Lifting & Anti-aging

Ultherapy Korea trip: how a Seoul visit works, from WhatsApp to flight

Planning Ultherapy in Seoul? How the visit runs, how to time it around your flights, and what happens on the day at WELLS in Apgujeong.

Whether this treatment suits you needs a dermatologist to assess. Send a photo and your travel dates on WhatsApp, and we reply in English whether it can be arranged for your case and which days are open.

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Private lounge for international patients visiting WELLS Clinic in Seoul for Ultherapy Korea treatment

Why do people plan an Ultherapy Korea trip at all?

Hello, I'm Dr. Hyo Seop Ryu, a board-certified dermatologist and one of the chief directors at WELLS in Apgujeong. This guide is about the visit itself: what happens before you land, on the day, and after you fly home.

If you are searching for Ultherapy Korea, you probably already know what the treatment is. The real question is whether it is worth building part of a trip around it, and how to fit a lifting treatment between a flight in and a flight out.

What makes Ultherapy in Korea attractive is less about the device, which is the same machine worldwide, and more about how it is done. At WELLS, a dermatologist does the treatment while you are awake, the tips are genuine, and the plan is made for your face rather than a set package.

If you want the basics first, we cover them in our Ultherapy explainer. Here I'll assume you are already leaning towards it and want to know how the trip works.

Worried about your own case? Let a dermatologist look first: send a photo and your dates, and we reply whether it can be arranged.

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What makes Ultherapy in Seoul worth the flight?

WELLS has been in Apgujeong since 2008 and is a Merz Ultherapy Golden Record Award clinic. Every session runs on the Ultherapy Prime system, and only genuine tips are used.

Because you stay awake, you can see the tip and the shot count yourself. If a tip is ever found not to be genuine, WELLS refunds ten times the treatment price.

  • Awake, not sedated. We use Air NOX, an oxygen and nitrous-oxide mix, with local anesthetic instead of deep sedation.
  • Planned in 3D. Your face is analyzed with a 3D imaging system and an individualized map sets the energy and shots for each area.
  • Fewer shots than you might expect. Most of our patients are satisfied with 300–400 shots; only about 2% of WELLS patients need 600 or more.
  • English consultations. You can plan the whole visit without a translator.

The Prime device also uses a clearer real-time ultrasound image, so the doctor can see bone, muscle and fat layers during treatment. That view is what lets us avoid hollow areas and aim only at the parts that need lifting.

Dr. Hyo Seop Ryu performing a lifting treatment on a patient at WELLS Clinic, Seoul
Lifting treatments at WELLS are performed by a board-certified dermatologist.

How much is Ultherapy in Korea at WELLS?

Our signature program, Ultherapy Prime FIT, has two listed options. Both combine Ultherapy with a second Fitting step aimed at the layer between Ultherapy and Thermage depth.

Ultherapy Prime FIT prices at WELLS (per session)
OptionWhat it includesPrice
FIT 400300 Ultherapy shots + Fitting 100 kJ₩1,925,000 (VAT included)
FIT 500400 Ultherapy shots + Fitting 100 kJ₩2,409,000 (VAT included)

Ultherapy Prime on its own starts at ₩2,046,000 for 400 shots (VAT included); the number of shots depends on your face. The dermatologist confirms the plan and final price before anything starts.

The details of what moves the number are in our Ultherapy price guide for Seoul. If you want to compare the FIT options before you travel, the Ultherapy Prime FIT page lists both.

Send a relaxed, daylight photo of your face and your dates in Seoul. We will reply in English with a suggested plan and available times.

Send a photo and my dates

How does an Ultherapy visit to Korea work, step by step?

The visit has three parts, and the first one happens before you board a plane. Nothing is booked blind.

1. WhatsApp before you travel

Message us with your concern, a photo if you like, and your travel dates. You get a reply in English with treatment options and appointment times, so you arrive with a plan rather than a guess.

2. Consultation on the day

At the clinic a dermatologist examines your face and runs the 3D analysis. We assess skin thickness, how much you have sagged and where the fat sits, because intensity, shot count and whether to add the Fitting step depend on those three things.

This is also the point where I may say no. Ultherapy Prime FIT is not necessary for everyone, and a very thin face or a mostly upper-face concern can call for a different plan.

3. Treatment and aftercare in the same clinic

Treatment takes place on the same floor. You leave with the dermatologist's aftercare instructions, and you can reach us on WhatsApp after you fly home.

Timing Ultherapy around your flights

The most common mistake I see with an Ultherapy Korea itinerary is squeezing the appointment into the last few hours before a flight. Give yourself room for the consultation and the treatment on the same day, without rushing either.

  • Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–20:00, Saturday 10:00–17:00, lunch 13:00–14:00.
  • Closed: Sundays and Korean public holidays, so check your dates against the Korean calendar.
  • Flying home: tell us your flight dates on WhatsApp and the dermatologist will advise on timing for your case.
  • Swelling: some swelling is possible after Ultherapy, and the Fitting step is intended to help ease it.

Set your expectations for the timeline too. The lifting effect of Ultherapy generally builds gradually over two to three months, so most of the change happens after you are home, not while you are still in Seoul.

That is one reason I'd rather you plan the trip around your life than around a photo you want to take in Seoul. If you have an important event, tell us the date so we can plan backwards from it.

What happens on the day: awake, with Air NOX

WELLS does not use deep sedation for Ultherapy. Ultherapy's own guidelines don't recommend it, and under sedation you can't give feedback, so energy tends to be pushed higher and burn risk rises.

Instead we use Air NOX, a controlled oxygen and nitrous-oxide mix, with local anesthetic. You stay awake, need no fasting, recover within about two minutes and can drive afterwards.

One thing to raise before you book a flight: Air NOX is not suitable in early pregnancy, respiratory conditions, panic disorder or vitamin B12 deficiency. If any of those apply, tell us on WhatsApp first so we can plan around it.

Ultherapy ultrasound vs home devices: what are you actually getting?

Ultherapy uses high-intensity focused ultrasound to reach the deep SMAS layer, the support layer under the skin that a surgical facelift also tightens. The energy is focused at depth, a little like a magnifying glass focusing light, so the surface is spared.

People sometimes ask whether an Ultherapy home device could do the same job. Ultherapy is a clinic device used by medical staff, and home gadgets sold with similar wording are generally not the same treatment, in energy or in the real-time imaging that shows where the energy lands.

Ultherapy delivers energy point by point, which can leave small gaps and some surface laxity. That is why our Fitting step spreads energy broadly and evenly over the dermis and fat layer above it, to smooth the surface once the deep layer is lifted.

If your main concern is the eyes and forehead rather than the jawline, look at our 3X Upper Face Lifting program, which includes Eye Ultherapy with 50 treatment lines alongside Eye Thermage and EMFACE.

Getting to WELLS in Apgujeong

The clinic is on the 8th floor of the Apgujeong Building, 842 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu. Take Subway Line 3 to Apgujeong Station, Exit 3, and it is about a five-minute walk. NH Bank is on the ground floor.

If you are driving, underground self-parking is available in the building, though spaces may be limited. Our clinic and directions page has the map and photos of the entrance.

WELL'S Dermatology & Medical SPA entrance sign on the 8th floor in Apgujeong, Seoul
The entrance on the 8th floor of the Apgujeong Building.

About my own background: I was a clinical instructor and then an assistant professor at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and I have been a visiting professor at Dubai Maris Clinic. Individual results vary and side effects are possible, which is why every treatment here starts with a dermatologist consultation.

Tell us which days you will be in Seoul and what bothers you most about your jawline or cheeks. You will get options and appointment times before you travel.

Plan my Ultherapy visit
Ask before you fly

Planning Ultherapy in Seoul?

Send a daylight photo with your face relaxed, plus your dates in Seoul. A dermatologist will suggest whether FIT 400, FIT 500 or a different plan suits you, with appointment times before you book.

Message the clinic on WhatsAppReplies on WhatsApp · prices in KRW, including 10% VAT
Questions people ask

Before you message us

Do I need a consultation before Ultherapy in Korea?

Yes. Every treatment at WELLS starts with a dermatologist consultation on the day, where your face is examined, analyzed in 3D, and the plan and final price are confirmed before anything starts.

How much is Ultherapy in Korea at WELLS?

Ultherapy Prime FIT 400 (300 shots + Fitting 100 kJ) is ₩1,925,000 (VAT included) and FIT 500 (400 shots + Fitting 100 kJ) is ₩2,409,000 (VAT included). Ultherapy Prime on its own starts at ₩2,046,000 for 400 shots (VAT included).

Will I be sedated?

No. WELLS does not use deep sedation for Ultherapy. We use Air NOX with local anesthetic, so you stay awake, need no fasting and can see the tip and shot count yourself.

Can I do the consultation in English?

Yes. Consultations at the clinic are available in English, and replies on WhatsApp and Instagram are in English, so you can plan the whole visit without a translator.

How soon can I fly home after Ultherapy?

Tell us your flight dates on WhatsApp and the dermatologist will advise on timing for your case. Some swelling is possible after Ultherapy, so avoid planning the treatment in the last hours before a flight.

Results and recovery vary by individual. Every treatment carries possible side effects, which are explained at the consultation. Prices are in Korean won, including 10% VAT, and confirmed at your consultation. This article is general information from the clinic, not a diagnosis.

