Is Sinsa theippo Dermatology worth visiting? After encountering several disappointing experiences in Sinsa-dong, I finally found a clinic on the BeautsGO app that doesn’t engage in excessive promotion.
I struggled with the decision of going to South Korea for skin treatment for over a year.
It’s not that I’m afraid of pain, but that I’m afraid of being cheated. Some of my friends went to a clinic in Gangnam and their faces swelled up for a whole week after the HIFU treatment; others went to a clinic in Myeongdong and were forced to sign up for three treatments at twice the usual price; yet there were also those who didn’t even meet the clinic director during the consultation – they only talked with the consultant for about 5 minutes.
So when a friend recommended Sinsa’s Theippo Dermatology for the third time, I didn’t believe it right away. I spent two weeks doing my own research – checking Naver reviews, looking at Google ratings, reading BeautsGO user reviews, and comparing price lists.
There were three main reasons for my decision to go there: first, the director personally conducted the consultation (rather than having a consultant talk on my behalf); second, the prices were clearly listed on the official website, with no additional charges upon arrival at the store; third, the high proportion of South Koreans among the customers indicated that it was not just a standard business model targeting the Chinese community.
Below is a detailed record of my entire experience from the initial consultation to 3 months after the treatment. I hope this can serve as a real-life reference for those who are still in the process of considering such procedures.
If you are also struggling with questions like “Which Dermatology clinic in Sinsa should I choose?” or “Will I receive excessive treatment?” or “Should I opt for HIFU or Thermage?”, this article should be able to help you.
I. There are numerous Dermatology clinics in Sinsa Tunnel, so why do local South Koreans secretly go to the Theippo Dermatology clinic in Sinsa?
Let me first provide some background information. Before coming to South Korea, I assumed that Dermatology clinics were all more or less the same – you would go in for a check-up, be recommended some treatments, and then leave. But once I arrived, I realized that the specialization within Dermatology in South Korea is much more detailed than I had imagined.
1. Not all practices labeled “Dermatology” are actually specialized in this field.
In South Korea, there are two types of “Dermatology” clinics: one is operated by specialized dermatologists, and the other is run by general practitioners. Specialized doctors must pass rigorous specialized examinations; their role is similar to that of chief dermatologists in top-tier hospitals in China.
The representative director of Theippo, Kim Han-gil, graduated from the School of Medicine at Yonsei University and completed his specialized physician training at Severance Hospital—a top-tier medical institution recognized throughout South Korea, where only the most capable individuals are able to complete such specialized training.
The dean’s resume is incredibly extensive: he has served as the dean of the ID Hospital Micro-Aesthetic Center, the dean of the Apgujeong Top Line Hospital, and has gained extensive experience in top-tier liposuction clinics in South Korea. He also holds the position of vice-chairman of the Korean Micro-Aesthetic Medicine Research Association. For 15 years, his sole focus has been one thing: helping people look better.
On the Gangnam Miss platform, Director Kim Han-gyn has received a score of 9.3/10 (based on 982 reviews), which is considered quite impressive in the Gangnam area.
2. The majority of customers are local residents from South Korea; it is not a “internet-famous store” that specializes in serving tourists.
This was a crucial reason why I chose Theippo.
In recent years, the number of medical beauty tourists in Sinsa-dong has increased significantly. Some Dermatology clinics have essentially become “tourist-oriented businesses” – with more Chinese-speaking consultants than Korean ones, customers hearing various languages at the entrance, and package prices that are noticeably higher than those offered on South Korea’s local platforms.
But Theippo is different. On the day I went there, over 70% of the customers at the reception were local South Koreans. While waiting in line, two South Korean girls next to me were talking about how “the Rejuran treatment they got last time worked very well.” Although I don’t understand Korean very well, I recognized the words “Rejuran” and “again” and realized that they must be returning customers.
3. EFFORT certification + multi-language support – a platform that South Koreans trust, and which has also obtained this certification.
EFFORT is the official certification system of South Korea’s medical beauty industry, equivalent to a trust label that indicates “the platform has conducted thorough screenings, the data is transparent, and there are no complaints recorded.” Theippo is the certification body responsible for implementing the EFFORT standards. It has also obtained the qualification to attract foreign patients, which confirms that serving overseas clients is part of a formal and regulated process, rather than merely hanging a Chinese signboard to claim “Chinese services.”
