DA Plastic Surgery and Dermatology in Seoul

As many of you know, I’ve been fighting the good fight with adult acne ever since I moved to Asia. Whether it be the climate, change in food, or whatever, I’ve had really nasty adult acne on my jawline and under my chin. I’ve tried everything from facials at Whoo Spa, pimple extractions, and many different Korean beauty products.

Korea is all about beauty and I can appreciate all the different mechanisms and procedures to achieve it. I like to look beautiful for me, and having clear skin is one of the ways I like to do so. Nothing makes a girl feel more confident than not needing foundation to cover hyper pigmentation or acne when she walks out of the house. Once upon a time, when I was in college, I used to be able to do that, but my skin changed when I moved to Japan and again when I moved to Korea.

Personally, I really love going in for dermatology treatments and trying new beauty products. It’s one of the things I find most relaxing. Also, if you haven’t gone in for a beauty facial and experienced Korean skin care, you literally need to jump on the train right now. It’s top notch affordable and you WILL see results after just one time.

Now, I realize from the title of this post you might be thinking I’m actually going under the knife, but think again. I’m the biggest baby when it comes to needles and scalpels. When I did my LASEK vision correction last year, I literally cried even before they did the procedure. Maybe I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to brain games, but I hate pain. Even though my eyes were numb, and I was in amazing hands with a really awesome doctor at a fantastic clinic, but I’m just terrified of surgery.

However, if you’re looking to get any procedures done, DA Plastic Surgery specializes in breast augmentation. They’re one of the few hospitals in Korea that have a 3D printing machine. Basically, you’re taken into a room where they do a 3D scan of your body. I’m just honestly floored about how far technology has come. After they take the print on a screen, you can see what your body will look like in real time with each of the different implant brands and sizes.

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Luckily, in my life, I’ve been blessed so I don’t need breasts, but if you’re someone who wants to have them, I think DA is a great place to go especially since they have that machine where you can weigh in on all your options. Their facility is so high tech and there’s a wide variety of surgeons you can speak with and have your pick with someone you feel comfortable with.

I’m finding that many plastic surgery clinics are now offering dermatology with top of the line doctors. Like their plastic surgeons, the dermatology doctors were incredible as well.

The Consultation

When I first walked into the lobby, I could see really comfortable and high arm chairs. The lights were dimmed down low and the shades were also drawn. It had the vibes of an upscale comic book cafe. DA takes the privacy of their patients very seriously and wants to make sure that they are as comfortable as possible. (Even though plastic surgery is rampant in Korea, it’s still taboo to admit that you have anything done.) The lobby is made so you can’t see who is in there. There’s also an assortment of books in English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese to read while you are waiting to consult with a doctor.

I was taken to a consultation room and met with the dermatologist there. Even though I was wearing makeup, the dermatologist knew right away where my problem areas were. She could see the acne damage to my lower jaw from the acne (especially on the right side of my face) and how shiny my cheeks were from the sebum my skin creates. Unfortunately for me, adult acne is inherited because I have the same skin type as my father.

She knew just what to order for my unruly skin and decided to prescribe a cleansing Aqua Peel and Acure Laser.

The Procedure

I was taken into a room and an attendant came in and removed all my makeup and cleansed the outer part of my skin. It’s seriously a wonderful experience because you get to go under a blanket in your own private cool room and have someone else clean your face for you. Can I get an, “Amen” from all my lazy ladies who hate taking off their makeup and washing their face every night?

After my skin was cleansed I was told I have some very deep pimples in my skin that they wouldn’t be able to extract and could only extract the ones that were surface. I also knew that after all the procedures, I would have some acne breakouts.

It’s such a relaxing experience to have my makeup removed and skin cleansed. Since I have acne prone skin, they used lotions and potions that were green tea based for calming and soothing effects. And did I mention they smelled SO DARN GOOD? I love the scent of natural green tea and it really does remind me of my time in Japan when I sipped it after lunch and dinner.

Speaking of green tea, if you’re not drinking it now, then what are you on? It’s so good for your health and skin! Anyway, once the cleansing routine was up, they brought in the aqua peel machine. I was so ready to extract all the pollution from my pores.

