The Risks of Korean Beauty Tourism Nobody Warns You About | Dr. David Kim

Dr. David Kim is a board-certified dermatologist trained at Columbia University and Harvard, based in New York City. In this Expert Deep Dive, he joins Amy Chang to dissect the world of South Korean aesthetic treatments. They explore which procedures are worth traveling abroad for versus having done locally, how to identify reputable clinics overseas, the latest innovations emerging from South Korea’s beauty and dermatology landscape and the very real risks that can happen but most don’t know to ask about. ⏰ Timecodes 0:00 Is It Worth Traveling to Korea for Beauty Treatments? 2:00 Introducing Dr. David Kim 5:00 Amy & Dr. Kim on Aging, Identity, and "Hot Mess" Twenties 6:00 Why Dr. Kim Goes to Korea Every Year 8:00 Growing Up Korean: Family, Roots, and Cultural Identity 10:00 Korean Group Mentality and the Pressure to Conform 12:00 Korean Beauty Standards: Neutral Aesthetics and "Glass Skin" 14:00 The History Behind Korea's Competitive Beauty Culture 15:00 Plastic Surgery Trends and the Danger of Chasing Looks 17:00 East vs. West: How Beauty Goals Actually Differ 19:00 K-Beauty's Soft Power and Its Global Influence 21:00 Why Gangnam Is the Plastic Surgery Capital of the World 23:00 Rejuran: What It Is and Why Americans Don't Know About It 26:00 Collagen-Stimulating Injectables — Has Amy Tried Them? 27:00 Filler Complications: Strokes, Risk, and What to Ask Your Doctor 29:00 Forehead Filler, Vascular Danger Zones, and Flat Foreheads 31:00 Amy's Korea Treatment Trips: What She's Had Done 33:00 The Problem with Doing Procedures Under Sedation 35:00 Stacking Too Many Treatments in One Day 37:00 Micro Botox for Symmetry and Natural-Looking Results 39:00 How to Space Out Treatments and Know What's Working 40:00 What Dr. Kim Gets Done When He Visits Korea 43:00 Skin Tightening Treatments: Amy's Skepticism, Dr. Kim's Defense 45:00 Threads: How They Work and Why People Fear Them 46:00 Radiofrequency Settings — Why Higher Isn't Always Better 47:00 The Right Sequencing: Stimulate First, Fill Second 51:00 When Non-Surgical Isn't Enough: The Facelift Conversation 52:00 Beauty Overload: Is Social Media Pushing Too Many Procedures? 54:00 Self-Worth, Identity, and Why Confidence Comes From Within 57:00 When Dr. Kim Has to Say No: Mental Health Check-Ins Before Treatment 59:00 Amy's Early Twenties and Building Confidence Through Agency 1:01:00 "We Are All Born Beautiful" — A Moment That Changed How Amy Sees Herself 1:03:00 Amy's Skepticism of Korean Clinic Review Apps 1:04:00 How to Vet a Clinic in Korea: Board Certification and Red Flags 1:06:00 Avoid Clinics Packed With Foreigners — and Why That Matters 1:07:00 The Concierge Experience: What a Great Korean Clinic Actually Looks Like 1:09:00 Amy's Language Barrier Experience at a Korean Clinic 1:10:00 Device Checklist: Making Sure the Clinic Has Up-to-Date Equipment 1:12:00 Finding a Provider You Trust Back Home Before You Go 1:13:00 Amy's Botox Journey: Learning What Works for Her Brows 1:15:00 Cannula vs. Needle and Why Korean Doctors Prefer Cannula 1:17:00 PRP + Microneedling: Dr. Kim's Low-Risk Recommendation 1:19:00 Amy Opens Up About Perimenopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy 1:21:00 HRT Skincare Benefits and How Long to Stay On It 1:23:00 Hormonal Breakouts, Cycles, and What Finally Helped 1:25:00 Hair Loss Treatments: Minoxidil, PRP, and What's Coming Next 1:27:00 Why Hair Loss Is Still a Taboo Topic (Especially for Women) 1:29:00 Outro and Where to Find Dr. Kim → Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram → Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode. ABOUT MIRROR MIRROR Mirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare. Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means. LISTEN ANYWHERE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/bh/podcast/mirror-mirror-with-amy-chang/id1876357199 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NcpTY7ObN43ugrGsZtxgl?si=dbeb2c865aec4b21 Instagram: @mirrormirrorwithamy #beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #haircare