Why Do Acne Scar Treatment Prices Vary?

Acne scars do not all have the same structure. A treatment that works well for a shallow rolling scar may not be effective for a deep ice-pick scar.

The total cost can depend on:

• Scar type and depth
• Number of scars
• Full-face or limited-area treatment
• Laser or RF device
• Number of treatment passes
• Subcision technique
• Injectable product and dosage
• Doctor’s experience
• Anesthesia and aftercare
• Number of recommended sessions

An accurate scar assessment is essential before comparing prices.

Common Types of Acne Scars

Atrophic acne scars are commonly divided into three main categories.

Rolling Scars

Rolling scars create broad depressions with sloping edges. They are often attached to deeper tissue by fibrous bands.

Subcision is commonly recommended because lasers alone may not release the tethered tissue.

Boxcar Scars

Boxcar scars have wider, more defined edges. Treatment may include fractional laser, RF microneedling, subcision, punch techniques, or combination therapy.

Ice-Pick Scars

Ice-pick scars are narrow but extend deeply into the skin. TCA CROSS, punch excision, or other focal treatments may be more appropriate than broad laser resurfacing alone.

Patients may have several scar types on the same face, making combination treatment necessary.

Acne Scar Consultation Cost

Many high-volume clinics offer a free consultation when treatment is performed on the same day. Specialist clinics may charge a separate consultation fee.

Typical prices include:

• Basic consultation: Free to ₩30,000
• Doctor consultation: ₩20,000 to ₩70,000
• Dermatologist consultation: ₩30,000 to ₩100,000
• Digital skin analysis: ₩20,000 to ₩100,000

Ask whether the doctor will personally examine the scars and design the treatment plan.

Microneedling Cost

Traditional microneedling creates controlled microchannels to encourage skin renewal and collagen production.

Expected prices include:

• Small-area microneedling: ₩100,000 to ₩200,000
• Full-face microneedling: ₩150,000 to ₩300,000
• Microneedling with serum: ₩200,000 to ₩400,000
• Microneedling with skin booster: ₩300,000 to ₩700,000

Microneedling may help mild scars and texture but is usually insufficient for deep, tethered scars.

Potenza Cost for Acne Scars

Potenza is an RF microneedling treatment frequently used in Korea for acne scars, enlarged pores, uneven texture, and collagen stimulation.

Typical prices include:

• Basic Potenza: ₩300,000 to ₩600,000
• Potenza with premium tip: ₩400,000 to ₩800,000
• Potenza with Juvelook: ₩500,000 to ₩1,200,000
• Potenza with Rejuran: ₩600,000 to ₩1,500,000
• Potenza with exosome application: ₩500,000 to ₩1,200,000
• Advanced Potenza scar package: ₩800,000 to ₩1,800,000

The price depends on the tip, needle depth, energy settings, number of passes, and added product. Ask whether the skin booster is injected, delivered through a specialized tip, or applied topically.

Fractional Laser Cost

Fractional lasers create microscopic treatment zones to stimulate collagen and remodel scarred skin.

Expected prices include:

• Small-area fractional laser: ₩150,000 to ₩400,000
• Full-face fractional laser: ₩200,000 to ₩700,000
• Premium fractional laser: ₩300,000 to ₩800,000
• Fractional laser with skin booster: ₩500,000 to ₩1,200,000
• Fractional laser combination package: ₩600,000 to ₩1,500,000

Non-ablative fractional lasers usually involve less downtime than fractional CO2, but several sessions may be required.

Fractional CO2 Laser Cost

Fractional CO2 is a stronger ablative resurfacing treatment used for acne scars, pores, and uneven texture.

Typical prices include:

• Limited-area fractional CO2: ₩200,000 to ₩500,000
• Full-face fractional CO2: ₩300,000 to ₩1,000,000
• Fractional CO2 with subcision: ₩500,000 to ₩1,500,000
• Fractional CO2 with skin booster: ₩600,000 to ₩1,500,000
• Advanced full-face scar program: ₩1,000,000 to ₩3,000,000

Fractional CO2 can cause several days of redness, swelling, crusting, and peeling. Residual redness may last longer in some patients.

Pico Fractional Laser Cost

Pico fractional treatment uses ultra-short laser pulses to target texture and stimulate skin remodeling.

Expected prices include:

• Small-area pico fractional: ₩150,000 to ₩350,000
• Full-face pico fractional: ₩200,000 to ₩600,000
• Pico toning and fractional treatment: ₩300,000 to ₩800,000
• Pico fractional with skin booster: ₩500,000 to ₩1,200,000

Pico fractional treatment may involve less downtime than aggressive ablative resurfacing, but it may also produce more subtle improvement per session.

Fraxel Laser Cost

Fraxel is commonly used to improve acne scars, pores, fine lines, and uneven texture.

Typical prices include:

• Small-area Fraxel: ₩200,000 to ₩400,000
• Full-face Fraxel: ₩300,000 to ₩800,000
• Fraxel with soothing care: ₩350,000 to ₩900,000
• Fraxel combination program: ₩500,000 to ₩1,500,000

Ask for the exact device name because some clinics use “Fraxel” as a general term for fractional laser treatment.

Subcision Cost in Seoul

Subcision releases fibrous bands that pull rolling scars downward. It is one of the most important treatments for tethered acne scars.