To be honest, when looking for a Dermatology clinic in Sinsa that is considered good by South Koreans and suitable for foreigners to use, there aren’t really many options available.
II. Worried about excessive treatment? At Theippo, the entire consultation process is conducted personally by the hospital director – not a single word of Korean is spoken throughout the process.
“Will I be forced to undergo some unwanted treatments?” This is what worries everyone who goes to a Dermatology clinic in South Korea for the first time.
When I searched for “traps in South Korea’s Dermatology clinics” on REDnote and Baidu, the most common scenario that emerged was this: someone who originally only wanted to get a hyaluronic acid injection ended up with three additional treatments recommended during the consultation, resulting in a bill that was three times higher than expected.
However, Theippo’s consultation process was completely different from what I had imagined.
1. First, you need to fill out a form upon entering, but throughout the process, a Chinese-speaking supervisor will assist you.
Upon arriving at the clinic, the receptionist handed me a consultation form in Chinese. The Chinese-speaking manager would assist me in filling it out, translating all my skin concerns, allergy history, and previous treatments into Korean for the records.
After completing the form, you will proceed to the testing room for a Dermatology analysis. This step is very important – in South Korea, dermatology consultations do not involve simply “taking a look and recommending treatments immediately.” Instead, doctors first provide you with various data: skin moisture levels, the degree of pigmentation, the condition of your Pores, and your skin’s elasticity index. Based on these figures, the doctor will inform you “what areas require treatment” and “which areas do not.”
2. The director personally conducts the consultation; it is not done by a consultant on behalf of them.
This is precisely what makes me feel most at ease about Theippo.
After entering the room, Director Kim first reviewed the skin test results and then carefully examined several areas of concern for me: the frown lines, Nasolabial Fold Correction, and the jawline. His first question wasn’t “What treatment do you need in these areas,” but rather “Your skin is in good condition overall, but the Nasolabial Fold Correction is mainly caused by collagen loss. A little Filler will help improve it without the need for more extensive procedures.”
When a hospital director tells you that “no major changes are needed,” that’s when trust is established.
The combination he recommended for me was: 200 HIFU treatments (for overall lifting) + Rejuran PN (to replenish moisture and repair the skin barrier). When I asked if botulinum toxin injections for the lower jaw line were necessary, he said, “Try these two treatments first. After a month, we can see the results and then decide whether to add that option.” This suggestion saved me hundreds of thousands of Korean won.
3. Services available in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese, without any additional charges for translation.
Theippo offers services in four languages (Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese). A Chinese-speaking supervisor will accompany you throughout the entire process, providing explanations in Chinese from the moment you fill out the consultation form through the actual treatment and until after the procedure.
The key point is that there are no additional translation fees. Some Dermatology services in Chinese charge extra, or you may need to bring your own translator. However, the Chinese service provided by theippo is included in the standard package at no additional cost.
III. What exactly does the face look like after 200 HIFU treatments plus Rejuran? Three months later…
“Is HIFU really useful?” – This is a question that frequently appears in Baidu search results and on Zhihu.
After three months, I can say with certainty that it works – but the results aren’t immediate, and it certainly doesn’t turn your face into a perfect “V-shaped face” after just one treatment.
1. Why was the HIFU chosen instead of Thermage?
The dean explained this issue to me during the in-person consultation.
Simply put: HIFU uses radiofrequency to target the dermis, primarily helping to reduce fine lines and improve skin quality; whereas the HIFU device emits focused ultrasonic waves that reach the SMAS fascia layer, effectively lifting the skin. If your main concerns are skin laxity, blurred jawlines, or deepening Nasolabial Fold Correction, the HIFU treatment is more suitable. However, if your problems are merely enlarged Pores or a lack of skin elasticity, HIFU might not be the best option for you.
After examining my skin, the director said, “Your problem is mild skin laxity, not fine lines; HIFU would be more effective in this case.”
Later, I compared the prices of HIFU treatments at several Dermatology clinics in Sinsa on BeautsGO. Theipo’s HIFU package with 100 treatments cost 260,000 Korean won, while the package including 200 treatments plus Onda lipolysis treatment cost 790,000 Korean won – which is considered a mid-range option in this area. It’s worth noting that some high-end Dermatology clinics in Gangnam charge over 1.5 million Korean won for just 300 HIFU treatments.
