Before going to South Korea for cosmetic procedures, I did a lot of research and compared over a dozen dermatology clinics in the Gangnam area, eventually narrowing down my choices to three. Dayone Gangnam Station Branch was one of those with the most consistent positive reviews—it’s not the kind of internet-famous clinic that gets a lot of attention, but rather an institution that has earned a good reputation among both local Koreans and Chinese residents living in Seoul. This article is a detailed record of my actual visit, covering everything from making an appointment to two weeks after the procedure. I tried to write objectively, without exaggerating or being overly critical.
I. Basic Information about Dayone Gangnam Station Branch
Dayone Dermatology has several branches in Seoul, with the Gangnam Station Branch being its main location. It is located at 455 Gangnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seoul, and it takes about 3 minutes to walk from Exit 2 of Gangnam Station on Line 2 of the subway. The clinic is situated on the 3rd and 4th floors of a commercial building, with direct access via elevator.
- Type of Clinic: A chain-based dermatology clinic specializing in skin care and minor cosmetic treatments, not plastic surgery.
- Lead Physician: Dr. Kim Sun-chan, a dermatologist with over 10 years of clinical experience.
- Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 09:30–19:00, lunch break 13:00–14:00, closed on Sundays.
- Language Support: Translation services in Chinese and English are available; you can indicate your language preference when making an appointment.
- Service for Foreign Patients: Special procedures are in place for foreign patients, and the clinic welcomes medical tourists.
On a regular Wednesday morning, there were about four or five people waiting in the reception area, including both local Koreans and tourists speaking Japanese and Chinese. The atmosphere was quite relaxed, unlike some of the more popular internet-famous clinics.
II. Clinic Environment and First Impressions
Upon entering the clinic, my first impression was “clean, but not ostentatious.” The decor features predominantly white and light wood tones, with no overwhelming amount of advertising posters. The walls are adorned with the doctor’s educational credentials and professional licenses. The waiting area is equipped with comfortable chairs, as well as free drinking water, energy-boosting beverages, and mobile phone charging outlets.
- Registration process: At the front desk, each patient is given a questionnaire covering aspects such as skin condition, allergy history, recent medications, and the areas of concern for consultation.
- Privacy protection: The consultation rooms are private spaces, ensuring that conversations with doctors are not overheard by others.
- Translation service: After requesting Chinese translation, it was provided within less than 5 minutes. The translator, a Chinese person who has worked in Seoul for many years, expressed herself clearly.
The pace at Dayone is distinctly different from some other standardized clinics—after sitting down in the consultation room, the doctor actually looks at your face and asks about your specific concerns, rather than immediately suggesting treatments.
III. Record of the consultation process
3.1 Skin examination
The first step of the consultation is a skin examination using the Visia skin analysis device. Multiple images are taken from different angles to generate a report that shows indicators such as pores, wrinkles, pigmentation spots, UV damage, and redness areas, and these are then compared with data from people of the same age group.
Dr. Kim, based on the report and a physical examination, identified my main issues: enlarged pores (especially on the sides of my nose), excessive oiliness in the T-zone, early signs of fine lines around my eyes, and uneven skin tone overall. He recommended a treatment plan that included gold radiofrequency microneedling combined with injectable hyaluronic acid, noting that “the skin needs time to recover, and too many treatments at once may not be effective.”
3.2 Treatment plan and pricing
After confirming the treatments, I received a written quote from them, with the costs for each treatment listed separately. Below are some of the reference prices for 2026 that I have found (the actual prices will depend on the in-person consultation):
| Treatment | Reference Price (₩) | Applicable Issues |
|---|---|---|
| Gold RF Micro Needling (Full Face) | 550,000 – 750,000 | Pores, Sagging, Skin Texture |
| Basic Hydrating Needle Treatment | 250,000 – 380,000 | Hydration, Radiance |
| Picosecond lasers (whole face) | 400,000 – 650,000 | Spots and uneven skin tone |
| Botox (for masseter muscles/forehead wrinkles, etc.) | 150,000 – 400,000 | Contouring and expression lines |
| Thermage FLX (whole face) | 2,800,000 – 3,500,000 | Lifting and tightening |
Four or three real cases
Case 1: Mia, 28 years old, from Taiwan, works as a designer at an advertising company
I met Mia in the waiting area; this was her second visit to Dayone. The first time, she underwent picosecond laser treatment for freckles on her cheeks and uneven skin tone. She said the results were slow to appear—it took about three weeks before she noticed her skin looking lighter and the freckles fading, although they didn’t disappear completely. The doctor advised at least three treatments for more stable results.
