Dermal filler in Korea is an injected gel, most often hyaluronic acid, that restores lost volume, supports a contour or softens a fold without surgery. A session takes about fifteen to thirty minutes of injecting after twenty to thirty minutes of numbing cream. Swelling, tenderness and small bruises usually ease within a few days, and most people can take a flight the next day. The change is visible at once and settles over roughly two weeks. Clinics price by syringe or cc and by product brand, before VAT, and this page compares clinics and their listed prices so you can read quotes on equal terms.
Is it for you?
Who Fillers in Gangnam suits, and who should wait
Dermal filler suits adults with mild to moderate volume loss or a contour they want to adjust: hollow temples, flattened midface, deep folds beside the mouth, a soft chin line or thin lips. It works well when the skin itself is in reasonable condition and the problem is missing support underneath. People who want a reversible first step often start with hyaluronic acid for that reason.
It is not the right tool for heavy sagging, loose neck skin or excess fat. Adding gel to lax skin can make the face look heavy rather than lifted, and a careful doctor will say so. Filler also does not change skin texture or pigment, and it does not stop muscle-driven lines the way toxin does.
Usually a good fit
- Hollow temples, cheeks or under-eye grooves
- Deep folds beside the nose and mouth
- A soft chin or jawline needing definition
- Wanting a reversible, short-downtime change
May be better to wait
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Active infection or cold sore on the area
- Permanent implants or unknown old filler there
- Heavy sagging that needs lifting or surgery
Clinics in Gangnam
10 clinics for Fillers in Gangnam
Every clinic below lists Fillers among its treatments. Message a clinic directly.
1
2RE:BERRY Clinic Gangnam
3Cheongdam Oracle Dermatology
4Muse Clinic Gangnam
5Cellon Dermatology Clinic (Cheongdam)
6Sia Clinic Gangnam
7ADO Clinic
8
9Aive Clinic
10How it works
How a Fillers session runs
Hyaluronic acid filler is a crosslinked gel that binds water and fills space under the skin. Thicker, firmer gels are placed deep along bone for structure; softer gels go higher for fine lines. Korean clinics stock imported lines such as Restylane by Galderma, Juvederm by Allergan and Belotero by Merz, alongside Korean-made hyaluronic acid brands. Calcium hydroxylapatite, sold as Radiesse by Merz, and poly-L-lactic acid, sold as Sculptra by Galderma, are different materials that also stimulate collagen and cannot be dissolved.
Material choice changes how long correction lasts. In a 2007 multicenter randomized trial in Dermatologic Surgery, Moers-Carpi and colleagues compared calcium hydroxylapatite with two hyaluronic acid products for nasolabial folds and reported longer-lasting correction with calcium hydroxylapatite over the follow-up period. The tradeoff is that hyaluronic acid can be reversed with hyaluronidase, which matters if a contour looks wrong.
In Korea the dose and the price unit are the same thing: plans are written as a number of syringes, usually 1 cc each, per area, with the product brand named on each line. Ask the doctor to write the product, the amount per area and the route, needle or blunt cannula, before injecting.
Assessment
The doctor looks at the face at rest and in motion, checks past filler, surgery and medications, and marks the planned points. This takes about ten to fifteen minutes.
Numbing
Numbing cream is applied for twenty to thirty minutes. Many syringes also contain lidocaine, so the area dulls further as the gel goes in.
Injection
After cleansing, the gel is placed with a fine needle or a blunt cannula in small amounts, with slow pushes and frequent checks of the skin color. Fifteen to thirty minutes is typical.
Shaping and review
The doctor gently molds the area, checks symmetry with you in a mirror and applies a cold pack. Written aftercare and the product lot sticker should be given before you leave.
Fillers compared with other options
| Point | Hyaluronic acid | Calcium hydroxylapatite | Poly-L-lactic acid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Crosslinked water-binding gel | Mineral microspheres in gel | Biodegradable polymer particles |
| How it works | Fills space at once | Fills, then stimulates collagen | Stimulates collagen gradually |
| Onset | Immediate | Immediate, builds further | Over weeks and several sessions |
| Reversible | Yes, with hyaluronidase | No | No |
| Typical downtime | Swelling for a few days | Swelling for a few days | Swelling and tenderness for a few days |
At a glance
Fillers facts
| Main products | Restylane (Galderma), Juvederm (Allergan), Belotero (Merz), Korean-made HA brands |
|---|---|
| Other materials | Radiesse (Merz, CaHA), Sculptra (Galderma, PLLA) |
| Product type | Injectable gel; HA is crosslinked hyaluronic acid |
| Dose unit | Syringe, usually 1 cc, per area |
| Numbing | Topical cream 20 to 30 minutes; many syringes contain lidocaine |
| Injection time | About 15 to 30 minutes |
| Downtime | Swelling and possible bruising for a few days |
| When results show | At once; settles over about two weeks |
| Earliest flight home | Usually the next day, after a quick check |
Prices
Fillers cost in Gangnam
Prices below come from the listed clinics' own price lists, before VAT. 10% VAT is added at payment.
Fillers · 1 cc
Range across 4 listed clinics · approx. $95–$436₩130,000–₩600,000 + VATCompare clinicsFiller dissolving (per area)
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $58₩80,000 + VATCompare clinicsRecovery
What the days after look like
The area feels full and tender; small needle marks and some redness are normal. Cold packs help, and skipping makeup until the next day is sensible.
