- Foreign medical spending in Korea reached 942.3 billion won in January–May 2026, up 54.9 percent, with dermatology at 55.5 percent and plastic surgery at 20.1 percent. In Myeongdong, 63 percent of Creatrip’s transactions are now dermatology.
- Foreigners mostly get three things: laser toning to fade pigment, skin boosters such as Rejuran, and non-surgical lifting with Ulthera or Shurink. All are same-day with short downtime.
- Price guide: laser toning 50,000–150,000 won a session, skin boosters 150,000–700,000 won, Ulthera 300,000–2,700,000 won depending on shots. A first consultation costs 33,000–55,000 won.
Who this is for
- Anyone curious about “Korean dermatology” but unsure what’s on offer or what it costs
- People who want a half-day skin reset that doesn’t stall the itinerary
- Anyone who doesn’t know whether the jjimjilbang comes before or after the clinic
Foreign spending in Myeongdong has shifted. In 2025 hair salons made up 43 percent of transactions; in 2026 dermatology clinics account for 63 percent. Those are Creatrip’s figures from Myeongdong bookings, with spending per person up 44 percent as well. As the same analysis puts it, skin care built on procedures—Botox, fillers, laser toning—rather than surgery with long recovery has become the new pattern.
Nationwide the picture is the same. Foreign medical spending hit 942.3 billion won in January–May 2026, up 54.9 percent, with transactions rising from 1.32 million to 2.22 million. Dermatology took 55.5 percent, plastic surgery 20.1 percent, pharmacies 11.7 percent. By nationality Taiwan and the United States hold about 18 percent each, and Japan is growing fastest at 42 percent.
“So what do I get, what does it cost, and how many days do I lose?” This guide covers the three procedures foreigners get most: what each does, what it costs, how long the downtime lasts, and how to book in Gangnam and Myeongdong and place it in an itinerary. Let’s get into it.
2.01 Million Foreign Patients, Most of Them to Dermatology! Why Korean Dermatology—Procedures, Same-Day, Short Downtime
✔ It centers on procedures rather than surgery
Foreigners choose Korean dermatology because you have it done the same day and are back to normal within days. Korea saw 2.01 million foreign patients in 2025, up 71.7 percent, and most of them went to dermatology. Preferences split by nationality—laser toning for visitors from Japan and Southeast Asia, Ulthera for China, and the more affordable Shurink for guests from the United States and Hong Kong.
The other reason is density. From Gangnam Station toward Sinsa, in Apgujeong and in Myeongdong, clinics stack up floor on floor, and many staff English-, Chinese- and Japanese-speaking coordinators. The same devices and products as at home, for less, without the wait.
| Procedure | Purpose | Time | Downtime | Price guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser toning | Spots, freckles, acne marks, pigmentation | 15–30 min | Almost none; makeup the same day | 50,000–150,000 won a session (clinic courses 100,000–1,800,000 won) |
| Skin boosters (Rejuran, Juvelook and others) | Hydration, elasticity, texture | 30–40 min | Redness and needle marks for 2–3 days | 150,000–700,000 won |
| Ulthera / Shurink (non-surgical lifting) | Sagging, contour | 30–60 min | Swelling and dull ache for a few days | Shurink 200,000–400,000 won; Ulthera 300,000–2,700,000 won by shot count |
| Botox / fillers | Wrinkles, contour, volume | 10–20 min | Almost none to a few days | Botox 20,000–200,000 won per area; fillers 100,000–500,000 won |
✔ Here’s the question that comes next. “Personal Color Analysis + K-Makeup Salon for 120,000 Won and 60–90 Minutes” picks up right where this leaves off.
Makeup the Same Day After Toning? The Three Procedures—What They Do and How Long You Rest
✔ First, laser toning
It fades spots, freckles, acne marks and pigmentation in 15–30 minutes. You can put on makeup right after, so it doesn’t stop your trip. The effect is modest after one session and clear after several, so many visitors do one in Korea and continue at home, or fit two into a stay.
Second, skin boosters: Rejuran, Juvelook, hyaluronic-acid products and others injected into the shallow layers of the skin for hydration, elasticity and texture. It takes 30–40 minutes and leaves redness and fine needle marks for two to three days—don’t book it the day before photos.
Third, non-surgical lifting: ultrasound (Ulthera, Shurink) directed at the deeper layers to tighten. No cutting, so the burden is low, but expect swelling and a dull ache for a few days, with results developing over one to three months. Ulthera is the expensive one, Shurink the affordable one, and both are priced by the number of shots. Do it on day one and the swelling is gone by the flight home.
Exits 9–11 of Gangnam Station Are the Densest in Korea! Where to Go—Gangnam Station, Sinsa and Apgujeong, Myeongdong
✔ Gangnam Station to Sinsa is the densest clinic stretch in Korea
From exits 9–11 of Gangnam Station to Sinsa Station, dermatology and plastic-surgery practices fill the upper floors, with signs in English and Chinese. Choosing a clinic that publishes its prices makes the money conversation quick: Delight Dermatology in Gangnam, for example, lists Ulthera at 300,000–2,700,000 won, skin boosters at 150,000–700,000 won and consultation at 33,000–55,000 won.
Apgujeong Rodeo and Sinsa’s Garosu-gil hold the brand-name clinics close to the K-pop agencies. Myeongdong is the spot where a clinic visit flows into a pharmacy and shopping, and suits first-timers on short stays. Book through the English versions of beauty-clinic apps such as Gangnam Unni and Babitalk, dermatology packages on Creatrip, or the clinic’s own website and its KakaoTalk, LINE or WhatsApp desk.
