Foreign patients who undergo plastic surgery in Korea will receive VAT refunds starting April 1, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Thursday.

The measure is being implemented for one year. 

The procedures applicable for tax reimbursements include double eye-lid surgery, rhinoplasty, breasts augmentation or reduction surgery excluding reconstruction after mastectomy, liposuction, face lift, facial bone contouring, teeth bleaching, laminating and gingivoplasty and orthognathic surgery.

Dental treatments that require teeth realignment and braces are excluded. Reconstruction surgeries for congenital deformities or post-tumor removal are also excluded.

Other services included in the VAT-refund program are spots correction, acne treatment, hair removal and implants, tattoo and tattoo removal, piercing, anti-aging, pore tightening, skin whitening and revival procedures.

The special scheme will be tested for a year between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017.

After the pilot period, if the system proves effective in encouraging more medical tourists to Korea, the government will consider extending the term.

Only tourists are eligible for the tax reimbursements. Foreign diplomats and ambassadors to Korea, foreign public officials, those affiliated with the American army or international armed allies are not on the list.

The reimbursements can be collected within three months after surgery by reporting the hospital-issued validation at the airport or port of departure. 

For procedures costing less than 2 million won ($1,700), downtown refund collection is also possible.

More information regarding the VAT-refund scheme can be found at www.medicalkorea.or.kr where all 180 participating hospitals are listed with phone numbers. The page offers contents in English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Arabic and Korean.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)