Doctors
Doctors
The people who harvest the cells run the lab, because the quality of the harvest decides the quality of the cells.
Harvesting and isolation at Seoul Stem Cell Lab are led by Dr Jaeho Cho, MD, PhD, board-certified general surgeon (31 years in practice, 80,000 cumulative liposuction cases). Dr Yuseok Jung, board-certified plastic surgeon (32 years in practice) handles anti-ageing, autologous ECM and lifting, and anaesthesia is administered by a resident anaesthesiologist. Tissue is harvested by the operating surgeons, who average 29 years in practice, rather than by a researcher, because cell quality is decided at harvesting before any separation equipment is involved.
Jaeho Cho, MD, PhD
Doctor of Medicine, board-certified general surgeon. 31 years in practice, 80,000 cumulative liposuction cases. He has been researching molecular biology since 1994, received his doctorate from Kyung Hee University in 2003, and from 2007 worked full time in liposuction and fat grafting, handling adipose-derived cells directly. As lab director he oversees harvesting and the isolation process.
Education
- Kyung Hee University College of Medicine
- Doctorate in medicine, Kyung Hee University (2003)
- Board certification in general surgery, Kyung Hee University
Societies
- Standing director, Korean Society of Liposuction
- Standing director, Korean Society of Obesity and Aesthetics
- Full member, Korean Society for Stem Cell Therapy
- Full member, Korean Society of Aesthetic Surgery and Korean Surgical Society
Academic activity and awards
- Over 30 presentations and lectures at domestic and international congresses
- Session chair, body contouring, 2018 autumn congress of the Korean Society of Aesthetic Surgery
- Lecture and session chair, 8th Oriental Society of Aesthetic Surgery international congress
- Paper presented at the 2008 international congress co-hosted by the French and American plastic surgery societies
- Listed in the IBC world biographical directory, 2015 (liposuction and long cannula)
- Developed THE LINE long cannula, up to 100cm, to reduce scarring
Yuseok Jung, MD
Board-certified plastic surgeon, 32 years in practice. Trained at Kyung Hee University Medical Center, later adjunct professor of plastic surgery at Kyung Hee University College of Medicine and professor of plastic surgery at Nanjing Medical University in China. He handles facelifts and body lifts, autologous ECM and stem cell anti-ageing treatment, and advises the lab clinically.
Education and appointments
- Board certification in plastic surgery, Kyung Hee University Medical Center
- Master of Medicine in plastic surgery, Kyung Hee University
- Adjunct professor of plastic surgery, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine
- Former professor of plastic surgery, Nanjing Medical University, China
Societies
- Full member, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
- Full member, Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
- Full member, Korean Society of Craniofacial Surgery and Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand
- Full member, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Japan Society of Aesthetic Surgery
- Director, Korean Society of Obesity and Aesthetics
Academic activity and training
- Over 10 presentations and lectures at domestic and international congresses, including AFAS 2019
- Certificate of appreciation, 2024 spring congress of the Korean Society of Obesity and Aesthetics
- Completed the international liposuction training programme run by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
- Training at an aesthetic clinic in Sapporo, Japan, and breast surgery training at ASIA INAMED ACADEMY
Why harvesting is done by the operating surgeon
Cell quality is decided at harvesting, before the separation equipment matters. How much damage the cells take depends on which layer of adipose tissue is drawn from, at what pressure, and through which cannula. It is a question of hands, not machines.
Checked and fed back
The person who harvested the tissue looks at the result under the microscope and applies it to the next harvest. That is why the lab sits inside the hospital.
The middle layer is selected
The layer where cells are alive is chosen and only as much as needed is taken. Volume is not the objective.
Planned with the surgery
If body contouring surgery is planned at the same time, part of the fat removed then is used for stem cell isolation and storage.
Anaesthesia is handled by a dedicated specialist
Fat harvesting involves anaesthesia, and the safety of cell treatment begins with how anaesthesia is managed.
Dr Miran Park, anaesthesiologist
Graduate of the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, internship and residency in anaesthesiology and pain medicine at Catholic Medical Center. Former head of anaesthesiology at Yonsei Kunwoo Hospital and at Gaja Yonsei Hospital. Full member of the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists and the Korean Pain Society.
Anaesthesia safety
- A resident anaesthesiologist administers general anaesthesia personally
- Triple low-dose anaesthesia with real-time vital sign monitoring
- Code blue response system and referral arrangements with partner hospitals
- Surgical and anaesthetic protocols established to JCI standards
Who handles what
The doctor who plans the treatment in consultation carries it through harvesting and treatment.
| Area | Doctor | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Harvesting and isolation | Jaeho Cho, lab director | MD, PhD, general surgeon, 31 years. Oversees the lab process and cell quality checks. |
| Joints, scars, refractory conditions | Jaeho Cho, lab director | 80,000 cumulative liposuction cases. Standing director, Korean Society of Liposuction. |
| Anti-ageing and autologous ECM | Yuseok Jung, consulting physician | Plastic surgeon, 32 years. Former professor at Nanjing Medical University, China. |
| Lifting and facial work | Yuseok Jung, consulting physician | Adjunct professor, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine. Facelift and deep plane lifting. |
| Anaesthesia | Miran Park | Anaesthesiologist. Former head of anaesthesiology at Yonsei Kunwoo Hospital. |
Case numbers are counted differently at institution level and at individual doctor level, so the basis of each figure is stated separately.
Questions about the doctors
What should I check when choosing a doctor for stem cell treatment in Gangnam?
Beyond degrees and board certification, look at society activity. Holding office in a society, or presenting and chairing at congresses, shows the degree to which a doctor has been examined by peers in that field.
It is also worth asking whether the operating surgeon harvests the tissue personally.
Will the doctor who consults with me also perform the treatment?
Yes. At THE LINE Plastic Surgery the doctor who plans the treatment in consultation performs the harvesting and the treatment. When consultation and surgery are split, what was agreed in consultation is harder to carry through.
Can I request a specific doctor?
You can. Because areas of responsibility are divided, we may suggest the doctor who fits the purpose of the treatment.
Who administers anaesthesia?
A resident anaesthesiologist administers it personally. Fat harvesting involves anaesthesia, so anaesthetic management is where the safety of the treatment starts.
Is the treatment available in English?
Consultations for international patients are arranged in English. THE LINE Plastic Surgery is designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as an institution for attracting international patients, and enquiries are accepted through WhatsApp, LINE and WeChat.