I had a great experience with Dr. Kim. I had upper eyelid surgery many years ago by a doctor that did not specialize in Asian eyes and it was a big mistake. My eyes were asymmetrical and one eye had to be redone twice. I decided recently that I wanted to get them both redone correctly once and for all.I did a lot of research online and even contemplated going to Korea to get it done, but I wanted to stay close (I live in Washington and it’s just a 2.5 hour flight to L.A.). I was impressed by Dr. Kim’s credentials and extensive experience. I watched all of his YouTube videos and then booked a consultation via Skype. He recommended ptosis correction in addition to the upper eyelid revision in both eyes, and an epicanthoplasty.
I would advise anyone reading this: do not choose a doctor based on cost. Cheap surgeries = cheap results. My first couple surgeries were with doctors that did not charge very much and I have to say – you get what you pay for. This time, cost was not a factor for me and I expected to pay more because I was having yet another revision, which is more complicated than a first time surgery because the doctor has to go in and essentially clean up someone else’s mess.
Since I was flying in from out of town, I was able to book my consultation and surgery on the same day. When I arrived, the staff was very professional, kind, and made me feel comfortable. Some people on Yelp have complained about Dr. Kim’s personality but I had no issues with him at all. I thought he was professional, nice, and very straightforward.
The nurses gave me drugs to keep me relaxed and the surgery was really a blur. I could feel a little bit of discomfort and pain during the surgery but that is to be expected during a surgery where you are merely sedated and not under anesthesia. It’s like going to the dentist and getting numbed for a filling – it dulls the majority of the pain to make it tolerable to perform the procedure, but there is no guarantee you won’t feel a thing. I remember when I expressed my discomfort, Dr. Kim was very kind and talked me through it… and the reality is, the minor discomfort and pain was a small price to pay for such an excellent result.
Revisions are much more complicated than a first-time surgery and I would advise anyone looking to get a revision done to go to Dr. Kim. His precision is incredible. I was still skeptical after my surgery because the swelling between my right and left eyes were uneven. When I went to get my stitches out, I expressed concern that one eye was more swollen then the other and I was afraid they were going to asymmetrical again. The doctor and the nurses reassured me and told me not to worry – that after the swelling goes down after a few months, they will look great. I had no choice but to trust them.
It has been two months now and I have to say, they were right. Since my right eye had been operated on for the third time, it was slower to heal than my left eye, but now both eyes are symmetrical. The ptosis correction (which I didn’t think I even needed to begin with, but trusted Dr. Kim’s advice) makes me look MUCH better and more refreshed/awake, and the epicanthoplasty is one of those small details that makes the whole look more natural and complete.
My total time in LA was six days. I stayed in a nearby hotel, brought my laptop with me, and worked until I had to go back and get my stitches out. The whole experience was easy – my only regret is not having gone to Dr. Kim years ago to get this done sooner.
