Koreans have widely embraced the use of botulinum toxin (commonly known as Botox) for cosmetic purposes, with some unique trends and practices emerging in South Korea.

Botox is extremely popular in South Korea, with dermatologists administering 50-60 Botox procedures per day at some clinics.

Korean pharmaceutical companies like Medytox, Hugel, and Daewoong control 90% of the domestic Botox market.

A unique treatment called “Skin Botox” or “Korean Botox” has gained popularity, where Botox is injected into the outer layer of skin rather than the muscles. This aims to create an “all-over smoothing effect” by tightening pores, brightening skin, and providing an airbrushed look without targeting specific wrinkles. It’s seen as a non-surgical way to achieve “glass skin.”

Korean Botox differs from traditional Botox in that it uses a higher number of injections (40-50 micropunctures) in a more diluted form over the entire face rather than targeting specific muscles.

While Allergan’s Botox is widely used globally, Korean brands like Medytox, Nabota (Daewoong), and Dysport are very popular domestically due to lower costs, though their safety and efficacy data is limited compared to Allergan’s Botox.

A 2022 study found that among Korean dermatologists, the most common areas for Botox injections were the forehead, glabellar, and lateral canthal areas, primarily to treat wrinkles and achieve facial contouring effects.