Skin Analysis Seoul: Why Your Skin Needs a Test Before a Treatment

What can a skin analysis Seoul visit tell you about your skin?

I'm Dr. Won Woo Choi, a board-certified dermatologist (M.D., Ph.D.) trained at Seoul National University Hospital and Medical Director of WELLS Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul. This article is based on my YouTube video from August 2022 above, where I explain the skin microbiome; translated English captions are available on YouTube.

A skin analysis Seoul visit at WELLS tells you what state your skin is actually in before anyone chooses a treatment for you: its oil and moisture balance, the diversity of the microbes living on it, how healthy the barrier is and how prone it is to inflammation. That is the missing step if you have been choosing treatments from friends' advice or online reviews and your skin has not responded the way theirs did.

At WELLS this means two specific checks: a 3D imaging analysis of the face before lifting treatments, and a skin-microbiome test before Thermage MAX. Below I explain why skin that looks the same can behave differently, what the test measures, and how the result shapes the plan we make for you.

Why does the same treatment work for others but not for you?

Because two faces that look alike on the surface can be very different underneath. One of the reasons is the skin microbiome: the whole community of bacteria, fungi and viruses living on your skin, and in particular their combined genetic information. These microbes interact with the body; they can help keep skin healthy, and they can also influence disease.

Research on the human microbiome has focused on two main sites, the gut and the skin. In the video I group the skin findings into three areas:

• Normal skin function: keeping the barrier intact, defending against harmful bacteria and holding the skin's immune state at a steady level.
• Skin aging: the microbial genetic profile on young children's skin differs from that on older skin, so researchers study which microbes are linked to aging and which may help hold it back.
• Skin disease: many links have been found with acne and atopic dermatitis.

So two people who both describe their skin as "dull and sensitive" can have different barrier health and a different tendency to inflame. A plan copied from someone else ignores that difference, which is often why it disappoints.

How does a skin analysis in Korea work at WELLS?

It works as a measurement step built into treatment, not as a stand-alone gadget. The skin-microbiome test is part of our Thermage MAX protocol: a sample from your skin is analyzed for function and for quality before the radiofrequency treatment begins.

• Function: oil and moisture levels.
• Quality: microbial diversity, barrier health and vulnerability to inflammation.

The dermatologist goes through the result with you before treatment, alongside an examination of your skin in person. When you come back a year later, we repeat the test and compare the two results, so you see a measured change rather than a guess. The full protocol is on our Thermage MAX page.

It suits people with loose skin on the cheeks, jawline and neck, fine lines and loss of firmness, or anyone who has had standard Thermage and wants a more consistent result. For other lifting treatments, the 3D analysis maps each area of the face so the energy and shot distribution can be set individually.

What should you expect from the test and the visit?

Expect a conversation with a dermatologist, not a printout. A microbiome test describes the state of your skin's microbial community; it is not a diagnosis on its own and it does not replace a dermatologist examining your skin in person.

For Thermage MAX we do not use deep sedation. Non-sedation Air NOX with local anesthetic keeps you awake and comfortable, no fasting is needed, and you can drive afterwards. Your dermatologist decides at consultation whether 600 or 900 shots suits the area to be treated.

The microbiome test is included in Thermage MAX, listed at ₩3,465,000 (VAT excluded) for 600 shots and ₩4,477,000 (VAT excluded) for 900 shots. WELLS does not list a separate price for analysis alone. What the test shows is used to plan your treatment; how your skin responds is assessed in person, and individual results vary.

Why do patients fly to WELLS for a skin analysis Seoul visit?

Because the microbiome is our research field, not a marketing add-on. At WELLS we have carried out IRB-approved skin-microbiome research together with CutisBio, the biotech company I lead, comparing healthy skin with skin affected by acne. The clinic also took part in a 2016 acne microbiome study with research institutions in the US and Luxembourg.

• A board-certified dermatologist handles your consultation, diagnosis and treatment.
• Diagnosis before treatment: 3D analysis before lifting and a microbiome test before Thermage MAX.
• Genuine Thermage tips are used; if a tip is ever found not to be genuine, we refund ten times the treatment price.
• Consultations are available in English, and the clinic has been in Apgujeong since 2008.

How do you plan a skin analysis trip to Seoul?

Start with a message, not a booking. Send your skin concern, a photo if you like, and your travel dates on WhatsApp; we reply in English with options and appointment times. At the clinic a dermatologist examines your skin, runs the analysis where the treatment calls for it, and confirms the plan and price.

WELLS is on the 8th floor of the Apgujeong Building, 842 Nonhyeon-ro, about five minutes on foot from Apgujeong Station (Line 3), Exit 3. If you are still choosing a clinic, my notes on how to choose a korean dermatologist and on thermage in seoul may help you plan.

Results vary from person to person, and the right plan for you is decided in consultation with your dermatologist.

This article explains general medical information from the video. It is not a diagnosis; results vary by person and are decided in consultation.