Patient case · in the doctor's own words
Inside a Korean Dermatology Consultation: How K_onni's Visit Turned Into a Four-Part Plan, Step by Step
K_onni (@soy.k_onni.coreana) writes that her treatments were chosen after a consultation, according to her skin's needs. Her doctor explains what that consultation actually involves: what I ask, how I order several treatments, how the interpreter fits in, and when the answer is 'not today'.
Explained by
Dr. Hyunji Kim
Director · Lead Physician · Lifting, Laser & Anti-aging
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I'm Dr. Hyunji Kim, director of Delphic Clinic near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam. I trained at Korea University Medical Center, and I consult and treat our international patients myself. Almost every first-time visitor asks me some version of “what happens in the consultation, and will I be pushed into a package?”, usually by message a few days before they land. K_onni's caption is unusually clear on this: her treatments came after the consultation, chosen for her skin. So this page isn't about the four treatments themselves; it walks through the Korean dermatology consultation that produced them: what I look at and ask, how I order several treatments in one visit, what the plan sheet costs, and when I send someone away with less than they came for.
Medically reviewed · Dr. Hyunji Kim ·
In her own words
(Translated from Spanish) After a consultation, I received treatment for acne, Ultherapy, ONDA Lifting and Juvelook Skin, according to my skin's needs. … Something I also liked was that they have an English interpreter, which makes the experience much more comfortable for international patients.
What happens in a Korean dermatology consultation?
A Korean dermatology consultation at our clinic is a sit-down conversation with me before any treatment is booked. It's free, it's one to one, and it ends with a written plan you can accept, shorten or take home.
- 1
Your goal, in your words
I ask what bothers you first, and what you've seen online second.
- 2
Looking at the skin
I examine skin, fat and laxity in person, in good light, from the front and side.
- 3
History and timing
Recent treatments, medicines, pregnancy, and the date of your flight home.
- 4
The plan sheet
Each item with its reason, order, price and expected downtime.
The questions I ask before suggesting anything
- Which change would make you happiest if you could only pick one?
- Have you had lifting devices, boosters or fillers before, and when?
- Are your breakouts active right now, or mostly marks?
- Any blood thinners, isotretinoin, pregnancy or metal implants?
- How many days do you have left in Seoul, and any events or photos planned?
The last question changes plans more than any other. A lovely plan that leaves visible bumps on your flight home is a poor plan.
How several concerns become one plan, and in what order
K_onni lists acne care, Ultherapy, ONDA and Juvelook Skin. When one face has an acne concern, a contour concern and a skin-quality concern, I don't pick the most popular device; I give each concern its own tool and then decide the sequence.
- Calm active acne first, so lifting and injections go into settled skin.
- Energy devices such as Ultherapy and ONDA usually allow same-day return, so they fit early in a visit.
- Injectable boosters such as Juvelook can leave bumps for 1–3 days, so I place them where you have quiet days after.
- If the trip is short, I cut items rather than squeeze them.
I've explained each of K_onni's four parts and why they were combined in her first case. If you want to know what the skin check itself measures, see what I actually check in a skin analysis.
Can I have a dermatology consultation in English in Seoul?
Yes. English and Chinese interpreters are on site, from consultation through treatment and aftercare. K_onni mentions the English interpreter as something she liked, and it's the detail that changes the most for visitors: you can ask follow-up questions instead of nodding.
I wrote more on how to be understood, and understand, in an interpreted skin consultation.
When a consultation ends with “not today”
Some consultations end with fewer treatments than the patient wanted, and some with none. I would rather lose a booking than treat the wrong problem.
- Inflamed acne: injections and strong heat wait until it's calmer.
- A fresh sunburn, peel or irritation: we treat once the skin has recovered.
- Pregnancy, or a pacemaker or metal implants in the area: I skip the energy devices.
- A wish that's mostly about lighting or filters: I say so, kindly.
What the items on a combined plan cost
K_onni didn't post prices. Below are example menu prices for items like hers; Korean and international patients pay the same, with no foreigner surcharge.
- Acne Treatment (Self-cleansing - Extraction + Anti-inflammatory Injection - LED (Blue Light 10min) - Finish)₩65,000≈ $50
- ONDA Lifting (Face) 40kj (First-visit trial)₩270,000≈ $200
- Juvelook/Ultracoll Skin Booster 2cc (First-visit trial)₩250,000≈ $180
Example menu prices, not what K_onni paid. VAT excluded · the same price for Korean and international patients · Ultherapy Prime 300 shots is ₩940,000 on the first-visit menu (regular ₩1,350,000) · your own plan, and whether you need all of it, is set at the free consultation.
How to prepare for your consultation
- 1
Before you fly
Send a front and side photo on WhatsApp with your travel dates and your top concern.
- 2
Bring a list
Past treatments with dates, your medicines, and any products causing irritation.
- 3
Come bare-faced if you can
It's easier to judge tone, pores and breakouts without makeup.
- 4
Finding us
Near Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam. Same-day treatment is possible if the plan suits you.
Is this for you?
Who this combination genuinely suits
Signs it may be time
- You've saved several treatment names and aren't sure which you need
- You worry about being upsold in a foreign clinic
- You have acne and want lifting too
- You have only a few days and need a realistic order
A good fit if
- You have more than one skin or contour concern and don't know where to start
- You want a doctor, not a package list, to set the order
- You'd like the consultation in English or Chinese
- You want prices and downtime in writing before deciding
Not the right first step if: you want a fixed package booked without being examined, your skin is inflamed, sunburned or freshly peeled, you're pregnant, or you need everything finished the day before your flight.
“Come with your concerns, not a shopping list. If one treatment will do, I'll tell you, and if the answer is 'not on this trip', I'll tell you that too.”
Questions patients ask me about this
Is the consultation at a Korean skin clinic free?
At Delphic Clinic, yes. The 1:1 consultation with the doctor is free, and you can leave with the plan and decide later.
Can I get treatment on the same day as the consultation?
Often, yes. Same-day treatment is possible if your skin is ready and the plan fits your remaining days in Seoul.
Is there an English-speaking doctor or interpreter?
English and Chinese interpreters are on site from consultation through aftercare, so you can ask questions in your language.
Do foreigners pay more at Korean clinics?
Not at Delphic Clinic. Korean and international patients pay the same menu price, with no foreigner surcharge.
Can several treatments be done in one visit?
Sometimes. I order them so that active acne is calmed first and injectables with bumps go where you have quiet days afterwards, and I cut items if the trip is short.
Get a free 1:1 consultation
Message our English-speaking team — same price as locals, no pressure.
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