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Why did I decide to go to South Korea for skin care treatments?

It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but in the past two years, I’ve clearly noticed a significant decline in the condition of my skin. Used to be that after staying up late, a quick wash of my face would leave me looking great the next day. But now? Just one night without enough sleep, and my skin becomes dull, covered in fine lines, and loses its firmness; even foundation can’t hide these problems. My friends are all going to South Korea for cosmetic procedures. I’m not without interest, but to be honest… the thought of having to arrange appointments myself, dealing with language barriers, and worrying about being taken advantage of… just discourages me.

Until one day, I saw someone on REDnote sharing their experience at HUS-HU Dermatology. They mentioned that the director of the clinic personally attended to their consultation, a Chinese-speaking staff member accompanied them throughout the process, and – most importantly – the prices were clear and transparent, with no hidden costs. I was immediately interested. Later, after doing more research, I found out that this clinic was actually a popular choice among local elites and celebrities in South Korea. It had the prestige of a luxury establishment, yet the prices were actually more affordable compared to similar services in China… That’s exactly what I was looking for!

Upon my first visit to Apgujeong in Gangnam, I found the environment even more pleasant than I had imagined.

The Dermatology department of HUS-HU is located on the third floor of the Apgujeong Building, 610-5 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (some sources also list the address as 842 Seonyeong-ro). The transportation is very convenient: you can take the subway Line 3 to Apgujeong Station and walk about 3 minutes from Exit 3; or take the Bundang Line to Apgujeong Rodeo Station and walk directly from Exit 4.

As soon as I walked in, my first impression was that this place didn’t resemble a “hospital” in the traditional sense; it was more like a high-end boutique hotel with a very stylish design. The overall color scheme was white, the lighting was soft, and the sofas in the waiting area were spacious and comfortable. The layout of the space was truly tasteful. What surprised me the most was how quiet it was here—there were no groups of tourists chatting noisily around. Later, I learned that HUS-HU did not offer package tours and only accepted 5 to 7 customers per day on a strictly reservation-based system. This sense of privacy really made people feel at ease.

Reservation process: The Chinese-speaking manager is truly very considerate.

When it comes to making appointments, this is probably the aspect that worries me the most – after all, I don’t speak Korean, and my English is just average. But HUS-HU really thought of everything: they have a dedicated Chinese-speaking supervisor who communicates in Chinese throughout the entire process of making appointments, so there is absolutely no issue with language barriers.

I contacted the person in charge of the Chinese service team via WeChat about a week in advance (their WeChat ID is hongkk02 or their official account is hus-hu). I explained all my skin problems, the treatments I wanted to have, and the budget range I had in mind. The person in charge patiently helped me analyze suitable treatment options and even arranged a consultation with the director of the clinic for me. By the way, it should be mentioned here that the initial consultation fee is 30,000 South Korean won (about 170 yuan). However, if I undergo the treatment on the same day, this fee can be fully deducted, so in fact, I didn’t end up paying anything extra.

Also, a reminder: The schedules for the most popular directors are usually full. During peak seasons (such as during holidays or during the “golden period”), it is recommended to book at least two weeks in advance. I went on a regular day this time, so it was relatively easier to get a reservation.

In-person consultation: President Hong Jingguo left a deep impression on me.

The representative president of HUS-HU is Dr. Kyung Kook Hong, who holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from Kyung Hee University and has also served as the head of the Dermatology department of the Marine Corps. This background makes me feel particularly confident in his competence, as the military is known for its extremely high standards when it comes to medical quality. Moreover, Dr. Hong can speak some basic Chinese, which makes communication much smoother than I had anticipated.

During the in-person consultation, Director Hong first used professional skin testing equipment to conduct a comprehensive analysis of my skin—not the kind of quick-and-dirty evaluation, but a thorough analysis that displayed various numerical data on the screen: moisture content, sebum secretion, Pore condition, distribution of pigmentation spots, depth of wrinkles… After the results were obtained, Director Hong explained in detail what each parameter meant, which issues needed to be addressed immediately, and which could be dealt with at a later stage. This approach put me at ease—it was nothing like the aggressive sales tactics where they just suggest going for the most expensive treatment option.

