Who examines you, and who performs the treatment?
Start with the sign on the door. Under Article 40 of the Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, a clinic whose founder is a specialist may put that specialty into its name, so a dermatology specialist’s clinic can be called “○○피부과의원”. Article 41 requires a clinic that lists departments to use the word “진료과목” (department) on that sign, so “진료과목 피부과” tells you dermatology is offered, not that the founder is a dermatology specialist (Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, checked 18 October 2026).
Then ask about the people. Who looks at your face and decides whether Sofwave fits? Who chooses the applicator and the energy? Who holds the handpiece during the session? A clear answer names roles, not just “our team”. If a doctor examines you but someone else treats you, ask how the doctor supervises and whether the doctor will see you again before you leave.
Clinics that recruit foreign patients must register for it. The Act on Support for Overseas Expansion of Medical Services and Attraction of Foreign Patients (Article 6) requires a registered clinic to keep at least one specialist in each department through which it attracts foreign patients and to carry medical malpractice liability insurance; the registration lasts three years (Korean law text, checked 18 October 2026). Asking for the registration number is a quick, fair question.
How do you know the device is the real Sofwave System?
In Korea the Sofwave System appears in the MFDS medical device database as a class 3 “focused ultrasound stimulator system” (집속형 초음파 자극 시스템), import approval number 수허 21-183 호, approved on 22 July 2021 (MFDS medical device database, record checked 18 October 2026). Korean law requires the importer’s name, the approval number and the model name on the device label, so a clinic can show you a match in a minute. The step-by-step check is in checking Sofwave device information.
- Model name on the record: Sofwave System
- Approval number: 수허 21-183 호 (valid until 21 July 2031)
- Importer on the record: (주)신한씨스텍
- Manufacturer on the record: Sofwave Medical Ltd., Israel
What should a good consultation cover?
A consultation is where the clinic earns your booking. Expect the doctor to look at your skin in good light, ask you to point to what bothers you, and say plainly whether Sofwave is a reasonable match or whether something else would serve you better.
- Which areas will be treated: lower face, under the chin, neck, brow, or other areas.
- Whether the treatment proposed for you falls within the intended use on the Korean MFDS record (wrinkles of the cheeks, chin, eyebrows and neck); if it does not, ask the doctor to explain the evidence for it.
- Which applicator will be used, and why.
- One session or two, and when the result will be reviewed.
- How discomfort will be managed, and how you can signal if a pass is too intense.
- What happens if you see little change at the review.
Honest expectation-setting is a good sign. In a study of 42 Asian patients given one full-face and neck session in Hong Kong, 83.3% improved in under-chin and neck laxity at three months, while 38.1% improved in facial wrinkles and 28.6% in eyebrow position[1]. A doctor who tells you which of those groups your concern resembles is giving you something more useful than a promise.
Which signs suggest you should keep looking?
| What you notice | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| A final price fixed before anyone has examined you | A published price is a useful start, but the areas, applicator and amount of treatment are confirmed at the examination. |
| Vague device names such as “Sofwave-style lifting” | The record names one product, the Sofwave System. Anything else is a different device. |
| No one can say which applicator will be used | Applicator choice shapes the treatment and the quote. |
| Pressure to add treatments or pay in full today | A good plan survives a night’s sleep and a comparison with another quote. |
| No named contact for questions after you leave Korea | The result is judged at about three months, usually from home. |
How do you compare two or three clinics fairly?
Ask each clinic the same questions in writing and line the answers up. People planning treatment abroad often lean on posts from online communities and strangers’ stories, which a recent systematic review of medical tourists identified as a weak point in their decisions[2]. A side-by-side table of verifiable answers is a better base.
| Check | Clinic A | Clinic B |
|---|---|---|
| Dermatology specialist examines you (name format on the sign) | ||
| Foreign-patient registration number given | ||
| Device label matches the MFDS record | ||
| Applicator named for each area | ||
| Written quote with areas, amount of treatment and inclusions | ||
| Aftercare contact and a follow-up review plan |
Which credentials can I check for a Sofwave clinic in Seoul?
Three are easy to ask for: whether the founder is a dermatology specialist (shown in the clinic name and on the doctor’s certificate), the clinic’s foreign-patient registration number, and the MFDS approval number on the device label.
Is a bigger clinic a safer choice?
Size tells you little. Who examines you, the device record and the follow-up plan tell you more, and you can verify all three at a clinic of any size.
Should I choose the clinic with the most reviews?
Reviews show that people visit; they do not show who will treat you or which device is in the room. Use them to shortlist, then decide on the checks above.