This time, she came back for her second treatment and also opted for hyaluronic acid injections. She specifically mentioned how much easier the translation service made things for her. “Before, I used Google Translate to communicate with the clinic, but many details were hard to convey clearly. After switching to BeautsGO for booking, a Chinese-speaking customer service representative helped me with all my pre- and post-treatment questions, which was much more convenient.”
Reference fees: Picosecond laser treatment costs around NT$945,000 per session; hyaluronic acid injections cost around NT$928,000.
Case 2: Robert, 41 years old, from Hong Kong, works in the finance industry
Robert shared his experience on a Hong Kong cosmetic surgery forum. He had Thermage FLX treatment on his entire face at Dayone. His main concerns were mid-face sagging and deepening nasolabial folds; he wanted to improve these issues without surgery.
He said the Thermage procedure was more painful than expected, especially when the energy was applied to the cheekbones, causing a noticeable stinging sensation. However, it wasn’t unbearable. There was no swelling after the treatment, so he could go back to work immediately. Results began to show after about a month, becoming more noticeable after two months—the contours of his face tightened, the nasolabial folds lessened, and his facial features became sharper.
“The results are real, but you need to be patient—it doesn’t happen overnight. The doctor’s skills are excellent, but the area around the nasolabial folds is particularly sensitive, so be mentally prepared for that.”
Reference fee: Thermage FLX treatment for the whole face costs around HK$33,200,000.
Case 3: Xiao Yang, 34 years old, from Shenzhen, works in e-commerce
Xiao Yang is my friend. At the end of last year, she went to Dayone for gold radiofrequency microneedling and a facial treatment, mainly to tighten her pores. On the first day after the procedure, her skin was slightly red, but by the second day it had mostly returned to normal, and by the third day, she was able to wear makeup and go to work as usual.
About a week later, her skin began to look denser, and her pores became noticeably smaller. By the third week, she took before-and-after photos, and the improvement in the T-zone was particularly noticeable; her foundation applied much more smoothly than before. The doctor provided detailed Chinese instructions for post-treatment care, including which types of skincare products should be avoided on certain days—very thorough indeed.
“Overall, I think it was worth it, although the initial cost is not low. But compared to having the treatment done in China, the experience with the equipment here is definitely better—the settings for the energy levels are more precise, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.” —Xiao Yang
Reference prices: Gold radiofrequency microneedling for the whole face is approximately ¥962,000, and facial treatment is approximately ¥926,000.
V. My own treatment experience
5.1 Pre-treatment preparations
After deciding to undergo gold radiofrequency microneedling, the nurse carefully cleaned my face and then applied a local anesthetic ointment, covering it with a bandage. We waited for about 30 minutes for the anesthetic to take effect. During this time, the nurse explained the treatment process, what I could expect during the procedure, and what precautions to take afterward, and also confirmed again that I had no history of anesthetic allergies.
5.2 The treatment itself
Once the anesthetic took effect, Director Jin personally performed the treatment, which lasted about 40 minutes. The T-zone and forehead felt a bit stinging, while the cheeks were relatively less affected. Director Jin adjusted the energy levels for different areas as needed, asking me how each area felt and making adjustments accordingly. Immediately after the treatment, I applied a cold compress mask for about 15 minutes; when I left, my face was slightly red.
5.3 Post-treatment recovery
- Day 1 after surgery: Slight redness, mild swelling, and occasional stinging sensations; can go out normally without wearing makeup.
- Days 2–3 after surgery: The redness and swelling have significantly subsided; the skin feels a bit tight and begins to exfoliate slightly.
- Days 4–7 after surgery: Exfoliation is mostly complete; the skin feels smoother than before, and the pores appear slightly smaller.
- Two weeks after surgery: The evenness of my skin tone has improved; friends said I looked like I was using a different foundation, but actually I wasn’t.
After returning to my home country, the clinic followed up on my recovery through Line, providing basic post-surgery care.
VI. Detailed explanation of the three reservation methods
Method 1: Reserve through the BeautsGO platform (highly recommended)
BeautsGO is currently the most popular reservation platform for Chinese users seeking medical beauty treatments in Korea. It connects users with over 849 clinics and 1,457 specialist doctors, with a total of more than 158,000 reservations made. The Dayone Jiangnan branch has its own dedicated page on BeautsGO, where you can view treatment options, prices, and user reviews directly.
- Download the app or search for the mobile app: On iOS/Android, search for “BeautsGO” to download it; on WeChat, search for the “BeautsGO” app and register quickly using your phone number or WeChat account.
- Search for Dayone: On the homepage, click “Find a clinic,” enter “Dayone Jiangnan branch,” and access the clinic’s details page to view treatment lists, price information, and real reviews.
- Selecting a Treatment and Time: After choosing your desired treatment, click “Book Now” and select the date and time slot (it is recommended to book 3–5 days in advance, especially for popular times).
