Treatment in Korea
Gangnam Clinic Guide: How to Choose a Skin Clinic in Seoul as a Foreign Patient
Medically reviewed byDr. Kim Ji-a DirectorPublished 8 min read
Searching for a Gangnam clinic gives you a few hundred names crowded onto one street and almost nothing that helps you choose between them. We are Vellicell Clinic, on the third and fourth floors of OPUS 407 on Gangnam-daero, one minute on foot from Exit 10 of Gangnam Station, and this is the guide our international patients tell us they wanted before they booked anything.
By the end you will know what the word Gangnam actually covers, how to tell one kind of Gangnam clinic from another, which questions are worth asking before you send a deposit, and how a visit to ours runs from the first message to aftercare.
What people mean by a Gangnam clinic, and what the name does not tell you
Gangnam is an area of Seoul, not a brand. Because the name carries weight, it also appears in the names of clinics that have nothing to do with Seoul, which is why searches about owners and branch counts return confusing results.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Is Gangnam in Seoul? | Yes — the part of Seoul south of the Han River |
| What does Gangnam mean? | South of the river: gang for river, nam for south |
| Is every clinic called Gangnam in Gangnam? | No — clinics abroad use the name too |
The area people mean by Gangnam spans more than one administrative district (Gangnam-gu Office, English site, accessed September 2026). Gangnam Station sits on that boundary, and our own address is in Seocho-gu on Gangnam-daero. So the useful check is never the word in the name — it is the street address, the doctor of record and the published price list.
We can only describe our own clinic. We see patients at one address, 3–4F of OPUS 407, and the director, Dr. Kim Ji-a, is the only physician here.
Dermatology, surgery or skincare: which kind of Gangnam clinic you need
A Gangnam clinic can mean three fairly different places, and booking the wrong kind is the most common wasted trip we see enquiries about.
- A skin clinic treats skin quality, pigmentation, pores, laxity and injectables. Vellicell is this kind — every category on our price list is non-surgical.
- A plastic surgery clinic performs surgery on structure: eyelids, nose, facial bone. We do not perform surgery, and we will tell you plainly when what you want is surgical.
- A skincare or spa programme is a hands-on facial without a physician's diagnosis behind it.
If your goal is a jawline that looks tighter in photos, a skin clinic can often address the skin side of it. If your goal is to change bone or eyelid shape, no amount of lifting equipment will do that, and you should look for a surgical clinic instead.
How to check a Gangnam clinic before you book from abroad
Queries like "best skin clinic in Seoul for foreigners" cannot honestly be answered by a clinic about itself. What we can give you is the list of things we would check if we were flying in as a patient.
- Is the price list published? A clinic that shows prices before you arrive is a clinic you can budget for. Ours is on our price list in Korean won, excluding 10% VAT.
- Is the price the same for foreign patients? International patients here pay the same published price as Korean patients. Ask any clinic this directly.
- Who does the consultation? At our clinic the doctor consults, treats and gives aftercare guidance, rather than a consultation with a counsellor and treatment by someone you have not met.
- Which device, by its real name? Nicknames circulate on social media. Ask for the device name and check it against the clinic's own equipment list.
- What language will the consultation be in? We consult in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese (Traditional).
- What happens after you fly home? You should be able to ask follow-up questions on the same messenger you used to book.
That last point matters more than people expect. A Korean treatment plan often involves spacing and timing, and questions usually arrive on day three, when you are already back at work in another country.
What we treat at our Gangnam clinic, and how the doctor decides
Rather than a list of treatment names, it helps to start from the concern you would describe out loud.
| What you want changed | Category | Where to read |
|---|---|---|
| Laxity, sagging jawline | Lifting | lifting page |
| Spots, melasma, dull tone | Pigmentation and Toning | pigmentation page |
| Enlarged pores, acne scars | Pores and Scars | pores and scars page |
| Dryness, rough texture | Medical Skincare, Skin Booster | medical skincare page |
The equipment we list, by group, is:
- Lifting: Thermage FLX, Ultherapy Prime, SHURINK Universe, Sofwave, Volnewmer, ONDA Lifting, Titanium, InMode
- Laser and pigmentation: Picolite, Clarity II, Derma V, CO2 LASER
- Pores and scars: Potenza, Derma Shine Pro
- Medical skincare: Aqua Peel, O2Derm, LDM, LED Light
- Diagnostics: MarkView, Skin Scanner
Before any of them is recommended, your skin is read with the skin scanner so the plan starts from what is actually there. Every procedure carries a possibility of side effects, and both the result and how long it lasts vary between individuals.
If injectable skin quality treatments are what brought you here, our separate guide on Rejuran in Korea covers the types, aftercare and published prices in detail.
Korean facial versus HydraFacial, and other Korean treatment questions
"Korean treatment" is not a single procedure. In a clinic setting it usually means a plan: a diagnosis, one or two devices or injectables chosen for a specific concern, and aftercare instructions attached to it.
We do not have a HydraFacial device, so we will not compare ourselves to one. What we list under Medical Skincare is Aqua Peel, along with O2Derm, LDM and LED Light. Aqua Peel and brand-name hydro facials belong to the same family of cleansing and hydrating treatments, and the meaningful difference is not the brand on the machine but whether a doctor examined your skin first and decided what should be combined with it. Results and recovery vary between individuals, and side effects are possible with any procedure.
From WhatsApp to aftercare: how a visit to our Gangnam clinic runs
- Send a photo on WhatsApp. Share a makeup-free photo and the concern you want addressed, and we reply in English with what may suit and an estimate from the published list.
