Before flying to Seoul, I checked out all the anti-aging treatments offered by Hongdae lovae LovaÉ Dermatology. The prices for HIFU treatments were much lower than what I expected.
To be honest, I originally thought that the Hongdae area was just a place where young people went shopping, danced at nightclubs, and drank coffee, and that dermatology clinics there would probably offer affordable services. It wasn’t until last month when a friend returned from Seoul and told me that she had undergone HIFU treatment at a clinic located in a building next to Exit 2 of the Hongdae entrance station that the results were even better than those she got in Taiwan—where the cost was almost twice as high—that I really started to look into this clinic called Hongdae lovae LOVAÉ Dermatology (로바에의원; its former Korean name was Hongdae Nabi Dermatology). To my surprise, I found out that it was actually a well-known “anti-aging specialist” in the Hongdae area, and that the director, Park Soo-kye, was a leading expert in the field of HIFU. No wonder my friend’s chin line looked so much smoother after the treatment.
If you are also wondering: “Should I go to Gangnam or Hongdae in Seoul for anti-aging treatments? Is it really worth making a special trip just to visit the lovae Dermatology clinic in Hongdae?” – then this article brings together all the information I have gathered, covering everything from the environment, the doctors, the prices, to the reservation process for foreigners – and explains it all clearly in one place.
Upon entering the seoulcheil lovae LOVAÉ Dermatology clinic, my first impressions were these: four Chinese translators provided throughout the visit, and large transparent price screens ensured that there was no need to worry about being overcharged.
Exit from Exit 2 of the Hongdae entrance station and walk straight ahead for less than a minute, and you will see the Sangjin Building. The Dermatology department of lovae Hongdae LOVAÉ is located on the 7th floor, making it extremely easy for first-time visitors to find their way there. As soon as the elevator doors open, you will see that the entire floor is occupied by their premises. The interior design features a simple, Korean-style decor with light wood tones and warm white lighting, instantly creating an atmosphere that conveys the sense of reliability of a legitimate medical institution, rather than the feel of a small cosmetic clinic tucked away in a corner of a shopping mall.
What surprised me the most were two things: First, there was a huge projection screen on the wall of the lobby, which continuously displayed a complete price list in both Chinese and Korean, with the cost of each service clearly listed. There wasn’t even the common practice in Taiwan and Hong Kong of asking for a quote only at the time of service. Second, there were 4 Chinese translators on site (2 of them held positions equivalent to general managers in Chinese-speaking companies). From registration, form filling, skin examinations, consultations with doctors to post-treatment explanations, someone would translate everything word for word throughout the entire process, so there was no need to worry at all if you didn’t understand Korean.
This Dermatology clinic currently has four chief physicians. Among them, the one most frequently recommended by foreign patients is Director Park Seo-yeong, who specializes in Lifting treatments for anti-aging, contouring injections, and filler procedures. She has received very positive reviews on local South Korean blogs and forums. Additionally, Director Kim Wi-hyun is renowned for his work in lip Filler treatments, while Directors Lee Jung-hyun and Lee Ji-eun each specialize in different areas of Dermatology.
Another significant advantage is that the facilities here are quite comprehensive, including the Ulthrea HIFU, Thermage FLX, INMODE, ONDA contouring device, Potenza Potenza, and Pico-K Pico devices. From anti-aging treatments to pigmentation correction, they basically offer everything you might need. During the consultation, the doctor will first use the Markview skin scanner to perform a full-face analysis and then develop a customized treatment plan based on your individual skin condition. This is nothing like those standard clinics where patients simply go in and get injections without any personalized assessment.
Hongdae lovae vs Hongdae Kate Dermatology: Their anti-aging approaches and price trends are truly different.
With so many Dermatology clinics available in the Hongdae area, many people doing this for the first time often hesitate between lovae ROVAÉ in Hongdae and Kate Dermatology in Hongdae. I have prepared a comparison table to help you quickly understand the differences between these two clinics:
| Comparison Items | Hongdae lovae LOVAÉ | Hongdae Kate |
|---|---|---|
| Core positioning | Anti-aging Lifting and Contour Shaping | Skin tone management and whitening treatments |
| High-end equipment | Ulthrea, Thermage FLX, and INMODE. | Hydrofiller injections, Juvelook Black Bottle, skin-resurfacing lasers |
| Number of hospital directors | Four deans of professional academies | One representative, the dean of the academy (civil official Yong) |
| Chinese translation | Four people in total (including two Chinese directors) | There are Chinese translation services available. |
| Price transparency | The large screen displays the prices in real time, with both Chinese and Korean versions available for comparison. | The prices are transparent and can be checked on the official website/BeautsGO. |
| Suitable for | For those over 30 who are troubled by sagging skin and want to combat aging effects. | For those aged 20 to 35 who want to improve the tone and quality of their skin and start with basic skincare routines |
Simply put: if you are looking to address issues such as a sagging face, blurred facial contours, or deepening Nasolabial Fold Correction, Hongdae lovae’s range of anti-aging treatments and team of specialists are clearly more suitable for your needs. On the other hand, if you have concerns about dull skin, acne scars, or simply want to maintain basic hydration and glow, Kate would be a better choice. The two institutions offer different approaches, so the question of “which one is better” doesn’t really apply; rather, it’s about “which one best meets your current requirements.”
