Aesthetic treatment FAQ for foreign patients visiting Seoul

For international patients, we recommend booking at least two to four weeks before your arrival. Appointment volume is intentionally limited — the clinic sees a small number of patients each day to allow adequate consultation time — so preferred dates fill sooner than patients expect.

If your travel window is fixed and short, contact us directly via WhatsApp (+82-10-7674-4128) or Instagram @tuneclinic_english before submitting the online booking form. We can check real-time availability and hold a slot while you finalize travel plans.

Same-week bookings are occasionally possible but cannot be relied on for itinerary planning. Request your consultation here.

Yes — and for international patients traveling specifically for treatment, this is worth doing. Send us a front-facing photo in natural light along with your primary concerns and travel dates via any of our messaging channels. Our physician will review it and provide a preliminary assessment before your visit.

That said, a pre-travel assessment is an informed starting point, not a finalized plan. Tissue texture, skin elasticity, and the fine detail that determines product selection are confirmed on the day of consultation in person. The preliminary exchange helps ensure the visit is efficient and that you arrive with realistic expectations.

To start, message us via WhatsApp or Instagram DM. See also: International Patients Guide.

To prepare a useful pre-visit assessment, the following is helpful:

• A front-facing photo in natural light (no filter, no heavy makeup)
• Your primary concern — lift and contour, volume restoration, skin quality, or a combination
• Your travel dates and return flight, so the physician can plan around recovery timelines
• Any previous aesthetic treatments and approximate dates
• Current medications, supplements, or blood thinners
• Relevant medical history (autoimmune conditions, allergies, pregnancy status)

You are not expected to arrive with a treatment decision already made. The consultation is structured to reach that together.

We understand that international travel plans change. If you need to reschedule, contact us via your preferred messaging channel — WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat, or Instagram DM — as early as possible, and we will find an alternative slot subject to availability.

There is no rescheduling penalty for reasonable notice. For same-day cancellations or no-shows, please check the specific terms communicated at the time of your booking confirmation, as these may vary depending on the program reserved.

Our concierge team is reachable Monday through Saturday during clinic hours (KST): Mon–Thu 11:00–20:00, Fri 11:00–21:00, Sat 10:00–16:00.

Occasionally, but it is not something to plan around. Tune Clinic operates on a structured appointment model — consultation time is built into each visit, and walk-in availability depends entirely on whether a slot has opened on that day.

If you are already in Apgujeong and want to check same-day availability, message us on WhatsApp before making the trip to the clinic. Walking in unannounced during a fully booked day will typically result in a wait or a reschedule.

For international patients with limited time in Seoul, a confirmed booking is strongly advisable.

Tune Clinic is located on the 5th floor, 868 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The nearest subway station is Apgujeong Station (Line 3), approximately a 5–10 minute walk.

From Incheon International Airport, the most practical options are:

• Airport Railroad (AREX) + subway transfer — approximately 70–90 minutes total; transfer at Suseo or Cheongdam area depending on routing
• Taxi or KakaoTaxi — approximately 60–90 minutes depending on traffic; show the driver the Korean address: 서울 강남구 논현로 868, 5층
• Limousine bus + subway — bus to Gangnam area, then Line 3 to Apgujeong

If you are arriving the same day as your appointment, build in transit buffer. Incheon-to-Gangnam travel can be unpredictable during peak hours.

The clinic is in the Apgujeong–Nonhyeon corridor of Gangnam, which has a range of accommodation within walking distance or a short taxi ride.

Common choices for international patients include:

• Apgujeong and Cheongdam area — boutique hotels and serviced apartments, quieter neighborhood, closest to the clinic
• Gangnam Station area — wider hotel selection, easy subway access (10–15 min to Apgujeong)
• Itaewon / Hannam-dong — popular with some international travelers; 20–30 min by taxi

We do not have formal hotel partnerships. The choice of accommodation does not affect your appointment, but staying within Gangnam simplifies same-day logistics, particularly if you want to rest nearby after injectable treatments.

It depends on what was performed. As a general orientation:

• Signature Lifting (Ultherapy) — typically zero downtime; same-day travel is usually manageable
• Volume Chamaka-se (filler) — mild swelling for 24–48 hours is common; a same-day long-haul flight is possible but a next-day departure is preferable when feasible
• The Collagen Builder (Rejuran + Juvelook) — mild injection-site swelling for up to 24 hours; similar guidance as above
• Metacell Protocol (PRP + energy device) — subject to physician assessment on the day; some component protocols may have more specific rest recommendations

Your physician will factor in your return flight time when planning the session. If same-day travel is essential, say so at booking — the plan can often be structured around it.

