The Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons (KAPS) has announced a five-point guideline for people to receive safe cosmetic surgery.

The guideline comes after a survey conducted by the KAPS _{대한성형외과의사회} on 649 prospective patients who visited plastic surgeons from July 15-31. The result of the survey

showed that 48.7 percent of the patients said they were worried that a side effect might occur, while 36.5 percent answered that medical malpractice and safety was the biggest problem in the plastic surgery field.

The guideline recommended above all that patients check the doctor’s qualifications and expertise. “The surgeon is the most vital part of the surgery,” it said. “More than 90 percent of the surgical outcomes are safe if the doctor is skilled.”

It also urged patients to avoid hospitals that give an unexplainable discount and make false or exaggerated advertisements.

“Unreasonably low prices can mean that they do not perform the surgery properly or neglect aftercare after surgery,” the guideline said. “Hospital that makes false and exaggerated advertisements tend to be bent on excessive commercialism and result in illegal and unethical methods to attract patients.”

However, the most dangerous hospitals are hospitals with a record of malpractices or ghost surgeries, which refer to clinics where substitute doctors perform the surgery instead of the doctors in charge.

“To avoid malpractice or ghost surgery it is important to gather information from acquaintances,” it advised. “If acquainted are not available, obtain information in person rather than from the Internet. Although the Internet is filled with all sorts of information a lot of it is false.”

The guideline also advised patients that it is imperative to stick to pre- and post-operation recommendations to prevent side effects.

“If you are taking any banned medication before your surgery, you should contact the hospital to ask if it will be a problem,” it said. “It is also important to refrain from smoking and drinking during this period.”