Dean Park Shu-je personally conducted the HIFU treatment: from skin examinations to the treatment plan itself, every step was explained in detail.
When it comes to lovae at Hongdae, one cannot fail to mention President Park Soo-kye. In South Korea’s medical aesthetics industry, she is known as the “expert in HIFU.” This reputation is not the result of exaggerated marketing tactics but rather the outcome of her technical expertise and aesthetic judgment. Her approach to fillers emphasizes naturalness and lightness, rather than creating an exaggerated “transformation effect.” Instead, her treatments aim to make patients look “slimmer and more energetic”—precisely what most girls from Taiwan and Hong Kong desire.
The process for the first consultation is as follows: First, the clinic director conducts a preliminary inquiry to understand your concerns and budget. Then, a high-definition photo of your entire face is taken using the Markview skin scanning device, showing the condition of your epidermis, dermis, and fascia in detail on the screen. Subsequently, Director Park Soo-kyun personally conducts a face-to-face consultation (a reservation fee of ₩300,000 is required for this service, which is not deducted from the treatment cost but serves as a fee for professional consultation). Based on the scan results, she will identify the key areas that require treatment and explain why certain areas are more suitable for HIFU, while others are better suited for Thermage or INMODE – rather than giving perfunctory answers like “This treatment is definitely right for you.”
The average duration of a face-to-face consultation is around 60 minutes. For those accustomed to the “10-minute consultation followed by immediate sales pitches” style commonly seen in Taiwan’s medical beauty industry, this approach may seem overly thorough. However, it is precisely this in-depth consultation that ensures you fully understand what will be done, why it is necessary, and what the expected results will be before even lying down on the treatment bed.
List of Main Treatment Prices at Hongdae lovae LOVAÉ Dermatology in 2026 (with Comparisons for Taiwan and Hong Kong)
This is probably the aspect that everyone is most concerned about. Below, I have compiled the main treatment prices for Hongdae lovae LOVAÉ Dermatology in 2026, based on information from the BeautsGO platform, official sources, and user sharing. I have also included reference fees for similar treatments in Taiwan and Hong Kong, so you can quickly determine whether it’s worth making the trip:
| Project | Hongdae lovae LOVAÉ (K orean Won ₩) |
Approximately New Taiwan Dollars (NT$) |
Taiwan referen ce price (NT$) |
Hong Kong refere nce price (HK$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The American version of the Ulthrea HIFU device | Starting from ₩400,000 for partial t reatments; ₩1,200,000 to ₩2,000,000 for full face treatments. |
Starting from NT$9,200 | NT$30,000 to 80,000 | HK$8,000 to 20,000 |
| 225 sessions of凤凰电波 treatment for the eyes + 2 centum core doses of Rejuran for the eye area | ₩1,290,000 | NT$29,700 | NT$50,000 to 80,000 | HK$12,000 to 20,000 |
| Rejuran HB | ₩190,000 | NT$4,400 | NT$12,000 to 18,000 | HK$2,500 to HK$4,500 |
| Korean-style HIFU | Consult the customer service team | — | NT$8,000 to 15,000 | HK$2,000 to HK$4,000 |
| Mini Lifting Threads | Consult the customer service team | — | NT$15,000 to 30,000 | HK$4,000 to HK$8,000 |
The most extreme example is the Ulthrea: in Taiwan, the cost for a full-face treatment starts from NT$30,000, while in South Korea, a partial treatment only costs ⩺400,000 (about NT$9,200), and a full-face treatment ranges from ⩺91,200,000 to ⩺2,000,000 (about NT$27,600 to NT$46,000). Even including round-trip airfare and accommodation, the total cost for a full-face HIFU treatment in South Korea is still much lower than in Taiwan. Moreover, in South Korea, the treatment is performed by the director himself/herself—a service that might not even be available at an additional cost in Taiwan.
Important Notes: The prices listed above are for reference in May 2026; the actual fees will be determined after a personal consultation at the clinic. A reservation fee of ¥910,000 for consultations with the department head can be deducted from the treatment cost, while a reservation fee of ¥330,000 for consultations with the hospital director cannot be deducted.
How do foreigners make an appointment at Hongdae lovae Dermatology? With BeautsGO, it’s done in just three steps – and you also get one-on-one service from the Chinese managing director.
