Makeup artist and influencer Nam Vo thinks South Korea is poised to be the next bachelorette trip of choice and she may be right. Now more than ever, the beauty curious are flocking to Seoul with their friends, dropping thousands of dollars on flights and hotel stays, all for a chance to spend the day at one of the many skin clinics there that serve a menu of idiosyncratic treatments, some of which aren’t yet available in the U.S. These include salmon sperm injections, collagen boosters by JuveLook and stem cell fat transfers.
The experience is unlike any other, Vo says of the clinics in Seoul. “Everybody gets something different and comes out looking cuter. It’s a bonding experience,” she explains. “[My friends and I] would come back at night all black and blue and eat potato chips and order room service.”
While Vo intentionally chose an expensive clinic, a lot of tourists will go to cheaper “factory clinics.” These places operate “like assembly line med spas,” explains Michelle Lee, a former beauty editor. Here, guests move from one doctor to the next with every treatment. “You get what you get in terms of the experience. There are certainly some great factory clinics, and there are certainly some that are not super great,” says Lee, who went to Zell Clinic, where she only saw one doctor.
Regardless of the clinic, the process typically starts the same. First, a consultation, during which the doctor will recommend a list of services based on their analysis. (Disclaimer: Thick skin, physically and metaphorically speaking, is needed to endure these “brutal honesty” reviews, according to Vo.)
Guests are free to refuse any of the suggestions, but many, including Lee, take them. Lee wound up stacking three laser treatments — Pico+ 532, Pento755GCD and Excel-v 532 — on top of Rejuran, a procedure involving 70 injections in the face, all in the same day, per her doctor’s recommendation.
Stacking refers to the practice of getting multiple treatments at once. This is the norm at the skin clinics in Seoul, says Dr. Eunice Park, a dual board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon who was born in South Korea but grew up in the U.S. Of course, stacking can cause irritation, especially for first-time treatment users.
“You have to be realistic about what you want and how much to get,” Lee notes.
In lieu of the clinic (and the potential pain), there are several soothing spa services beauty enthusiasts have been enjoying in Seoul, too, one of which is a luxurious 15-step treatment designed to scrub the scalp clean.
Here, a breakdown of five popular beauty treatments coming out of South Korea, price and pain level included, plus a few U.S.-based alternatives to try.
Stem Cell Fat Transfer
What it is: A cosmetic procedure that includes harvesting the fat from one part of the body and injecting it into a different area. In South Korea, specifically, stem cell fat transfers allow for fat to be taken from the stomach, arms or buttocks and inserted into the face. Vo describes the procedure as “baby lipo,” estimating the total time she was under anesthesia to be an hour and a half. The recovery takes about 10 to 14 days, during which some bloating may occur, depending on where the fat is extracted. The result is “a newborn baby face,” Vo says.
Price: $18,000
Pain level: 4 out of 10
Rejuran
What it is: A skin rejuvenation treatment involving 70 injections of PDRN, otherwise known as salmon sperm, in the face. The injections, which are designed to promote skin regeneration and stimulate collagen production, can be inserted via machine or a traditional needle and syringe. Immediately after, the face may be irritated and swollen, with a bubble wrap-like texture. Because Lee stacked three lasers before getting Rejuran, her face was painful to the touch, too. The recommended protocol for optimal results is three sessions spaced four weeks apart, as well routine sessions every six to 12 months. The result is “glass skin,” Lee claims. While Rejuran isn’t available in the U.S., Airem in New York administers a topical version.
Price: $200 to $420 per session
Pain level: 8
JuveLook Collagen Booster
What it is: A collagen skin booster combining hyaluronic acid and poly D-Lactic acid (PDLA). JuveLook can be administered through a cannula or injected directly into the face. Unlike traditional skin boosters, JuveLook contains the PDLA complex, which is a collagen stimulator. The formula works to boost hydration in the skin, as well as regain moisture, elasticity and smoothness. Over time JuveLook can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines, acne scars and wrinkles. Recovery can take up to three days.
Price: $300 to $500
Pain Level: 5
15-Step Scalp Treatment
What it is: A deep treatment designed to cleanse and replenish the scalp. The meticulous process, usually about an hour-and-a-half, begins and ends with a scalp analysis, during which a microscope is placed directly on the scalp to locate the “problem areas,” places with product build-up, oil and clogged pores. The lengthy treatment then involves an oil massage, a galvanic sealing brush with LED light therapy, a scalp scrub and a head steam. Other steps include a neck massage, a hot towel treatment, shampooing, a Y-stick massage, a waterfall rinse, the re-analysis, a mist tonic and a T-stick massage. A similar service is offered at Sena Spa in Midtown Manhattan.
Price: $130
Pain Level: 0
Pico Laser Toning
What it is: A noninvasive treatment designed to target pigmentation and minimize skin damage, acne scars and blemishes. While some use pico toning for skin rejuvenation purposes, others use it to treat skin condition such as melasma. The technology emits short, picosecond laser pulses that break pigmented particles into fragments. The estimated time of one session is 10 to 15 minutes.
Price: $100 to $300
Pain Level: 3