Day 1: Jet Lag & Color Analysis
After my 15-hour flight on Korean Air, I checked into the Josun Palace with my buddy Miesha, my sidekick on this mission. She was blissfully unaware of what she’d signed up for, basically volunteering to be my +1 for every treatment on the itinerary. She was in for a wild ride.
We kicked things off at ColorPlace where I had a full personal color analysis. I figured that doing this prior to any facial treatments that could cause bruising was a smart move. For years, I stuck to all black until the pandemic hit and seeing myself on endless Zoom calls made me realize I looked like a ghost. I’ve since tried to wear more color, so I was curious to see what the analysis would reveal.
Turns out, I’m an autumn with spring tendencies. Who knew? But the analysis wasn’t just about colors; gave me a full fashion and beauty archetype. In a nutshell, I should be keeping it simple and classic. I’m good with that approach for beauty–bare skin’s always been my M.O. But for my wardrobe? I have serious doubts about gravitating toward classics and neutrals. Feels flat. We’ll see.
Day 2: Laser Stacking at GU Clinic
I chose GU Clinic because of their impressive laser treatment lineup since I wanted to experience treatment stacking.
The process started with skin analysis for a small fee (despite having one of these devices at my own practice, I couldn’t resist). After washing my own face, I had a skin scan, then waited briefly for my doctor and her team. They answered my many questions enthusiastically, but I did have to push for customized treatment suggestions. If you know what you want, GU delivers. But if you’re hoping for guided recommendations, you may leave wanting more.
Here’s what I had done:
- Aqua Peel to prep and clear pores
- Excel V laser for redness
- Pico toning to target pigmentation
- Rejuran skin booster (by infusion, not injection) for regeneration
- Onda skin tightening on my thighs (hello, summer legs)
- LED light therapy and a soothing mask to close
I didn’t get any numbing cream, but things never got too spicy. The Onda tightening felt like a warm massage. The Pico toning and Excel V were a 3 or 4 out of 10 for pain. I emerged slightly swollen, but no one would be the wiser that I got anything done. That said, I was hoping for more oomph, and I still had plenty of time in Seoul to find it.
Day 3: Scrubbed, Massaged, & Rejuvenated
Next, I went to Spa Gogyeol for a traditional body scrub and massage that was sublime. My only complaint was that I fell asleep! When we wrapped up, I was treated to tea and a yakgwa cookie, a lovely send-off.
Day 4: Fat Transfer at Jeunex Clinic
The next day I headed to Jeunex Clinic for fat transfer. The procedure uses fat harvested from a mini liposuction procedure that’s rich in stem cells and delivers impressive regenerative and rejuvenating effects. I’ve done it before (even to myself!), but this time I was excited to let someone else take the wheel.
I discovered Jeunex from makeup artist Nam Vo’s visit and chose them because of their detail-oriented communication during booking. After meeting Dr. Kasey, I knew I was in the right hands. He’s an expert with the patience of a saint–and I definitely tested it with endless technical questions!
We landed on a plan for nanofat injection and fat transfer. Based on how thoughtfully and meticulously Dr. Kasey marked my face and mapped out his strategy, I trusted his eye completely and didn’t want to limit his approach.
The procedure took place in their in-office OR. I woke up pain-free and met my friend (who went just before me) in post-op. We were both a little swollen, but already excited by what we saw.
Regenerative aesthetics has long fascinated me—the way it harnesses the body’s innate healing process for beauty treatments—and this experience reignited my appreciation for fat transfer. Fat grafting is far from new to me considering my training and that I’ve performed it on myself, but being the patient gave me a fresh perspective on how it could be integrated at Brooklyn Face & Eye.
That night, we took our swollen faces to Parc Seoul in Itaewon, a food highlight of the trip.
Day 5: Shopping & Korean BBQ
The next day, I was still pretty swollen, so I gave my face and body a break from treatments, which meant I had time to shop! My friend struck gold at Recto, and I found the cutest little Fendi handbag at For She Vintage. We ended the day with Korean BBQ, of course.
Day 6: Full-Body Diagnostics & Talking Shop
Next up: a full medical diagnostic evaluation at Hanshin Medipia. You can’t improve what you don’t measure. I arrived fasting and went through a whirlwind of labs. From imaging to bloodwork, it was the most efficient health assessment I’ve had.
As someone who’s deeply invested in wellness and data, it felt like stepping into the future. I scanned my bracelet at each checkpoint and moved briskly from room to room. I even had my first mammogram and learned I have a slightly leaky tricuspid valve (nothing alarming, but good to know). I’m especially curious about the results from my AI body fat CT scan.
I loved meeting my interpreter, Kyunghee, and chatting with her throughout the morning with the exception of one sobering reality. She along with others I’d met in Seoul shared how terrified they were of NYC because of the threat of gun violence. I hate that my beloved hometown has such a bad reputation.
Later that afternoon, I met up for coffee with Patricia, a liaison to Korean skincare manufacturers, to chat about a potential future project for epi.logic. She arrived fresh from her own injectable appointment, sporting a small bruise on her left cheek. We exchanged aesthetic histories between talking shop. Why can’t all networking meetings be this fun?
Day 7: Neck Refinement, Skin Botox, & Recovery Boost
Next up was a neck-focused session with Dr. Lee at Cheong A Clinic. Unlike the factory feel of GU Clinic, Cheong A was private, hyper-personalized, and completely aligned with how I like to treat my patients.
Neck treatments have been gaining traction at my practice and I was curious about the K-beauty approach. Dr. Lee was thorough! Taking a multimodal approach, we opted for:
- Thermage
- Botox + PDRN
- Hyaluronic acid filler to smooth necklace lines
As a fellow injector, I loved watching Dr. Lee work. She was meticulous in her technique. Also on their menu was skin Botox, a treatment popular in Seoul, and one I offer in my practice. The cherry on top of our session was that Dr. Lee complimented my early fat grafting results and asked for the name of my surgeon! Nothing like a nod from an expert to make your day.
That night, I returned to Jeunex Clinic for post-procedure recovery:
- Warm ultrasound massage for my abdomen
- Hyperbaric oxygen chamber session to accelerate healing
I was living a beauty geek’s dream and loved the focus on optimizing recovery which I kept up back at the hotel, using the LED light I’d packed to treat my belly nightly.
Day 8: Head Spa
My final day in Seoul took me to Dam Hye Won in Myeongdong for a head spa experience I’d been dying to try. I liked that they offered private rooms rather than salon-style setups. Even though I had a blissful experience, I couldn’t check out entirely because I had to jump in to detangle my hair. Sadly, their techniques weren’t suited for textured hair. The microneedling included was an unexpected and appreciated bonus.
Heading Home: Swollen, Satisfied, & Inspired
My week of beauty and wellness was sadly over, but I left feeling completely satiated. My only regret? Not exploring more of Seoul’s arts and culture scene. But that just gives me a reason to return.
I boarded my flight home wearing oversized under-eye patches, smiling to myself as I flipped through my photo album, seeing the shifts take shape one snapshot at a time.
No longer swollen,
Dr. Jeanniton
