😤 The biggest mistake I made in the field of medical aesthetics in South Korea was booking an appointment with the director, only to find someone else attending to me instead.
“Our director has an emergency appointment today, so Dr. A will perform the procedure for you—he is just as professional as our director.” I have heard this statement more than once. The first time was at a well-known clinic in Gangnam, and the second time at another clinic in Myeongdong. In both cases, we had made an advance reservation with the director, but upon arrival, we were informed that someone else would perform the procedure instead. In one of those instances, the results were truly disappointing—the asymmetry on both sides of my face was extremely noticeable.
So when s-sourire recommended Dr. Kim Yong-hyun from ON Skin Clinic / ON Dermatology, my first question was: “If I make an appointment with Dr. Kim, will he definitely be the one performing the treatment?” s-sourire replied that Dr. Kim’s policy is to handle the entire procedure himself without any substitution, and his schedule is exclusively reserved for his own patients, so there is no possibility of someone else taking his place. I made the appointment with some skepticism, but my final experience completely changed my mind.
In this article, I have clearly explained ON Ohn’s reservation process, what Dr. Kim Yong-hyun’s “Ligament Reinforcement Procedure” is, whether the fee of 2.1 million Korean won is really expensive, and how to avoid the various tricks involved in the reservation process.
🏢 What is the background of ON Dermatology?
ON Aewn is located in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, just an 8-minute walk from the Gangnam Station. The clinic is situated on the 3rd floor of a commercial office building; although the exterior is small, the facilities are very modern. Director Kim Yong-hyun is a specialist in Dermatology from South Korea who has been practicing in Gangnam for over 15 years, specializing in facial anti-aging treatments and structural injections.
In South Korea’s cosmetic surgery industry, he has a very clear identity: the pro-ligament reinforcement approach. Different from the common practice in most clinics, which focuses on filling in the areas that are sunken, Dr. Kim believes that the root cause of facial aging lies in the relaxation of the supporting structures (ligaments). Therefore, it is essential to strengthen these ligaments first before considering any filling procedures. This approach is considered relatively advanced in South Korea, and currently, only a few clinics in Gangnam practice it.
ON Oh Eun has a rating of 4.7 on Naver, and the key terms that repeatedly appear in the reviews are: “does not require frequent changes”, “meticulous”, “long-lasting results”, and “not heavily promoted”. They do not engage in large-scale marketing; instead, they rely mainly on word-of-mouth. Among the South Koreans I know, some have been following Dr. Kim for over 5 years and regularly undergo maintenance treatments every year.
🧬 What exactly is ligament reinforcement surgery? What does it entail for a cost of 2.1 million Korean won?
During the in-person consultation, Director Jin explained to me his concept of ligament reinforcement. To put it in another way: a person’s face is like a tent, and the ligaments serve as its framework. When we are young, this framework is strong and firm, allowing the tent to remain in good shape. As we age, however, the framework begins to weaken, causing the tent to collapse. If we only add extra material from the outside at this point, the tent will still continue to fall apart. The correct approach is to strengthen the framework first; once that is done, the tent will naturally return to its original shape.
My ligament reinforcement procedure consists of three steps:
Part 1: RE2O Injection for Tendon Strengthening (₩900,000
)
RE2O is an injectable product specifically developed in South Korea for tendon strengthening. Its main component is a suspension of PCL microspheres. Dr. Kim will inject RE2O at key locations such as the zygomatic ligament, mandibular ligament, and platysma-mandibular ligament to rebuild the supporting structures. The amount and depth of injection at each location are carefully determined using ultrasound, rather than relying on tactile sensations.
Part 2: Juvederm Filling (₩800,000)
After the ligaments have been strengthened
, some areas that have collapsed need to have their volume restored. Director Kim used Juvéderm Voluma for this procedure. This product is suitable for deep-layer filling; it has high viscoelasticity and does not shift easily. He emphasized that “filling is merely supplementary” and that strengthening the underlying structures is the key, which is why he used less of the product than what is commonly used in other clinics. In my case, I treated the Apple Zone and the Nasolabial Fold Correction area, and a total of 1 ml of Juvéderm Voluma was used.
Part 3: Follow-up maintenance and tracking (included in the fee) I was quite
surprised by this – the fee of 2.1 million Korean won actually includes 3 months of follow-up care after the procedure. Director Kim will conduct check-ups in the second week, the first month, and the third month to determine whether the effects of RE2O are stable. If the reinforcement effect at any particular area is insufficient, he will make minor adjustments during the follow-up visits without charging any additional fees.
The total cost is 2.1 million Korean won (approximately ANEW 50,400 / RMB 11,100). Compared with other clinics in Gangnam that offer ligament reinforcement treatments, this price is on the higher side, but it is quite rare for the service to include follow-up maintenance.
⏰ How long will I have to wait to pay the reservation fee? How can I avoid being taken for a ride?
