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Frequently Asked Questions — Answers from a Board-Certified Dermatologist
A. Clinic & Care
1. What kind of clinic is JM Dermatology Clinic?
JM Dermatology Clinic (JM Kim Jeongmin Dermatology Clinic) is a board-certified dermatologist clinic on Saimdang-ro in Seocho-gu, Seoul. It is accessible from Gangnam Station, and patients are seen by Dr. Jeongmin Kim. The clinic provides lifting treatments, including Thermage and Ultherapy Prime, alongside dermatology care for pigmentation, redness, acne, and other skin conditions.
2. Does a board-certified dermatologist see patients personally?
Yes. Dr. Jeongmin Kim, a board-certified dermatologist, sees patients. Consultation, examination, and the decision on each treatment plan are handled personally by the director.
3. What is Dr. Kim's background?
Dr. Kim graduated from the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and obtained a medical license in 2010. After completing residency training at Pusan National University Hospital, Dr. Kim became a board-certified dermatologist in 2015. Dr. Kim has completed the Thermage FLX Master Course and is a regular member of the Korean Dermatologists Association, the Korean Society for Dermatologic Laser Medicine, the Korean Society for Anti-Aging Skin Research, the Korean Society for Aesthetic and Dermatologic Surgery, the Korean Acne Society, the Korean Atopic Dermatitis Association, the Korean Society for Psoriasis, the Korean Society for Vitiligo, the Korean Society for Photomedicine, the Korean Society for Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy, and the Korean Hair Research Society. Dr. Kim has published more than 20 papers in international (SCI) and Korean journals.
4. Where is the clinic? Is it close to Gangnam Station?
The clinic is at #305, 3F, Raemian Leaders One Arcade, 158 Saimdang-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea. It is accessible from Gangnam Station.
5. What are the clinic hours?
The clinic is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. There is no lunch break on Saturdays; the weekday lunch break is 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. The clinic is closed on Wednesdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
6. How do I book an appointment?
All dermatology visits are by appointment only. You can book through Naver Booking, the KakaoTalk channel, LINE (ID: jmskin), email (jmskin77@gmail.com), Instagram message, or phone (+82-2-6953-1212), whichever is most convenient for you.
7. Can I book a same-day appointment?
Same-day appointments are possible when the schedule allows. Please call the clinic and we will check availability for you.
8. Is parking available?
You can use the building's parking lot. Information on parking support is provided when you visit.
9. Can international patients be treated?
Yes. The website is also available in English, and patients overseas can book through Naver, KakaoTalk, LINE, email, or Instagram message. A separate international booking guide is posted on the website.
10. Is consultation available in English?
Yes. Consultation and treatment guidance are available in English.
11. How can I find out the cost of treatment?
Please refer to the non-covered fee guide posted on the website's notice board. Because costs vary with the scope and area of treatment, exact information is given after your condition is assessed during the consultation.
12. Can I have a consultation first?
A consultation is included when you book an appointment. You may decide whether to proceed with treatment after the consultation.
B. Thermage
13. What is Thermage?
Thermage is a lifting device that delivers radiofrequency (RF) energy to the deep layers of the skin. Energy is delivered from the skin surface without any incision, and treatment is performed area by area, such as the full face, forehead, eye area, jawline, and neck.
14. How can I check that genuine tips are used?
Check whether genuine tips (FLX tips) approved by Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) are used. A certificate of authenticity can be issued, and by scanning the QR code on the tip box with the official Thermage app (Solta Medical Korea) you can verify authenticity and the total number of shots yourself. At JM Dermatology Clinic, it is our principle to open an unused genuine tip in front of the patient for every treatment.
15. How is the number of shots decided?
It is decided by the extent of the treatment area and your skin condition. The required number of shots is explained after assessment during the consultation, and you can check the total shot count in the app after treatment.
16. How long does the treatment take?
A full-face treatment takes about one hour. It is shorter when the treatment area is limited.
17. How is anesthesia handled?
Before treatment, numbing cream is applied and a separate penetration device is used so the cream is fully absorbed into the skin. This is to achieve more even absorption than simply applying the cream and waiting.
18. Does it hurt?
Pain varies greatly from person to person. If you tell us how it feels during treatment, we adjust the intensity and the anesthesia method.
19. How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions depends on your skin condition and the treatment area. We explain this after assessing your current condition during the consultation, and we do not recommend a fixed number of sessions.
20. Can I return to daily life right after treatment?
Because it is a non-incisional treatment, most people can return to daily life the same day. However, some redness or swelling may remain, so it is best to allow some time before an important event.
21. Are there any precautions after treatment?
On the day of treatment, avoid saunas and strenuous exercise, and take care with sun protection and moisturizing. If you have questions about your progress or notice any unusual reaction, contact the clinic and we will check for you.
22. Can it be done on the neck or eye area?
Yes. The eye area is treated as Eye Thermage and the neck as Neck Thermage, each tailored to the condition of that area. JM Dermatology Clinic assesses and designs the neck line as a continuous flow from the jawline.
23. What side effects can occur?
Temporary redness, swelling, or warmth may occur after treatment. Rarely, pigmentation or burns can occur, and reactions vary with each person's skin condition. You must tell us about any medications you are taking and your medical history before treatment.
C. Ultherapy
24. What is Ultherapy?
Ultherapy is a lifting device that uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to concentrate energy at a defined depth in the skin. It is performed without incision, and tissue layers can be checked on ultrasound imaging during treatment.
25. Which device do you use?
JM Dermatology Clinic uses Ultherapy Prime.
26. Is treatment performed while viewing ultrasound images?
Yes. During treatment, tissue layers are checked on ultrasound imaging and the depth is adjusted accordingly.
27. How long does the treatment take?
A full-face treatment takes about one hour. It is shorter when the treatment area is limited.
