If you are interested in getting skin whitening treatment in Korea, then this is the guide for you.
We will go over everything you should know before, including:
- What is skin whitening
- Types of skin whitening treatments
- Skin whitening cost in Korea
- Why choose Korea for skin whitening
- Best skin whitening clinics in Seoul
Skin whitening, or skin lightning, is a cosmetic procedure that helps you lighten dark areas of skin or achieve a generally paler-looking skin.
It can help improve the appearance of blemishes like birthmarks, dark patches, etc. It can even help your skin to appear more bright and white-looking.
Skin whitening works by reducing the amount of melanin produced in the skin because melanin is what gives the skin its pigment. The more melanin your body produces, the darker your skin.
The main two techniques used for asking for whitening are:
- skin whitening injections
- whitening laser
While skin whitening injections are cheaper and non-invasive, whitening laser gets you results that last longer than those from injections while still very affordable.
Typically, your insurance provider won’t cover your skin whitening procedure as it’s for cosmetic purposes.
If you have darker patches of skin that look off or have several birthmarks, skin whitening might be a solution for you.
Laser treatment is the most effective, minimally invasive, and offers long-term results. However, skin whitening injections are also a great choice.
Recovery
It can take 1 to 2 weeks for your skin to recover from skin whitening laser treatment. For whitening injections, there is typically no recovery time after the procedure.
You may want to take a few days off work and daily activities until you are happy with your skin appearance. However, if you wish, you can return to work the day after the treatment.
You might notice some swelling or bruising after the treatment. Don’t worry, as symptoms will disappear after 3 to 7 days.
For the next few months, your skin will be sensitive to the sun, so be careful and follow your doctor’s instructions.
Results
A difference in skin from skin whitening treatments is apparent almost immediately after the procedure.
However, it may take some time to notice the final results, as some swelling and bruising can happen. Plus, your skin needs to recover from the treatment.
Your skin will fade into a whiter color in the next few months after skin whitening treatment.
Usually, one or two treatments are enough for satisfactory results. However, you can always get another treatment if you want more distinct and brighter results.
It’s recommended to undergo skin whitening treatment 2 to 3 times for optimal results. It can take time to notice visible changes.
Skin Whitening Treatments In Korea
In Korea, skin whitening is usually done with injections. You can also get it done using a laser. However, each clinic has its brands of lasers and injections.
One thing to remember is that some Korean clinics do not use the name ”skin whitening” to describe this procedure. Injections are often called glutathione injections. Laser treatment is also called pigmentation treatment.
Wording purely depends on the clinics, so look for all possible synonyms when researching.
The most popular method for skin whitening in Korea is whitening injections.
Skin Whitening Or Glutathione Injections
This method uses injections to inject an ingredient known as glutathione. These types of injections are also called the ”Snow White injections”.
Skin whitening injections can:
- Make the skin smoother and appear brighter
- Help get rid of dark marks or acne spots
- Reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines – anti-aging effect
Along with ”Snow White injections,” another type is available in Korea. This type is called the ”Cinderella injections”. They contain a different ingredient than glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid.
Skin whitening injections have become a prevalent method in Korea, used to achieve brighter skin in Korea.
The simplicity of the procedure, low cost, and satisfying results are why it is becoming popular among foreign patients as well.
How Is It Done
Skin whitening injections are a fairly simple procedure. It is short and has zero downtime.
On average, skin whitening injections treatment takes around 30 minutes. However, it can take longer. It all depends on your wishes and skin.
Usually, the effects won’t be very noticeable after one session. We recommend you book multiple short sessions. Clinics give a discount for that, so don’t worry about the cost. We will go over the prices later on.
This type of treatment is done using an IV placed inside your vein. A dermatologist will then use a syringe to inject the glutathione.
When the treatment is finished, you will have a bandage put over the injection site. You will not be under anesthesia during this procedure.
Skin Whitening Laser Or Pigmentation Treatment
Another method of skin whitening is done using a laser. This type of skin whitening is often called ”Pigmentation treatment”.
There are a ton of lasers that clinics use for laser skin whitening. Every clinic has a different one. However, the procedure is more or less the same.
Most commonly, patients get laser treatment if they want to:
- Get rid of dark sunspots
- Get rid of freckles
- To reduce their melanin production
Skin whitening laser treatment can also improve your skin and reduce signs of aging.
Just like skin whitening injections, this treatment is cheap, simple, and can produce very satisfying results. Even though it’s not as popular as injections, it’s still a common choice among Koreans.
How Is It Done
There is no fancy way of performing skin whitening laser treatment.
The way it works is that with the help of a laser, a dermatologist will remove the outer layer of the skin. He can also target and damage cells that produce melanin.
However, it all depends on your wishes, facial features, and the type of laser used.
