A Hongdae skin clinic offering skin tightening usually starts from the zone that bothers you: monopolar radiofrequency such as Thermage FLX heats the dermis at about 3 mm and is commonly chosen for the forehead and brow area, while focused ultrasound (HIFU) such as Ultherapy Prime or Shurink Universe reaches the SMAS layer at 4.5 mm and is aimed mainly at the jawline and lower face.
Clinics in Korea
5 aesthetic clinics in Korea
| # | Clinic | Devices & products | Area | Languages | Listed price | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kind Global Clinic | Ultherapy Prime · Thermage FLX · Rejuran Healer · PicoSure | Euljiro-ipgu Station | English · 日本語 · 中文 · Español | ₩89,000 | 4.9 (359) |
| 2 | RE:BERRY Clinic Gangnam | Ultherapy Prime · Thermage FLX · Rejuran Healer · Laser toning | Gangnam Station | English · 中文 · 日本語 · Español | ₩9,900 | 4.9 (1,155) |
| 3 | Barog Clinic Seomyeon Station Branch | Rejuran Healer · PicoWay · Hyaluronic acid filler · Ultherapy Prime | Seomyeon Station | English · 日本語 · 中文 · ไทย | ₩10,000 | 5.0 (93) |
| 4 | RE:BERRY Clinic Myeongdong | Thermage FLX · Rejuran Healer · PicoSure · Juvederm | Myeongdong Station | English · 中文 · 日本語 · Español | ₩9,900 | 4.9 (1,091) |
| 5 | Rewind Plastic Surgery | Thermage FLX · Rejuran Healer · Pico toning · Juvederm | Nonhyeon-ro | English · Español | ₩50,000 | 5.0 (54) |
11. Kind Global Clinic
★ 4.9359 Google reviewsKind Global Clinic is a skin and aesthetic clinic by Euljiro-ipgu Station Exit 6, rated 4.9 from 359 Google reviews. HIFU lifting, RF lifting and Botox lead its menu. It consults in English, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish, and its listed prices start from ₩89,000 + VAT. Every procedure is performed personally by one of the clinic's co-directors, with no handoff.
Boutique Myeongdong clinic with co-director-led treatment
- Boutique clinic
- One private floor
- Director-performed care
- A free pre-consultation runs on WhatsApp or LINE, where you send photos and receive a treatment plan.
- The clinic is a 5-minute walk from Myeongdong Station Exit 6 on Line 4.
Planning treatment before flying in · Weekend or holiday appointments
- Location
- Euljiro-ipgu Station (Line 2) Exit 6 / Myeongdong Station (Line 4) Exit 8
- Languages
- English · 日本語 · 中文 · Español
- Listed price
- From ₩89,000 + VAT
22. RE:BERRY Clinic Gangnam
★ 4.91,155 Google reviewsRE:BERRY Clinic Gangnam sits a 2-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 10, a skin and aesthetic clinic that holds a 4.9 Google rating across 1,155 reviews. Its main treatments are HIFU lifting, RF lifting and Botox. Consultations are available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish, and listed prices start at ₩9,900 + VAT. Open every day, 10:00–20:00 including holidays, two minutes from Gangnam Station Exit 10.
Gangnam Station skin clinic built around five-language care
- Five-language desk
- Gallery-style interior
- Regenerative skin menu
- Board-certified dermatologists on staff
- Consultations in English, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Spanish through in-house interpreters.
- Offers 90 days of multilingual messenger follow-up after visitors return home.
Non-English speakers wanting own language · Evening or holiday appointments
- Location
- Gangnam Station (Line 2) Exit 10, 2 min walk
- Languages
- English · 中文 · 日本語 · Español
- Listed price
- From ₩9,900 + VAT
33. Barog Clinic Seomyeon Station Branch
★ 5.093 Google reviewsBarog Clinic Seomyeon Station Branch runs a skin and aesthetic clinic near Seomyeon Station; its Google rating is 5.0 from 93 reviews. It focuses on HIFU lifting, Botox and fillers. Staff consult in English, Japanese, Chinese and Thai, and its listed prices start from ₩10,000 + VAT. Posted price boards apply equally to visitors and locals, with consultations in English, Chinese and Japanese.
Seomyeon filler and lifting clinic with open-vial transparency
- Filler-focused
- Transparent pricing
- Welcoming 2F lounge
- Importer authenticity certificates for all brands used hang on the clinic wall to photograph.
- Body filler goes beyond the face, covering ears, hands, collarbones, shoulders and hip contouring.
