When choosing a dermatology clinic on Gangnam Dosan-daero, the criterion is the lettering on the sign and the procedure name you receive at the first consultation, more than advertising copy. Even when they are called the same lifting or skin booster, devices and materials differ, so you write that name down on the first visit.
3-line summary
1. Check whether the sign reads ‘○○ Dermatology Clinic’, and confirm in-clinic certification marks or the specialist certificate.
2. In consultation, receive the product and device name, session count, same-day reaction, and the post-procedure contact channel.
3. Match the price to HIRA’s disclosed items and the clinic’s notice; if the area or volume changes, hear the same-day explanation again.
Dosan-daero dermatology: start with the sign
Dosan-daero is a street of consecutive clinics, so you look at the sign wording to tell whether it is a dermatology specialist clinic. Korean Dermatological Association (KDA) guidance states that, at clinic level, that distinction is to be made from the external sign wording. ‘○○ Dermatology Clinic’ is how a dermatology specialist clinic is marked, and the wording differs from ‘○○ Clinic, listed specialty: dermatology’.
In the same place you can also see in-clinic certification logos or a dermatology specialist certificate issued by the Minister of Health and Welfare. Cross-check the workplace once more against the “dermatology near you” list on the association website.
Write down the procedure name at the first consultation
Skin booster, a word that comes up often in the consultation room, is a category that groups several polymers. A Korean research overview lists injections of different materials, such as hyaluronic acid and polynucleotide (PN), together. Instead of saying “I’ll have a skin booster,” write down the exact product name proposed today. Ingredient-level guidance continues in the complete skin booster guide.
Ultrasound procedures grouped as lifting also differed in device and energy settings from study to study. Literature collected by overseas researchers recorded temporary redness and swelling after the procedure, and placed burns and sensory change on the list of adverse reactions. Confirm the device name and the area treated, not “lifting.” If you have received energy-based procedures before, also see the prior procedure history consultation guide.
Explanations to hear in the same sitting
Aesthetic dermatology practice literature states that, before a procedure, the physician should explain in plain language. What you hear is the present skin condition, why this procedure is proposed, other options, duration and session count, expected change, precautions before and after, and possible reactions. You sign after hearing that explanation.
| What to hear | What to take away |
|---|---|
| Procedure name | Product or device name, not the category name |
| Person in charge | The person who continues consultation, the procedure, and follow-up |
| Session count and interval | Planned session count and interval |
| Same-day reaction | Degree of redness, swelling, and pain |
| Later contact | Channel used at night or for unexpected reactions |
| Price composition | Area, volume, and extras added to the disclosed item |
Records to bring and questions to ask
A medical history and a medicine list are needed to set that day’s scope and the recovery schedule. Bring only the list of prescription medicines, and tell both the prescribing physician and the treating physician. How to organize a medicine list is collected in disclosing medicines and supplements before a procedure.
| Records to bring | What to write |
|---|---|
| Skin changes | Since when, and which area bothers you |
| Medical history | Allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding, blood or immune conditions, infection |
| Medicines you take | Names of prescription medicines, antithrombotics, and supplements |
| Past procedures | Timing, type, and time recovery took |
| Schedule | Days you can allow swelling, and nearby events |
You may read the questions below as written in the consultation room.
- □ Does the sign read ‘○○ Dermatology Clinic’, and can you see in-clinic credential marks?
- □ What is the exact name of the product or device proposed today?
- □ Does the consulting physician also handle the procedure and follow-up?
- □ How are session count, interval, and same-day reaction explained?
- □ If pain or color change differs from what was expected, where do I contact?
- □ Do the disclosed price items match today’s quote in area and volume?
- □ Should pregnancy or breastfeeding, medicines you take, recent procedures, and infection be disclosed in this sitting?
Match disclosed prices with the same-day explanation
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) disclose treatment fees not covered by national health insurance, by medical institution, on the HIRA website and the Health-e-Um mobile app. You can also see them on the clinic website or in an in-clinic notice. If another treatment or a different material volume is added next to a disclosed item, the total changes. Request an explanation of that composition before the procedure. The clinic’s items can be checked further in cost information.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. How do I confirm a dermatology specialist?
Check whether the external sign reads ‘○○ Dermatology Clinic’, and confirm in-clinic certification marks or the certificate. You can also cross-check whether the workplace appears on the Korean Dermatological Association (KDA) “dermatology near you” list.
Q2. What should I bring to the first consultation?
A note of skin changes, names of medicines and supplements you take, timing and type of past procedures, and a schedule that can allow swelling. Bring only the list of prescription medicines, and do not change the dose on your own.
Q3. Where do I look at costs?
Disclosed items on the HIRA website, Health-e-Um, and the clinic website. After the area and volume are set, hearing the same-day explanation lets you match them to the disclosed figures.
Q4. When do I contact after the procedure?
Follow the contact channel you were given. If pain suddenly grows, redness or swelling spreads quickly, or you have shortness of breath or a whole-body reaction, contact that number at once.
Q5. Who should not receive it?
Pregnancy or breastfeeding, medicines you are taking, an active infection, and recently received procedures are disclosed before the consultation. Whether to stop a medicine is decided by the prescribing physician.
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 Dermatological Association (KDA): how to verify a board-certified dermatologist
- Korean Dermatological Association (KDA): find a dermatology clinic near you
- Ministry of Health and Welfare and HIRA: 2025 press release on disclosure of non-covered prices
- Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA): guide to disclosure of non-covered medical fee information
- Sacchidanand SA et al. (2012), J Cutan Aesthet Surg: Safe practice of cosmetic dermatology: avoiding legal tangles (PMID 23112511)
- Rho NK et al. (2024), Arch Plast Surg: Injectable "Skin Boosters" in Aging Skin Rejuvenation: A Current Overview (PMID 39544509)
- Contini M et al. (2023), Int J Environ Res Public Health: A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Microfocused Ultrasound for Facial Skin Tightening (PMID 36674277)
Related reading
Location flow, safety, and prior procedure history can be read further in the guides below.
Discuss options for your current needs
We review your current health and prior procedures before explaining appropriate options and their limits.
