Botox in Korea refers to botulinum toxin injections that temporarily relax targeted muscles to soften expression lines, slim a bulky muscle or reduce heavy sweating. Injecting takes a few minutes per area, with optional numbing cream beforehand, and most people leave with only small pin marks. Recovery is usually short, though small bruises can appear for a few days and this varies by person; flying home the same day is generally fine. First changes appear in about three to five days, and facial results typically last three to four months. Clinics quote by the unit or by the treated area, before VAT, with 10% VAT added at payment. The clinic list and price table on this page let you compare offers side by side.
Is it for you?
Who Botox in Gangnam suits, and who should wait
Toxin suits adults who want softer dynamic lines, the creases that appear when frowning, raising the brows or squinting, and people who want an overactive or bulky muscle to relax over time. It is also used for excessive underarm sweating. The dose depends on muscle strength, so a strong frown usually needs more units than a mild one.
It is not a filler. It will not restore lost volume, lift sagging skin or erase deep folds that stay visible at rest. People with heavy upper eyelids or a low brow should say so, since forehead toxin can make the lids feel heavier. When the main issue is laxity or volume loss, a lifting treatment or a filler is usually more appropriate.
Usually a good fit
- Frown lines between the brows
- Forehead lines and crow's feet
- A bulky jaw or shoulder muscle
- Excessive underarm sweating
May be better to wait
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Infection or inflamed skin on the area
- Neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis
- Sagging or volume loss needing lifting or filler
Clinics in Gangnam
10 clinics for Botox in Gangnam
Every clinic below lists Botox among its treatments. Message a clinic directly.
1
2RE:BERRY Clinic Gangnam
3Ocean Clinic
4Sia Clinic Gangnam
5Cleor Clinic Gangnam
6
7VandS Clinic Gangnam
8
9ADO Clinic
10How it works
How a Botox session runs
Botulinum toxin type A blocks the release of acetylcholine at the nerve ending, so the injected muscle contracts less until new nerve connections form over the following months. It is an injectable product, not an energy device: no heat, light or ultrasound is involved. The treating doctor places small amounts into the muscle with a fine needle, and the dose is measured in units.
Clinics in South Korea stock both imported and domestic products. Imported options include Botox by Allergan (AbbVie), whose active ingredient is onabotulinumtoxinA, and Xeomin by Merz (incobotulinumtoxinA). Korean brands include Nabota by Daewoong (prabotulinumtoxinA, approved in the United States as Jeuveau), Coretox by Medytox, which removes the non-toxin proteins, and products such as Meditoxin, Innotox, Hutox, Liztox and Wondertox. The brand and the units per area set the cost, which is why Korean menus list both.
Evidence for facial lines is broad. A 2021 Cochrane review by Camargo and colleagues in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews pooled 65 randomized trials with 14,919 participants, most of them treating the glabella between the brows. For sweating, a 2018 systematic review by Wade and colleagues in the British Journal of Dermatology found moderate-quality evidence supporting toxin for underarm hyperhidrosis.
Assessment
The doctor watches the face at rest and in motion, asks about medicines, pregnancy and earlier toxin sessions, then agrees the brand and units for each area. It is a short conversation, often in front of a mirror.
Numbing (optional)
Numbing cream or a cold pack may be applied for a short while. Many people skip it because the needle is very fine and each injection lasts about a second.
Injection
After cleansing and marking, the doctor gives a series of small injections into each muscle. Facial areas usually take only a few minutes; larger muscles such as the shoulder take a little longer.
Soothing and record
Pin marks are pressed and cooled, and the clinic hands over aftercare instructions plus a note of the brand and units used. A review visit is sometimes offered once the effect has settled.
Botox compared with other options
| Botulinum toxin | Hyaluronic acid filler | Skin booster | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product type | Neuromodulator injection | Gel injection | Hydrating or regenerative injection |
| Where it acts | In the muscle | Under the skin, as volume | Within the skin layers |
| Main effect | Softens movement lines, slims muscle | Restores volume and contour | Improves hydration and texture |
| Sensation | Quick fine pricks | Pressure, often with numbing | Many small pricks, usually numbed |
| Typical downtime | Pin marks only | Bruising or swelling possible for 1 to 2 weeks | Small bumps for a few days |
At a glance
Botox facts
| Products | Botox (Allergan, AbbVie), Xeomin (Merz), Nabota (Daewoong), Coretox (Medytox) and other Korean brands |
|---|---|
| Product type | Botulinum toxin type A injection |
| Dose unit | Units per treated area |
| Numbing | Optional cream or cold pack |
| Injection time | A few minutes per area |
| Downtime | Minimal; small pin marks |
| Onset | About 3 to 5 days |
| Duration | Typically 3 to 4 months on the face |
| Flight home | Generally possible the same day |
Prices
Botox cost in Gangnam
Prices below come from the listed clinics' own price lists, before VAT. 10% VAT is added at payment.
Botox · 50 units
Range across 2 listed clinics · approx. $21–$109₩29,000–₩150,000 + VATCompare clinicsBotox · 100 units
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $57₩79,000 + VATCompare clinicsWrinkle Botox 1 Area (Domestic)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $7₩9,900 + VATCompare clinicsBotox Wrinkle 1 Area (Korean-made)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $13₩18,000 + VATCompare clinicsWrinkle Botox (1 area: forehead / glabella / crow's feet / mouth corners / chin dimpling / bunny lines) — Korean
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $22₩30,000 + VATCompare clinicsWrinkle Botox 1 Area (Nabota)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $28₩39,000 + VATCompare clinicsSquare Jaw Botox — Korean
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $29₩40,000 + VATCompare clinicsBotox Wrinkle 3 Areas (Korean-made)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $36₩49,000 + VATCompare clinicsRecovery
What the days after look like
Small bumps and pin marks settle within hours. Stay upright for a few hours and avoid rubbing, saunas and hard exercise.
