I Had Seven Surgeries Done At Once In Korea! Ft. Makeup Artist Judy Lim

What does it actually take to fly to South Korea alone and change your face? Judy Lim — globally renowned bridal and hair makeup artist, and one of the most trusted names in luxury soft-glam — did exactly that. Multiple procedures, one trip, no pain medication, and months of emotional recovery nobody talks about. In this episode, Judy pulls back the curtain on everything. The specific procedures she had done and what they cost. How she researched and chose her clinic, negotiated her price, and navigated the entire process without a translator or a support system. What it felt like to wake up and question everything. And what she wishes someone had told her before she went. This is not a results reel. It's the full story — the pain, the doubt, the healing, and ultimately, why she'd do it again. ⏰ Timecodes 00:00 Why she chose Korea over the US — and what the American aesthetic gets wrong 02:17 The rise of medical tourism: 38 million procedures and why Korea leads 05:26 Did she consider surgeons in Canada or the US first? 06:38 Every procedure she had done — and what it cost 08:23 Navigating the language barrier and Korean clinic culture 09:23 How she researched and chose her clinic 15:50 The consultation process: translators, consultants, and meeting the doctors 17:27 Day by day: what actually happens from the moment you land 20:16 Negotiating price — and how she got over 50% off 23:11 Surgery day: 10 hours under and waking up in serious pain 25:48 Pain management in Korea: what nobody tells you before you go 27:22 Recovery in Seoul — bandaged, swollen, and somehow shopping every day 29:36 What she would change about the experience 31:36 The emotional rollercoaster of healing: months of "what did I do?" 33:57 The jaw surgery that scared her most during recovery 38:36 Her plan (or lack of one) for complications after flying home 41:07 Revealed: she also had surgery in Colombia — what she had done and why 45:46 Why she kept the Colombia surgery private — and the transparency conversation 49:31 The three Korean surgeons who worked on her face 50:06 What she'd do next — and the one procedure she'll never get 54:35 What good plastic surgery actually looks like → Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram → Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode. ABOUT MIRROR MIRROR Mirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare. Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means. LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/bh/podcast/mirror-mirror-with-amy-chang/id1876357199 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NcpTY7ObN43ugrGsZtxgl?si=dbeb2c865aec4b21 Instagram: @mirrormirrorwithamy #beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #haircare