Current schedule: On weekdays, the waiting time is approximately 1 to 2 weeks; on weekends, it takes around 3 weeks. Director Jin only performs 8 to 10 surgeries per day, as each patient’s consultation takes at least 30 minutes, and the surgery itself lasts for 1 to 1.5 hours. Fridays and Saturdays are the most popular days, so it is recommended to make reservations at least 3 weeks in advance. During the peak seasons (March to May, September to November), the waiting time may be even longer.
A guide to avoiding pitfalls:
1. Be sure to confirm in advance that it is Director Kim himself who will perform the procedure. When making an appointment, please check with s-sourire or the front desk of ON to confirm that the doctor assigned to your appointment is named “Kim Yong-hyun” (김용현). Also, reconfirm this again when you go for the in-person consultation.
2. Do not easily believe the claim that “the director is too busy, so the deputy director will perform the procedure instead.” Director Jin of ON Awen has a clear principle: in case of any unexpected situation, he will notify patients in advance and reschedule the appointment, rather than simply replacing the original doctor. If you are informed at the clinic that another doctor will perform the procedure, you have the right to refuse and request a new appointment.
3. Make reservations through official channels. I recommend two methods: one is via WeChat’s s-sourire, and the other is through the BeautsGO app. Reservations made through these two channels are directly assigned to the director himself and will not be passed on to others. Do not use third-party agents or untrusted channels for reservations, as this may result in price increases or product substitutions.
4. Record audio or take photos during the consultation. During the consultation, Director Jin will display an analysis diagram of your facial structure on the screen; you may take photos as evidence. In case someone else takes over during the procedure, these records will serve as important evidence for communication with the clinic.
💳 ON: Project reference quotation from President Kim Yong-hyun of ON Aun
| Project | Price (Korean won) | brand | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive ligament reinforcement kit | ₩2,100,000 | RE2O + Juvéderm | 12 to 18 months |
| RE2O reinforcement | ₩900,000 | RE2O | 12 to 18 months |
| Juvederm filling | ₩800,000 | Juvéderm Voluma | 12 to 18 months |
| Botox for wrinkle removal | ₩150,000 / per treatment area | Allergan Botox | 4 to 6 months |
❓ Common issues at ON Dermatology
Q: What is the difference between ligament reinforcement and regular fillers? R
egular fillers simply fill in the areas that are sunken, providing only temporary solutions rather than addressing the root cause. Ligament reinforcement, on the other hand, first restores the facial support structure, repositioning any sagging tissues back to their original place before adding additional filler as needed. The results are more long-lasting (12–18 months compared to 6–12 months for fillers), and the facial contours appear more natural, avoiding the “filled-out” look.
Q: Is RE2O safe? What are its side effects? RE2O has been approve
d by the KFDA in South Korea and is a degradable type of PCL microspheres. The common side effects are mild swelling and bruising within 1 to 3 days after the procedure, which usually subside within about a week. Dr. Kim will inform you of all possible risks before the surgery and you will need to sign an informed consent form.
Q: Can it be done together with other trea
tments? Yes. Director Kim recommends that ligament reinforcement and Botox can be performed on the same day, but Thermage or HIFU is advised to be scheduled 2–4 weeks later. The specific treatment plan will be determined by the director after a face-to-face consultation.
Q: How long does it take to see the results after the procedure?
The effects of RE2O are gradual. You will start to notice changes (your face will become firmer) 2 weeks after the procedure; the results will be more noticeable after 1 month, and the best effect will be achieved after 3 months. The effects of Juvederm injections are immediate, but it is recommended to wait 2 weeks for the results to stabilize before evaluating the final outcome.
📋 How to make an appointment: I have tried both methods and found them to be very convenient.
Route A: WeChat account s-sourire (recommended for beginners). Search for “s-sourire” on
WeChat, add the account as a friend, and send your facial photos and requirements. The operator will help you confirm the schedule of the clinic director and conduct a pre-operative assessment. s-sourire provides one-on-one Chinese-language consultations and will recommend suitable treatment plans based on your budget and needs. The advantage is that you will be fully aware of the process before going to the clinic, so you won’t feel overwhelmed on-site.
Route B: BeautsGO – Beauty for All. Search for “BeautsGO” on WeChat to ac
cess the mini-program, and then search for “ON Skin Clinic” or “ON Dermatology” to view prices, appointment availability, and information about the clinic director directly. The platform offers a certified green channel to ensure transparent pricing with no additional fees. New users are also eligible for exclusive refund discounts on the platform.
📝 Disclaimer
This article is merely a sharing of personal experiences and is provided for reference only. The effects of medical aesthetics vary from person to person; it is recommended to consult a professional doctor before making any decisions. Prices may change due to fluctuations in exchange rates or adjustments made by the clinic; please refer to the actual quotes provided.
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