Just as with skin whitening injections, you might need multiple sessions with a laser as well. It depends on your skin and wishes.
We recommend you try to fit in as many sessions during your stay in Korea. That way, you can get the best possible results.
Skin Whitening Cost In Korea
On average, you can expect to pay around 144.000 KRW (=110 $) for skin whitening treatment in Korea.
However, the final cost varies because of different factors like:
- Clinic reputation: Some more reputable clinics charge more because of their reputation.
- Injection brand: some skin whitening injection brands cost more. However, most Korean clinics use products from Korea, making them cheaper.
- Treatment area: Treatment prices vary depending on treatment sites, as larger ones tend to be more expensive
- Type of treatment: although laser treatment is more expensive than injections, it’s still very cheap.
Skin whitening is popular in Korea and available at many plastic surgery clinics in Seoul. Many skin whitening products used worldwide are from Korea.
Fierce competition between Korean clinics is driving prices lower. This goes for both skin whitening injections and whitening lasers as the two most common types of treatment.
Note that the above price is the average for both laser and injection treatments together! It also includes some common costs like medication or extra fees. Those usually do not exceed 30,000 KRW (= 21$).
Skin Whitening Injections Cost In Korea
The average cost of glutathione injections per session is 65,000 KRW (= 45$).
A crucial factor regarding the cost of injections is the number of sessions. The more sessions you have, the higher the price.
However, clinics will offer you a discount if you buy a package of multiple sessions. These can cost up to 500,000 KRW (= 350$) for 10 sessions.
Skin Whitening Laser Cost In Korea
The per-session cost of skin whitening laser treatment in Korea is higher than for injections.
It’s worth noting that certain laser treatments, which use different types of lasers, can be more expensive than others.
The lowest per-session price of skin whitening laser treatment is around 80,000 KRW (= 56$). The more expensive treatment prices can go as high as 600,000 KRW (= 420$).
Results from the laser are longer-lasting and more defined compared to injections, hence the higher prices.
Compared To Other Countries
Compared to other countries, Korea is a more affordable and budget-friendly choice for skin whitening.
Competition between clinics is bringing prices down, so they are always competitive and attract customers.
For the same procedure, you can expect to pay:
- An average of around 525.000 KRW (=400 $) in the US.
- An average of around 260.00 KRW (=200 $) in Australia.
- An average of around 325.000 KRW (=250 $) in the UK.
Keep in mind that these are only ballpark numbers. The above prices don’t include all the other costs. However, prices in Korea include everything, and there are no hidden costs to pay.
Korea is much more affordable compared to other prices. Not only do their prices include everything, but you can also save a lot of money in different ways.
Let’s quickly go over our tips for saving money on plastic surgery in Korea.
Save More Money In Korea
Korea is already budget-friendly and very affordable for skin whitening treatment.
However, there are still plenty of ways to save more money. Let’s go over our tips on saving money:
Paying In Full
Korean clinics prefer that you pay in full instead of in monthly installments.
If you decide to pay in full for your procedure, clinics will happily offer discounts of up to 10%. Clinics will also give you a discounted price if you buy a package deal for skin whitening treatment (multiple sessions).
You can also try asking for a discount when paying.
Before And After Showcases
If you are a perfect candidate, clinics will ask you to participate in their before and after showcases.
This is a great way for you to save money if you are okay with clinics posting your photos on their websites.
Additional Procedures
Skin whitening treatment is a great opportunity to get an extra procedure done. Because it’s short and with no recovery time, you can get another similar procedure as well.
What goes great with skin whitening treatments are other non-invasive facial contouring or anti-aging procedures like dermal fillers, thread lifts, or even Botox.
If you get an additional procedure, clinics will give you a discount on the final price.
Tax Refund
If you are a foreign citizen, you are eligible for a VAT refund when leaving Korea.
It’s an easy way to get some money back. Just remember to save all of your receipts in Korea because the only requirement is that you are not a Korean citizen.
Be on the lookout for tax refund machines at Korean airports.
Why Choose Korea For Skin Whitening
Korea is famous as the ”plastic surgery capital of the world”. Every year, more patients fly to Korea to get cosmetic procedures done.
However, there is more to why Korea is so famous for plastic surgery.
There are more factors you should consider when choosing, so let’s go over the ones we believe are crucial.
Surgeon Experience
Korean surgeons are some of the most experienced in the world.
Among the 1,000,000 surgeries they perform every year, many of them are facial contouring and anti-aging, which includes skin whitening.
They perform so many skin whitening procedures that there is no doubt about how experienced they are.
They use advanced techniques and modern equipment to help them achieve the best and most natural-looking results.
Not only that but Korean surgeons are specialized. You will find surgeons specializing only in certain procedures, and many specialize in facial contouring and anti-aging.
