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International patients
International Patients: Skin Treatment in Seoul, Planned Around Your Trip
Dernia Clinic Myeongdong is built for visitors. This guide covers what you need to know before and during your stay: English consultations, booking ahead, entry rules for 2026, prices and VAT, getting to Myeongdong, flying after treatment and continuing care at home.
In short: International patients at Dernia Clinic Myeongdong get an English consultation with a licensed doctor and a treatment plan built around their travel dates. Book ahead, check the K-ETA and e-Arrival Card rules for your nationality, and budget for 10% VAT, because the cosmetic VAT refund ended on January 1, 2026. Schedule treatments with downtime early in your trip.
Before you arrive
English consultations and booking ahead
A little preparation before you fly makes your time in the clinic shorter and your plan more realistic.
Consultations in English
Your consultation is held in English with a licensed medical doctor. You can ask about risks, alternatives and costs directly, and your aftercare instructions are in English too. See Do you offer consultations in English?
Book ahead
Booking before you fly is strongly recommended, especially for longer treatments, packages, weekends and peak travel seasons. Walk-ins depend on availability on the day. Read Do I need to book in advance?
Share your dates and goals
When you send an enquiry , include your arrival and departure dates, your main concerns, any treatments you are considering and relevant medical history. That lets a doctor suggest a realistic plan before you arrive.
Planning your trip
Planning treatment around your Seoul itinerary
The most useful thing you can do is match treatments to your dates. Many treatments have no visible downtime, but some leave redness, swelling or small scabs for several days.
- Early in your stay: your consultation, plus treatments with visible downtime such as CO2 fractional laser , RF microneedling or filler, so they settle before you leave. Botox also works well early, since results take several days to appear.
- Mid-trip: lifting treatments such as Shurink Universe or Thermage FLX , and skin boosters.
- Last day or two: gentle, no-downtime options such as laser toning or a Hydrafacial .
- Before your flight: leave the buffer your doctor recommends after injectables and lasers, in case of swelling or bruising.
For sample schedules, see how to plan skin treatments around your Seoul itinerary , our 3-day treatment schedule and our 7-day treatment schedule . On a very short trip, start with no-downtime treatments .
Entry rules
Entering Korea in 2026: K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card
Entry requirements depend on your nationality, so always confirm the current rules on the official websites before you travel.
- K-ETA: Nationals of many countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, most EU countries, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, are exempt from K-ETA through December 31, 2026. Check the rule for your nationality at www.k-eta.go.kr .
- e-Arrival Card: Since January 1, 2026, foreign travelers submit the arrival card online, free of charge, within 72 hours before arrival at www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr . K-ETA holders are exempt.
- Your passport: Bring it to your appointment. We ask for it at registration to create your medical record.
Our K-ETA and e-Arrival Card checklist walks you through each step. Use only the official government websites, and be cautious of third-party sites that charge a fee for free forms.
Prices and tax
Prices, VAT and paying for treatment
Korean clinic pricing can look unfamiliar at first. Here is what to expect at Dernia.
Prices in Korean won
Prices are in Korean won (KRW), exclude 10% VAT, and are confirmed at your consultation before treatment. Devices are often priced by shots or lines and injectables by units or cc, as our pricing guide explains. Browse every price guide .
No VAT refund since 2026
The VAT refund on cosmetic and aesthetic procedures for foreign patients ended on January 1, 2026, so the 10% VAT is no longer refundable. Tax refunds on general shopping are separate. Read our 2026 VAT refund update .
Paying for treatment
Major credit cards are widely accepted in Korea. Please confirm payment options when you book. For packages and multi-session courses, ask your doctor how the price is split across sessions. See payment and tax .
Getting here
Getting to Myeongdong
Myeongdong is in Jung-gu, central Seoul, and is served by Myeongdong Station (Line 4) and Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2).
- From Incheon Airport by train: take AREX to Seoul Station, then Line 4 two stops to Myeongdong.
- By airport limousine bus: buses also serve Myeongdong. Confirm the current route at the airport bus counter.
- Journey time: about an hour or more, depending on traffic and route.
Our full street address will be published on the location and directions page before opening. See getting from Incheon Airport to Myeongdong and our Myeongdong area guide for patients .
Flying home
Flying after treatment
Most non-surgical treatments do not stop you from flying, but timing still matters. Your doctor will give you advice for your specific treatment.
- Botox and skin boosters: flying is usually fine, though many doctors suggest waiting until the next day. Avoid pressing or massaging treated areas.
- Fillers: swelling and bruising can take a few days to settle, so allow time between filler and a long-haul flight where you can.
- Lasers and microneedling: cabin air is dry and window light carries UV. Moisturize, wear sunscreen and keep the window shade down.
- Everyone: drink water, limit alcohol and avoid sleeping face-down on treated areas.
Read flying after Botox, fillers and skin boosters and can I have laser treatment right before a flight?
After you go home
Continuing care at home
Your results keep developing after you leave Seoul. Collagen-stimulating treatments such as Ulthera Prime and Juvelook build gradually over weeks to months, and pigment treatments usually work best as a series.
- Written aftercare: you leave with written instructions for the days ahead. Our aftercare page summarizes them by treatment type.
- Follow-up by message: send us photos and questions after you return home, and a doctor will review them.
- Unfinished series: if a course cannot be completed in one trip, we can plan the remaining sessions for your next visit or give you a written summary of what was done for a doctor at home. See what if I cannot finish a treatment series?
- Shopping for skincare: check what is safe to use on treated skin in our K-beauty shopping guide .
FAQ
Questions from international patients
More answers are in our patient FAQ and travel and treatment guides .
How far in advance should I book?
As soon as your travel dates are fixed. Booking a few weeks ahead is sensible for longer treatments, packages and busy travel seasons. Walk-ins depend on availability on the day.
How long should I stay in Seoul for treatment?
For no-downtime treatments, a single day can be enough. If you want treatments that cause swelling, redness or peeling, three to seven days gives you time to recover before flying. See How long should I stay in Seoul for treatment?
Do I need a K-ETA to visit Korea?
Nationals of many countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, most EU countries, Japan, Singapore and Australia, are exempt from K-ETA through December 31, 2026. Rules vary by nationality, so check www.k-eta.go.kr before you travel.
Can I get a tax refund on treatments?
No. The VAT refund for cosmetic procedures for foreign patients ended on January 1, 2026. Prices exclude 10% VAT, which is added at payment. See Can I get a tax refund on skin treatments in Korea?
What should I bring to my appointment?
Your passport, a list of medications and supplements, details of any previous fillers, threads or lasers, and your flight dates. Come with clean skin if you can. Our guide on how to prepare for your appointment has a full checklist.
Can I have several treatments in one visit?
Often, yes. Many treatments combine well on the same day, such as lifting with a skin booster, and doing so saves time on a short trip. Your doctor will confirm what is safe to combine. Read combining treatments in one visit.
Planning a trip to Seoul?
Send us your travel dates and skin goals. A doctor will suggest a plan that fits your stay, with prices in Korean won confirmed before treatment.