Consultations are free, so why does the price differ from person to person? When you first step into a plastic surgery clinic or dermatology clinic, you notice something strange. The consultation is definitely free, but the person who actually tells you the price isn't the doctor. Someone called "the manager" comes out, explains the procedure, and shows you a price list. The doctor either shows their face briefly or doesn't appear at all. ## Who is the "manager"? The manager isn't a doctor — they're the staff member in charge of consultations and sales. The hospital gets patients through the manager, and the manager receives a commission when a contract is closed. That's why the consultation is free — it's not a service, it's the first step of the sales process. Prices aren't fixed either; they can vary slightly depending on how many customers came in that day or the manager's discretion. ## A method only insiders know Korean people don't just go to one place. Usually you go around to 2-3 places to get consultations and compare prices. And when you tell the manager, "another clinic quoted me this much," the price often actually gets adjusted. The reason nobody tells you this is that it's so obvious to Koreans that they don't feel the need to explain it. For medical questions about the surgery or procedure itself, ask the doctor directly, not the manager. Just ask, "I'd like to talk to the doctor for a moment."