Makeup and normal routine are fine. A mild headache or a tiny bruise can appear.
Movement in the treated muscle starts to soften.
The effect settles; this is the usual time for a review if the clinic offers one.
Movement returns gradually and a repeat session can be planned.
Safety
Botox risks and limits
- Bruising, redness or tenderness at injection points, usually gone within days
- Headache or a heavy forehead feeling for a short time
- Drooping eyelid or brow, or an uneven smile, if toxin affects a nearby muscle; this fades as it wears off
- Rare allergic reactions, or wider muscle weakness with high doses, which need medical review
- Antibodies that reduce response are uncommon but more likely with frequent high doses
- It does not lift sagging skin or replace lost volume
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Interventional management of hyperhidrosis in secondary care: a systematic reviewBritish Journal of Dermatology · 2018 · Wade R, Llewellyn A, Jones-Diette J, Wright K, Rice S, Layton A, et al. · doi:10.1111/bjd.16558
Systematic review of 50 studies on secondary-care hyperhidrosis treatments that found moderate-quality evidence supporting botulinum toxin for underarm sweating.
- A Double-Blind, Split-Face, Randomized Study on the Effects and Safety of Intradermal Injection of Botulinum Toxin A (Incobotulinum Toxin A) in the CheekAnnals of Dermatology · 2022 · Shin D, Lee J, Noh H, Jang D, Oh S, Park J, et al. · doi:10.5021/ad.21.316
Split-face randomized trial in 18 volunteers in which intradermal incobotulinumtoxinA improved cheek skin texture and nasolabial fold wrinkles compared with saline.
- Botulinum toxin type A for facial wrinklesCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2021 · Camargo C, Xia J, Costa C, Gemperli R, Tatini M, Bulsara M, et al. · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd011301.pub2
Cochrane review of 65 randomized trials with 14,919 participants assessing commercially available botulinum toxin type A products for facial wrinkles.
FAQ
Questions about Botox in Gangnam
Does Botox in Korea hurt?
Most people describe toxin injection as quick stinging pricks rather than real pain. The needle is very fine, each injection lasts about a second, and facial areas are finished within minutes. Numbing cream or ice can be applied first if you are sensitive. Areas with thinner skin around the eyes can feel sharper than the forehead, and the sting fades within moments.
Which toxin brands do south korea botox clinics use?
Clinics commonly stock imported Botox by Allergan and Xeomin by Merz alongside Korean products such as Nabota, Coretox and Meditoxin. Searches for Botox South Korea usually cover all of these, not only the Allergan product. Each brand has its own unit, so a dose for one product does not translate directly to another. Ask the clinic to name the brand before mixing and to show the sealed vial. Writing it on your record also helps your next injector at home.
Can I fly home right after the injections?
Yes, flying is generally fine on the same day as toxin injection. There is no wound, and the visible after-effects are small pin marks. Clinics usually ask you not to rub the area or lie face down for a few hours, so avoid pressing your face into a travel pillow straight away. If you want a review, schedule the injection early in the trip.
How long does korea botox last?
On facial lines the effect typically lasts three to four months before movement returns gradually. Duration depends on dose, muscle strength, metabolism and the product used, and larger muscles can take more than one session to show a stable change. Results vary from person to person, so the timing of a repeat session is easiest to judge from how your own face behaves.
Who should not have botulinum toxin injections?
Toxin is not given during pregnancy or breastfeeding, over infected or inflamed skin, or to people with neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis. Tell the doctor about blood thinners, aminoglycoside antibiotics and any earlier reaction to a toxin product. Someone with heavy eyelids or a low brow may need a modified forehead plan. A careful consultation should also say when treatment is not appropriate.
Can toxin help with excessive sweating?
Yes, toxin is used for heavy underarm sweating, where it blocks the nerve signal to the sweat glands. The 2018 systematic review by Wade and colleagues in the British Journal of Dermatology found moderate-quality evidence supporting it for axillary hyperhidrosis, while evidence for several other treatments was limited. The effect on sweating is temporary and needs repeating. Palms and soles can also be treated but tend to be more uncomfortable.
What aftercare does a Botox clinic in Seoul usually give?
Expect a short written sheet: stay upright for a few hours, do not rub or massage the area, and skip saunas, hot showers, alcohol and hard workouts until the next day. Some clinics suggest gently using the treated muscles for a little while after injection. Makeup and skin care can resume the following morning. Ask for the record of brand and units to keep with your medical papers.
When is a touch-up appropriate?
A touch-up is usually assessed around two weeks after injection, once the effect has fully settled. Adding units earlier can lead to overcorrection, because the toxin is still taking effect. If one side moves more than the other at that point, a small extra dose can balance it. Ask whether a review visit is part of the plan before treatment, especially on a short trip.
Does a consultation come before the injection?
Yes, a short medical consultation is a standard part of the visit. The doctor checks how your muscles move, asks about health history and agrees on brand and units before injecting. This is also the moment to ask what toxin will not change and what the risks are for your face. If you feel rushed, it is reasonable to ask for more time or to leave without treatment.