2. Procedure: Apply anesthetic for 30 minutes; during the treatment, it feels like being snapped by a rubber band.
The numbing agent took effect after about 30 minutes. Once the procedure officially began, the director kept telling me, “There are 100 shots left now,” and “We are almost at 200 shots.” When the injections were administered near the chin and jawbone, it felt a bit sensitive—like being snapped by a rubber band—but it was still tolerable.
The entire procedure was performed personally by the hospital director, rather than being carried out by a nurse on his behalf – this point is of utmost importance. The effectiveness of HIFU depends to 80% on the experience of the operator: which layer to target, how much energy to use, and how to arrange the treatment parameters – even the slightest mistake can have significant consequences.
3. Recovery period records: Changes from Day 1 to Day 14
Days 1-3: The face showed a slight redness, and the skin felt tighter; making facial expressions caused a pulling sensation. The director had already mentioned that this was a normal reaction and that applying ice packs would help.
On day 7: The redness had completely disappeared, and my friend said her face seemed “smaller.” But it wasn’t actually getting smaller; rather, the contours of her face had become clearer.
D30: The results are starting to become visible. From the side, the jawline now has a distinct V-shaped curve, and the previous “puffy” appearance has significantly diminished.
D90: Achieves optimal results. The Nasolabial Fold Correction is significantly reduced (thanks to the restorative effects of Rejuran PN), and the entire face appears more firm, as if it had enjoyed a month of intensive beauty treatment.
A word of reminder: HIFU is not a one-time treatment that provides permanent results. The effects usually last for 1 to 1.5 years, and regular treatments are required if you want to maintain them.
IV. Filler treatments start from 190,000 yuan, and HIFU treatments start from 260,000 yuan – in Sinsa, is such a price considered expensive or affordable?
“Is Dermatology in South Korea really that expensive?” – This is also a question that receives a tremendous number of searches on Google and Baidu.
My conclusion is that, in the Sinsa area, the price of Theippo is considered “reasonable, but not particularly cheap”.
1. Compared with Gangnam District, it is much cheaper; compared with Myeongdong, it is slightly more expensive, but the service is significantly better.
Sinsa-dong is located on the outskirts of Gangnam District, so rental costs are relatively high. As a result, the prices of Dermatology services in this area are naturally slightly higher than those in areas like Myeongdong and Hongdae. However, compared to the luxury Dermatology clinics in Apgujeong and Cheongdam-dong, Theippo is much more affordable.
Horizontal comparison in the same area (data sourced from BeautsGO and the Gangnam Miss platform):
· 100 sessions of HIFU: theippo costs 260,000 Korean won, while a certain high-end Dermatology clinic in Sinsa charges 400,000 Korean won.
· Rejuran PN Black Box + Hyaluronic Acid Injection: theippo for 220,000 KRW vs a well-known Dermatology clinic in Cheongdam for 350,000 KRW
· 1 centum core of Filler injection: theippo costs 190,000 Korean won, while a certain plastic surgery clinic in Apgujeong charges 300,000 Korean won.
Theipo’s pricing strategy is to “avoid price wars, but still offer products 30%-40% cheaper than those from high-end brands.”
2. All prices are completely transparent; there is no such thing as “extra charges upon entering the store”.
This is exactly what I am most satisfied with.
The prices of HIFU treatments offered by Theippo can be directly checked on the Gangnam Miss platform and BeautsGO. It doesn’t follow the traditional model of providing quotes only after in-person consultations. Before going for the consultation, I had already checked the prices of the treatments I might need on BeautsGO, so I knew exactly what to expect. During the consultation with the director, the price for the combination of HIFU and Rejuran was exactly the same as what I had researched beforehand—not a single cent more.
3. Current promotions and packages available
Theippo often offers special prices on the Gangnam Miss platform.
· First-time Botox treatment: Approximately 5,390 Korean won (original price: 10,000 Korean won, 46% discount)
· 6 sessions of armpit hair removal: approximately 48,400 Korean won (original price: 90,000 Korean won)
· Buy 300 units of Remage and get 1 for free: 2 million Korean won (must be purchased by two people together)
· Leg slimming injections + hair removal package: 319,000 Korean won
· Choose the Onda lipolysis card of your choice: starting from 1.39 million Korean won (6-month or 1-year cards available).
