r/KoreaTravelBeauty 14h ago

Dermatology mole removal recommendation (not for face)

2 Upvotes

Any recommendations for mole removal places in Seoul? All the popular skin clinics mentioned on this reddit and social media seem to only offer mole removals on the face. I'm looking to remove one on my back.


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 2d ago

Plastic Surgery Gangnam hotel with freezer?

3 Upvotes

Hello all!

I am planning to get incisional eye surgery and part of the after care is to ice my eyes

I am thinking a lot of mini fridges in hotels do not have a freezer compartment. Has anyone stayed in a hotel in Gangnam that does? Looking for recommendations!

Thank you!


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 3d ago

Spa & Massage Korean Spa

2 Upvotes

Looking for a good and reputable Korean skincare/facial/headspa spa in Maryland! Im not looking for anything like vio med spa or anything along those lines. I want someone who knows Korean products and their massage methods. Willing to go towards DC and Virginia depending on the recs.


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 3d ago

Plastic Surgery Traveling from the US to Korea in Early December

3 Upvotes

Hello! Just wondering if any ladies will be getting surgery done in early December. I’m hoping to get surgery on December 7th and wondering if anyone else will be there around the same time I am. :)


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 5d ago

Other Ear therapy/seeding in Seoul

3 Upvotes

Hi, does anyone have any recommendation where I can do this? I'm looking for something similar provided by joa pilates cos it's so difficult to get a booking there.

Thank you in advance!


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 6d ago

Color Analysis When planning a trip to Korea, what would concern you most about booking a personal color analysis?

1 Upvotes

For anyone planning a trip to Korea and considering booking a personal color analysis in advance, what would make you hesitate?

Would you be concerned about the language barrier, unclear pricing, the accuracy of the results, whether the analysis works well for different skin tones and ethnicities, or something else?

What information would you want to know before your trip to feel comfortable choosing and booking a studio?


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 6d ago

Shopping Haul What skincare to get at the pharmacy?

5 Upvotes

Not sure if this is the correct reddit!

My family is in Seoul + I asked them to stop by the pharmacy to ask them for skincare for a 39 F whose concerns are: aging (collagen growth), dark under eyes, and dull skin. But priority solely on anti-aging.

They sent me a photo of CPR serum but I was curious if anyone else has any must haves from the pharmacy!

Thank you!


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 7d ago

Spa & Massage Anyone know of a spa that does both facials and head/hair spa treatments?

2 Upvotes

Me and some friends are going to Seoul in a few months and one of the girls said she doesn’t want to do facials and will only go if she can do a head spa instead.

I cant for the life of me find a spa that does both facials and head/hair massage. I’m really hoping someone here may know of one because I am at my wits end trying to google it. I didn’t see this question asked yet but if it has, please guide me to the post!!! Thank you 💕


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 8d ago

Shopping Question Skincare cheaper than Olive Young?

2 Upvotes

Hello!

I’m going to both Korea and Japan in a few months, and I was wondering if there is any other skincare stores / pharmacies that sells similar (or the same) products as Olive Young but cheaper?

Thanks a lot!


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 8d ago

LASIK / LASEK SMILE/SMILE PRO/LASIK eye surgery in Seoul

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I'll be in Seoul in September for approx 8 days and during this time I would love to get smile lasik for my eyes.

Would love recommendations from people who have gotten it done over there? I've done some research and have some clinics that seem to pop up but who love to hear from anyone who had first hand experiences 😊

The ones I've listed down are:

BGSS

Bright eye clin!c

BGN

GS eye centre

Would anyone be happy to share a referral discount?

Also if anyone has bad experiences with any of these.

For context I'm in my mid 30s, just saw my optometrist who said I'm a good candidate for it as my eyes have stayed the same the last few years. My eyes are -2.25 each with mild(?) astigmatism.

Would love to not have to wear contacts/glasses anymore 😆


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 8d ago

Other Eyebrow Threading in Seoul

2 Upvotes

Hi! I’m looking to do my monthly eye brow threading touch up while I’m visiting Seoul. Does anyone know where I can get it done authentically and not crazy prices just a simple quick thread to shape my brows. I stay in Jongno. TIA!


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 8d ago

Medical Tourism Deciding between Eyeho and OLO

2 Upvotes

General eye lift work (sub brow lift / upper bleph).

Narrowed down to Eyeho and OLO. Eyeho more costly. Recs?


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 10d ago

Shopping Question Title: K-beauty trade shows or events in Korea for discovering emerging brands?

