A dermatology clinic in Seoul for foreigners will usually hand you two papers on a lifting visit: a treatment plan before anything starts and an itemized invoice at the end. Reading both line by line is the simplest protection a visitor has. The plan should name the device, the zones, the dose in shots or lines, and who performs the treatment. The invoice should mirror that plan item for item, list prices before VAT, and add the 10% VAT at payment. When the two papers disagree, ask at the counter rather than after you land. The sections below explain each line, what a vague entry looks like, and what to request in writing.
Guide
What a written lifting plan should list
A plan sheet is the written form of what the doctor proposed. For an energy-based lift it names the device, such as Ultherapy or Thermage FLX, and marks zones on a face diagram: lower face, jawline, under the chin, neck or around the eyes. Each zone carries a number, and the fee is built on it.
Luckman, writing in the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing in 2014, noted that elective aesthetic work brings high and sometimes unrealistic expectations, which makes consent forms and record keeping more important. If a clinic gives only a spoken summary, ask for the details on paper before the numbing cream goes on.
- Device name and version, for example Ultherapy Prime
- Each zone, ideally drawn on a diagram
- The dose per zone, in the unit the clinic charges by
- Numbing method and any add-ons
- Who performs the treatment
Guide
Reading the dose line: shots, lines and zones
The dose line is where plans differ most. Focused ultrasound devices such as Ultherapy are usually written in lines, radiofrequency devices such as Thermage FLX in shots, and some clinics charge by area. A total without zones tells you little, because the same count can be spread across the face or concentrated along the jaw.
Each number should sit beside a named zone. For ultrasound, the cartridge or depth should be stated, since shallow and deep passes reach different layers. The sheet should also say whether the count is a target or fixed, because a doctor may lighten passes over thin skin on the day.
Guide
Invoice lines and where VAT appears
The invoice should repeat the plan in the same order: each treatment with its dose, then numbing, masks or take-home products, then a subtotal. Prices in Korea are normally quoted before VAT, and 10% VAT is added at payment, so the card terminal will show more than the figure you discussed.
Scan for lines nobody mentioned, such as a booster added that morning. A multi-session package should show how many sessions remain and until when. Keep the invoice clipped to the plan sheet; together they show what was agreed, done and paid.
Guide
When the plan changes on the treatment day
Plans change for ordinary reasons. The doctor may find thinner skin than expected or propose an extra zone. Any change to device, dose or fee should be written onto the sheet and confirmed by you before treatment continues.
Docherty and McCartney, in a 2023 Journal of Aesthetic Nursing article on informed consent in medical aesthetics, describe consent as a process rather than a single signature. A revised plan therefore deserves its own short explanation of what is different and how it affects risk and cost, even for a visitor with a flight to catch.
Guide
Five checks before you sign the card slip
A minute at the counter beats a week of messages across time zones.
- Invoice dose matches plan dose for every zone
- VAT is its own line on top of prices quoted before VAT
- Anything added on the day is written on the plan
- Unused package sessions show an end date
- You hold a copy or photo of both papers
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Avoiding litigation: what aesthetic nurses need to know about informed consentJournal of Aesthetic Nursing · 2014 · doi:10.12968/joan.2014.3.2.84
A legal article arguing that elective non-surgical aesthetic patients need comprehensive procedure information, consent forms and thorough record keeping before treatment.
- Informed consent in medical aestheticsJournal of Aesthetic Nursing · 2023 · doi:10.12968/joan.2023.12.1.34
Guidance on why informed consent must be obtained before cosmetic treatments and how to run the consent process.
FAQ
Questions about Lifting in Gangnam
Can I take a photo of my lifting plan before I agree to it?
Yes, asking to photograph the plan sheet is a reasonable request, and most clinics hand over a copy or allow a picture. A photo lets you translate the sheet with a phone app, check the zones against the face diagram, and compare it later with the invoice. If the sheet is only shown on a screen, ask for it as a message or printout instead. Having it in hand before treatment matters more than having it afterwards.
Why is the total on my invoice higher than the figure I was told?
The usual reason is VAT: treatment prices in Korea are generally quoted before VAT, and 10% VAT is added at payment. If the gap is larger than that, look for extra lines such as numbing, a mask, a take-home cream, or a zone added during the session. Ask the staff to point to the line that explains the difference. A clear invoice lets you match every amount to something on the plan.
What does it mean when a plan gives a line count but no zones?
It means you cannot tell where the energy will go, so ask for the zones before treatment starts. A total of ultrasound lines or radiofrequency shots can be spread evenly over the face or focused on the jaw and neck, and the result differs. A useful plan pairs each number with a named zone, ideally on a diagram. If the doctor prefers to decide on the day, ask for a range per zone in writing.
Is a handwritten plan sheet acceptable at a Seoul clinic?
A handwritten sheet is fine if it is legible and complete. Many clinics fill in a printed face diagram by hand during the consultation. What matters is that it names the device, the zones and the dose, and that both you and the clinic keep a copy. If a line is unclear, ask for it to be rewritten in block letters or sent as a short message.
What should I do if I was charged for a zone that was not treated?
Raise it at the counter before you leave, holding the plan sheet and the invoice side by side. Point to the zone on the diagram and the matching invoice line, and ask whether it was skipped or simply not marked. Clinics can usually correct a billing error on the spot or issue a partial cancellation on the card. Once you are home, the same request takes longer, so settle it in person.
Do I need my passport when I register for a lift as a visitor?
Bring it, because many clinics ask foreign patients for passport details when opening a chart. The name on the chart then matches the name on the invoice, which helps if you need the paperwork later for a doctor or an insurer at home. Some clinics accept a photo of the passport page. Check that your name is spelled the same way on the plan sheet, the invoice and any package slip.