The final treatment plan we decided on was: Thermage FLX for the entire face, Ultherapy for specific areas to enhance the contours, and Rejuran hyaluronic acid injections. I know this sounds a bit “luxurious,” but the director explained that Thermage FLX helps to tighten the entire face, Ultherapy is particularly effective for sagging contours, and Rejuran promotes recovery and long-term moisturization after the procedure. When used together, these three treatments are much more effective than performing just one of them alone, and since their recovery periods overlap, they essentially address multiple issues at once.

On the day of treatment: The pain was manageable, and the nursing team was extremely attentive.

Before the treatment, an anesthetic is applied, and this process takes about 40 minutes. During this time, the Chinese manager chatted with me and showed me some before-and-after photos of previous customers’ treatments (of course, these cases had obtained their consent), which helped me get a better understanding of the results. Once the anesthetic took effect, the treatment officially began.

Let’s start with Thermage FLX – this was the part I was most worried about, because many people online said it was very painful. But in reality, the discomfort was “tolerable” at best. Each time the device delivered a pulse of energy, there would be a brief sensation of heat followed by a slight stinging feeling, similar to having a rubber band snap against your face. The doctor would adjust the energy settings according to your tolerance level and constantly ask how you were feeling during the treatment; there was no pressure to “end it quickly no matter what”. The entire treatment for the whole face took about an hour and a half.

Next is ultrasonic lifting therapy – this treatment targets areas where the skin has lost its firmness. It feels more like a deep-seated glow rather than being as “intense” as Thermage, but you can clearly feel the effects at a deeper level of the skin. Finally, there’s the Rejuran hyaluronic acid injection therapy – this involves actual needle insertion, so there will be a slight stinging sensation, but since numbing cream has been applied beforehand, it’s quite tolerable. The doctor was very careful, carefully controlling the spacing and dosage of each injection.

Throughout the entire treatment process, the nurse stayed by my side, handing me water, helping me adjust my position, and frequently asking if I was feeling any discomfort. To be honest, this sense of care is far better than what I experience at some “assembly-line”-style medical beauty institutions in my home country.

Immediately after the procedure: What changes did I notice?

After the treatment, the doctor immediately applied a special ice mask to reduce the swelling. Approximately 30 minutes later, the swelling had mostly subsided (this may vary depending on individual constitutions; this was my experience). When I looked in the mirror at that moment, my first thought was: Wow, my skin really looks firmer! The contours became clearer, and the fine lines, especially around the Nasolabial Fold Correction area, seemed much less noticeable. Of course, the doctor had informed me in advance that these were only “immediate effects”; true Collagen regeneration would take some time, and the best results would be seen around one month later.

Regarding post-operative care, both the doctor and the person in charge of the Chinese-speaking services explained the precautions in great detail to me: I needed to pay attention to sun protection during these days (this is extremely important!), avoid using irritating skincare products, and drink plenty of water to promote skin metabolism. They also gave me some samples of special post-operative repair masks and skincare products for me to use while staying in the hotel.

One week later, one month later: The results were real; it wasn’t just a psychological effect.

After returning to my home country, I checked my skin in the mirror once a week for comparison. After about a week, my skin had reached a very good state – firm, moisturized, and glowing. A friend put it in the most straightforward way: “Did you do something secret to it? You look several years younger!”

After about a month, the results were truly astonishing: the Nasolabial Fold Correction became much less noticeable, the skin’s elasticity improved (it rebounded faster after being pressed), and the overall contours looked more IPCHEA than before. What pleased me most was that the results looked completely natural; there was no obvious sign that “some cosmetic procedure had been done” – it was just a natural improvement that made people say, “Oh, you look great lately!”

I also want to mention the post-operative follow-up service provided by HUS-HU. Three months after the procedure, they took the initiative to contact me to inquire about my recovery and ask if I had any questions or suggestions. Such a responsible attitude made me feel that the money spent was well worth it. My skin condition is now very stable, and I rarely experience acne or allergies anymore.

Is the price of HUS-HU expensive? Let me do the calculation for you.

When it comes to prices, HUS-HU is considered a high-end Dermatology clinic in South Korea, and its fees are relatively high. However, I would like to say that compared to similar services in China, the cost-performance ratio of HUS-HU is actually quite good. Below are the reference prices I obtained this time (based on 2026; please refer to the actual prices quoted by the hospital on the day of service):

• Consultation fee: 30,000 Korean won (approximately 170 RMB), which can be deducted when undergoing the treatment.
• Thermage FLX: Starting from approximately 680,000 Korean won for 300 treatments, and approximately 1.18 million Korean won for 600 treatments.
• Ultrasound lifting: Starting from approximately 350,000 Korean won for 300 sessions, and approximately 780,000 Korean won for 600 sessions.
• Rejuran: Starting from approximately 550,000 Korean won
• Filler injections: Starting from approximately 220,000 Korean won for Juvederm, and around 480,000 Korean won for other brands.

