Korean Facial Treatmentsin Seoul: Peels, LDM, Oxygen

A facial on this menu works on the outermost layers of the skin: the build-up of dead cells that makes skin look flat, the sebum that plugs pores, and the small inflamed spots that come with oily skin. That is the level where a peel, an extraction or a calming step can make a visible difference within one visit.

Concerns that sit deeper need a different tool. Indented acne scars, melasma, sagging along the jaw or lines that stay when the face is at rest come from changes in the dermis, the pigment cells or the tissue below, and a facial does not reach them. If one of those is your main reason for booking, the clinic's laser, booster or lifting menu is the starting point, and a facial can still be added on the same trip as upkeep.

A peel is a solution spread on clean skin that loosens the bonds holding dead cells together, so they shed over the following days and the surface reflects light more evenly. Black Peel, a product made by Theraderm, and Pink Peel are the two lighter peels on the menu, used for dead cells and sebum, and the platinum peel can be paired with extraction to empty congested pores. A review of chemical peels, mesotherapy and microneedling concluded that peels give safe, consistent results when the combination, strength and application are adjusted to the skin, whereas evidence for the other two methods lags behind their popularity (Lee, 2016).

LDM stands for local dynamic micro-massage, a care step that uses ultrasound energy on the skin without exfoliating it. Published research on LDM as a facial step is limited, so it is offered as care for comfort and condition, with no promise of a measurable change. Iontophoresis, listed as Ionto, uses a weak electric current to help a vitamin-based product move into the skin; the Iontoson device is used for it.

Evidence for each step differs in quality. In a small randomized trial, hydradermabrasion improved skin quality on clinical and tissue measures, while applying the same serum without the exfoliating step changed nothing (Freedman, 2008), which points to the exfoliation itself doing the work. Red and near-infrared light, used in some calming routines, improved skin roughness and collagen density in a controlled trial of 136 people (Wunsch, 2014). Both studies tested their own devices, so they explain principles and do not stand in for results of a specific set on this menu.

Each card shows the fee for one visit, quoted before tax; Korea's 10% VAT is added when you pay, so a card amount plus one tenth is what leaves your account. Single steps such as LDM, a peel or ionto are priced alone, and the sets bundle steps that are usually done together, such as a peel with extraction or oxygen toning with premium care.

The acne inflammation injection is counted per injection, so the total depends on how many active spots are treated on the day. Because the effect of a facial lasts about two to four weeks, travelers who plan more than one visit can space them one to two weeks apart within the same stay.

These steps are light, yet they still act on living skin, and some reactions need attention. Contact the clinic if redness keeps spreading after the third day, if blisters or crusts form, or if a treated spot becomes hot and painful.

• Redness, stinging or a tight feeling after a peel, which can last one to three days.
• Flaking and short-lived sensitivity to products you normally use.
• Darker patches after irritation (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), a higher risk in darker or tanned skin.
• Small marks, tenderness or a bruise where pores were extracted or an acne spot was injected.
• A flare of cold sores, or infection where the skin barrier is broken.

Risk also depends on whether anything is pushed into the skin rather than left on top. A systematic review of 85 microneedling studies, a common way of delivering products through the skin surface, found side effects mostly mild and temporary but also reported lasting pigment changes, track-like scarring and granuloma reactions, with extra caution advised for products not approved for use inside the skin (Chu, 2021). If you book the platinum set with exosome, ask how the exosome is applied when you receive your quote.