Written by
Dr. Hyo Seop Ryu, board-certified dermatologist (M.D., Ph.D., SNU Bundang) at WELLS Clinic

Dr. Hyo Seop Ryu

Medical Director · M.D., Ph.D. · WELLS Clinic, Apgujeong

  • Board-certified dermatologist, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Clinical instructor, Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
  • Assistant professor, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
  • Visiting professor, Dubai Maris Clinic, through International St. Mary's Hospital
  • Former chief director, Bundang Bon Dermatology Clinic
Full profile
Google reviews

What international patients wrote

Five-star reviews written in English, Japanese and Chinese on our Google Maps listing, shown in the original with an English translation. Excerpts are marked “…”.

  • ★★★★★English
    I have been going to Wells Dermatology Clinic whenever I visit Seoul over 12 years. All the staffs and doctors are exceptionally friendly and very professional. I thank Dr. Choi for his exceptional care and his knowledge. My skin has been improved over the years and I will continue to go back.

    June J. · Google · 2 years ago

  • ★★★★★English
    My husband and I had various services including Ulthera and Sculptura here and we were really pleased to have tried. The Dr speaks English and was very thorough in their explanations. The staff were very good at explaining the procedure and after care. … We're very happy with the level of service and results.

    C. M. · Google · a month ago

  • ★★★★★日本語
    韓国人の知り合いの紹介でシミ取りとサーマクールを受けてきました。始めはとても緊張していましたが、院長先生もとても優しく施術中も気を遣ってくださり安心して受けることができました。病院内は清潔感があり、とても綺麗なのもポイント高いです。

    TranslationOn the recommendation of a Korean acquaintance, I had pigment-spot removal and Thermage. I was very nervous at first, but the director was very kind and attentive during the treatment, so I felt at ease. The clinic is clean and very beautiful, which is another big plus.

    Soomi K. · Google · 1 year ago

  • ★★★★★日本語
    SNSで有名な病院は回転率あげようと診察が雑な所もありますが、こちらはそのような感じが一切なく診察も医院長先生が丁寧に診てアドバイスをくれます。…日本人スタッフもいるので安心してお任せできます。

    TranslationSome clinics that are famous on social media rush consultations to increase turnover, but there's none of that here — the director examines you carefully and gives advice. … There are Japanese-speaking staff, so I can relax and leave it to them.

    miiipanda · Google · 2 years ago

  • ★★★★★日本語
    予約時から術後まで終始丁寧な対応で、当日帰国することを伝えると「買い物する時間もあるといいよね」と、時間を早めて下さいました。スタッフの方も院長先生も分かりやすく説明して下さり、こちらの希望も聞いた上でどの施術がいいか勧めて下さいました。

    TranslationFrom booking through aftercare they were attentive the whole time. When I said I was flying home that day, they moved my appointment earlier so I'd have time to shop. The staff and the director explained everything clearly and recommended a treatment after hearing what I wanted.

    Alf · Google · 3 months ago

  • ★★★★★中文
    经朋友介绍,来WELLS皮肤科做了热玛吉和超声刀,医院总体来讲,整洁安静,院长的技术也非常专业熟练,职员也比较热情,下次会介绍朋友来的。

    TranslationA friend introduced me, and I came to WELLS Dermatology for Thermage and Ultherapy. The clinic is clean and quiet, the director's technique is very professional and skilled, and the staff are warm. Next time I'll bring friends.

    Xiaoli · Google · 7 months ago

Read all reviews on Google ↗

Dr. Choi TV

Dr. Choi explains it on YouTube — written out

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Watch

Dr. Choi explains, in his own words

From his channel “World’s Skin King”. Videos are in Korean; pressing play turns on YouTube’s auto-translated English subtitles.

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Shorts

Quick answers in under a minute

Short clips from the WELLS clinic channel — the questions patients ask most.

Why Ultherapy costs what it does

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Pico lasers explained: what the names mean

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All Shorts on YouTube ↗

Access

WELLS Dermatology & Medical Spa, Apgujeong

Address
8F Apgujeong Building, 842 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea서울특별시 강남구 논현로 842 8층
Subway
Line 3 Apgujeong Station, Exit 3 — 5 min walk
Hours
Mon–Fri: 10 AM–8 PM · Sat: 10 AM–5 PM · Closed for lunch: 1–2 PMClosed Sundays & public holidays
Phone
+82-2-542-2372
Language
English, Chinese & Japanese interpreters on staffAny other language via our in-house AI interpreter app
Email
wellsclinic@gmail.com
Parking
Underground self-parking is available at Apgujeong Building. Spaces may be limited.

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