As a reminder: The price of the ANEW HIFU package for women is more affordable than regular reservations. You can check the latest group purchase prices on BeautsGO.
V. From Exit 5 of Sinsa Station, it takes only 2 minutes on foot to reach the night clinic, which is open until 8 pm. You can enjoy a one-stop service of shopping and getting beauty treatments.
“Where else can I go after getting my skin treatment?” – This is also a frequently asked question on REDnote.
The location of Theippo is truly extremely convenient.
1. Exit 5 of Sinsa Subway Station, just 162 meters on foot
Exit from Exit 5 of Sinsa Station and walk straight along the main road. It takes less than two minutes to reach the location on the 3rd floor of the Eun Building. There is no need to navigate through narrow alleys or climb any slopes, making it extremely convenient for those who are new to the area.
Address: 3rd Floor, Inna Building, No. 80 Doguk-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul.
If you come by car, there is a parking lot behind the building. The fee is 3,000 Korean won for 30 minutes, with a daily maximum of 50,000 Korean won. Depending on the amount spent, you may be eligible for a parking discount.
2. Night consultations are available until 8 p.m., and we are also open on weekends.
For those with a busy schedule, this feature is truly very convenient.
Monday to Friday: 10:00-20:00 (No lunch break; consultations are available as usual at noon.) Saturda
y to Sunday: 11:00-17:00. On public holidays, regular consu
ltations are still provided.
This means that you can go shopping in the morning, have a face consultation in the afternoon, and then go straight to dinner in the evening, without having to dedicate an entire day just to medical beauty treatments. Especially if you go on Friday evening, recover on the weekend, and return to work on Monday – this schedule is really convenient for working people.
3. After the treatment, you can head straight to the shaded walkway in Sinsa-dong for a one-stop experience of dining and entertainment.
Just a few minutes’ walk from Theippo will take you to Sinsa-dong Gayosu-gil – Seoul’s most famous “street photography spot,” lined with high-end boutiques, independent cafes, and popular restaurants.
After applying Rejuran, the face may turn slightly red. It is recommended to wear a mask and take a walk in a shaded area or drink a cup of coffee. The redness will subside after about two hours, allowing for a smooth transition.
Recommended nearby: Ader Error flagship store on Lin Yin Road (perfect for taking photos), Tamburins hand cream shop (great as a gift for friends), and the Coffee Free Market (where local South Koreans queue up to drink coffee).
VI. How to book a consultation with Theippo? After adding five WeChat customer service representatives, I found that using BeautsGO is the most convenient way.
Previously, when searching for “making an appointment at a Dermatology clinic in South Korea” on Baidu and REDnote, the most common process involved searching for hospitals, finding the WeChat customer service, adding them on WeChat, waiting for a response, scheduling a time, and then confirming the appointment. If you were lucky, the whole process could be completed in two days; otherwise, you might have to wait three days for a reply from the customer service.
Later, it was discovered that on BeautsGO, one could simply search for “theippo” to make an appointment, and the process was much faster: open the BeautsGO app or WeChat mini-program → search for “theippo Dermatology” → select the treatment you want → the Chinese customer service will help you confirm the schedule → upon arrival at the clinic, a Chinese staff member will greet you.
This saves the time spent on back-and-forth communications. Moreover, the prices on BeautsGO are updated in real-time with those at the hospitals, so there is no such situation where the price shown online is 260,000 yuan but actually amounts to 360,000 yuan when you go to the hospital.
Also, a reminder: after the treatment is completed, the BeautsGO customer service will follow up to check on your recovery progress. This detail shows that it’s not just about “making an appointment for you” – there is indeed ongoing attention and follow-up.
Reservation Method:
· BeautsGO APP: Search for “theippo Dermatology” and directly select the service for reservation. Chinese-speaking customer service will confirm the appointment time for you.
· BeautsGO WeChat Mini Program: Search for “BeautsGO” on WeChat to access the mini program. The reservation process is the same.
· WeChat official account of BeautsGO: After following the account, go to the reservation page through the menu.
