In Korea, cosmetic dermatology treatments and consultations are non-covered services outside national health insurance, so prices differ from clinic to clinic, and a clinic may charge only up to the price it has posted. That is why comparison starts by lining up the clinic’s posted price and the quote you receive under the same conditions.
3-line summary
Whether a clinic charges a consultation fee, and whether it deducts that fee if you are treated, is set by each clinic, so ask when you book.
Check whether a separate cost arises at each of 5 stages: consultation, skin assessment, treatment, package payment and follow-up.
A price in a review can be compared with your quote only when the treatment name and amount are written.
Who sets consultation fees and treatment prices?
The clinic sets non-covered prices. However, the Korean Medical Service Act requires a clinic to disclose its non-covered medical fees so that patients and guardians can easily see them, and prohibits charging more than the disclosed amount.
You can look up each clinic’s published non-covered prices on the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service’s non-covered fee information page.
From consultation to follow-up: where costs arise
A dermatology bill does not end with the treatment fee; separate charges can arise at each stage. If you ask about the amount and what is included at each stage in the table below, you can work out the final total in advance.
| Stage | Where a cost can arise | What to ask in advance |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | Consultation fee (free, paid, or deducted from the treatment fee) | The fee amount and whether it is deducted if you are treated the same day |
| Skin assessment | Fee for skin imaging or measuring devices | Whether the assessment imaging is included in the consultation fee |
| Treatment day | Treatment fee, numbing cream, soothing care | Whether numbing and soothing care are in the quote |
| Package payment | Prepaying several sessions | The refund terms for unused sessions (in writing) |
| Follow-up | Return-visit fee, additional treatment fee | Whether a follow-up visit costs anything |
※ Even under the same treatment name, a different product, amount, area or number of sessions changes the conditions for comparing prices. How to check each line of a quote is in the dermatology pricing comparison guide, and per-session versus package math is in the per-session and package comparison guide.
When you look at discounts and packages
The Medical Service Act prohibits advertising discounts or waivers of non-covered fees in a way that misleads consumers. When you see a discounted price, calculate the price per session rather than the discount rate. For example, divide a 3-session package price by 3, then compare it with the single-session price for the same amount and the same area.
For a treatment where the next session is decided after seeing how you respond to the first, starting with a single-session payment makes it easier to adjust the plan. If you pay for a package, get the refund terms from the table above before you sign.
How to read reviews alongside price
The Medical Service Act prohibits a clinic from using content such as patients’ treatment testimonials in advertising in ways that could mislead people about treatment effects. This applies not only to a clinic’s own website but also to advertising a clinic places on platforms and blogs. Even so, platform and blog reviews may include posts written in exchange for sponsored treatments or promotional benefits.
Before placing a review next to your own quote, check three things.
- □ Does it state the treatment name and amount (shots, cc)? A price can only be compared when the amount is written
- □ Was it written on the day of treatment or a month later?
- □ Does it also mention what was uncomfortable?
Specific ways to spot promotional reviews are in the review-reading guide.
What to write down before a consultation
Only when you give each clinic the same items below can you set the quotes side by side.
- □ The 1–2 areas that bother you most and the change you want
- □ The product name and amount (shots, cc) of the treatment you want
- □ Quotes from other clinics (with product, amount, area and sessions written)
- □ Your budget and the time you can allow for recovery
The factors Cellinique uses to set its prices are summarized on the pricing page. For why prices differ between clinics, see the Apgujeong dermatology treatment cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Does a dermatology consultation alone cost money?
It depends on the clinic. If you say when booking that you only want a consultation, you can pay just the consultation fee and put off the treatment decision until you have seen quotes from several clinics.
Q2. Does national health insurance cover cosmetic dermatology treatments?
Cosmetic treatments are non-covered, so you pay the full amount. Care for skin diseases such as acne may be covered, so state the purpose of your visit when you register.
Q3. Can a clinic charge more than its posted price?
For the same item, a clinic may not charge more than the posted amount. If a quote is higher, ask which of the product, amount, area or sessions differs from the item on the price list.
Q4. What happens to the price of remaining sessions after a promotion ends?
Write into the contract whether the price agreed at payment applies to the remaining sessions, or whether it switches to the regular price after the promotion period. At the same time, check whether remaining sessions can be exchanged for a different treatment.
Q5. What if the clinic offers a discount for paying today?
Even when a price depends on deciding the same day, you can ask for the product, amount and per-session price in writing, compare it with other clinics’ quotes, and decide afterward. Also ask how long that price will be held.
Results, duration, and suitability vary with individual skin condition, age, and lifestyle, and the same outcome cannot be guaranteed.
Procedures may cause temporary redness or swelling, and contraindications may apply, so please confirm these during your consultation.
This article is general information and does not replace individual medical care. Please confirm diagnosis and treatment suited to your condition during a consultation.
Sources
- Korean Law Information Center: Medical Service Act, Article 45: Disclosure of Non-Covered Fees — duty to disclose prices and ban on charging above the disclosed amount (section 1, Q3)
- Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service: Non-Covered Medical Fee Information — public lookup of clinic-by-clinic non-covered prices (section 1)
- Korean Law Information Center: Medical Service Act, Article 56: Prohibited Medical Advertising — ban on testimonial advertising and misleading discount advertising (sections 3–4)
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