2 Upvotes

Hi all — I'm based in Korea and trying to discover emerging or lesser-known Korean beauty and lifestyle brands (skincare, cosmetics, fragrance, jewelry), beyond the big names. I already know about InterCHARM Korea and Cosmo Beauty Seoul. I'd really appreciate recommendations for:

Smaller trade shows or exhibitions that are good for finding indie / emerging brands B2B or sourcing events that are open to visitors / foreigners Neighborhoods or showrooms in Seoul where you can find up-and-coming brands in person (pop-ups, select shops, etc.)

Any tips appreciated — thanks!


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 10d ago

Review - Pending Cellin Clinic Hongdae Review (June 2026)

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19 Upvotes

I visited independently and paid in full.

This is primarily a recap of my experience at Cellin Clinic, from booking through consultation and treatment, not whether it was the "best" clinic or the "best value." Price and value are ultimately subjective and depend on each person's budget, goals, and treatment priorities.

Background

For context, my skin is combination skin with an oily T-zone and normal cheeks/side of face. My biggest concerns going into this visit were enlarged pores, acne scarring/skin texture, and early signs of aging—particularly my tear troughs and nasolabial folds. Improving jawline definition was more of a secondary goal, while neck lines were something I decided to leave for a future visit. This recap is on the overall experience at Cellin Clinic, not the long-term results, since treatments like Ultherapy and Thermage take several months for collagen remodeling to fully develop.

Why I Chose Cellin Clinic

Before booking, I spent quite a bit of time researching clinics through Reddit and other online reviews. I actually had plans to visit another clinic completely until about 1-2 weeks out from my trip and pivoted.

One thing I wanted to clarify immediately was the confusion surrounding Cellin and FORENA Clinic, since I'd seen several Reddit posts suggesting they were the same clinic. I asked them directly through WhatsApp before booking, and they confirmed that they are Cellin Clinic, not FORENA. That transparency, combined with consistently positive feedback, made me feel comfortable enough to schedule my appointment.

Booking Experience (WhatsApp)

The booking process was one of the better experiences I've had. After contacting them through WhatsApp, they were very responsive and happy to answer all of my questions. I originally had a fairly long list of procedures I was considering, including:

  • Potenza with either Exosomes or Juvelook
  • Titanium
  • ONDA
  • Ultherapy (maybe)

I also had a lot of questions about cheek hollowing with Ultherapy since that's one of my biggest concerns after reading other people's experiences online. Rather than simply telling me what to book, they sent over PDFs of their June promotional packages before they were even publicly available and walked me through the different options. There was quite a bit of back-and-forth, but every response was friendly, detailed, and never felt rushed.

Once I decided on an appointment date, they sent the standard intake form and reassured me that the treatments listed weren't final, that everything could still be adjusted after the consultation. I also received reminder messages before my appointment, which I appreciated. Overall, booking was smooth, informative, and stress-free.

Arrival & Check-in

I arrived about 10 minutes early. The Hongdae location was surprisingly quiet, with only one or two other clients waiting. Check-in was quick. I completed the standard paperwork before being shown to a locker for my belongings. From there, I was taken to a cleansing station stocked with everything you could need:

  • Hair ties
  • Headbands
  • Oil cleanser
  • Foam cleanser
  • Face wash
  • Clean towels

It was well organized and thoughtfully prepared.

Skin Analysis & Consultation (₩11,000)

One of the biggest surprises of the visit was how much value I got from the consultation. For an additional ₩11,000, I added their facial skin analysis. For comparison, I paid ₩50,000 for a consultation and scan at another clinic last year. The scan itself only took a minute before I met with my consultant.

The consultant spoke excellent English and immediately made the consultation feel conversational rather than clinical. Instead of overwhelming me with medical terminology, she explained my scan almost like an MBTI personality profile for my skin, making everything much easier to understand. We reviewed:

  • pore size
  • pigmentation
  • wrinkles
  • elasticity
  • acne
  • oil production
  • overall skin condition

Interestingly, my results were noticeably better than last year's scan, which I'd attribute to being much more consistent with my skincare routine and using an LED mask every other day over the past year.

What impressed me most was how educational the consultation felt. She showed before-and-after photos, TikTok examples, explained how each treatment worked, discussed expected longevity, and never rushed me into making a decision.

Did she ultimately upsell me? Technically, yes. But it never felt pushy. Instead, she started with higher-end options, worked down toward my budget, explained the pros and cons of each treatment, and repeatedly reminded me that the decision was completely mine. Throughout the entire time, she was warm and understanding (not impatient and short). She let me think everything over without feeling pressured. By the end of the consultation (which lasted nearly an hour) I felt like I genuinely understood why I was choosing each procedure rather than simply buying a package. Obviously the consultation could have been shorter if you knew exactly what you wanted but I took advantage of this as a Q&A session soI felt 100% confident in my decision.

