Mention a doctor preference
When you contact the clinic, you can ask about seeing Dr. Kim or Dr. Rhee.
MOHW-designated Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institution · 2026
Doctor-Led Anti-Aging Treatments in Gangnam Seoul, Korea
Who will actually hold the device or the needle? For many visitors this is the key question in Korean aesthetic medicine. Here is why continuity matters, who Celliting's two doctors are, and what to ask any clinic.
- 2 MD-PhD directors
- 2007 In Gangnam since
- 4 Languages
- 3 mo Free follow-up
In brief
Doctor-Led Anti-Aging Treatments, at a glance
Gangnam Celliting Clinic · 121 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul · Gangnam Station Exit 12 (4-min walk)
Doctor-led anti-aging means the doctor who examines you also plans and performs your treatment, rather than handing it to another practitioner. Continuity matters because the person treating you then knows your anatomy, history and goals first-hand. At Gangnam Celliting Clinic, Dr. Ho-chan Kim and Dr. Young-mi Rhee, both MD-PhD, personally carry out consultation and treatment.
- Medical directors Dr. Ho-chan Kim, Dr. Young-mi Rhee
- Qualifications Both M.D., Ph.D., board-certified since 1995
- Experience Over 20 years, 100+ lectures in Korea
- Hand-offs None: same doctor throughout
The hand-off problem
Why does it matter who performs your treatment?
It matters because the person treating you makes many small decisions in the moment: energy level, depth, injection point, when to stop. In a hand-off model, one person consults and another performs the procedure. In Korea the most extreme form became known as ghost doctor surgery, where a different surgeon operated without the patient's knowledge, and it led to public debate and stricter rules.
Most hand-offs in aesthetic clinics are not deceptive; some clinics simply work as a team. The real issue is transparency. You should know who will treat you, and what their qualifications are, before you agree.
| Hand-off model | Same-doctor model | |
|---|---|---|
| Who consults | Doctor or counsellor | The treating doctor |
| Who treats | May be another practitioner | The same doctor |
| Knowledge of your goals | Passed on through notes | Heard first-hand |
| Adjusting during treatment | Relies on the notes | Based on the original assessment |
| Questions afterwards | May go to someone else | The team that treated you |
Our approach
What does same-doctor care look like at Celliting?
At Celliting, the doctor you meet at consultation is the doctor who treats you, and treatment is never handed off. That continuity runs through every stage:
- Assessment The doctor examines laxity, skin quality and volume and listens to what you want to change.
- Planning The same doctor chooses device settings, injection points or a regenerative program and explains why.
- Treatment The doctor performs the procedure personally, adjusting as your skin responds.
- Follow-up Questions after treatment, including during the free 3-month follow-up, return to the team that knows your case.
Meet the doctors
Who are Celliting's medical directors?
Dr. Ho-chan Kim, Chief Director
Surgeon with an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Physiology from Wonkwang University, board-certified in General Surgery since 1995. He served as President of the Korean Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery from 2019 to 2022.
Dr. Young-mi Rhee, Chief Director
M.D. with a Ph.D. in Anatomy from Wonkwang University, board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology since 1995. In 2000 she co-founded a 50-bed women's hospital.
Together they bring over 20 years of clinical experience and have given more than 100 lectures in Korea. Training in physiology and anatomy is useful for understanding how each layer of the face ages; see facial rejuvenation layer by layer.
Before you book anywhere
What should you ask a clinic about who performs the procedure?
Ask directly, and ideally in writing; a clear answer is a good sign wherever you are treated.
- Who will perform my treatment, and will I meet them at consultation?
- What are their medical qualifications and board certification?
- Will anyone else carry out part of the procedure, such as injections or device passes?
- Who will answer my questions after I return home?
- Can I see the device and consumables, and verify they are genuine?
For a fuller checklist, read how to choose an anti-aging clinic in Seoul.
Is it right for you?
Is doctor-led care what you are looking for?
Often a good fit
- You want to meet the person who will treat you before agreeing
- Past results elsewhere did not match what was discussed at consultation
- You have a complex history, such as previous fillers or threads
- You value continuity for follow-up after returning home
Talk to your doctor first
- You need one specific doctor on a fixed date
- You have a medical condition that needs your own doctor's input
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- You take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder
Suitability is a medical decision made by your doctor after an in-person consultation and review of your health history.
Step by step
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02
03
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Seeing the same doctor from first visit to follow-up
Consultation with your doctor
Your doctor examines you, reviews your history and explains the options and their limits.
Treatment by the same doctor
On treatment day the doctor who planned it performs it, with the agreed pain-control option.
Review before you leave
Your doctor checks the treated area and explains aftercare, which you also receive in writing in your language.
Follow-up from home
Use the 24-hour contact line or WhatsApp; the free 3-month follow-up covers questions after you fly.
Why Celliting
Why patients choose Gangnam Celliting Clinic
01
Pain-managed care
Monitored sleep sedation, AirNox analgesia, the X-injector or local anesthesia, matched to the procedure.
02
Government-designated
Named an Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institution by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in June 2026.
03
Care after you fly home
Written aftercare in your language, a 24-hour line and a free 3-month follow-up.
For international patients
Why continuity matters even more for overseas patients
When you travel for treatment, you usually have one chance to explain your goals in person and little time to return if something needs adjusting. Seeing one doctor throughout reduces the risk of details being lost between people or languages. Celliting supports English, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese, and the clinic is about a 4-minute walk from Gangnam Station Exit 12 in Gangnam, Seoul, open Monday to Saturday.
- Message us first Send photos and travel dates on WhatsApp before you fly.
- Doctor-reviewed plan Get a suggested plan in advance, confirmed in person.
- Your language English, 中文, 日本語 and Tiếng Việt support.
- Follow-up at home Free 3-month follow-up and a 24-hour line.
FAQ
Doctor-Led Anti-Aging Treatments: your questions, answered
Reviewed by Dr. Ho-chan Kim, MD, PhD · Updated October 2026
What is a ghost doctor?
A ghost doctor is a practitioner who performs a procedure in place of the doctor the patient met and agreed to, without the patient knowing. The term comes mainly from surgery in Korea. It is uncommon, but it explains why many patients now ask exactly who will treat them.
Will Dr. Kim or Dr. Rhee perform my treatment personally?
Yes. At Celliting the two medical directors personally carry out both consultation and treatment, and procedures are not handed off. The doctor who examines you and agrees the plan with you is the one who performs it.
Does a surgeon's background matter for non-surgical treatments?
It can help. Non-surgical lifting and injections still depend on understanding facial anatomy, tissue layers and how skin heals. Dr. Kim's surgical and physiology training and Dr. Rhee's anatomy background support careful planning, although results always vary between patients.
Can I choose which doctor treats me?
You can ask. Tell the team your preference when you get in touch, and they will look at it alongside your travel dates. Both doctors carry out consultation and treatment personally, so continuity of care is the same whichever doctor you see.
Who answers my questions after treatment?
Contact the clinic on WhatsApp or the 24-hour contact line. Celliting offers a free 3-month follow-up after you return home, and your questions go back to the team that treated you, with your treatment records available for reference.
Explore more
Related pages in Gangnam, Seoul
Cell by cell
Meet the doctor who will treat you
Message the team on WhatsApp (+82-10-4567-3237) with your concerns and dates to arrange a consultation with Dr. Ho-chan Kim or Dr. Young-mi Rhee.
Medical information on this page is provided by Gangnam Celliting Clinic and reviewed by our medical directors. It is not a substitute for an in-person medical consultation. Individual results vary, and all procedures carry potential risks and side effects that your doctor will explain before treatment.
