Trapezius Botox
승모근 보톡스 · also: shoulder botox, 승모근, body botox
Botulinum toxin injected into the trapezius muscle to soften a bulky shoulder ridge, giving a longer-looking neck and a straighter shoulder line. It also relieves the chronic neck and shoulder tension that usually comes with an overdeveloped trapezius, which is why plenty of patients book it for both reasons.
A short questionnaire and dose mapping — usually done the same day, right before treatment.
How it works
The toxin blocks the nerve signal telling the muscle to contract. Over several weeks an over-used trapezius relaxes and partially atrophies, so the visible ridge between neck and shoulder flattens. Because this is a large, strong muscle, doses are much higher than facial injections — typically 100 units or more per session.
Intramuscular injection · acts at 10–30 mm · deepest layer: Muscle
Where botulinum toxin acts to relax movement or slim a bulky muscle.
Scale extended to 30 mm — this treatment goes deeper than the facial-skin reference. Depths are indicative and vary by device, cartridge, body area and individual.
Intramuscular injection
Delivered into the muscle itself to block the nerve signal telling it to contract.
People choose this for
Products & devices used
Not all "Trapezius Botox" is the same — the specific brand or machine changes the price and the feel. Common options in Korea:
The original American botulinum toxin and the brand most foreign visitors already know by name.
Who asks for it: Western travelers often arrive knowing only 'Botox' and don't realize Korean toxins are equivalent — clinics explain this at consult.
Premium Korean toxin sold abroad as Jeuveau; US-, EU- and China-approved, which makes it an easy trust bridge for tourists.
Who asks for it: The overseas approval of Jeuveau reassures Western and Chinese patients who want a known-safe brand at a Korean price.
Korea's market-leading toxin, sold abroad as Letybo. Broadly diffusing, a common workhorse for jaw/masseter slimming.
Who asks for it: Letybo's 2024 US-FDA approval (the first for a Korean toxin) is a strong trust signal for international patients.
A complex-protein-free ('naked') toxin positioned to lower the chance of resistance with repeat use.
Who asks for it: Favored by repeat patients worried about long-term antibody resistance.
What it does
- ✓Straighter shoulder line
- ✓Longer-looking neck
- ✓Less neck and shoulder tension
- ✓Better posture appearance
Good for you if
- •Visible trapezius bulk
- •Desk-work shoulder tension
- •Photos and off-shoulder clothing
- •Chronic upper-back tightness
Aftercare
- ✓Stay upright for about 4 hours and avoid massaging the area.
- ✓Skip heavy shoulder and upper-back training for 24–48 hours.
- ✓No saunas the same day.
- ✓Expect nothing to change for two weeks — that's normal, not a failed injection.
Not suitable if
- !Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- !Neuromuscular disorders (myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton and similar).
- !Known allergy to botulinum toxin or to albumin.
- !Active infection at the injection site.
- !Aminoglycoside antibiotics, which can amplify the toxin's effect — declare all medication.
FAQ
How many units do I need?
Usually 100 units or more per session, and heavier muscles need up to 150–200. Ask for the unit count, not 'one session' — that's the only way to compare two quotes or judge whether a cheap price means a small dose.
Will my shoulders get weak?
Everyday strength is generally unaffected at cosmetic doses, but the trapezius does real work. Tell the doctor if you lift heavily, swim competitively or carry loads on your shoulders, and expect a more conservative dose.
When can I see it?
Two to four weeks for the softening to show, around six weeks for the full effect. Nothing is visible on the day, so this is a treatment whose result arrives after you've flown home.
Does it help the pain as well as the look?
Often, yes — relaxing an overworked trapezius commonly eases the associated stiffness and tension headaches. That's a side benefit, not a guaranteed medical 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
- Botulinum toxin is sold per unit. Doses are area-dependent (a jaw is ~50 units, a trapezius ~100–200), so ask for units, not 'one shot'.
Priced per 100 units, and the brand ladder is stark: in one July 2026 Seoul list the identical 100-unit dose ran ₩75k for a Korean toxin, ₩150k premium Korean, ₩190k German and ₩290k American — a 3.9x spread for the same injection. Doses of 100–200 units are normal here, so the brand choice moves the total by a lot more than it does on a face.
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
Trapezius Botox beside the other Body & Contour options travellers usually weigh against it.
| Comparison factor | Trapezius Botox승모근 보톡스 | Body Slimming Injections바디 지방분해주사 |
|---|---|---|
| Best at | The shoulder line treatment Korea is known for | Common in Korea, and the least standardised thing on the menu |
| Depth reached | Muscle · 10–30 mm | Fat layer · 5–25 mm |
| How it works | Intramuscular injection | Fat-layer injection |
| Downtime | Noneleast downtime | 2–7 days |
| Pain | gentlest | |
| Visits for full result | 1 visit | 3–6 visits |
| Results last | 4–6 months | Lasting if weight is stable |
| Trip fit | Any trip — one visit, no recovery days | Several visits weeks apart — one trip = partial result |
| Priced per | per unit of toxin | per cc injected · per session |
| From | ₩70k–150k | ₩35k–130k |
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