Swelling often peaks, especially on lips and under the eyes. Bruises may appear. Avoid alcohol, saunas, hard exercise and pressing on the area.
Most swelling and bruising fades. Small firm spots usually soften; tell the clinic if a lump stays tender or grows.
The gel integrates and the final shape shows. This is the right time to judge symmetry and discuss any small top-up.
Safety
Fillers risks and limits
- Redness, tenderness, swelling and bruising for several days are common.
- Lumps, unevenness or a bluish tint if gel sits too superficially.
- Infection or delayed inflammatory nodules, which need a doctor's review.
- Vascular compromise: rare, but can cause skin damage and needs urgent treatment.
- Vision change after injection near the nose or brow is very rare and an emergency.
- Filler restores volume; it does not lift heavy sagging or change skin quality.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Vision Loss Associated with Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: A Systematic Review of LiteratureAesthetic Plastic Surgery · 2019 · Kapoor K, Kapoor P, Heydenrych I, Bertossi D · doi:10.1007/s00266-019-01562-8
Systematic review of published cases of vision loss after hyaluronic acid filler injection, describing the injection sites involved, management attempts and outcomes.
- Complication Management following Rejuvenation Procedures with Hyaluronic Acid Fillers—an Algorithm-based ApproachPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open · 2018 · Snozzi P, van Loghem J · doi:10.1097/gox.0000000000002061
Provides step-wise algorithms for diagnosing and managing discoloration, edema, nodules, infection and vascular compromise after hyaluronic acid filler.
- A Multicenter, Randomized Trial Comparing Calcium Hydroxylapatite to Two Hyaluronic Acids for Treatment of Nasolabial FoldsDermatologic Surgery · 2007 · Moers-Carpi M, Vogt S, Santos B, et al. · doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2007.33354.x
Randomized multicenter trial comparing calcium hydroxylapatite with two hyaluronic acid fillers for nasolabial folds, reporting longer-lasting correction with calcium hydroxylapatite.
FAQ
Questions about Fillers in Gangnam
Does a dermal filler injection hurt?
Most people feel pressure and short stings rather than strong pain, because numbing cream is applied for twenty to thirty minutes first. Many hyaluronic acid syringes contain lidocaine, which numbs the tissue as the gel spreads. Lips and areas over bone usually feel sharper than the cheeks. If you are sensitive, ask for a longer numbing time or a dental-style nerve block for the lips.
How soon after injection can I take a long-haul flight?
A long-haul flight the day after treatment is usually acceptable for hyaluronic acid filler. Cabin pressure does not shift well-placed gel, though swelling can feel stronger on a long flight, so drink water and avoid alcohol on board. Staying two or three days gives the clinic a chance to check the result. Keep the clinic's contact details and your product lot sticker in your carry-on.
What is the difference between HA and CaHA fillers?
Hyaluronic acid fills space with a water-binding gel and can be dissolved, while calcium hydroxylapatite adds firm support and also stimulates collagen. In the 2007 trial by Moers-Carpi and colleagues in Dermatologic Surgery, calcium hydroxylapatite gave longer-lasting fold correction than two hyaluronic acid products. The catch is that CaHA cannot be reversed with an enzyme. Doctors often reserve it for deep areas along bone.
What warning signs after injection need urgent attention?
Sudden blanching, sharp pain out of proportion, a dusky or mottled patch, or any blurred or lost vision need immediate attention. These can mean gel is blocking a blood vessel. Kapoor and colleagues, in a 2019 systematic review in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, collected reported cases of vision loss after hyaluronic acid filler. It is very rare, but early contact with the treating clinic matters.
How are lumps or swelling treated if they appear after I fly home?
Most small lumps soften on their own or with gentle massage, but a tender, red or growing lump needs a doctor's review. Snozzi and van Loghem, in a 2018 paper in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, set out step-wise plans for nodules, swelling, infection and discoloration. Hyaluronidase dissolves hyaluronic acid gel. Bring the product name and lot sticker to your local doctor.
How do Korean-made hyaluronic acid brands differ from imported ones?
Korean-made and imported brands belong to the same material class, crosslinked hyaluronic acid, and both can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. They differ in gel firmness, particle size, lidocaine content and how each line is approved in different countries. On clinic menus they usually sit on separate rows with different listed prices. Ask the doctor why a particular product suits each area of your plan.
How many syringes does a first treatment usually need?
The amount depends on the area, the degree of volume loss and the product, so there is no single number. Many doctors start conservatively on a first visit and review the shape after about two weeks, when swelling has gone. A plan written per area, with the product and syringe count on each line, makes quotes comparable. Avoid plans that add syringes without a clear reason.
Can filler be combined with toxin or a skin booster in one visit?
Filler is often combined with botulinum toxin in one visit, since toxin relaxes muscle-driven lines and filler replaces volume. Skin boosters can also be added, though some doctors space them to keep swelling down and judge each result clearly. Combining several injections raises bruising and swelling a little. Leave several days before photos, events or meetings where appearance matters.
Who should postpone or avoid filler treatment?
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active infection, cold sore or rash on the area, or have a known allergy to a product component should postpone treatment. Autoimmune conditions, blood thinners and old filler of unknown type also need discussion first. A careful consultation includes these questions. If a clinic does not ask about your medical history, ask why.