A person quoted $100k for facial feminisation surgery flew 19 hours to South Korea - the 'plastic surgery capital of the world' -

to get the same procedure for $30k (£21k).

Marcie Martinez, 37, came out as transgender a year ago and had long dreamed of facial feminisation surgery (FFF), to reflect a less masculine identity.

But when they looked into it at clinics in Beverly Hills, California, they were quoted $100k.

So they looked online and discovered reputable clinics in South Korea that charged just $30k - saving them $70k - but they'd need to fly 19 hours to get there.

After asking for that amount of money from friends and family for Christmas, Marcie jetted off to the Gangnam District of Seoul on June 7.

Days later they went under the knife for NINE procedures in one go - including a brow lift, rhinoplasty and fox eye lift - which took nine hours.

After a week of recovery in Seoul, they were on a flight back to their home in New York City to heal and recover.

While they are still swollen, Marcie said they are is "super satisfied" with the outcome - and they'd "do it all again"."

Marcie, a hospitality specialist at a private members club, from New York City, said: "I did shop around in the US - I even had a consultation with a Beverly Hills doctor."

"But after research it seemed like South Korea is the place for better doctors, more precision, the best aftercare - and it's of course cheaper."

"Facial feminisation surgery is something I always wanted, but it was never attainable for me because of the cost."

"But I learned it was more affordable in South Korea - so this year I had the nerve to ask for the money as a gift, and I got it."

"I was so scared getting the surgery, especially being in another country, but I went for it."

"Having so many surgeries at once, I wasn't in pain but there was some discomfort."

"My eyes were swollen shut for two days and I had to breathe through a tube."

"I'm still waiting for some swelling to go down but I'm very happy - I'd do it all over again."

Marcie had never had any cosmetic procedures but loved the idea of getting FFF one day to "make everything softer" - and give a more androgynous look, although the price was a barrier."

Realising that a $100k price tag in the US made the procedure completely unattainable for them, they looked further afield.

After researching online they discovered Nana Plastic Surgery, they had long consultations over WhatsApp with the surgeons.

They were quoted a price - ₩40,000,000 - which comes to $29,560 or around £21,400.

Marcie said: "I found out the doctor who does facial contouring there was the best in the country."

"And South Korea is the plastic surgery capital of the world."

"I put my faith in them - we were communicating back and forth for months and they provided English translators."

"I knew I was in good hands."

Their hotel was included in the price however they spent a further $2,000 on their return flights.

Their procedure was scheduled for June 11 and they went under the knife as planned before spending two nights in hospital afterwards before returning to the hotel.

They had several facial contouring procedures as well as a rhinoplasty, eyebrow and eye lift, under eye fat repositioning, a mini facelift and two procedures on their jaw to soften and feminise it.

Marcie said: "The first two days I was pretty much bedbound and could only drink juice."

"My eyes were swollen shut and I was intubated so I couldn't see for two days or talk for three."

"But after four days I was able to get out a bit and look around Seoul."

"Luckily there, it's not uncommon for people to walk around wrapped up in bandages after procedures."

Marcie said they underwent hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments, laser treatments, healing healite treatments for de-swelling and even had a hairdresser come to shampoo them five days post surgery, all arranged through Nana Plastic Surgery.

They said: "The aftercare in South Korea is unmatched."

Everything was looking good at their five-day follow-up appointment.

They flew home on June 19 and has continued their gradual healing journey - but says the 19-hour journey was not in vain.

Marcie said: "I showed them a photo of myself with an Instagram filter on before surgery, and said 'this is what I want to look like'."

"I was swollen and bruised on the way home and didn't look like my passport - I had to get a certificate from the doctors explaining the procedures I had done so they let me fly."

"And as far as I can see, they got 99% of the way there."

"I look different to how I thought I'd look, although I can't quite explain how."

"Something to do with the eyes."

"But overall I'm super satisfied and it was worth every penny."

MARCIE'S PROCEDURES:
- Brow bone shave
- Brow lift
- Fox eye lift
- Under-eye fat graft
- Rhinoplasty
- Jaw contouring
- V-line chin surgery
- Mini facelift
- T-osteotomy