The treatment combination I chose this time (Thermage + ultrasound lifting + Rejuran) costs around 30,000 to 40,000 RMB in China, but at HUS-HU, including the consultation fee, it costs approximately 20,000 RMB. Moreover, South Korea has very strict regulations regarding the authenticity of medical equipment and consumables; any counterfeit products found will be confiscated. So you don’t have to worry about that at all.

In addition, if you pay using a UnionPay card, you can also enjoy a 5% discount. Taken together, all these small details can actually help you save a considerable amount of money.

Concerns regarding the “assembly line” concept: HUS-HU is not a factory-based retail chain.

When going to South Korea for cosmetic surgery, what many people fear the most are those “assembly-line style clinics” – where patients are quickly processed in a streamlined manner; the doctor may not even remember your name, and no one will take care of you after the procedure. I paid special attention to this point while doing my research.

HUS-HU operates in a completely different manner. They strictly control the number of patients they receive each day (5 to 7 people), and all treatments are performed personally by the director himself – this is extremely important! No assistants or nurses take over the procedures. Throughout the entire process, what I felt was a sense of “personalization” rather than “mass production”. The Chinese director also told me that many of their clients are repeat customers, and quite a number of them are referred by friends – such word-of-mouth promotion is nothing that can be achieved through advertising.

Opening hours and important notes

The opening hours of HUS-HU are as follows (it is recommended to confirm again before departure, as there may occasionally be temporary changes):

• Monday and Friday: AM 10:00 – PM 20:00
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: AM 10:00 – PM 19:00
• Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Sunday: No surgeries scheduled

Note: During holidays in South Korea, such as the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, clinics may also be closed. Please make sure to confirm in advance with the Chinese-speaking supervisor. Additionally, those who drive themselves need not worry about parking issues – HUS-HU offers 2 hours of free parking services.

Some sincere suggestions for those who want to attend HUS-HU…

1. Make an advance reservation: At least one week in advance, and two weeks during the peak season. You can do this either through the BeautsGO platform or by adding the Chinese manager on WeChat.
2. Thorough communication: During the in-person consultation, be sure to clearly express your needs and concerns to Director Hong. He is a very nice person who will listen carefully to what you have to say.
3. Don’t just compare prices: The skills and aesthetic judgment of the doctors are what truly constitute the core value. Although the prices at HUS-HU are not the cheapest, the quality of their technology and service is definitely worth the cost.
4. Don’t be lazy when it comes to post-operative care: sun protection, moisturization, and regular follow-up visits are all crucial factors that can affect the final results.
5. Making appointments through BeautsGO is even more convenient: The BeautsGO platform supports Chinese-language interfaces, and it is also possible to request the presence of a Chinese-speaking companion. This is particularly helpful for those who are visiting South Korea for medical aesthetics treatments for the first time.

In conclusion: Is HUS-HU worth visiting?

If I were to summarize my experience with HUS-HU in one sentence, it would be: It’s expensive for good reason, and the results exceeded my expectations.

If you, like me, are looking for a regular hospital, personal consultation by the director, Chinese-speaking services, transparent prices, and natural results – then HUS-HU is truly perfect for you. It is not one of those “equipment factories” that attract customers with low prices; rather, it is a high-quality Dermatology clinic that truly focuses on providing medical care and building a good reputation. Although the prices are not cheap, what you get in return is peace of mind, excellent results, and a sense of luxury and respect. In my opinion, it’s well worth it.

Finally, I would like to say that there is no shortcut to achieving beauty, but it is essential to choose the right place to do so. I hope this article can help those of you who are still hesitating whether to go to South Korea for skin treatment. If you have any further questions, please feel free to leave a comment below, and I will do my best to respond!

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📋 Appointment at HUS-HU Dermatology

👉 Click here to book your appointment now (on the BeautsGO platform).

The Dermatology department of HUS-HU is located in Apgujeong, Gangnam District, Seoul. It offers Chinese-speaking reservation services, and the chief physician personally conducts consultations, ensuring that a streamlined treatment process is avoided.

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