Yaan Clinic · Seoul, Korea
Cost Guide · Clinic Selection & TrustGangnam Skin Clinic
Cost Guide for International Patients
Treatment price lists only tell part of the story — consultation policy, VAT refund eligibility, and package structure often matter more to your actual total. This guide breaks down what really drives cost at a Gangnam skin clinic.
What actually determines what I’ll pay at a Gangnam skin clinic? Most clinics don’t charge for the consultation itself if you book treatment, foreign tourists can often claim a VAT refund on qualifying services, and multi-session treatments are usually meaningfully cheaper booked as a package than paid one session at a time — the treatment type and area size still set the base price, but these three factors change your actual total more than most patients expect.
What Actually Moves
Your Total Cost
Two patients asking for “the same treatment” at a Gangnam clinic can walk away with very different quotes, and the treatment name itself is rarely the reason why. Area size, the specific device or product used, whether the doctor personally administers the treatment, and how many sessions are actually needed all move the number more than the base treatment category does.
This is why a quote given over email without a consultation is only ever a rough range. For a full breakdown of what’s actually in your quote, see Gangnam Skin Clinic selection guide, which covers how to evaluate a clinic beyond price alone.
| Cost Driver | Why It Matters | What to Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Area size / coverage | Larger treatment areas use more product or device passes | “Is this quote for full face or a specific zone?” |
| Session count | Some treatments need a course, not a single visit | “How many sessions to see the result I want?” |
| Doctor vs. non-doctor | Doctor-administered injectables typically cost more | “Will the doctor personally perform this?” |
| Device / product brand | Original vs. alternative brands price differently | “Which specific device or product is used?” |
A written quote listing device, session count, and what’s included is worth more than a verbal estimate — ask for one before committing to travel.
Consultation Fees
and VAT Refund
Most Gangnam clinics, Yaan included, don’t bill a separate consultation fee when the visit results in a booked treatment — the assessment is folded into the overall service rather than charged as its own line item. If you’re consulting purely for advice with no intention to book, it’s worth confirming this upfront, since policy does vary by clinic.
Foreign tourists are also often eligible for a VAT refund on qualifying medical and aesthetic services, processed either on-site at the clinic or through Korea’s standard tourist refund system at departure. Not every treatment category qualifies the same way, so it’s worth asking the clinic to confirm eligibility for your specific treatment before paying rather than assuming it applies universally.
A note on “free” consultations
A genuinely free consultation still involves real doctor time — clinics that don’t charge for it are typically covering that cost through treatment pricing rather than offering something at no cost to anyone. This isn’t a red flag on its own, but it’s worth knowing when comparing a “free consultation” clinic against one that charges a small consultation fee but applies it toward treatment.
Yaan Clinic · Gangnam Seoul
Package Pricing
vs. Paying Per Session
For treatments that genuinely need a multi-session course to see meaningful results — laser series, microneedling courses, some device-based lifting treatments — package pricing is usually meaningfully cheaper per session than booking one visit at a time. The tradeoff is upfront commitment to a set number of sessions before seeing the full result.
Good fit for packages
Treatments where the doctor already recommends a course — acne scarring, pigmentation, texture — where each session builds on the last.
Poor fit for packages
A treatment where a single session already met your goal — buying a course “just in case” adds cost without a clear added benefit.
Ask before committing
Whether unused sessions in a package can be refunded or transferred if your travel plans change mid-course.
How This Compares
to Home-Country Pricing
For most device-based and injectable aesthetic treatments, total cost in Korea — including travel — still tends to come in lower than the same treatment booked at a comparable clinic in the US, UK, or Australia, largely due to lower baseline procedure pricing rather than any difference in device or product quality. This gap is generally larger for treatments requiring multiple sessions, since the per-session savings compounds across a course.
Exact savings depend heavily on your home-country baseline and travel costs — the comparison is directional, not a guaranteed number, and is worth calculating against your own local quotes.
Frequently Asked
Questions
- Is the consultation itself free at a Gangnam skin clinic?
- Many Gangnam clinics, including Yaan, don’t charge a separate consultation fee when the visit leads to booking treatment — the consultation is treated as part of the treatment planning process rather than a billable service on its own. If you’re only consulting without booking, it’s worth confirming this policy in advance since it does vary by clinic.
- Can I get a VAT refund on aesthetic treatments in Korea?
- Foreign tourists can claim a VAT refund on qualifying medical and aesthetic services at participating clinics, processed on-site or through Korea’s tourist refund system — ask your clinic to confirm eligibility and process before paying, since not every treatment category qualifies the same way.
- Are package prices actually cheaper than paying per session?
- For treatments that genuinely require multiple sessions to see results — such as laser or microneedling courses — package pricing is usually meaningfully cheaper per session than paying one at a time. It’s a poor value, though, if pushed for a treatment where a single session was already sufficient for your goals.
- Why do quotes vary so much between clinics for what sounds like the same treatment?
- The same treatment name can mean very different things depending on device brand, energy setting, area size, and doctor seniority, so two quotes for “the same treatment” often aren’t actually comparable. Asking exactly what’s included — device model, number of shots or passes, doctor vs. non-doctor administration — makes quotes easier to compare fairly.
- Should I pay a deposit before traveling to Korea for treatment?
- A reasonable deposit to hold a specific appointment slot is normal, especially around busy periods, but the balance is typically confirmed and paid at the clinic after an in-person assessment — not the full amount sight unseen. Be cautious of any clinic asking for full payment before you’ve had any consultation at all.
Gangnam Today Want a
Written Quote?
- KakaoTalk: pf.kakao.com/_xbtAcE
- WhatsApp: +82 10 5308-0499
- English-speaking staff available
- 6F, 5 Bongeunsa-ro 82-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Bongeunsa Station Exit 7 — 5 min walk
- Phone: +82 2-501-1323
Meet Your Specialist
Planning from overseas? Send photos of your concern via WhatsApp before booking — Dr. Choi can give you a realistic written quote, including whether a package makes sense, before you commit to travel.
Dr. Wontak Choi
Aesthetic Medicine SpecialistYaan Skin Clinic, Gangnam
Dr. Choi provides a written quote at consultation covering device, session count, and what’s included — so patients can decide with a clear number rather than a rough estimate.
- Academic Advisor — Merz Korea (Xeomin manufacturer)
- Certified Key Doctor — Restylane & Radiesse
- 15 years specialized experience in aesthetic medicine
- Regular speaker at international aesthetic medicine symposiums
Get a Written Quote –
No Obligation
No foreigner markup · VAT refund on-site · English staffNew to Korea? See the foreigner friendly skin clinic Gangnam guide first · Bongeunsa Station Exit 7 · Gangnam-gu, Seoul WhatsApp Pre-Consultation KakaoTalk · WhatsApp +82 10 5308-0499 · English available