- Confirm a time. We are open 10:00 to 20:00 on weekdays with last booking at 19:00, and 10:00 to 17:00 at weekends with last booking at 15:00. We are open on Sundays.
- Check in on the third floor. The OPUS 407 building is beside Gangnam Station Exit 10; reception is on the third floor.
- Cleansing, consultation and treatment in one private room. Your one-to-one consultation with the doctor and the treatment happen in the same private suite, so you do not move between rooms half-dressed.
- Aftercare guidance at the fourth-floor reception. Instructions are explained before you leave, and you can keep asking on WhatsApp once you are home.
Parking inside the building is limited, and electric vehicles, large sedans and SUVs cannot be parked, so the subway is the easier option. Mechanical parking is free for thirty minutes, then KRW 1,200 per 10 minutes. Address and map links are on our location page.
Aftercare and downtime to plan around your trip
Downtime is the part most travellers underestimate. This is the guidance we publish, grouped by treatment family.
| Treatment family | What to plan for |
|---|---|
| Injectables | Wash and wear makeup the same day; avoid heavy drinking, deep massage and intense exercise for 3–5 days; keep heat off the area for one week |
| Skin boosters | Injection marks and small scabs can remain, sometimes for more than a week |
| Lifting | Results appear gradually over 2–4 weeks; after radiofrequency let the warmth linger 2–3 days; ultrasound can leave pale stripes that fade within 2–4 hours |
| Lasers | Makeup from the day after; sunscreen is essential; avoid sauna, jjimjilbang, alcohol and hard exercise for one week |
Two practical notes for a short stay. Saunas and jjimjilbang sit badly with lasers and lifting, so put them at the start of the trip rather than the end. And if blisters appear in the days after a lifting treatment, contact us and come in rather than waiting for your flight.
Bruising, swelling, tenderness or small raised bumps can occur after injectables and usually settle within a few days. Every procedure carries a possibility of side effects, and both the result and how long it lasts vary between individuals; full guidance is on our before and after care page.
Gangnam clinic prices, VAT and booking from abroad
Korean treatment prices differ between clinics, and no clinic can quote for another. Ours are published item by item on our price list, in Korean won, excluding 10% VAT. Foreign patients pay the same published price as Korean patients, so the figure you read before your flight is the figure at the desk.
For patients who treat regularly we also list a prepaid membership, valid for one year from purchase and non-transferable, with treatment discounts calculated before VAT.
Three things to send when you ask for an estimate
- One makeup-free front photo in natural light, so the doctor can read tone and texture
- The single concern you most want addressed — laxity, pigmentation, pores or dryness
- Your travel dates and length of stay, so treatment and downtime fit the trip you have actually booked
The director's background is on our doctor page, and the enquiry goes to the same WhatsApp account you will use for follow-up questions afterwards.
Summary: choosing a Gangnam clinic without guessing
- Gangnam is an area of Seoul south of the Han River; the name in a clinic's title tells you nothing, so check the street address and the doctor
- Decide first whether your goal is skin, surgery or skincare — we are a skin clinic and do not perform surgery
- Ask any clinic three questions: is the price list published, is it the same for foreign patients, and does the doctor do the consultation
- Plan downtime by treatment family: makeup the same day after injectables, one week without sauna or alcohol after lasers
- Our prices are published in Korean won excluding 10% VAT, and are the same for international and Korean patients
If you are still comparing clinics, send one photo and your travel dates on WhatsApp. We will tell you what fits the days you actually have — including when the honest answer is to treat less than you planned.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gangnam in Seoul?
Yes. Gangnam is the part of Seoul south of the Han River, and it spans more than one administrative district. Our address is 3–4F, OPUS 407, 407 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, one minute on foot from Gangnam Station Exit 10.
What does Gangnam mean in Korean?
It means south of the river — gang for river, nam for south — a reference to the Han River that runs through Seoul. The name describes an area, not a single clinic or company.
Are all clinics called Gangnam Clinic located in Gangnam, Seoul?
No. Clinics in other countries also use the name, and we cannot speak for any of them. Check the street address and the doctor's name before you book. We see patients at one address on Gangnam-daero in Seoul.
Can I walk into a Gangnam clinic, or do I need an appointment?
At our clinic one doctor handles consultation and treatment, so we ask you to confirm a time on WhatsApp first. Weekday last booking is 19:00 and weekend last booking is 15:00.
How much does botox cost in Korea?
It differs by clinic, product and the number of units used, so no single figure applies. Our own prices are published on our price list in Korean won excluding 10% VAT, and international patients pay the same published price as Korean patients.
Which is better, a Korean facial or a HydraFacial?
Neither is better as a category, and we do not have a HydraFacial device. Our medical skincare list includes Aqua Peel, O2Derm, LDM and LED Light, and the doctor decides which suits your skin after examining it. Results and recovery vary between individuals.
Do you treat international patients in English?
Yes. Consultation is available in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese (Traditional), and you can ask questions on WhatsApp before you fly and after you go home.
Every procedure carries a possibility of side effects, and both the result and how long it lasts vary between individuals. Read the before & after care guidance
Sources
Reviewed by
Dr. Kim Ji-a Director
- Director, Vellicell Clinic Gangnam
- Member, Korean Dermatological Association
- Member, Korean Society for Laser Dermatology and Trichology
- Member, Korean Society of Aesthetic Surgery
- Extensive clinical experience in stem-cell based regenerative treatment
The medical information on this page is based on what Vellicell Clinic publishes on its official site and has been checked by our doctor. Results and recovery vary between individuals.
Meet our doctor