Flying immediately after treatment does not create a medical risk for most energy-based procedures, but the combination of mild swelling and altitude pressure is worth planning for if your departure is the same evening.

In many cases, yes. Several of our programs are designed to deliver meaningful results in a single visit, which is the reality of how most international patients travel.

The Signature Lifting, Volume Chamaka-se, and Collagen Builder programs can each be completed in one session. Some patients combine two in a single visit, subject to physician assessment on the day.

The Metacell Protocol, which involves autologous PRP processing and customized energy device application, may benefit from a follow-up session depending on the treatment objective — this is discussed at consultation, not assumed.

For patients returning regularly, a repeat visit is typically planned at 6–12 months, not sooner, unless a specific protocol requires otherwise. A single well-planned visit is the norm, not the exception.

Korea offers visa-free entry for citizens of many countries, typically for stays of 30–90 days. For cosmetic and aesthetic procedures, no special medical visa category is generally required — standard tourist entry is applicable for most international patients.

Visa rules vary by nationality and are subject to change. We recommend verifying the current entry requirements for your passport through your country's foreign ministry or the Korean immigration portal before travel.

We do not provide visa documentation or letters of invitation as a standard service, but if your situation requires a supporting document, contact us in advance to discuss what may be possible.

You don't need to decide before arriving. Chamaka-se is a physician-curated approach, not a menu — the physician assesses your tissue characteristics, volume distribution, laxity, and travel constraints, then identifies the most rational pathway. The consultation is the selection process.

What you can do beforehand is clarify your primary concern:

• Lift and contour → typically Signature Lifting or Metacell Protocol
• Volume restoration → Volume Chamaka-se
• Skin quality, fine lines, collagen foundation → The Collagen Builder
• Combined objectives → subject to assessment; combinations are often possible in one visit

See the full program menu for a structured overview, or send us photos and your concern before the visit for a preliminary orientation.

The goal is not to offer you the most treatments — it is to identify the most clinically rational one.

Chamaka-se (차마카세, a portmanteau of the Korean word cha meaning to fill or layer, and omakase, the Japanese term for chef's discretion) describes the clinic's treatment philosophy: the physician, not the patient, determines the specific technique, product, depth, and volume based on clinical assessment of each individual's anatomy.

The rationale is straightforward. Aesthetic outcomes depend more on the precision of execution than on which brand or device is used. When patients arrive with a pre-selected product or volume in mind, the plan is often suboptimal for their actual tissue. Chamaka-se inverts that — the physician identifies what the anatomy requires, then works backward to the appropriate tools.

This is not a proprietary technology. It is a framework for physician-led decision-making that the clinic applies consistently. You can read more about it on the Design Method page.

Yes, in many cases — subject to physician assessment on the day. Several combinations are both safe and logical in a single session:

• Signature Lifting + Volume Chamaka-se — energy-based tightening followed by volume placement is a well-sequenced combination
• The Collagen Builder + Signature Lifting — skin-quality treatment layered with structural tightening
• Metacell Protocol combined components — PRP and energy device application are often performed together as part of that protocol

Not every combination is advisable in one session. Factors that influence this include total procedure time, skin condition on the day, tolerance, and travel timeline. The physician will review this at consultation and sequence or stagger accordingly.

If combining is important to your itinerary, note this in your booking so the appointment duration is planned appropriately.

This happens, and it is worth understanding why. When a physician examines your anatomy in person, they often find that the treatment you arrived expecting is either less suited to your tissue than an alternative, or that the combination you read about online does not match your actual clinical picture.

The recommendation will be explained — not handed to you as a take-it-or-leave-it directive. You will understand the reasoning before anything is agreed. If you have a strong preference for a specific approach, say so; the physician will clarify what the clinical tradeoffs are.

Nothing is performed without your informed consent. If after the consultation you prefer to go elsewhere or think further before proceeding, that is a reasonable outcome. The consultation fee is not contingent on booking a treatment.

In most cases, yes — though the specific approach depends on the degree and character of the concern, not just the category.

• Jowls and laxity → Signature Lifting (Ultherapy 350-shot) addresses deep tissue planes; Metacell Protocol may be appropriate for more advanced laxity
• Pores and skin texture → The Collagen Builder (Rejuran + Juvelook Skin) works on dermal quality; Metacell Protocol's PBM component also addresses this
• Volume loss → Volume Chamaka-se (Juvelook Volume 8cc) is designed specifically for collagen-stimulating volume restoration in hollowed or deflated areas
• Fine lines and collagen depletion → The Collagen Builder addresses this directly; Signature Lifting has secondary benefit for superficial lines

If your concern spans multiple categories, note that in your booking message. A combined approach may be the most rational plan.