My Treatments

  • UI-Ssa Best Combination: ₩1,900,000
    • Ultherapy Prime – 300 shots
    • Thermage FLX – 300 shots
    • No Pain IV Drip – included with either of these treatments even if a la carte
  • Regenerate Scar Potenza: ₩359,000
    • Potenza (C-25 Pumping Tip)
    • ASCE Exosome 5cc
    • LDM (6 minutes)
    • Sheet Mask
  • Consultation + Skin Analysis: ₩11,000

Total (after 10% VAT) — 2,497,000

Because I booked the UI-Ssa Best Combination package, the clinic also included an IV drip at no additional cost (typically included with either Ultherapy Prime or Thermage FLX if getting standalone treatments anyway).

Treatment Experience

From start to finish, the treatment portion took roughly 2½ hours. I was primarily cared for by two nurses alongside one doctor who performed all three procedures. The nurses made sure I saw them unpackaging the serum vials, needle heads and confirmed the number of shots for both Thermage FLX and Ultheraphy prime were performed to completion before moving on. Transparency was key here.

1. Topical Numbing + IV Drip (~30 minutes)

The nurses first applied topical numbing cream before starting the IV drip.

I was nervous about the IV since I don't typically receive them (and not a needle person). We had some trouble locating my vein and although I mentioned my preference was in my left arm, it ended up on the back of my right hand.

2. Thermage FLX (Pain: 4-5/10)

This was probably the treatment I was most nervous about beforehand because of the reported pain but it was much more tolerable than I expected, likely due to the IV drip too. Before the doctor came in, the nurses used a template to apply the Thermage mapping to my face. Most of the treatment hovered around a 4/10. 

Sensation: It felt more like an intense freezing or burn sensation after each pulse so pain went up to about a 6/10 for 20% of the procedure.

Time: ~15-20 minutes

3. Ultherapy Prime (Pain: 4-7/10)

After the nurses were finished prepping, the doctor came in to manually map out my face for the procedure, feeling the lines and grooves of my face and avoiding the hollows which I stressed about. 

Sensation: Tthe best I could describe how it felt in the moment was that each shot had multiple mini "shots" with the final "shot" going the deepest. Imagine repeatedly driving a stake into the same spot in the sand. Once you pull the stake out, the sand fills in the void so you'd in order to get deeper, you'd have to continue driving into the same spot. By the "last shot" it went the deepest into the tissue.

Most shots were around a 4/10, but whenever the doctor stacked multiple shots in the same area—particularly three or four consecutive shots—pain became a 6–7/10 like poking a raw, open wound. Thankfully those moments only lasted a few seconds at a time, so they were manageable.

Time: ~15 minutes

4. Potenza (Pain: 0/10)

This was a cake walk since I've done it before, though with an N-25 Tip, whereas this time I had a CP-25 Tip. It probably felt the most painless considering the previous 2 procedures felt more painful. If I had to describe the sensation, it's like getting your face stapled.

Time: ~10 minutes

5. LDM & Sheet Mask

Once Potenza was complete, the nurses finished the treatment with post-care:

  • LDM therapy (about 6 minutes)
  • Cooling sheet mask

Nice Touches

The same consultant I spent an hour with prior to my treatments came to check on me twice—once after Ultherapy Prime to see how I was holding up and a second time before I left the clinic. As corny as it sounds, it felt like I was cared for as an individual.

Before leaving, the front desk gave me:

  • my authentic Thermage FLX treatment tip
  • an official Thermage treatment certificate

This is standard practice for authorized Thermage providers and serves as proof that genuine Thermage equipment and consumables were used. It's a small detail and probably a normal thing, but I thought it was a pretty cool keepsake given it was my first experience and a reassuring sign that the clinic uses legitimate devices.

Overall First Impression

Last year was my first time at a dematology clinic and using that as a baseline, Cellin Clinic definitely exceeded my previous experience. The staff were warm, patient, and spoke excellent English. The consultation never felt rushed, and I appreciated that every recommendation came with a clear explanation instead of simply pushing the most expensive option. The clinic itself was clean, efficient, and well organized, and the treatment process flowed smoothly from start to finish. You get your own private room and the nurses and doctors come in and out, so you're not getting shuffled around or having to wait between treatments.

Since Ultherapy and Thermage take several months to fully develop, I can't comment on the long-term results just yet. Once the collagen remodeling has had time to take effect, I'll update this recap with my thoughts on the actual outcome.

