What It’s Like Getting Skincare Treatments in Korea: My Personal Experience

Hi, I’m Dr. Roy Kim, a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in San Francisco and Beverly Hills. I recently returned from Korea and wanted to share my firsthand experience with some of the skincare treatments I had while there—before I forget the details!

Even as a plastic surgeon, I enjoy skincare treatments in Korea because sometimes they’re more affordable than in the U.S. and also offer procedures that aren’t available here. While I was at HEV Dermatology Clinic in Incheon, just outside Seoul, my good friend Dr. Shin took care of me. I received three treatments, and here’s my honest take from a surgeon’s perspective.

1. Ultherapy (Ulthera): Nonsurgical Skin Tightening

Ultherapy is something we have in the U.S. too. It delivers ultrasound energy beneath the skin to the SMAS—the layer I tighten surgically in a facelift—to stimulate tightening. From my surgeon’s viewpoint, it doesn’t compare to the dramatic effect surgery provides, but as a non-invasive option, patients see noticeable results over time.

It’s only been three days since my session, so I don’t see a huge difference yet but feel tightness when I move my face.

Some colleagues worry frequent treatments could scar the SMAS and make future surgeries trickier. I see that as possible but mainly when treatments are very frequent. This was only my second session in 14 months. Being an Asian male with thicker skin and collagen, I feel I’m an ideal candidate.

As for pain, many say it hurts quite a bit. I’d rate mine around 3/10 for the deeper pass and 6 or 7/10 for the 2nd pass. Numbing medications really helped make it tolerable.

2. Skin Booster (Juve Look: PDL A/HA): Intense Hydration and Texture Treatment

This treatment hurt the most—no surprise here. Skin boosters are compounds injected just beneath the skin to hydrate and improve texture. Korea often uses automated devices for this, injecting much faster than manual methods.

I went for Juve Look, which combines hyaluronic acid (like Juvederm or Restylane) with PDL A, a safer kind of PLLA (similar to Sculptra) but with smaller particles to reduce the risk of lumps.

Despite a strong numbing cream applied for 20-30 minutes, the injections were intense—about 8/10 on my pain scale. The machine gave me 40–50 injections in around 5–7 minutes. While quicker, it hurt just as much as manual injections. If this hits the U.S. market, patients should expect a strong sensation.

3. Botulax (Letybo): An Affordable Botox Alternative for Facial Slimming

My final treatment was Botulax, also branded as Letybo, a competitor to Botox. I had it injected into my masseter muscles to slim my face and along my jaw for a Nefertiti lift. This relaxes the muscles and makes the jawline appear longer and more elegant.

The pain was as advertised, and identical to previous Letybo/ Botox injections I have had in the past. I put this at 3/10 on the pain scale for me, personally.

What surprised me was the cost—it was significantly cheaper than Botox wholesale prices in the U.S., even for a plastic surgeon. You read that right- it is less expensive for me to pay retail and get Botox/ neuromodulator injections versus I just get Botox/ neuromodulator at USA wholesale pricing and inject it myself in my office. That’s just the way pricing works in Korea’s highly competitive market!

What I Loved About the Korean Skincare Experience

Korea’s holistic approach stood out to me: from full consultations and cleansing facials to strong numbing and post-treatment red-light therapy.

Interestingly, patients in Korea can opt for IV sedation and go home solo, which isn’t allowed under U.S. regulations where a companion is a must.

How Does the Cost in Korea Compare to the U.S.?

Treatments, in general, are roughly 25–50% cheaper due to lower overhead, insurance costs, and competitive pricing. This assumes that you see a dermatologist for the consult AND a dermatologist does all of your treatments. Some clinics are even less expensive, but typically most of the treatments are done by non – dermatologists. Plus, Korea has many innovative products and devices not yet FDA-approved in the U.S., adding to the appeal.

Would I Do It Again? Absolutely

I visited last year and came back this year for more. Watch my social media in the next week or two to see some results.