21 Oct Planning K-Beauty Treatments in Seoul: VandS Clinic’s Guide for US Patients
Medical Travel Notice: Cosmetic procedures carry risks, including bruising, swelling, infection, allergic reactions, pigment changes and, rarely, more serious complications that may appear after you return home. Some products named in this post, including Rejuran, Juvelook and several Korean botulinum toxin brands, are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before traveling, ask how complications will be handled after departure, keep copies of your treatment records and product details, and consider discussing your plans with a U.S. board-certified dermatologist. Prices are as listed by the clinic, exclude VAT and may change. Clinics and physicians named are not warranted or endorsed by MedicalResearch.com or Eminent Domains Inc.
Americans who have run the numbers on cosmetic treatment in Seoul often stall at the same point. Not the cost, but the logistics: when to book, which procedures to schedule on which day, how to get from Incheon to the clinic, and what to confirm before handing over a card.
VandS Clinic Seoul has published its own answer to that sequence for international patients, and it starts well before the flight.
As an affordable Korean aesthetic clinic in Seoul that receives a steady number of US patients, VandS says the process begins with a message. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) also offers general guidance on the risks and planning involved in traveling abroad for medical care.
Step 1: The Pre-Trip Consultation
Patients contact the clinic through WhatsApp at +82-10-3594-8078 or through its website, describe their skin concerns, and receive a written preliminary recommendation with a cost estimate before committing to dates. The clinic says this step carries no charge or obligation.
US passport holders generally do not need a visa for short tourist stays in South Korea, though travelers should check current entry requirements, including any electronic travel authorization rules, before booking.
Booking windows are flexible. According to the clinic, appointments can be made months ahead or a week before travel, same-day bookings are often accepted unless a branch is fully committed, and walk-ins are taken subject to daily capacity. Staff ask for the departure date at this stage, so the treatment schedule can be built backward from the return flight.
“An American patient can complete a consultation over WhatsApp before booking a flight and arrive with a plan already discussed,” said Myeongseon, General Manager of VandS Clinic’s Myeongdong 1st branch. “That is the difference between a medical trip that feels risky and one that feels routine.”
Step 2: Getting There
Direct flights to Incheon run on Korean Air, Asiana and several US carriers, taking roughly 14 hours from the East Coast and 10 to 11 hours from the West Coast. The AREX express connects the airport to Seoul Station, followed by a transfer to Euljiro 1(il)-ga on Line 2. The Myeongdong 1st branch is about a minute’s walk from Exit 6, near the main hotel cluster.
Step 3: Sequencing Treatments Around Downtime
Scheduling depends on downtime. Procedures with visible recovery belong early in the trip, while those with little visible recovery can be scheduled closer to departure. Recovery varies from person to person, and the clinic’s estimates below are not guarantees.
| Treatment | Listed Price (Myeongdong, excl. VAT) | Visible Downtime (Clinic Estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Rejuran Healer 2cc (first visit) | ₩135,000 | 2–3 days of visible injection points; schedule early |
| Juvelook Skin 3cc | ₩199,000 | 2–3 days of visible injection points; schedule early |
| Derma Toxin skin botox 3cc | ₩99,000 | Bumps and redness typically clear in 3–6 hours |
| Forehead Botox (Coretox) | From ₩29,000 | Minimal |
| Thermage FLX, 300 shots | From ₩990,000 (current promotion) | Usually little visible downtime |
| Ultherapy Prime, 300 shots | ₩990,000 | Usually little visible downtime |
| Onda Lifting, 60Kj | ₩390,000 | Usually little visible downtime |
| WiQo Uno 1cc (needle-free) | ₩149,000 | Usually little visible downtime |
| Reepot Laser, full face pigmentation | ₩600,000 | Rapid recovery, per the clinic |
Neurotoxin brand is a matter of choice. Coretox, Wondertox and Botulax from Korea, Xeomin from Germany, and Botox from Allergan in the United States are all available, and the brand appears on the written estimate. Of these, only Xeomin and Botox are FDA approved in the United States.
Step 4: Budgeting the Trip
The clinic estimates that a three-night trip might include return airfare of $600 to $900, accommodation of roughly $300 to $600, and a Thermage FLX session with a Rejuran trial at approximately $820 before VAT, for a total of around $2,300. US prices for comparable treatments are often higher, but they vary widely by provider and region, and travel costs, time off work and possible follow-up care should be included in any comparison.
Two things to build into the budget. All listed prices exclude the 10 percent VAT, following the Korean convention of separating non-taxable medical procedures from taxable cosmetic work. Pricing also varies by branch, since each location sets rates through its lead physician. The clinic says the written estimate provided before the consent form lists VAT as its own line.
Eligible international patients may receive a tax refund after treatment, subject to eligibility requirements and clinic procedure.
Step 5: The Clinic Visit
According to the clinic, a visit runs one to one and a half hours: arrival, Mark-VU skin analysis at no additional charge, physician consultation in a private room, treatment, and checkout. That compressed format is designed to fit around a sightseeing schedule rather than requiring dedicated days.
The Mark-VU analysis maps pigmentation, hydration, pore condition, fine lines and barrier integrity. A beauty consultant explains the results and gives the treatment recommendation, and the physician then performs the procedure.
The clinic lists Dr. Cho Minju, a graduate of Yonsei University College of Medicine who completed residency at Severance Hospital, as the physician at the Myeongdong 1st branch. Gangnam Central is led by Dr. Juhye Jo, and Hongdae by Dr. Woosun Jang, whom the clinic describes as a board-certified dermatologist.
Five Things to Confirm Before Paying
At any aesthetic clinic abroad, confirm these details before payment:
- The device brand and model
- The dosage, in shots or cc
- Whether a licensed physician performs the procedure
- Whether VAT is included or added
- The follow-up policy after you return home, including how complications are handled
Practical Details
The clinic says English-speaking staff are available at all three international branches without advance notice, as part of a network offering support in nine languages to patients from more than fifteen countries. VandS does not currently offer accommodation partnerships or airport transfers, so those arrangements are up to the patient. The broader network spans more than 68 branches in South Korea and four in Japan, according to the clinic.
The Myeongdong 1st branch is open 9:30 to 21:00 on weekdays and 10:00 to 18:00 on weekends, and Gangnam Central 10:00 to 20:00 on weekdays. Payment options include Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, PayPal and Alipay.
Even so, patients should complete the consultation before finalizing the itinerary, since the treatment plan that comes out of the skin analysis may not match the one they arrived intending to book.
For a broader overview of cosmetic dermatology research, see this MedicalResearch.com overview of skin care.
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Last Updated on October 21, 2026 by Marie Benz MD FAAD