Key Points: Choosing a plastic surgery clinic for eyelid surgery or anti-aging treatment starts with understanding the surgeon's philosophy and approach to patient care. In this interview, Dr. Shin Soo-hye, Director of LUARC Plastic Surgery, shares her background in eye surgery and facelift procedures and explains how she helps patients decide between surgical and non-surgical options.
Who Is Dr. Shin Soo-hye and What Does LUARC Plastic Surgery Specialize In?
Dr. Shin Soo-hye is the Director of LUARC Plastic Surgery and a mother, whose practice focuses on eye surgery procedures including under-eye fat repositioning, lower and upper blepharoplasty, canthoplasty, and double eyelid surgery. Alongside these eye-focused procedures, the clinic also offers anti-aging treatments designed to help patients restore a more youthful appearance.
Her decision to specialize in plastic surgery came near the end of her internship, after initially considering internal medicine. She found meaning in helping patients who struggled with appearance-related concerns, realizing that improving how someone looks can also meaningfully improve their quality of life.
Before opening LUARC Plastic Surgery, Dr. Shin trained under a senior director who performed rhinoplasty while she handled eye procedures. She describes that mentor as someone who avoided unnecessary or excessive treatment and always prioritized the patient's actual needs, a principle that shaped her own approach to surgery.
Why Did Dr. Shin Combine Eye Surgery With Anti-Aging Treatments?
Dr. Shin opened LUARC Plastic Surgery after noticing that many patients over 40 struggle with signs of aging beyond just the eye and nose area, and that combining eyelid or facelift surgery with anti-aging lifting treatments could offer better overall results. She observed a growing number of inquiries not only about eye surgery but also about non-surgical lifting procedures.
She points out a common source of confusion for patients: clinics offering non-surgical treatments often advise against surgery, while surgical clinics tend to recommend against non-surgical options. This can leave patients unsure which approach truly fits their situation.
According to Dr. Shin, the right choice depends on each patient's skin condition and the specific area of concern — sometimes a non-surgical treatment is more effective, and other times surgery is the better option. Her goal in founding LUARC was to build a clinic that isn't limited to one method, offering lifting treatments, minimally invasive procedures, surgery, and anti-aging care depending on what best suits each patient.
how to choose a clinic for eyelid surgery
What Types of Surgery Does LUARC Plastic Surgery Focus On?
LUARC Plastic Surgery operates on a clear principle: no excessive procedures and no ghost surgery, meaning the surgeon who consults with the patient is the one who performs the operation. While the clinic handles various procedures, its main focus is on eye surgery and facelift procedures, both known for helping patients achieve a more youthful look.
Given the nature of these procedures, most inquiries come from patients in their 30s and older, including many middle-aged and older adults seeking to address age-related changes around the eyes and face.
Dr. Shin also runs a YouTube channel called 'Dr. Hyeja,' a name inspired by the idea of offering patients generous, valuable information ('hyeja-roun' meaning thoughtful and beneficial). The name also reflects her wish that every patient who visits LUARC feels welcomed with an open, comfortable mindset, and that she can approach each patient with the same sense of ease.
How Does Dr. Shin Approach Patient Consultations Before Surgery?
Content for Dr. Shin's YouTube channel is shaped primarily around questions patients actually ask, rather than topics the clinic wants to promote. Most viewers fall between their 30s and 50s, and she noticed that patients tend to ask similar questions during consultations — many of which are also frequently directed to clinic staff. These recurring questions form the basis for her video topics.
Because patients place their trust in her when choosing to undergo surgery, Dr. Shin emphasizes thorough consultations to understand each person's desired improvements, direction, and personal standard of beauty, all of which can vary significantly between individuals.
She has heard from patients who felt past consultations at other clinics were too rushed, or who felt limited by strict time constraints that prevented them from asking all their questions. In response, she tries to allow as much consultation time as possible, checking details carefully — although time may be limited when a surgery appointment immediately follows.
When discussing LUARC's approach compared to other clinics, Dr. Shin notes that the clinic avoids unnecessary procedures and performs only surgeries that are truly needed. Rather than only highlighting the benefits of surgery, she also discusses the clear limitations of a procedure when a patient's condition calls for that honesty, helping patients make a more careful, informed decision.
What Should Patients Consider Before Choosing Eyelid Surgery or Anti-Aging Treatment?
With so many plastic surgery clinics available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming, especially since recommendations can vary — some clinics may suggest surgery for a concern, while others may recommend non-surgical treatment first for the same issue. Since diagnosis ultimately depends on each medical team's professional judgment, there isn't a single universal answer.
One point Dr. Shin stresses clearly is that pursuing overly aggressive or unnecessary surgery can potentially backfire and work against the patient's goals. Because the decision to undergo surgery ultimately belongs to the patient, she recommends choosing only after a thorough consultation that clearly explains both the benefits and limitations of the procedure.
Dr. Shin hopes that LUARC Plastic Surgery can be a welcoming space where even first-time patients considering plastic surgery feel comfortable visiting and can easily access clear, honest information to guide their decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What procedures does LUARC Plastic Surgery specialize in?
LUARC Plastic Surgery focuses on eye surgery procedures such as under-eye fat repositioning, lower and upper blepharoplasty, canthoplasty, and double eyelid surgery, along with facelift surgery and anti-aging treatments.
How do I know whether surgery or a non-surgical treatment is right for me?
According to Dr. Shin, the right approach depends on your individual skin condition and the specific area you want to improve. A thorough consultation can help determine whether a non-surgical lifting treatment or surgery is likely to be more effective for your case.
How long is a consultation at LUARC Plastic Surgery?
Dr. Shin emphasizes offering as much consultation time as needed to fully understand a patient's goals and answer their questions, though time may be more limited if a surgery appointment is scheduled immediately afterward.
Why did Dr. Shin name her YouTube channel 'Dr. Hyeja'?
The name reflects her intention to share thoughtful, valuable information with patients, and her hope that everyone who visits LUARC feels welcomed and at ease, much like the meaning behind the word 'hyeja-roun.'
What age group typically seeks eyelid surgery or facelift procedures at LUARC?
Most inquiries come from patients in their 30s and older, including many middle-aged and older adults interested in addressing age-related changes around the eyes and face.