Dermatology procedure prices are shown as a mix of per-session amounts and multi-session packages, so lining the numbers up as they stand throws the comparison off. Set the number of sessions you will receive, align them to the same unit, then match the clinic’s posted price list and the items the government publishes against the quote.
1. Divide the package total by the sessions you will receive, and multiply the per-session price by that session count.
2. Find the same item name on the clinic price list and in Health-e-Um, then match it to the quote’s composition.
3. For notices that only enlarge a discount figure, check period, eligibility, and included items against the written quote, line by line.
Align per-session prices and package prices to the same unit
For the same procedure, some clinics show a per-session price, while others show a package total that bundles several sessions. Place a small number next to a large one, and the figure that looks cheaper flips. The denominator for comparison is not the session count written in the ad, but the sessions you will receive.
| How it is shown | Calculation to align | Items often left out |
|---|---|---|
| Package (multi-session bundle) | Total ÷ sessions you will receive | Leftover sessions when the bundle count exceeds the sessions needed |
| Per session | Per session × sessions you will receive | Extra-session unit price; setups where anesthesia and materials and follow-up are added each visit |
Dividing the displayed price alone is not enough. Some setups add anesthesia and materials and post-procedure follow-up separately each visit, so add those amounts first, then divide by the sessions you will receive. Even if the bundle looks large, if the sessions you need are fewer, total spending can exceed the per-session notice.
Look up published prices on the clinic list and official windows
Fees not covered by national health insurance are set by the clinic. A medical institution must post that amount on a clinic price list and its website so patients can see it easily, and it cannot charge more than the posted amount. Asking about the price is how you find out the amount before the procedure.
Items the government designates for public disclosure can be looked up by clinic on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) website and the mobile app Health-e-Um. The disclosure path stated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare is these two windows, and comparison holds only when the item names match. Putting numbers that differ in area, volume, or composition on one line throws the comparison off.
| Where to look | What appears | What to match against the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Clinic price list and website | Non-covered items charged by that clinic | Whether the quote’s procedure name and volume match the list’s item name |
| Health-e-Um and the HIRA website | Items the government designates for disclosure | Whether the procedure name you will receive is on the public list |
| Ads and event copy | Discount figures | Whether period, eligibility, and included items and conditions match the quote |
The figures that appear in Health-e-Um are items designated for disclosure. First check whether the procedure name you will receive is on that list; items outside the list are aligned with the clinic price list and the quote. For items on the public list, the clinic is required to explain the item and the price in person before the procedure. To widen the view to composition and aftercare as well, see dermatology price comparison criteria.
Screen discount notices by whether the conditions are visible
Medical advertising prohibits false content, content that inflates facts, and non-covered discount or waiver notices presented in a way that consumers can easily misunderstand.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has inspected ads on plastic surgery and aesthetic apps and social-commerce platforms, and has cited bundled-sale notices that package several procedures at one price and discounts conditioned on writing a review. Setups that put only the discount figure on the main screen and attach photo submission or review writing later also appeared in the same inspection. Rather than wording that leads with a discount figure, check whether period, eligibility, and included items match the written quote, line by line.
Items to ask in consultation
After aligning the numbers, confirm the following in front of the written quote. If you note the answers, you can compare other clinics’ notices again in the same unit.
- □ Does this amount include anesthesia and materials and post-procedure follow-up?
- □ Of the package session count, how many sessions will you actually receive?
- □ What happens to leftover sessions if you cannot use them all?
- □ Does the item name on Health-e-Um or the clinic price list match the procedure name on the quote?
- □ Are the period, eligibility, and conditions in the discount copy written the same way on the quote?
You can also see the items that split a quote on Cellinique’s pricing information.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Which is cheaper, per session or a package?
Write down the sessions you will receive first, and you can see which is lower. Place the bundle total divided by that count next to the per-session price multiplied by that count, on one line.
Q2. Where can I check clinic prices in advance?
Look at the items charged by that clinic on the in-clinic price list and website, and on Health-e-Um look up only the items the government has designated for disclosure, clinic by clinic. First confirm whether the procedure name you will receive is on the public list; if it is, compare matching item names.
Q3. Can I take discount and event prices as they are?
Match the discount figure on the main screen against the period, eligibility, and included items on the written quote, line by line. Cited cases include notices that bundle several procedures at one price, and discounts conditioned on a review or photo submission.
Q4. Do I have to receive every session listed in the package?
The number of sessions you receive is set according to skin condition and goals. Write the bundle count and the sessions you need separately, and confirm how leftover sessions are handled before you contract.
Q5. Are anesthesia and material fees included in the price?
Some setups include them in a single charge; others add them separately each visit. Separate the anesthesia line, the materials line, and the follow-up line on the written quote.
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 (Notice of non-covered medical expenses, etc.)
- Korea Legislation Research Institute English statutes: Medical Service Act Article 56 (Prohibition of medical advertising, etc.)
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: 2025 non-covered medical expense disclosure press release (2025-09-03)
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: Partial revision of the notice guidelines for non-covered medical expenses, etc. (2023-10-25)
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: Press release on illegal medical advertising on apps and social commerce (2019-07-31)
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