Medical Peels
필링 · also: 아쿠아필, 꿀광필, 산소필, 블랙필, 시카필, 로즈필, chemical peel
Korean clinic menus list peels under proprietary names — honey-glow, oxygen, black-vinegar, cica, hydro-glow, rose — which tells you nothing about what's in them. Underneath, nearly all are combinations of familiar acids at clinic strength, chosen by skin type rather than by which name sounds best.
A surface treatment with a quick check-in — rarely needs a doctor's exam.
How it works
A peel applies acid to loosen the bonds between surface skin cells so they shed, revealing smoother skin and unclogging pores. What varies is the acid family and the depth: AHAs like glycolic work on surface texture and tone, BHA/salicylic penetrates oil and suits congestion and acne, PHA and LHA are gentler and better tolerated by sensitive or very dry skin. Most Korean protocols layer two or three, then finish with soothing and hydration steps.
Chemical peel · acts at 0–0.2 mm · deepest layer: Epidermis
The surface barrier. Peels and resurfacing lasers work here — this is what visibly flakes.
Depths are indicative and vary by device, cartridge, body area and individual.
Chemical peel
Acid loosens the bonds between surface skin cells so they shed, revealing smoother skin underneath.
People choose this for
What it does
- ✓Smoother, brighter surface
- ✓Clearer pores
- ✓Better product absorption
- ✓Immediate glow
Good for you if
- •Dull, congested skin
- •Mild texture issues
- •Body acne on chest and back
- •A quick refresh mid-trip
Aftercare
- ✓Skip retinoids, acids and scrubs for 3–5 days.
- ✓Sunscreen daily — freshly exfoliated skin burns easily.
- ✓Bland moisturiser if you feel tight.
- ✓No saunas or hot yoga for 24 hours.
Not suitable if
- !Active cold sore, infection or open wounds.
- !Isotretinoin use within the last 6 months.
- !Recent sunburn or a fresh tan.
- !Very reactive or eczema-prone skin without patch testing.
- !Pregnancy — most acids are fine, but tell the clinic so they can adjust.
FAQ
Which of these ten peels should I pick?
Ignore the names and describe your skin. Oily and congested points to a BHA/salicylic-based option; dry or sensitive to PHA/LHA; dull with uneven tone to an AHA. A clinic that recommends a peel without looking closely at your skin is selling a menu item.
Is extraction included?
Frequently not — Korean menus often say so explicitly, then charge per spot on top. Ask before you're on the bed.
Will I peel visibly?
Clinic peels at this level are mild: expect a glow, mild flaking at most, and no real downtime. Anything that peels dramatically is a deeper treatment sold under a different name.
Can I do this the day before a flight?
Yes. This is one of the few things on a Korean menu that's genuinely same-day, which makes it a good last-day treatment.
Price range by care tier
Market ranges for reference — actual quotes depend on the clinic, doctor and area.
Before you compare quotes: what this price is actually per
- A flat per-visit price. The thing to check is how many visits the full course needs.
Flat per session, and the cheapest real entry point on any Korean menu — one Seoul list started at ₩35k for a basic peel with a hydrating mask. Body areas cost more purely for surface area: the same acne-focused peel ran ₩150k on the face, ₩200k on the chest and ₩250k on the back. Watch the small add-ons; a ₩5k mask or a ₩30k ultrasound step gets appended routinely.
- Extraction, which is often explicitly excluded and charged per spot
- Upgraded mask or LED finish
- Ultrasound or booster-infusion steps
Won prices quoted above are from a dated reference price list for one Seoul clinic chain (2026-07-24), used to show the shape of pricing — not a national average, and not a quote. Prices include 10% VAT: the foreign-patient cosmetic VAT refund ended on 31 December 2025.
How it compares
Medical Peels beside the other Pores & Texture options travellers usually weigh against it.
| Comparison factor | Medical Peels필링 | Potenza포텐자 | Fractional CO2 Laser프락셔널 CO2 | Aqua Peel / Hydrafacial아쿠아필 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best at | Decoding a peel menu with ten names on it | Microneedling radiofrequency | Resurfacing for scars & texture | Deep-clean glow facial |
| Depth reached | Epidermis · 0–0.2 mm | Dermis · 0.5–3.5 mm | Dermis · 0.2–1.5 mm | Epidermis · 0–0.1 mm |
| How it works | Chemical peel | Microneedling RF | Ablative laser | Chemical peel |
| Downtime | 0–2 days | 1–3 days | 5–7 days | Noneleast downtime |
| Pain | ||||
| Visits for full result | 1–6 visits | 2–3 visits | 1–3 visits | 1 visit |
| Results last | 1–3 weeks per session | 12+ months with maintenance | Long-lasting on scars | 1–3 weeks glow |
| Trip fit | Any trip — one visit, no recovery days | One visit, plus recovery days to plan around | One visit, plus recovery days to plan around | Any trip — one visit, no recovery days |
| Priced per | per session | per session | per session | per session |
| From | ₩30k–80k | ₩150k–300k | ₩150k–350k | ₩40k–90k |
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