Do You Need A Translator?

Communication issues are one of the highest concerns with going aboard for surgery. This prompts many people to consider getting a translator to help them out. At the start of my research I was set on getting one, but the more I looked into it the more useless they became to me.

First of all, there are tons of reputable clinics that have fully speaking English staff. A majority of the Doctors also have capable English skills as well, even though you would still be dependent on the consultant with you. If the Korean clinic you're interested in has a English option for their website then they definitely have English speaking staff there. If the clinic doesn't then chances are they don't, there's still no harm in contacting them via e-mail or kakao and asking them though.




Secondly, if you bring a translator with you be prepared to pay upwards of 30-50% (sometimes even 100%+, if you get a ruthless one) more for your surgery. All translators receive a commission from the clinic you decide to go with. Most of them just charge a base fee of like $100 a day or something? I don't remember it's been too long. Anyway that small starter fee sometimes covers airport pick up and them accompanying you to roughly three clinics per day. Getting the translators to bargain for you used to be one of the incentives for hiring one, but obviously they won't bargain that much cause it would effect their commission. If anything you would just get a highly inflated price that was "bargained down"

This next reason is extremely important. A lot of translators have special relationships with certain clinics. Even if you don't have consultations with one of their affiliated clinics they will try their best to try and get you to go to them. This can range from anything to

1. Purposely mis-translating things to the doctor so the consultation goes nowhere.
2. Lie about their commission fee which causes the surgery price to skyrocket, many would be angry that the clinic is trying to "rip them off"
3. Prolonging a consultation so you miss one with another clinic due to time constraints. 
4. Bad mouth the clinic, praise the clinic their affiliated with

etc.

Of course all translators aren't evil schemers, but the first two points alone is more than enough reason for not needing one.

If you're adamant on vising a clinic that has no English staff then just be careful with your translator, don't let them con you. Be knowledgeable of the prices of the procedures you want and don't let them try and talk you into visiting clinics you originally didn't plan on. Some clinics with no English staff might have a Doctor who has decent English (like Man & Nature), but I personally wouldn't feel comfortable getting surgery done at a place where I know there's no one who I could fully communicate with.

The biggest positive I can think of for hiring a translator is not getting yourself lost in Gangnam. Also having someone there with you for a bit after the first couple days of surgery is helpful. But it's still not with it after adding on their commission imo

If you have a friend or family member that can accompany you to translate then that's fine of course. That's actually a really good thing because chances are it'll be easier to get local pricing.