed, Dr. Ryu says so.
About the Author
Dr. Min-Hee Ryu is the Chief Director of RNWOOD Plastic Surgery in Seoul and a plastic surgery specialist certified in Korea (2008). He has been Faculty of the Mendelson Advanced Facial Anatomy Course (MAFAC) since 2016, an Editorial Board Member of the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal since 2019, and an Educational Council Member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) since 2024.
Deep Plane Facelift — Deep plane facelift involves extensive dissection beneath facial tissues. Risks include anesthesia reactions, bleeding, hematoma, infection, seroma, delayed healing, wound separation, persistent pain, and visible scars. Swelling, bruising, tightness, and numbness can last for months, and hair loss or distortion of the hairline or ear position can occur. Poor blood supply can cause skin loss or tissue death. Nerve injury can cause temporary or permanent weakness, an altered smile, or numbness, and injury to the parotid gland or salivary duct can cause salivary leakage. A postoperative hematoma can require urgent drainage or another operation. General risks include thrombosis or embolism, and a complication can require emergency treatment or additional surgery. No result, symmetry, scar quality, or duration can be guaranteed, and sagging can recur.