For skin whitening, most clinics will have dermatologists available. They are doctors or surgeons specializing in skin-related procedures.
In Western countries, surgeons perform different procedures and are most likely not specialized in certain types, like Korean surgeons.
And lastly, more and more clinics are also specializing in certain procedures. We will cover that later in this guide.
Cost
Looking at cost, Korea is very affordable and budget-friendly for cosmetic procedures, even for skin whitening.
For example, if we compare prices for the same procedure in other countries to Korean prices, you will pay at least double the price in Korea.
Another thing is that Korea has a great price-to-value ratio for cosmetic procedures. Prices are low in Korea, but you will get the best possible care and results, regardless of the price.
Plus, there are a lot of other ways you can save money by having skin whitening treatment in Korea.
Advanced Technology
When it comes to technology, Korean clinics are using some of the most advanced equipment on the market.
Every plastic surgery clinic has state-of-the-art facilities with very advanced equipment. Korean clinics are focusing on efficiency and patient satisfaction.
This is especially important for skin whitening laser treatment, as Korean clinics use some of the most advanced medical lasers on the market
Best Skin Whitening Clinics in Seoul
Picking the right plastic surgery clinic for skin whitening is a crucial step on your journey.
With over 500 plastic surgery clinics in Seoul, this can be a difficult and stressful decision for you. However, you shouldn’t pick just any clinic. It can mean the difference between good and bad results.
When searching for a good clinic, it’s important to consider various factors. That being said, we already did the necessary research and came up with our recommendations.
We made a list of recommended skin whitening clinics in Seoul. We made sure these clinics satisfy our criteria and are a good pick for you.
These clinics are verified and we did so by:
- Visiting their facilities
- Checking their credentials and surgeons.
- Contacting previous patients
- Looking over their reviews.
If you want to do your own research, feel free to use our criteria. We can almost guarantee you that you’ll find the clinic for you.
Let’s now go over some factors that we consider when looking at clinics.
Real, Verified Reviews
One of the factors to consider when looking for a clinic is customer reviews.
We recommend focusing on reviews about facial contouring or anti-aging, as skin whitening falls under that category. Among those, look mostly at reviews about skin whitening treatments (laser or injections).
If a clinic has only good reviews at, for example, Rhinoplasty, and barely average for facial contouring, you should look for another.
Above, you can see an example of a good review. This one is about skin whitening treatment at ME Clinics Seoul, one of our recommended clinics.
A good review is detailed, gives plenty of information, and comments on results and satisfaction. It should also describe the patient’s experience with the clinic.
Make sure to keep an eye out for fake reviews. Unfortunately, clinics try to do everything to attract customers.
When researching, we tend to focus more on Google reviews, as they are harder to fake. You can look at some other websites like WhatClinic.
For a better understanding, we also contact former patients to get their personal experience with the clinic.
Clinic Specialization
Another factor you should consider when choosing a clinic is the specialization of the clinic.
We recommend you look at clinics specializing in facial contouring or anti-aging procedures. However, the best bet for you would be a clinic with a dermatologist. Most clinics have them so don’t worry.
Nevertheless, clinics specializing in facial contouring and anti-aging are, in our opinion, a safe and good choice for skin whitening.
If a clinic has surgeons specializing in facial contouring, anti-aging, or a dermatologist, then that clinic can be considered specialized and is a safe choice.
For example, ME Clinic Seoul, one of our recommendations, has a dermatology department that only focuses on skin-related treatments such as skin whitening.
Clinics that are specialized are always a safe choice, and you can rest assured you will get good results.
Conclusion
In conclusion, getting skin whitening in Korea is a great choice. Korean surgeons are among the most experienced in the world. Their clinics have state-of-the-art facilities and use only advanced equipment.
On top of that, Korea is very affordable and budget-friendly for skin whitening. In other countries, you can expect to pay almost double what you would pay in Korea.
Now that you’ve read this guide, you know everything you need on your journey to skin whitening in Korea.
Remember to check out our list of recommended skin whitening clinics in Seoul.
And don’t forget that picking the right clinic is a crucial step towards good results. Think through your decision and find the best clinic there.
If you have any questions about how we find the best clinics or any general questions about the procedure, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to help you!
FAQ
Is skin whitening in Korea safe?
Yes, Korea is very safe for skin whitening.
Korean clinics have to follow strict rules and uphold high standards. Their facilities have to be up-to-date with modern standards and have high levels of cleanliness and patient satisfaction.
How much does skin whitening cost in Korea?
On average, you can expect to pay around 144.000 KRW(=110 $) for skin whitening treatment in Korea.
However, the final cost depends on several factors such as clinic reputation, the area treated, etc. We recommend you demand a full-price quote from the clinic to get an insight into what you will be paying for.