Four clinics to book — Google ratings and how to get there (checked September 5, 2026)
- Delight Dermatology (Gangnam) — Google ★4.8 (290 reviews). 4F, Building B, 509 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu — 5 minutes from Nonhyeon Station exit 4 or 7 from Sinnonhyeon exit 2. English, Japanese and Chinese sites; known for Ultherapy Prime, Thermage FLX and Potenza. Weekdays 10:00–20:00, Saturday until 16:00, closed Sunday. Google Maps
- D&A Dermatology (Gangnam) — ★4.9 (484). 6F, Building A, 871 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu. A foreign-patient desk in English, Japanese, Chinese and Russian; the focus is Innerjet, skin boosters, pigmentation and acne care. A booking deposit is required. Google Maps
- BLS Clinic main branch (Cheongdam) — ★4.9 (1,348). 13-5 Dosan-daero 67-gil, a seven-floor building of its own with VIP rooms upstairs. Thermage FLX, Ultherapy Prime, Rejuran and Juvelook. Monday and Thursday 10:00–21:00, Tuesday–Wednesday–Friday until 19:00, Saturday until 17:00, closed Sunday. International sites in English, Japanese and Chinese. Google Maps
- Nine Dermatology, Gangnam — ★4.5 (404). Floors 8–9, Namseoul Building, 447 Gangnam-daero, one minute from Sinnonhyeon Station exit 7. Strong on Botox, Potenza, acne scars and skin boosters. Weekdays 10:30–20:00, Saturday until 17:00, closed Sunday. Sites in English, Chinese, Japanese and Thai. Google Maps
No Sauna or Alcohol for a Week! From Booking to the Flight Home—Consultation, the Day, the Cautions
✔ Book one to two weeks ahead
Tell the app or clinic desk which procedure you want, your skin concerns and how many days you have. On the day it runs reception, photos, the doctor’s consultation, a quote, consent forms, numbing cream where needed, the procedure and aftercare instructions—half a day. Consultation costs 33,000–55,000 won, waived at some clinics if you go ahead.
Three cautions. For a week afterward avoid strong sun, saunas and jjimjilbangs, and alcohol—if a jjimjilbang or scrub is on your list, do it before the clinic. Second, don’t expect to look camera-ready right away; redness settles in two to three days. Third, this is medicine: bring a note in English of allergies and medications.
For placement: laser toning and Botox can go on the last day, but skin boosters and lifting belong on day one or two, so the redness and swelling are gone by departure and there’s time to pick up aftercare products at a pharmacy.
On the map — recommended places and Google ratings
Ratings and review counts were checked on Google Maps on September 4, 2026. They change, so tap through for the latest before you go.
- Delight Dermatology (Gangnam) — Google ★4.8 (290 reviews)
- D&A Dermatology (Gangnam) — Google ★4.9 (484 reviews)
- BLS Clinic (Cheongdam) — Google ★4.9 (1,348 reviews)
- Nine Dermatology, Gangnam — Google ★4.5 (404 reviews)
Series: Things worth doing in Korea
1 K-glasses tour · 2 K-scrub and head spa · 3 Personal color and K-makeup · 4 PC bang and esports · 5 Market street food · 6 Myeongdong K-pharmacy · 7 K-hiking by subway · 8 Care-cation · 9 Jjimjilbang full course · 10 K-dermatology · 11 KBO baseball night · 12 Hanbok and palace nights · 13 K-hair salon · 14 Saju and tarot café · 15 Daiso and convenience store · 16 Han River evening · 17 Templestay · 18 Kimjang · 19 DMZ tour · 20 LASIK and SMILE · 21 Escape rooms · 22 Screen golf · 23 Seongsu pop-ups · 24 Self photo studios · 25 Running in Seoul
FAQ
Can I consult in English?
Most foreigner-oriented clinics in Gangnam and Myeongdong have English-, Chinese- and Japanese-speaking coordinators, and you can consult in advance through the app’s English version or the clinic’s LINE or WhatsApp desk.
How much does it cost?
As a guide: laser toning 50,000–150,000 won a session, skin boosters 150,000–700,000 won, Shurink 200,000–400,000 won, Ulthera 300,000–2,700,000 won. Consultation is 33,000–55,000 won, and the final price is set after the doctor sees you.
Can I have it done the same day?
Consultation and procedure can happen on the same day, but popular clinics fill up, so booking one to two weeks ahead is safer.
How long is the downtime?
Laser toning and Botox: almost none. Skin boosters: redness for 2–3 days. Ulthera and Shurink: swelling and a dull ache for a few days. Avoid saunas and alcohol for a week.
Can I go to a jjimjilbang afterward?
Not for a week. If a jjimjilbang or scrub is in your plans, do it before the clinic.
- 위키트리: 외국인이 가장 많이 받는 피부과 시술 3가지（2026.8）
- 매일일보: 명동 외국인 소비, 헤어 대신 피부과 63%（2026.6）
- 외국인 의료 소비 상반기 1조 육박, 피부과 55.5%（2026.6）
- 헬스경향: 도심형 의료관광의 매력
- 딜라이트피부과（강남）시술 가격 안내
- 헤럴드경제: 외국인 환자 201만명（2026.8）
How this was checked: official listings for each shop or facility and Google Maps ratings were verified online (2026-09-05). The author lives in Seoul and folds in what was seen on the ground; the piece is updated when things change.