For foreigners who don’t speak Korean, the biggest barriers to making an appointment at a Dermatology clinic in South Korea are concerns such as “fearing to make the wrong appointment, fearing difficulties in communication, and fearing being charged extra upon arrival”. However, lovae at Hongdae has gone to great lengths to ensure a smooth experience for foreigners:
Method 1: Make an appointment through the BeautsGO platform (highly recommended) – Open the BeautsGO app or website, search for “Hongdae lovae” or “LOVAÉ”, and directly select the treatment you wish to receive and the estimated arrival date. The BeautsGO customer service will help you confirm the appointment within 24 hours. The entire process is conducted through a traditional Chinese interface, so there is no need to make phone calls or write emails in Korean.
Method 2: One-on-one service provided by Chinese-speaking managers on-site – Upon arrival, it was discovered that the hospital already had 4 Chinese translators on staff (including 2 Chinese-speaking managers) who accompanied patients throughout the entire process, from registration to post-operative instructions. This meant that patients didn’t need to speak Korean at all.
📅 立即預約 BeautsGO
Free consultation · Traditional Chinese language services · Quick reservation
The 8 most frequently asked questions about Hongdae lovae LOVAÉ Dermatology
Q1: What are the differences between Hongdae lovae Dermatology and regular Hongdae Dermatology clinics?
Hongdae lovae focuses on anti-aging and Lifting treatments. It is equipped with a complete range of anti-aging devices, including the Ulthrea HIFU, Thermage FLX, INMODE, and ONDA. The clinic is personally supervised by Dr. Park Soo-kyun, an expert in HIFU treatments and the director of the clinic. Compared to most other clinics in the Hongdae area that follow the “basic skincare + whitening” approach, lovae is one of the few specialized Dermatology clinics in Hongdae that offers comprehensive anti-aging solutions.
Q2: Are the prices at Hongdae lovae Dermatology transparent? Are different prices charged to foreigners?
The lobby is equipped with a large projection screen that displays real-time price lists in both Chinese and Korean, clearly committing to the principle of “equal prices for Chinese and Koreans”, thus eliminating any possibility of charging foreigners higher prices. This makes it one of the few Dermatology clinics in South Korea that openly display prices on-site.
Q3: Is there a significant difference in the effectiveness between the Ulthrea and the Korean version of the HIFU device?
The Ulthrea, the American version of the HIFU device, can penetrate up to the SMAS layer, providing an inward-and-outward tightening effect that lasts for 12 to 18 months. The Korean version of the HIFU device mainly acts on the epidermis and dermis, resulting in a shallower tightening effect but at a more affordable price. Both types of equipment are available at Hongdae lovae; during the consultation, the director will recommend the most suitable treatment plan based on the degree of your skin laxity.
Q4: Can foreigners who don’t know Korean go there by themselves?
Certainly. At Hongdae lovae, there are 4 full-time Chinese translators (including 2 Chinese-speaking managers). From the process of making an appointment, registering, undergoing the consultation and treatment to receiving post-operative instructions, customers will be accompanied by Chinese-speaking staff throughout the entire process. It is also possible to make appointments in Traditional Chinese through the BeautsGO platform, and there is no need at all for any knowledge of Korean.
Q5: How long does it take to see the results after undergoing HIFU treatment?
The effects of HIFU usually begin to be noticeable 1-2 months after the treatment, and the optimal results are achieved 3-6 months later. Since this procedure stimulates the natural production of Collagen in the body, rather than providing immediate results like fillers, it takes some time for the skin to respond. There may be mild redness on the day of the procedure, which will subside within 1-3 days.
Q6: Can I use a credit card at Hongdae lovae Dermatology? Is tax refund available?
Credit card payments are accepted (VISA/Master/JCB/UnionPay). Medical beauty treatments in South Korea are considered medical services, and generally, such treatments are not eligible for tax refunds (except for cosmetic services). It is recommended to consult the clinic directly to confirm whether any treatments are eligible for tax refunds.
Q7: Between Hongdae lovae and Gangnam Dermatology, which one is more worth visiting?
Gangnam is traditionally the area in Seoul where dermatology clinics are concentrated. The prices there are generally higher due to the high rental costs, but there are many options available. In the Hongdae area, rent is lower, making the prices more affordable. Additionally, the transportation is convenient, and there are numerous entertainment and dining options in the surrounding areas. Hongdae lovae boasts equipment and a team of physicians in the field of anti-aging that are on par with those at top-tier dermatology clinics in Gangnam, yet the prices are more reasonable, making it an excellent value-for-money option.
Q8: How much in advance is it recommended to make a reservation?
It is generally recommended to make an appointment 3 to 7 days in advance. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Director Park Soo-kyun specifically, it is advisable to book 1 to 2 weeks in advance, as the number of available appointments with the director is limited, especially on weekends and during public holidays in South Korea.
A small reminder: Lovae at Hongdae is closed on Sundays. It is open on weekdays until 8:30 PM and on Saturdays until 4:30 PM. Please avoid scheduling your visit on Sundays.
