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Highly recommend!
I was initially very anxious about having my first surgery overseas but came based on recommendation from friends/family. I was given very thorough instructions via text (whatβs app), email and had all my questions answered months and days leading up to the surgery date.
This center is very easy to get to, smooth process and very organized. I highly recommend Dr. Hannuy Choi who is very down to earth, takes her time explaining, and fluent in English. She helped calm my fears and helped me decide on the smile pro.
There are translators and coordinators to help with each step of the process. There are also various resources and tips on the postop process. In addition, they are running promotions to help make this an affordable process.
Would like to give a special shoutout to Monica who was a translator/coordinator who helped the process.
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My experience at the clinic was AMAZING. The staff was super friendly and I felt super comfortable the entire time. I was able to get a thorough consultation done with a bunch of tests to test the health of my eyes in the morning and get the surgery in the afternoon on the same day.
I ended up qualifying for the EVO ICL procedure. The doctor mentioned that it would take about 15-30 minutes per eye, but in reality, it was like 3 minutes per eye because she was so skilled. They let me leave after a 30 minutes recovery time. I did not feel any pain at all and once my eyes stopped being blurry after about an hour, I went about my day and went to get ice cream like I didnβt even get surgery. I highly highly recommend going here!
Post operatively, I had questions about the eye drops and I was able to connect with someone via KakaoTalk. John was very helpful and informative. Itβs been about 5 months since my surgery and my eyes are better than ever!
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Had SMILE Pro at B&VIIT in Seoul six months ago and my vision is a stable 20/20 since.
I looked in US first. No established clinic one offered SMILE Pro (WA state), just older SMILE/LASIK for around $5k, and one clinic pushed an upsell to a $10k lens implant that was unnecessary for my eyes and carries more risk. That was a hard no.
At B&VIIT the difference was immediate. Pre-op testing was much more thorough, everything was in clear English, and the whole place runs like clockwork. Surgery day felt very high-tech and well orchestrated - I was nervous for about ten seconds, then just felt safe. The team and doctors are efficient, not chatty, which I preferred (if you like small talk, it may feel impersonal, but I was not there for some chit-chat).
Recovery: I could walk around Seoul the next morning. Screens were tough for ~3 days, by day 7 I felt normal. I had mild night halos the first month, now pretty much imperceptible. Only thing left is a little morning dryness, one drop and it's fine, and it's still improving.
Cost: my entire trip β surgery, roundtrip flight from the US, hotel in Gangnam for a week, food β was about the same $5k I was quoted at home for the older procedure.
Tip: stay the full 7 days if you can. The 1-day and 1-week checks at the same clinic take a lot of stress out of it.
Very happy I came here.
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I got the exam on this clinic, but did not proceed with the surgery. This procedure is elective for me, and my number 1 concern is to minimize potential risk / concern
I asked Gemini AI to do thorough comparison of the clinic methodology (they utilized AI) and the doctors vs other places, and B&VIIT is amazing on paper. I got the exam here, there were more tests done here than the other clinic I went to. They have tearaway paper stuff under your chin on each station for hygiene , and the ophthalmologist tear the old one on each station prior to your use. No dedicated translator but all the ophthalmologist I saw didnt have any issue to communicate in English. I would have loved to get Smile Pro done here , but alas at the end did not proceed , and hereβs why:
1. The whatsapp contact responsiveness. Sent message on Saturday asking about details on surgery Monday AM. (Question was: if there will be 2nd check up before surgery, confirming the time and Doctor, and if post op are included)
No response over the weekend. I went to clinic on Monday as asked, but between the receptionist and other staff all wearing the same uniform, I wasnβt sure whom to ask questions above and was told to wait by the surgery center.
With quite a few questions left in mind, thereβs no way Iβd go into surgery. It wasnt even clear if there will be another consult with the doctor. The absence of whatsapp response (as the sole communication media after Iβd return to my country) also did not impart confidence. Hence I walked away. I was later told that they could not response on weekend (despite the clinic being open on Saturday).
2. The translator after first exam- missing some info.
Looking back, this uneasiness could also be avoided had there been clearer expectations on what to expect. For example, cornea crosslinking wasnβt discussed and I asked at the end after the doctor consult, and was blamed that I didnt ask earlier. Option for dry eye treatment or PRP eye drop was not mentioned. I was told to come an hour early on the day of surgery so I could go and fetch a prescription at a pharmacy. Period.
Had I been told there would be 2nd exam , and consult with Dr Ryu , i wouldnt have to ask the follow up question via whatsapp over weekend.
If you read this far, the above may not look like much, but in my case its enough to deter me from proceeding.
My research shows that the doctors are amazing though. Gemini says Dr Ryu uses AI to both check for eligibility and to determine laser power used, have stable hands, and AI couldnt find report of complication online. Had I perceive I was getting adequate responseo / support , I would have loved to get the procedure done here.
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