Lifting plans in Busan · Visitors wanting product transparency
- Location
- Seomyeon Station
- Languages
- English · 日本語 · 中文 · ไทย
- Listed price
- From ₩10,000 + VAT
44. RE:BERRY Clinic Myeongdong
★ 4.91,091 Google reviewsRE:BERRY Clinic Myeongdong is near Myeongdong Station, a skin and aesthetic clinic with a 4.9 average from 1,091 Google reviews. HIFU lifting, RF lifting and Botox lead its menu. It consults in English, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish, and listed prices start at ₩9,900 + VAT. Lifting choices include Ultherapy Prime, Thermage FLX, Sofwave and Titanium Lifting, all performed by licensed physicians.
Myeongdong flagship for lifting, glass skin and stem cell
- Flagship space
- Open every day
- Six languages
- The clinic is a 2-minute walk from Myeongdong Station Exit 8, on the 2nd and 3rd floors at 58 Myeongdong 10-gil.
- It welcomes patients every day, 10:30 to 20:00 on weekdays and 10:30 to 19:00 on weekends.
Treatments between Myeongdong shopping · Sunday appointments
- Location
- Myeongdong Station (Line 4) / Euljiro-ipgu Station (Line 2)
- Languages
- English · 中文 · 日本語 · Español
- Listed price
- From ₩9,900 + VAT
55. Rewind Plastic Surgery
★ 5.054 Google reviewsRewind Plastic Surgery is a plastic surgery clinic in Nonhyeon-ro, rated 5.0 from 54 Google reviews. Its main treatments are plastic surgery, HIFU lifting and RF lifting. Staff consult in English and Spanish, and its listed prices start from ₩50,000 + VAT. Botox, Ultherapy Prime, Thermage FLX, Rejuran and Juvelook are offered, planned separately from surgery.
Apgujeong lifting surgery clinic with a skin-care side
- Surgical lifting
- Same surgeon throughout
- Calm, private floors
- Board-certified plastic surgeons on staff
- Interpreter-assisted consultations via WhatsApp or Instagram, with English-subtitled doctor explainer videos.
- The same surgeon carries each case from first consultation to final follow-up.
Combining Botox with lifting consult · Jawline and neck concerns
- Location
- Nonhyeon-ro
- Languages
- English · Español
- Listed price
- From ₩50,000 + VAT
Prices
Aesthetic clinics cost in Korea
Prices below come from the listed clinics' own price lists, before VAT. 10% VAT is added at payment.
Wrinkle Botox 1 Area (Domestic)
Range across 2 listed clinics · approx. $7₩9,900 + VATCompare clinicsBotox
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $7–$73From ₩10,000–₩100,000 + VATCompare clinicsMasseter (Jaw) Botox 50U (Domestic)
Range across 2 listed clinics · approx. $14–$21₩19,000–₩29,000 + VATCompare clinicsSkin Botox 1cc (Domestic)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $21₩29,000 + VATCompare clinicsWrinkle Botox 1 Area (Nabota)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $28₩39,000 + VATCompare clinicsWrinkle Botox 1 Area (Domestic Premium, Nabota)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $28₩39,000 + VATCompare clinicsWrinkle botulinum toxin (per area)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $36₩50,000 + VATCompare clinicsSkin Botox 1 Area (Domestic)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $43₩59,000 + VATCompare clinicsGuide
Why the upper and lower face are tightened differently
Skin above the eyes and along the jaw ages in different ways. On the forehead, laxity shows as a lower brow line and heavier look over the eyelids. Along the jaw, it shows as a softer edge and early jowls, where the fibrous SMAS layer and the tissue above it have loosened.
That difference is why many doctors match the device to the zone. Radiofrequency spreads heat through the dermis and suits thin skin over bone, such as the forehead. Focused ultrasound places small heat points at fixed depths and reaches the deeper support layer under the cheeks and jaw.
| Point | Monopolar RF (e.g. Thermage FLX) | Focused ultrasound (e.g. Ultherapy Prime, Shurink Universe) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Radiofrequency heating the dermis evenly | Ultrasound focused into small heat points |
| Usual depth | About 3 mm | 1.5 to 4.5 mm by cartridge, SMAS at 4.5 mm |
| Zones often chosen | Forehead, brow area, around the eyes, full face | Jawline, lower cheeks, under the chin |
| How clinics count it | Shots | Shots or lines per area |
| Feeling during treatment | Waves of deep warmth | Brief deep pricks or aching over bone |
Guide
What a brow study with an untreated group measured
Bassichis, Dayan and Thomas reported in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery in 2004 on 24 people treated with the ThermaCool TC, an earlier generation of the Thermage system, aimed at the upper third of the face. They measured brow height on photographs before and after treatment and compared the results with 12 people who were not treated.
Brow measurements improved against both the starting point and the untreated group. Yet the gain was not uniform, and patients' own satisfaction scores did not line up with the measured change. Expect a modest, variable brow lift rather than a dramatic one.