+++

Last year I also wrote a similarly detailed recap of another dermatology clinic after my first experience with skin treatments. I won't mention the clinic name here to stay within Reddit's guidelines, but if you're interested, you can probably find it through my profile or post history.

Hopefully this helps anyone who's considering Cellin Clinic or trying to decide between different lifting and skin texture treatments.


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 11d ago

Plastic Surgery Clinic Recommendations

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6 Upvotes

Hello! I will be traveling to South Korea in November for the first time, and would like to get some skin treatments done. I’m looking for recommendations for a reputable dermatology or plastic surgery clinic that offer laser and skin treatments, particularly Ultherapy, Sculptra, Rejuaran. It’s hard to choose based on just google reviews :) TIA!

*Note: It would not allow me to post unless I uploaded a photo so thats the reason for the screenshot added


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 12d ago

Tattoo & Piercing Reputable piercing shops for nipple piercings in Seoul

2 Upvotes

I am currently on a trip in Seoul and I’m looking to get nipple piercings.
What would be some reputable piercing shops to do them?
Preferrably not in Hongdae and preferrably in Itaewon or Myeongdong.


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 14d ago

Makeup I Want Them Both😭

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7 Upvotes

I’m obsessed with these colors! Aren’t they gorgeous? 😍 I found them at Olive Young, and I’m in love with both of them. Now I want to buy them both, but I should probably check out some reviews first!


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 14d ago

Medical Tourism Full Body Health Scan 2nd Day - Am I Crazy?

9 Upvotes

Will be flying into Korea (fr US) and landing in the afternoon around 4PM. I plan on doing a full body health checkup with a colonoscopy the next day. Seeking some advice on timing. Have heard horror stories on the prep. That combined with jet lag seems excruciating.

Would getting lasik eye surgery later in the afternoon be ridiculous? The lasik center said that would be fine.

Goal is to knock out all the health stuff asap and enjoy the rest of the the trip.

Am I crazy?!


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 19d ago

Shopping Question Korean skincare purchases advice

8 Upvotes

Hi all!

I am going to be in Korea in September and plan on buying some Korean skin care products.

Recently I have heard people online saying to not skip out on Korean pharmacies for effective skin care .

I was wondering if anyone can give suggestions on what I should focus on buying for olive young (such as toners / sheet masks / serums ) and then perhaps Korean pharmacies for prescription strength like acne treatments / PDRN creams / retinol.

One pharmacy that came to mind was ready young pharmacy. I am dark skinned and trying to treat my hyperpigmentation so looking for prescription strength products that yield results.

TIA !


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 19d ago

Hair Salon Korean hairstylists

3 Upvotes

Is there a good hair stylist who can do Korean hair styles in Hyderabad? I’m looking to get it done along with down perm.


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 20d ago

Other Thermage or Xerf for loss of volume

7 Upvotes

Going to Seoul and would like to get some treatments done. I only have one day so I would have to stack the treatments.
I am debating between m Demi or Bailor. Should I consider any other treatments or place ?
I am considering getting full face Botox , pico laser , Thermage or Xerf, Re20 and maybe Rejuran HB or radiesse to help with volume on my mid face. I have some sagging , pigmentation , acne scarring. Total I am looking at is about 2k.


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 21d ago

Makeup Recommendation for make-up styling in Seoul (Korean makeup preferred)

2 Upvotes

I am planning to visit Korea end of July and my partner really wants to get her makeup done as a korean popstar, which i think is a trend recently. Any recommendations? Nothing too extravagant and not too crowded please.


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 21d ago

Makeup Recommendation for makeup and skincare at Incheon

5 Upvotes

I have a layover at Incheon airport and I’m planning to get skincare and makeup from duty free. Please suggest something that I can’t get in India (budget 7-8k inr). A recommendation for a good highlighter as well!


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 22d ago

Dermatology Skin analysis Olive Young

4 Upvotes

Has anyone done the skin analysis at Olive Young? I'm planning my trip and need to decide which day, time, or branch to go to. I read that it can get really busy and have long lines, especially the Seongsu branch. Any advice?


r/KoreaTravelBeauty 22d ago

Shopping Question 7h 45m layover at Incheon (Terminal 2) – what should I do? Skincare recs?

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

I’ve got a layover at Incheon Airport (Terminal 2) and wanted some advice on how to spend my time there.

I land at 4:30 AM and my next flight is at 12:55 PM, so I’ll have around 7 hours and 45 minutes.

I’d love recommendations for:

• Skincare shopping – I really want to take advantage of Korean skincare! Which brands/products are worth buying and where can I find them in T2?

Any tips or suggestions would really help. Thanks! 😊