The Aqua Peel

Having darker skin means I have an abundance of dead skin cells that accumulate and believe me, I’m currently pretty light right now. (I miss my Okinawa tan.)

This procedure is supposed to do it all. Degunk your pores, exfoliate dead skin cells, lighten dark spots and hydrate. Korean skin care fads come and go, but this one is one of the most amazing ones and here to stay. Why may you ask?

This is good for deep cleansing and acne treatments. Tell those annoying black heads, white heads and other nasties, “Adios.”

Even though the terms “peeling” and “scaling” sound scary af, the machine does a great job of injecting hydrating serum so that way your skin isn’t damaged from the suction. It inserts AHA, which is a specialized solution to melt impurities inside the skin pores. This is the most painless way of removing all the nasties in your pores. It helps treat the hyper pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. Luckily, because I’m still young, I don’t have many fine lines or wrinkles, but it’s always good to start treating them before they appear.

There was a little redness after the procedure, but looking at that cloudy tank of water filled with sebum and other waste after was honestly super satisfying. Sorry if that’s TMI but I also love looking at the black head extraction videos on Dr. Pimple Popper’s channel.

I loved the Aqua Peel because it’s meant to treat hyper pigmentation, scaring and acne. My skin felt so clean after the procedure. Like cleaner than it had in MONTHS.

Once the aqua peel was done, a topical numbing cream was applied to my face. Apparently the laser can hurt at times so they want to make sure you’re nice and comfortable.

I felt any and all sensation disappear after a half hour and I was ready for the Acure laser. Like more ready than Spongebob.

Acure Laser Treatment

The best part of this treatment? Is the fact that it’s very targeted for your specific acne needs. This laser goes 1450mm deep and shoots directly into the sebaceous gland to to re-align any abnormalities in order to reduce sebum secretion and treat acne. LIKE YES PLEASE.

I have the worst acne in the summer because of the humidity and micro dust here in Korea. Any laser that treats the sebum glands is a friend to me.

By shooting this laser into your pores, you’re fixing your messed up sebaceous glands in addition to decreasing the stimulation of sebum and sweat. It regenerates the damaged gland that way you have a lower chance of acne forming.

If you’re someone that has adult acne, re-occuring acne, pore problems because of acne, progressive acne, inability to take medication for acne, or excessive sebum secretion, then this laser is for you.

Since my face was nice and numb, I didn’t feel anything. Just a bit of warmth as the dermatologist targeted my acne on my jawline, chin and under my jaw.

One the procedure was finished, I was taken back to my private room and given a cooling mask pack for 30 minutes. I may or may not have fallen asleep. Luckily both procedures have no recovery time and I was able to go about my day as normal.

When I got a chance to look in the mirror and check my skin, I noticed many of my pores were clean and smaller thanks to the Acure laser.

The Cost

How much does all this cost? It’s about 440,000 won for two sessions, but it was so worth it!

It may seem expensive, but for what it did for my skin, it was totally worth it. And just one session did the trick! My skin was completely ruined from the acne on my jawline and after I did this procedure, my skin cleared up in about a month. Since then, I have had very few acne breakouts.

The Verdict?

I went walking around Gangnam and for real, I would never in a million years go out in Gangnam without any makeup, but there I was with none on and feeling fabulous. My skin was GLOWING. But of course I would expect that

I’m writing this as a week has now passed and my skin is phenomenal. There’s not as much acne forming and my pores look incredibly smaller.

I would highly recommend getting an aqua peel and Acure laser treatment any day of the year. Pimple extractions are insanely painful and this machine aims to fix your pores so that no more new acne will form. It targets the glands that produce sebum.

How To Get There

Walk out Gangnam Station Exit 10. You’llpass the Kakaofriends, Zara and Skin Food stores. Keep walking straight until you’re pretty close to Shinnonhyeon Station.  On your left, you’ll see the Aritaum beauty supply store. Go around the back and you’ll see it.

Address: 1303-37, Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea W Tower 7th, 8th, 9th Floor

Phone Number: +82-2-515-4600

Gina Bear was invited by DA Plastic Surgery to experience the dermatology treatments of the aqua peel and Acure laser. As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own. 

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