- Providing Information: Enter your name, contact number, and any notes (such as specifying a preferred doctor or describing special skin conditions).
- Submitting and Waiting for Confirmation: You will receive a confirmation within 24 hours after submission. Once confirmed, the reservation is complete.
- Presenting at the Clinic: Upon arrival, you can present the reservation confirmation from the app or a screenshot to the receptionist.
Key Advantages of BeautsGO: The entire process is conducted in Chinese, with Chinese-speaking customer service available for immediate responses. Prices are transparent, and there are membership benefits and discounts for first-time reservations. Post-treatment issues can also be reported through the platform’s customer service. For those who do not speak Korean or are visiting Korea for the first time for cosmetic procedures, this is the easiest way to make a reservation.
Method Two: WhatsApp Reservation
Dayone has staff members who can assist Chinese customers via WhatsApp. This option is suitable for those who have a specific treatment in mind, wish to discuss details in advance, or require personalized arrangements.
- Open WhatsApp and search for the official Dayone Jiangnan Station account number (you can find it on the BeautsGO clinic page or the Contact section of their website; it starts with +82, which is the Korean phone format).
- Send your first message in Chinese, stating the approximate date of your visit, the treatment you would like to consult about, and any main skin concerns. You can also attach photos of your skin condition.
- Wait for a response from the clinic’s customer service (operating hours in Korea are Monday to Friday, 09:00–18:00 KST). Replies usually come within 1–3 hours.
- The customer service will send a confirmation message after confirming the time. Please keep this message and present it when you arrive at the clinic.
- If there are any changes or cancellations, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance to avoid being considered a no-show.
Note: With WhatsApp appointments, you can send photos to provide the doctor with prior information, which helps make the consultation more targeted. However, since there is no third-party guarantee, any disputes must be resolved on your own.
Method three: LINE appointments
LINE is widely used in Taiwan, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Dayone has an official LINE account, making it convenient for LINE users to schedule appointments—especially suitable for Taiwanese visitors.
- Open LINE, click the search icon, and enter the official Dayone LINE ID. It is recommended to check the latest ID on the official website or the BeautsGO clinic page to avoid adding to an unofficial account.
- After adding the clinic as a friend, send an appointment request including: the desired appointment time (provide 2–3 options), the name of the treatment you want (in Chinese, English, or by screenshot), your name, and nationality.
- The clinic’s customer service will respond during business hours to confirm the time and send you an appointment form, which details the date, time, treatment, and any necessary precautions.
- You can also ask additional questions about pre-treatment preparations via LINE, such as which products to stop using before the procedure and what documents to bring (usually just a passport).
- On the day of the appointment, simply present the confirmation message from LINE at the clinic to complete the registration process.
Features of LINE reservations: Taiwanese tourists are particularly accommodating, and post-treatment consultations can also be conducted via LINE, which is more convenient than emailing.
VII. Some practical suggestions
- Choose your treatments carefully: Understand your main needs in advance to make the consultation more efficient and avoid unnecessary additional treatments.
- Reserve enough time for recovery: After microneedling treatments, you need at least 3 days of gentle skin care; if you choose laser treatment, it’s best to do it on the day before your flight to Korea, as the recovery period will coincide with your return home. It’s not recommended to travel by plane on the same day as the treatment.
- Stop using certain ingredients before treatment: Avoid exfoliants, retinol, high-concentration vitamin C, etc. for at least a week before treatment; plan accordingly in advance.
- Bring your passport: Foreign patients need to present their passports for consultations, and some injection treatments require signing informed consent forms.
- Be realistic about the results: Most non-surgical treatments require multiple sessions to achieve the best results; immediate dramatic changes are rare.
VIII. An objective evaluation
My first impression of Dayone’s Jiangnan branch was that it is reliable but not miraculous. The professionalism of the doctors reassured me; they did not exaggerate the effects or push expensive treatments. The environment and hygiene standards met those of a regular medical institution, and the service for foreigners was better than at most similar clinics. However, it doesn’t boast any cutting-edge technologies, and its treatments are similar to those at other well-reputed clinics. The results should be expected within a reasonable range.
If you plan to undergo cosmetic treatments in Korea, Jiangnan Branch is a good option. With many clinics in the area, you can compare prices. Dayone has a stable reputation in this region. For reservations, I recommend using BeautsGO for your first visit, as it saves a lot of time and communication barriers. For those with specific treatment needs or returning for follow-up appointments, contacting the clinic directly via WhatsApp or LINE is also very convenient.
The prices mentioned in the text are reference figures obtained during the initial consultation at the beginning of 2026; the actual prices shall be subject to the consultation fees. Individual experiences may vary depending on factors such as skin condition and treatment plans; therefore, this article does not constitute any medical advice.