This is a reasonable and important question to ask before treatment, not after. Our approach:

Every patient who undergoes treatment receives direct physician contact information before leaving the clinic. If something appears unusual in the days following — unexpected swelling, skin changes, pain that feels disproportionate — you can reach the treating physician directly, not a general inbox.

For injectable treatments, we provide written aftercare instructions that include a clear description of what is within the expected range and what warrants immediate contact. If you are back in your home country and something requires local evaluation, we will coordinate with your local physician directly if needed, including providing procedure documentation.

For the rare event of a serious complication such as a vascular occlusion with filler, the first step is immediate local emergency care — not waiting to reach us. We explain this explicitly during consultation. You can read more about our approach to filler safety in the article Filler Vascular Occlusion Explained.

A clinic that has thought through post-departure support before you ask is more likely to have thought through everything else carefully too.

All products used at Tune Clinic are sourced through licensed Korean medical distributors. Korea's pharmaceutical and medical device regulator is the MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) — the Korean equivalent of the US FDA in scope and authority. Both are genuine regulatory bodies.

The key products used in our programs:

• Ultherapy (Signature Lifting) — MFDS-cleared focused ultrasound device, also FDA-cleared
• Juvelook Volume (Volume Chamaka-se) — MFDS-approved PDLLA/HA collagen-stimulating product
• Rejuran + Juvelook Skin (Collagen Builder) — MFDS-approved polynucleotide and HA products
• Autologous PRP (Metacell Protocol) — processed from the patient's own blood; no external approval required as it is derived from the patient

We do not use unregistered products or gray-market imports. If you have a question about a specific product's regulatory status, ask at consultation and we will provide the documentation.

All treatments at Tune Clinic are performed by a physician. The consultation, treatment plan, and procedure itself are physician-led throughout.

This is not universal in Korean aesthetic medicine, where some clinics delegate injection procedures or device operation to nurses or trained technicians under supervision. At Tune Clinic, the model is different: the physician who assesses you is the same person who performs your treatment. This matters because the execution of injectable treatments and energy device calibration involves real-time judgment that depends on what the physician sees and feels during the procedure — not only what was planned beforehand.

Ask any clinic directly: who is holding the syringe? The answer tells you something important about how they think about safety.

Longevity varies by treatment type and individual factors — skin quality, age, lifestyle, and the degree of the original concern all influence duration.

• Signature Lifting (Ultherapy) — lifting effect typically develops over 2–3 months and, in most cases, is perceptible for 12–18 months; the underlying collagen stimulus is permanent in the sense that new collagen is formed, but aging continues
• Volume Chamaka-se (Juvelook Volume) — collagen stimulation builds over 4–8 weeks; volume effect typically lasts 12–18 months depending on individual metabolism
• The Collagen Builder — skin quality improvement is cumulative; most patients notice sustained improvement at 3 months, with effect duration typically 9–12 months before a repeat is considered
• Metacell Protocol — duration is subject to physician assessment at baseline; regenerative responses vary and are discussed individually

No aesthetic treatment stops the aging process. What these interventions do, if clinically appropriate for your anatomy, is slow its visible progression and restore structure that has already been lost.

The timeline differs by treatment. A general orientation for the most common programs:

Signature Lifting (Ultherapy):

• 1 week — no visible change is normal; mild tenderness may persist
• 1 month — early collagen remodeling; subtle improvement in contour for some patients
• 3 months — peak visible result in most cases; lifting and tightening are most apparent
• 1 year — effect has typically plateaued; most patients consider a repeat session at this interval

Volume Chamaka-se / Collagen Builder (injectables):

• 1 week — swelling resolved; product is settling into tissue
• 1 month — early collagen stimulation; volume and skin texture improvement visible
• 3 months — full collagen response; this is often when the result is most satisfying
• 1 year — gradual softening of effect; many patients schedule a maintenance visit around this point

The 3-month mark is typically when we ask patients to send a photo. If the result is not what was expected, that is the right time to assess — not one week out, when swelling has only just resolved.

The photos represent real patients treated at Tune Clinic. They are not retouched and are taken under consistent lighting conditions.

Whether they represent a typical outcome depends on the clinical similarity between you and the patient shown. Factors that affect this include age, skin quality, degree of laxity, baseline volume, and what was actually performed. A dramatic result in a 45-year-old with significant jowling is not the same benchmark as what is appropriate for a 32-year-old with early laxity.