Guide
What biopsies after one ultrasound session showed in Korean patients
In Dermatologic Surgery in 2011, Suh and colleagues treated 22 Korean patients with facial laxity using a single focused ultrasound session. Two blinded clinicians rated photographs of the nasolabial folds and jaw line, and both areas improved in all patients. About three quarters of patients described their jaw line as much improved.
Skin samples from 11 patients, taken before treatment and two months later, showed more dermal collagen, a thicker dermis and straighter elastic fibers. The study was small and had no untreated group, so it describes a tendency in Asian skin rather than your own outcome.
Guide
Planning a tightening session around a stay in Hongdae
Numbing cream usually needs 30 to 40 minutes, and a full-face treatment takes about 30 to 60 minutes, so allow two hours. Redness and mild swelling often settle within hours, and the jaw can feel tender for a few days after ultrasound.
Plan an evening walk around the neighborhood rather than a sauna or a heavy night of drinking, since heat and alcohol can add to swelling. The change builds over two to three months, so a short stay covers the session but not the final result.
- Ask which zone the doctor would treat first and why.
- Ask for the shot or line count per area in writing.
Guide
Who should postpone tightening
Delay treatment during pregnancy, and mention any metal implant, pacemaker or electronic device before radiofrequency. Open wounds, active inflammation or fresh sunburn on the area are reasons to wait, and recent filler or threads in the zone should be disclosed.
Tightening devices do not replace surgery for heavy sagging, and a careful consultation says so plainly. Results vary from person to person.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Use of a Nonablative Radiofrequency Device to Rejuvenate the Upper One‐Third of the FaceOtolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery · 2004 · doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2003.09.034
In 24 treated patients compared with 12 untreated controls, radiofrequency treatment of the upper face raised measured brow position, although improvement varied between patients and did not match patient satisfaction scores.
- Intense Focused Ultrasound Tightening in Asian Skin: Clinical and Pathologic ResultsDermatologic Surgery · 2011 · doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2011.02094.x
After one focused ultrasound session in 22 Korean patients, blinded raters saw improved nasolabial folds and jaw lines, and biopsies at two months showed more dermal collagen and straighter elastic fibers.
FAQ
Questions about aesthetic clinics in Korea
Which clinics offer Aesthetic clinics in Korea?
Clinics offering Aesthetic clinics in Korea include Kind Global Clinic (Euljiro-ipgu Station), RE:BERRY Clinic Gangnam (Gangnam Station), Barog Clinic Seomyeon Station Branch (Seomyeon Station), RE:BERRY Clinic Myeongdong (Myeongdong Station) and Rewind Plastic Surgery (Nonhyeon-ro). Each lists Aesthetic clinics on its own menu; message the clinic directly to confirm the doctor, product and current price.
Can one Hongdae skin clinic visit cover both the brow and the jaw?
Yes, many doctors treat both zones in one visit, either with one device across the face or with radiofrequency above and ultrasound below. Combining them lengthens the appointment and adds to the tenderness afterward, so some doctors prefer to split the devices across two visits. Ask which approach the doctor suggests for your skin and how the shot or line count is divided between the upper and lower face before treatment begins.
Does radiofrequency tightening really raise drooping eyebrows?
It can lift the brow a little, but the change is usually modest and differs between people. In a 2004 study in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Bassichis and colleagues measured higher brow positions after treatment compared with an untreated group, yet the gain was uneven. A brow that sits very low, or heavy skin over the eyelids, may need a different approach, and a doctor should tell you that before you commit.
How soon after focused ultrasound does the jawline look firmer?
Some people notice a slight change in the first days, but most of the effect builds over two to three months as new collagen forms. Early tightness can partly be swelling that fades within a week. Taking a photo in the same light before treatment and again after a few months gives a fairer comparison than checking the mirror on your last day in Seoul.
Do I need numbing cream for tightening at a skin clinic Hongdae location?
Most clinics apply numbing cream before both radiofrequency and focused ultrasound, usually for 30 to 40 minutes. It takes the edge off but does not remove all sensation, especially over bony areas such as the jawline and temples. Tell the person operating the device if a pulse feels too strong; settings and cooling can often be adjusted. Arriving a little early leaves enough time for the cream to work.
Will tightening affect filler or threads I already have?
It may, so always mention earlier filler or threads, including where and when they were placed. Doctors often adjust the depth, energy or zones treated near recent work, and some prefer to wait a few weeks after fresh filler. Bringing the product name or an earlier treatment record helps the treating doctor plan around what is already under the skin.
Which is more uncomfortable, RF heat or ultrasound pulses?
Many people find focused ultrasound more uncomfortable over bone, while radiofrequency feels like spreading waves of heat. The experience depends on the device, the energy level, the zone and your own sensitivity. Thin areas near the jaw and temples tend to feel strongest with either method. Asking the doctor which areas usually feel most intense lets you prepare, and you can request a short pause at any point.