28. How painful is it?
It varies greatly from person to person. Before treatment, numbing cream is applied and absorbed with a separate penetration device. If you are sensitive to pain, let us know in advance and we will adjust the intensity.
29. How many sessions will I need?
It depends on your skin condition and treatment goals. We explain this after assessment during the consultation.
30. When can I return to daily life after treatment?
Most people can return the same day, although some swelling may remain. It is best to allow some time before an important event.
31. Can it be done on the neck or eye area?
Yes. The eye area is treated as Eye Ultherapy and the neck as Neck Ultherapy, with the required depth set differently for each area.
32. What side effects can occur?
Temporary swelling, redness, or a tingling sensation may occur after treatment. Rarely, discomfort from nerve stimulation may occur, and this varies by individual. Please tell us your medical history and any medications before treatment.
D. Choosing a Treatment
33. What is the difference between Thermage and Ultherapy?
They differ in energy type and the depth at which they work. Thermage uses radiofrequency (RF) to deliver heat over a broad area beneath the skin, while Ultherapy uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to concentrate energy at a defined depth. With Ultherapy, tissue layers can be checked on ultrasound imaging during treatment.
34. Which one is better?
Because they work differently, it is hard to say one is better. The more suitable option depends on the area that concerns you and your skin condition, so the decision is made after assessment during the consultation.
35. Can I have both?
In some cases both are considered together. However, the interval and order depend on your skin condition, so this is decided during the consultation.
36. If it is my first lifting treatment, where should I start?
There is no set order. The decision is made after your skin condition is assessed during the consultation.
37. Does the choice depend on age?
Skin characteristics and the way facial contours change differ by age group. JM Dermatology Clinic considers the characteristics of each age group, from the 20s to the 50s, when setting the treatment direction.
38. I am in my 40s and concerned about loss of firmness. Which treatment should I consider?
Loss of firmness often involves changes in skin thickness, the direction of sagging, and volume at the same time, so it is hard to settle on a single treatment. During the consultation we identify which layer is mainly responsible, then decide on a combination of lifting, tightening, and volume support.
39. I am concerned about neck lines. How do you approach them?
The neck is strongly affected by skin thickness and movement. We look at the depth of horizontal lines, skin texture, and the line flowing from the jawline together, and design a combination of Neck Thermage, Neck Ultherapy, skin boosters, and other options.
40. Can I have the eye area treated on its own?
Yes. For the eye area we assess hollowness, sagging, and texture changes separately, and combine Eye Thermage, Eye Ultherapy, and other options to suit each layer and condition.
41. Do you have devices other than lifting devices?
Yes. Soprano Titanium addresses tone and lifting together with three wavelengths, OPUS addresses texture and pores with radiofrequency plasma, and GentleMax Pro addresses pigmentation, redness, and hair removal. The combination is decided according to your skin condition.
E. Skin Conditions & Other Care
42. Do you treat pigmentation or melasma?
Yes. For pigmentation we look at the type and depth of pigment, its distribution, and the evenness of skin tone together. The approach differs depending on whether it is epidermal or dermal, and whether it is a localized lesion or an overall dullness, so we distinguish these during the consultation before deciding the direction.
43. Do you treat redness?
Yes. The approach to redness differs with its cause and your skin condition. We identify the cause during the consultation before deciding the direction.
44. Do you treat acne and acne scars?
Yes. The approach depends on whether active acne is the main issue, whether scarring and unevenness are also present, or whether enlarged pores and loss of elasticity are the main cause. Treatment considers both the skin surface and structural changes.
45. Can pores and skin texture be improved?
Changes in pores and texture are not only a surface issue; they reflect the condition of the dermis, elasticity, and sebum production. We identify the causes separately and then combine the methods needed.
46. Do you treat hair loss or scalp concerns?
Yes, scalp-related care is also provided. The appropriate direction for your condition is explained during the consultation.
47. What is the stem cell treatment?
It is a treatment that uses components obtained from your own blood. Because it uses your own blood, the risk of foreign-body or allergic reactions is low, and it can be done on the same day without general anesthesia. Suitability is determined during the consultation.
48. Does treatment differ by skin type?
Yes. Even for the same concern, the approach depends on skin thickness, elasticity, and sebum production. We distinguish these during the consultation before deciding.
F. Safety & Recovery
49. Can I have treatment while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are important factors in deciding whether treatment is possible. Please be sure to tell us at your consultation.
50. Is there anything I should tell you before treatment?
Please tell us about any medications you take, any medical conditions, previous skin treatments, and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. These can change whether treatment is possible and how it is performed.
51. What should I do if a side effect occurs?
If you notice any unusual reaction, please contact the clinic. We will check your condition and advise you on what to do.
52. When can I wear makeup after treatment?
It depends on your skin condition, but it is best to avoid irritation on the day of treatment. We will advise you after treatment.
53. How much recovery time is needed?
Because these are non-incisional treatments, most people can return to daily life the same day. However, redness or swelling may remain for a few days, so we recommend allowing some time if you have an important event.
54. How should I care for my skin after treatment?
Keep up with sun protection and moisturizing, and avoid saunas and harsh treatments for a few days.
55. Is it okay if I have had treatments at another clinic?
Yes. However, please tell us which treatments you had and when, as this helps in deciding the interval and method.
JM Dermatology Clinic
JM Kim Jeongmin Dermatology Clinic · Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jeongmin Kim
#305, 3F, Raemian Leaders One Arcade, 158 Saimdang-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06629, Korea (accessible from Gangnam Station)
Tel: +82-2-6953-1212 · Email: jmskin77@gmail.com · LINE: jmskin
Mon · Tue · Thu · Fri 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM · Sat 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Closed Wed, Sun and public holidays · By appointment only