We do not select gallery photos to show only the most dramatic responses. We also do not present them as a promise of what you will achieve. During consultation, the physician will describe what a realistic range of outcome looks like for your specific anatomy — not in general, but for you.

If a clinic's gallery makes every patient look transformed, ask to see the moderate results too. That is where the clinical standard actually lives.

Downtime depends on the treatment selected:

• Signature Lifting (Ultherapy) — typically no visible downtime; mild skin sensitivity and occasional redness resolve within hours in most patients
• Volume Chamaka-se (filler/Juvelook Volume) — mild swelling for 24–48 hours is common; bruising is possible, particularly around the under-eye or perioral zones
• The Collagen Builder (Rejuran + Juvelook Skin) — small injection-site papules for 12–24 hours; resolves without intervention in most cases
• Metacell Protocol — variable; discussed at consultation based on which components are included

For international patients, the treatment plan is always reviewed against your return travel date. If your flight is in 24 hours, the physician will factor that into product and technique selection.

Yes. We offer:

• Topical anesthetic cream — applied before injectable procedures as standard
• Targeted comfort blocks — local anesthetic injections for areas where topical coverage is insufficient, particularly for filler in the midface or perioral region
• IV conscious sedation — available for patients who prefer to be more deeply comfortable during energy-based treatments; eligibility is confirmed after a medical history review. An 8-hour fast may be required if sedation is requested

If sedation is a priority for you, note this at the time of booking and message us via WhatsApp ahead of your visit so the pre-screening can be done in advance.

Written aftercare instructions are provided at the clinic specific to your treatment. In general:

For the first 24 hours after injectables:

• Avoid heavy exercise, saunas, and direct heat
• Sleep with head slightly elevated if swelling is present
• Do not press or massage the treated area
• Minimal sun exposure; SPF if outdoors

After energy-based lifting:

• No specific restrictions in most cases; normal activity typically resumes the same day
• Avoid high-heat environments (sauna, hot yoga) for 48 hours as a precaution

Skincare products can usually be resumed the following day unless the skin barrier was more intensively treated. Specific product conflicts will be flagged at consultation if relevant.

A formal in-clinic follow-up is not required for most programs. However, we do ask patients to send a photo at approximately 4–6 weeks post-treatment, which allows the physician to assess the tissue response and confirm the outcome is within the expected range.

If you are planning to return to Seoul within the year — which many international patients do — a follow-up or maintenance visit can be planned then. For the Metacell Protocol, a follow-up timeline is discussed individually at consultation as part of the protocol design.

You are never required to return, but if your result raises a question at any point, we remain reachable via messaging channels and will assess the situation remotely when possible.

After your treatment, you will have direct messaging access to the clinic via WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat, KakaoTalk, or Instagram DM — whichever channel you used to communicate during the booking process.

If you have a question or concern in the days after treatment, send a message with a photo of the area if relevant. A physician-level response is provided, not a template reply from a front-desk team.

Response times during clinic hours (KST): Mon–Thu 11:00–20:00, Fri 11:00–21:00, Sat 10:00–16:00. For anything that appears urgent outside these hours — unexpected skin changes, disproportionate pain — seek local care first, then message us.

The prices listed for our fixed programs are accurate and all-inclusive for the named protocol:

• Signature Lifting — ₩770,000 (Ultherapy 350-shot, full face)
• Volume Chamaka-se — ₩770,000 (Juvelook Volume 8cc)
• The Collagen Builder — ₩770,000 (Rejuran + Juvelook Skin)
• Metacell Protocol — From ₩2,000,000 (subject to physician assessment; price varies by scope)

If the physician determines at consultation that a modified scope is clinically appropriate — for example, a different volume or additional area — the cost implication is explained before you agree to anything. Nothing is added to your bill without prior discussion.

See the full menu page for current program pricing.

Tune Clinic is a Korean medical clinic operating under Korean medical law, and our pricing is set and charged in Korean Won (KRW). This is the same currency you will pay in at the clinic, which is why quoting in KRW is the most accurate representation.

For reference, at the time these programs were priced, ₩770,000 is approximately USD $560–580. The actual USD equivalent will depend on the exchange rate at the time of your visit — the KRW amount you pay does not change.

We recommend checking the current KRW/USD (or KRW to your local currency) rate on a live converter before your trip. Exchange rates fluctuate, and we cannot quote in foreign currencies as a clinical policy.

