LocalMedi

Korea Skin & Cosmetic Treatment Guide
LocalMedi Official Manual · VAT 10% Tax Refund Eligible

A Foreigner's Guide to Korean Skin & Cosmetic Treatments

From preparation to procedure-by-procedure downtime, the clinic process, a flight-safety check, and the tax refund process — all at a glance.

Accredited Facilities

Check for yourself whether a clinic is registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare's foreign-patient program

Dedicated Interpreters

Registered clinics typically staff multilingual coordinators

Tax Refund

VAT (10%) tax refund process for cosmetic procedures

Average Recovery

Back to daily life within 0–3 days depending on the procedure

Check & Calculate

Flight Safety Check & Tax Refund Calculator

Enter your procedure and departure schedule to assess flight safety and instantly calculate your expected VAT refund.

Flight Safety Checker

Assesses the risk of swelling and side effects from cabin pressure changes after a procedure.

Result
Please select a procedure and departure schedule.
Tax Refund Calculator

An example of your actual refund from the 10% VAT included in the total payment, after the refund agency fee. Fee rates vary by refund operator.

Included VAT (10%): 100,000 KRW
Refund agency fee (varies by operator; example 25%): approx. 25,000 KRW
Actual expected refund: approx. 75,000 KRW
Section 1

Manual Overview & Preparation

Checking these items before arriving in Korea reduces waiting time and helps you get treatment that fits your departure schedule.

Choosing a Clinic & Booking Ahead

  • Confirm the clinic is a Ministry of Health and Welfare-designated "foreign patient attracting medical institution"
  • Check whether English/Chinese/Japanese coordinators are on site

Visa & Schedule Planning

  • Visa-free / tourist visa (K-ETA): eligible for simple lifting, skin boosters, and laser procedures
  • Medical visa (C-3-3 / G-1-10): for surgery and long-term care only
  • Allow at least 1–2 spare days before flying to account for redness/bruising

Preparing Tax Refund Documents

  • Eligibility: foreign tourists staying in Korea less than 6 months
  • Benefit: refund of the 10% VAT on cosmetic procedures (less the refund agency fee, which varies by operator)
  • Collection: immediate refund machine at the clinic, or a refund kiosk at the airport/port
LocalMedi Clinical Notice You must bring your passport to the dermatology clinic; it is required for foreign-patient registration and for issuing the tax refund form.
Section 2

Procedure Catalog & Downtime Dashboard

Compare downtime, pain level, and indications by procedure category to choose the option that best fits your travel schedule.

Average Downtime by Procedure (Days)

Unit: days
Section 3

Day-of-Visit Clinic Process (8 Steps)

An example of the flow clinics generally follow, from check-in to detailed diagnosis, one-on-one specialist consultation, the procedure, and receiving your tax refund form. The actual process varies by clinic.

Section 4

4 Essential Post-Care Rules

Post-Care Tips — the rules to follow during recovery.

Strict Sun Protection

Apply SPF 50+ / PA++++ sunscreen every 2–3 hours

Intensive Moisturizing & Soothing

Apply plenty of recovery and hydrating cream to protect the skin barrier

No Alcohol, Smoking or Sauna

No alcohol, tobacco, jjimjilbang, or hot baths for at least one week

Take Prescribed Medication

Take the clinic's anti-inflammatory medication exactly as directed

Section 5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from foreign visitors planning skin treatments in Korea.

Q1 What are the popular skin treatments in Korea?
This guide covers nine: Pico Toning, Ulthera/Shurink, Thermage/Oligio, Rejuran, JuveLook/Exosome, botulinum toxin, HA filler, Aqua Peel, and Fraxel. They are grouped by goal — pigmentation, lifting, firmness, hydration, wrinkles — and which one suits you depends on your skin condition and a clinician's assessment.
Q2 How much do the procedures cost?
Cost varies widely by clinic, treatment scope, the devices or products used, and your individual skin condition, so a single figure is not meaningful. Non-covered (cosmetic) medical fees in Korea can be looked up item by item in the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service's public 'non-covered treatment cost' data; get an actual quote at an in-person consultation. LocalMedi does not quote or negotiate prices.
Q3 Can foreign visitors get treatments during a tourist trip?
Non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as lasers, skin boosters, and lifting can generally be done on visa-free or tourist entry (K-ETA). Surgery or long-term care may require a medical visa (C-3-3, G-1-10). Always confirm eligibility and recovery time with a clinician in advance.
Q4 Can I fly right after a procedure?
It depends on the procedure and your individual recovery. Swelling, bruising, or redness can occur, so leaving one to two extra days in your schedule is generally advised. See this guide's flight-safety self-check and the per-procedure recovery notes on each detail page, and follow your treating clinician's instructions.
Q5 Can cosmetic procedures qualify for a VAT refund?
Foreign visitors who have stayed in Korea for less than six months may be eligible for a 10% VAT refund on medical cosmetic procedures. Refunds are processed at an in-clinic counter or an airport/port kiosk, less a refund agency fee (the rate varies by operator). Bring your passport.
Q6 Is it safe to have treatments in Korea?
Safety depends on the clinic, the clinician, your health, and aftercare, so it cannot be generalized. Check for yourself whether a clinic is a Ministry of Health and Welfare-registered foreign-patient institution, and discuss side effects, contraindications, and the recovery process with your clinician before any procedure.