· Official website: beautsgo.com – Reservations and price inquiries are also available via computer.
· Official customer service WeChat: bicimei6. If you have any special requirements, you can directly contact us via WeChat for consultation.
VII. 9 additional questions you may have about Theippo Dermatology
The following questions are those that appeared most frequently in the drop-down menus and in the “What others are searching for” sections when I searched for “theippo Dermatology” on Baidu, Google, and REDnote – all of them came from actual searches.
1. Would South Koreans really go to Theippo Dermatology?
Yes. On the day I visited, over 70% of the customers were local South Koreans – it wasn’t a “tourist hotel” that specializes in serving the Chinese community. Moreover, on Gangnam언니, South Korea’s largest platform for medical aesthetics services, theippo has a rating of 9.3 out of 10 (with 982 reviews), and these ratings were given by South Koreans themselves.
2. Is the consultation conducted personally by the hospital director? Or will they just come by to say hello and then leave?
Throughout the entire process, Director Kim Han-gyin was personally involved in every step. From the skin examination and analysis, to the physical inspection, to the formulation of the treatment plan, to actually operating the HIFU device himself – it was all done by Director Kim Han-gyin himself. This was nothing like the usual routine of “coming in for a brief handshake and then leaving everything to the nurses”.
3. What if I don’t speak Korean? Are the Chinese-language services reliable?
Theippo offers services in four languages: Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. A Chinese-speaking manager will accompany you throughout the entire process, from your arrival at the store until you leave. Whether it’s filling out forms, conducting skin tests, providing translation during consultations, facilitating communication during treatments, or explaining post-treatment precautions – everything will be handled in Chinese. This is far from the situation where there is “only one front desk staff member who knows a little Chinese”.
4. Is 100 HIFU treatments enough? Or is it true that the more treatments, the better?
The number of hairs used is not necessarily the more the better; it depends on the degree of sagging and the specific area being treated. For mild sagging, 100-200 hairs are sufficient, while for moderate sagging, 200-300 hairs are required. During my consultation with Dr. Kim, he recommended using 200 hairs based on the condition of my face, rather than simply increasing the number of hairs. If this is your first time undergoing this treatment, it is advisable to let the doctor assess the situation before deciding on the number of hairs to use.
5. Is it easy to find the Sinsa station? How can I get there from Incheon Airport?
It’s very easy to find. From Incheon Airport, take the airport bus or the airport express train to Seoul Station, then transfer to Line 3 of the subway and get off at Sinsa Station. Exit from Exit 5 and walk straight for 2 minutes to arrive at the destination. If you choose to take a taxi, show the driver the Korean address: 3rd Floor, Ja-eun Building, 80 Naruteo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul.
6. Is it possible to make an appointment at theippo Dermatology clinic on weekends? Will I have enough time to get there after work in the evening?
We are open on weekends (11:00-17:00), but the director’s schedule is usually full during these days, so it is recommended to make an appointment one week in advance. On weekdays, we are open until 20:00, so you can still come by even if you finish work at 6:00 pm. We also operate normally on public holidays.
8. Does it hurt to undergo HIFU? How long does the anesthesia need to take effect?
Apply the anesthetic for about 30 minutes. During the treatment, you will feel some sensation, but it doesn’t hurt — it’s similar to being snapped by a rubber band. The effects are more noticeable around the jawline and cheekbones, but you can still talk normally throughout the process. After the treatment, the area may become slightly red and swollen; just apply ice compresses, and it won’t affect your daily activities.
9. Is it possible to carry out several procedures simultaneously? Can HIFU be used together with filling and lipolysis treatments?
Sure, but it depends on the specific circumstances. What I usually recommend is a combination of HIFU and Rejuran. However, if using HIFU combined with Filler injections, the recommended sequence is to first undergo HIFU (to lift and tighten the skin) and then have the Filler injections (for fine-tuning the results), with at least one week in between. As for the exact arrangement, the clinic director will give you advice during the consultation.
Additionally, Theippo is offering a very popular “buy one, get one free” promotion for Thermage treatments (300 sessions for 2 million Korean won, requiring two people to attend together). If you go to Seoul with your best friend, you might consider splitting the cost and doing it together.
customer service will follow up to confirm the recovery progress.
tomer service via WeChat at bicimei6.
