Patient case · in the doctor's own words
A Skin Care Clinic in Korea on a “Maintenance Day”: What Suu's Visit Means, and What I Would Put on the Menu
Suu Lae Yee (@suulysly) calls her visit a skincare maintenance day. Her post doesn't name treatments, so her doctor explains what maintenance means at a clinic, how I choose a light menu by skin mood, how often it makes sense and when it isn't enough.
Explained by
Dr. Hyunji Kim
Director · Lead Physician · Lifting, Laser & Anti-aging
Tap to play — it opens right here, no TikTok app needed.
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. “I don't need anything big, I just want my skin looked after” is something I hear most days, often from visitors who have a free afternoon in Seoul and no specific problem. Suu's TikTok captures exactly that mood: a maintenance day. Her post doesn't name a treatment, so I won't guess what she had. Instead, here is how a skin care clinic in Korea approaches maintenance: what it means, the light menu I choose from depending on how your skin feels that day, how often it's worth repeating, what it costs, and when maintenance alone isn't the right answer.
Medically reviewed · Dr. Hyunji Kim ·
In her own words
POV: My skincare maintenance day ✨
What does a skin care clinic in Korea do on a maintenance day?
At a skin care clinic in Korea, a maintenance day usually means gentle, low-irritation care for skin that isn't in trouble. The aim is to keep pores clear, hydration up and redness calm, with no downtime.
Suu's caption doesn't say what she had, and I won't fill that gap with guesses. What I can share is how I build a maintenance visit for someone who walks in with her kind of request.
Maintenance versus treatment: the difference I explain first
- Maintenance: keeps already healthy skin comfortable and clear; same-day return; low irritation.
- Treatment: aims to change something specific, such as pigment, scars or sagging, and may need a course or downtime.
- Maintenance can't replace treatment, and treatment days aren't the time for extra 'pampering' on top.
A light maintenance menu, chosen by how your skin feels today
- 1
Dull or congested
Aqua Peel uses AHA/BHA solutions to clear debris and sebum from pores, then rehydrates. About 30–40 minutes, no downtime.
- 2
Dry or tight after a flight
Hydration care with an aloe ampoule, SONO, LED and a mask, about 30–40 minutes.
- 3
Red or reactive
Soothing care with cryo, LED and a mask, or LDM ultrasound in its redness or hydration mode.
- 4
Breakout-prone but calm today
LDM in its acne mode can be added; active, inflamed acne is a treatment conversation, not maintenance.
For the details behind two of these, see how I clear congested, dull skin with Aqua Peel and who an LDM ultrasound facial suits.
How often should you book skin maintenance at a clinic?
It depends far more on where you live than on the treatment. If you're in Seoul, many people fold light care into a regular rhythm that suits their skin. If you visit once or twice a year, maintenance is simply 'one good skin day per trip'.
For patients who come back every trip and want a repeatable routine, I wrote up how I build a maintenance routine for returning patients.
When a maintenance day isn't enough
- Inflamed, painful acne: it needs proper acne treatment first.
- Patches of pigment that keep coming back: these need a diagnosis, not just a facial.
- Visible sagging or deep scars: light care won't change these.
- A brand-new skin reaction: let's look at what caused it before adding anything.
What a maintenance visit costs here
Because Suu's post doesn't name anything, these are example menu prices for a light maintenance visit. Korean and international patients pay the same, with no foreigner surcharge.
- 1st Aqua Peel 1 session (Extraction not included/Solution 1-2) (First-visit trial)₩39,000≈ $30
- LDM 6min (Choose 1 mode: Hydration/Acne/Redness) (First-visit trial)₩39,000≈ $30
- Hydrating Treatment (Self-cleansing - Aloe Hydration Ampoule application - SONO (5min) - LED - Mask - Finish)₩50,000≈ $40
Example menu prices, not what Suu paid. VAT excluded · the same price for Korean and international patients · Aqua Peel with LED is ₩80,000 at the regular price · most people need one or two items, chosen at the free consultation.
Booking a skin day in Seoul
- 1
Tell us how your skin feels
Dry, oily, red or dull: one line on WhatsApp is enough to plan the visit.
- 2
Free 1:1 consultation
I check your skin first; English and Chinese interpreters are on site.
- 3
Same-day care
Most maintenance items allow same-day return, so you can go straight to dinner.
- 4
Getting here
We're near Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam.
Is this for you?
Who this combination genuinely suits
Signs it may be time
- Your skin feels tired after long flights
- You have a free afternoon in Gangnam
- Your makeup sits unevenly on dry patches
- You want your first Korean clinic visit to be gentle
A good fit if
- Your skin is generally healthy and you want it kept that way
- You want care with same-day return during a trip
- Your skin feels dull, dry or a little congested
- You'd like a doctor to choose the menu rather than a fixed package
Not the right first step if: you have inflamed acne, a new rash or a recent sunburn, you're looking to change pigment, scars or sagging in one visit, or your skin is still raw from a strong peel or retinoid.
“If you only want your skin looked after, say exactly that. I'd rather give you one well-chosen 40-minute treatment than a long list you don't need.”
Questions patients ask me about this
What is a skin maintenance treatment at a Korean clinic?
It's gentle, low-irritation care for healthy skin, such as Aqua Peel, LDM or hydration care. It aims to keep skin clear and comfortable rather than change a specific problem.
Is there downtime after a maintenance facial?
Usually none. Aqua Peel has no downtime and LDM allows same-day return, so most people go straight back to their plans.
How long does a clinic skin care visit take?
Most maintenance items take about 30–40 minutes. On a first visit, add time for the free consultation.
How much is a clinic facial in Korea?
At Delphic Clinic, example menu prices are ₩39,000 for a first-visit Aqua Peel, ₩39,000 for a first-visit 6-minute LDM and ₩50,000 for hydration care, VAT excluded.
Do I need a consultation for a simple skin care visit?
Yes, a short one. I check your skin first, because the right maintenance item depends on whether it's dry, oily, red or congested that day.
Get a free 1:1 consultation
Message our English-speaking team — same price as locals, no pressure.
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