With fierce competition among dermatologists, many clinics have resorted to lowering prices to attract customers for botulinum toxin (BTX) procedures in Korea. Searches for “5,000-won ($4) Botox” on Naver lead to hundreds of blogs introducing low-cost BTX shots available in Gangnam, the southern part of Seoul.

However, to some, low prices might instead sound warning alarms as BTX can have complicated side effects like face paralysis if not injected in the right spot.

"I have seen some 5,000 won ($4) BTX deals advertised before but these are just for first-time visits," explained a 27-year-old Turkish expat who recently started receiving BTX treatments in Korea.

Allergan Aesthetics became the first to win FDA approval for BTX in 1989 and branded its product, Botox, which is now widely known to everyone. However, Korea’s BTX industry officially got started in 2006 when Medytox’s Meditoxin became Korea’s first approved BTX. 

Between 2006 and 2018, the number of BTX products quickly rose to 17.

As a result of the rapid market growth and high beauty standards in Korea, BTX procedures are abundantly offered in hospitals or private clinics and are particularly concentrated in areas like Gangnam.

Customer satisfaction

A 35-year-old woman, Adia, from Ecuador, who frequents Muse Clinic in Gangnam, said low-priced BTX was “quite effective.” She has been receiving regular treatments for a year.

The high volume of BTX-seeking consumers seems to have contributed to the lowered prices of BTX, she said. 

She usually receives aqua peel and BTX on her forehead and eyes. She said she usually pays around 15,000 won per injection for which she usually requires about 4 injections, bringing her total cost to around 90,000 won. 

In contrast, when she took her parents to see a dermatologist, the cost was around 300,000 won but there were other personalized treatments and consults involved accounting for the difference.

Still, the Turkish BTX recipient said even the regular cost still beats the prices in her country as they usually import from Europe or Korea. 

“In Turkey, the price would likely be double for the same procedure I received in Korea for which I paid around 36,000 won in a clinic in the Bundang area, right outside of Seoul."

However, one 23-year-old Korean was not satisfied with the treatment she received. She stated that she once used BTX on her forehead at around 10,000 won per injection in Gangnam but after three times, she failed to see the effect and stopped going.

In other words, it appears you pay for what you get. As mentioned in our earlier article in this series on BTX trends, cheaper could also mean you are receiving a product that is less pure which puts you at a higher risk of developing resistance compared to more expensive BTX.

Safety of concerns of cheaply priced BTX

Dr. Julius Jon of Teng Teng Skin Clinic in Gwanak, Seoul, said cheap BTX was not really effective.

“It’s not an issue of safety but rather effectiveness. These advertised products are usually only cheaper because the products are diluted by a ratio of 100 or even 1000 to 1 in some cases, for extending profit margins,” he said. 

Therefore, you are effectively using water, Jon said.

Sometimes, cheap BTX is used as a marketing gimmick to entice patients to come to their clinic and then they show them more expensive products, said the U.S. and Korean certified dermatologist.

DIY BTX peptides ONLY 10, 000 won

Due to the popularity of BTX in Korea, homemade BTX solutions have also made an appearance in one popular TV program. According to the Lord of the Thumb, a Korean TV program where it addresses health concerns, there was a simple way to make a BTX product that only costs 10,000 won per bottle.

The bottle contains ingredients that can easily be bought online including rose water, aloe gel, collagen, botox peptide, and vitamin E. The preparation should be applied below the eye area and in a downward motion on the neck. However, they caution about using the right ratio of ingredients to prevent skin issues.

Adia from Ecuador expressed skepticism about making the product herself. 

“I am very meticulous with skincare and I think it's best to entrust this to the professionals,” she said.

Those who attempted making the formulation left mixed reviews on a Youtube video.

Some complained that it was itchy and gave a burning sensation around their eyes.

On the contrary, few expressed satisfaction saying, "I am using the ampoule twice a day." 

Overall, most comments stated that the ingredients were not that cheap to source as stated in the video, costing them almost five times the amount advertised.

KBR used an alias for the name of the Ecuadorian to keep her anonymity. -- Ed.