The clinic accepts:

• Korean credit and debit cards — accepted directly
• International credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) — accepted at the clinic terminal; a foreign transaction fee from your card issuer may apply
• Cash (KRW) — accepted; you can exchange currency at Incheon Airport or at any bank or currency exchange in Gangnam

Wire transfer or pre-payment from abroad is not a standard option for single-visit programs. If you have a specific payment requirement, ask in advance and we will clarify what is possible.

No. The program price listed covers the procedure as described. There is no mandatory consultation fee charged separately, no facility or handling surcharge added at checkout, and no required product purchases to take home.

The only scenario where the figure changes from what is on the menu is if the physician recommends a scope modification during consultation — a different volume, an additional zone, or a different product than what the package specifies. That conversation happens explicitly, with the revised cost stated, before any procedure begins.

If you have a specific budget ceiling, say so at consultation. The physician will work within it or tell you clearly if the most appropriate treatment for your anatomy costs more and why.

Yes. Tune Clinic operates an English-language patient pathway specifically for international patients. The concierge team communicates in English across all messaging channels — WhatsApp, Instagram, LINE, WeChat, and KakaoTalk — and English is available during the in-clinic consultation as well.

The Instagram account @tuneclinic_english is maintained specifically for international patients, which reflects that this is a structured pathway rather than an ad-hoc accommodation.

If you speak another language and are uncertain whether it is supported, ask via the messaging channels before booking and we will clarify.

Yes — all of these are active and monitored. Contact details:

• WhatsApp — +82-10-7674-4128
• Instagram DM — @tuneclinic_english
• LINE — QR code available on the booking page
• WeChat — QR code available on the booking page
• KakaoTalk — available; contact via WhatsApp first if you are unsure of the channel ID

Response times follow clinic hours: Mon–Thu 11:00–20:00, Fri 11:00–21:00, Sat 10:00–16:00 (KST). Messages received outside these hours are answered on the next business day.

Aftercare does not end at the clinic door. International patients retain the same messaging access they had before and during their visit — the same WhatsApp number, the same Instagram DM channel, the same LINE or WeChat contact.

What this looks like in practice:

• You message a photo if something looks unusual — swelling that seems asymmetric, a bruise that isn't resolving, unexpected skin changes
• A physician-level response addresses whether what you're seeing is within normal range or needs evaluation
• If local evaluation is needed, we provide documentation of the procedure (products used, volumes, technique) that your local physician or dermatologist can reference

We do not charge for post-treatment messaging. The goal is that patients who came from abroad are not in a worse position than local patients when it comes to aftercare access.

See the International Patients Guide for a fuller overview of the pathway.

The programs at Tune Clinic are not categorically restricted by age or sex. In practice:

Men — the structural anatomy differs in meaningful ways (denser soft tissue, different volume distribution, different aesthetic priorities). The physician assesses male patients on the same clinical basis; the Chamaka-se approach adjusts for anatomy, not demographic. Male patients are seen regularly at the clinic.

Patients 60 and older — the degree of laxity and volume loss is typically greater, which affects what can be achieved and may influence which combination of treatments is appropriate. Energy-based lifting in particular requires skin with adequate baseline collagen to respond. What is realistic is discussed honestly at consultation, not overstated.

Patients in their 20s — the most common presenting concerns in this age group are skin quality, early prevention, and pore texture rather than laxity. The Collagen Builder and selective Metacell Protocol components may be appropriate; energy-based tightening is less commonly indicated unless there is a specific structural concern.

Age is a variable in the clinical assessment, not a gate. The physician will tell you clearly what is and is not appropriate for your specific anatomy at your specific stage.

Please disclose the following before or at the time of consultation. Some are absolute contraindications for specific treatments; others require modified planning.

• Pregnancy or active breastfeeding — almost all aesthetic procedures are deferred; please disclose this before travel
• Active autoimmune conditions (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's, etc.) — some procedures may be contraindicated or require physician-to-physician clearance; disclose the diagnosis and current medications
• Blood thinners or anticoagulants (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, etc.) — injectable treatments carry higher bruising risk; the physician will assess risk-benefit and may request a medication pause if your prescribing physician permits
• NSAIDs and supplements (aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo) — these increase bruising risk with injectables; we typically recommend stopping 5–7 days before if medically appropriate for you
• Active skin infection, cold sore, or open wound in the treatment area — procedures in that zone are deferred until resolved
• History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring — relevant to injectable decisions
• Previous filler or energy-based treatments — timing and product used affect planning; disclose what was done and approximately when

Disclosing a medical condition does not automatically disqualify you from treatment. It gives the physician the information needed to treat you safely. Withholding it does not.