Expected prices include:

• Small-area subcision: ₩200,000 to ₩400,000
• Both cheeks: ₩300,000 to ₩800,000
• Full-face subcision: ₩500,000 to ₩1,000,000
• Subcision with filler: ₩600,000 to ₩1,500,000
• Subcision with Juvelook or Rejuran S: ₩600,000 to ₩1,500,000
• Subcision with laser treatment: ₩700,000 to ₩2,000,000

The price may be based on the treatment area, number of scars, procedure time, or combination products.

Bruising and swelling are common after subcision. Patients should allow adequate recovery time before an event or flight.

TCA CROSS Cost

TCA CROSS is a focal chemical treatment commonly used for narrow, deep ice-pick scars.

Typical costs include:

• Small number of scars: ₩100,000 to ₩200,000
• Both cheeks: ₩150,000 to ₩300,000
• Full-face treatment: ₩200,000 to ₩400,000
• TCA CROSS with laser: ₩300,000 to ₩800,000
• Multi-session package: ₩500,000 to ₩1,500,000

Temporary whitening, redness, crusting, and darkening may occur after treatment. Picking the treated areas can increase the risk of pigmentation or scarring.

Punch Excision and Punch Elevation Cost

Very deep or sharply defined scars may require minor surgical techniques.

Estimated prices include:

• Individual punch excision: ₩50,000 to ₩200,000 per scar
• Multiple scar treatment: ₩300,000 to ₩1,000,000
• Punch elevation package: ₩500,000 to ₩1,500,000

These procedures can replace a deep scar with a smaller surgical scar. They should be performed by an experienced doctor after careful scar selection.

Acne Scar Filler Cost

Dermal filler may be used to elevate selected depressed scars after subcision.

Typical prices include:

• Korean filler: ₩150,000 to ₩400,000 per cc
• Imported filler: ₩400,000 to ₩900,000 per cc
• Scar filler treatment: ₩300,000 to ₩1,000,000
• Subcision with filler: ₩600,000 to ₩1,500,000

Filler is not suitable for every scar and may provide temporary rather than permanent correction.

Rejuran S Cost for Acne Scars

Rejuran S has a thicker formulation than standard Rejuran and may be injected into selected depressed scars.

Expected prices include:

• Rejuran S small area: ₩300,000 to ₩500,000
• Rejuran S both cheeks: ₩400,000 to ₩800,000
• Rejuran S with subcision: ₩600,000 to ₩1,200,000
• Rejuran S combination program: ₩700,000 to ₩1,500,000

Rejuran S may support texture improvement, but it cannot fully release tethered scars when used alone.

Juvelook Cost for Acne Scars

Juvelook is commonly combined with injections, Potenza, microneedling, or laser treatment to improve pores and acne-scar texture.

Typical prices include:

• Juvelook skin booster: ₩300,000 to ₩800,000
• Juvelook with Potenza: ₩500,000 to ₩1,200,000
• Juvelook with subcision: ₩600,000 to ₩1,500,000
• Juvelook scar combination: ₩700,000 to ₩1,800,000

Results develop gradually as collagen production increases. Several sessions may be recommended.

Acne Scar Treatment Package Cost

Korean clinics frequently offer combination packages because most patients have more than one type of scar.

A basic package may include:

• Microneedling or fractional laser
• Soothing care
• LED treatment
• Regenerative ampoule

This may cost approximately ₩300,000 to ₩700,000.

A more advanced package may include:

• Subcision
• Potenza
• TCA CROSS
• Juvelook or Rejuran S
• LDM or recovery care

This may cost approximately ₩800,000 to ₩2,000,000 per session.

A comprehensive full-face program may cost between ₩1,500,000 and ₩3,000,000 or more.

Treatment Cost by Scar Type

For rolling scars, patients may budget approximately ₩500,000 to ₩1,500,000 per session for subcision combined with filler, Juvelook, Rejuran S, or laser treatment.

For boxcar scars, fractional laser or RF microneedling may cost approximately ₩300,000 to ₩1,200,000 per session.

For ice-pick scars, TCA CROSS may cost approximately ₩100,000 to ₩400,000, while punch procedures may be priced per scar.

Patients with mixed scars may require a combination costing approximately ₩800,000 to ₩2,000,000 per session.

How Many Sessions Are Needed?

Most acne scars cannot be significantly improved with one session.

General expectations may include:

• Microneedling: Three to six sessions
• Potenza: Three to five sessions
• Fractional laser: Three to six sessions
• Fractional CO2: Three or more sessions
• Pico fractional: Three to six sessions
• Subcision: One to three or more sessions
• TCA CROSS: Three to six sessions
• Juvelook or Rejuran S: Three or more sessions

Treatment intervals may range from several weeks to several months, depending on the procedure and skin recovery.

How Much Does a Complete Treatment Course Cost?

A mild scar treatment course may cost approximately ₩1,000,000 to ₩3,000,000.

A moderate combination program may cost approximately ₩3,000,000 to ₩6,000,000.

Treatment for severe mixed scars may exceed ₩6,000,000, particularly when several procedures, injectable products, and repeated sessions are required.

An expensive plan does not guarantee complete scar removal. The goal is usually meaningful improvement rather than perfectly smooth skin.

Downtime and Travel Planning

Downtime varies according to treatment intensity.

Microneedling and light RF treatments may cause redness for one to three days. Potenza can cause redness, swelling, pinpoint marks, and roughness for several days.

Fractional CO2 may cause noticeable redness, swelling, crusting, and peeling for approximately one week or longer. Subcision can produce bruising and swelling that lasts one to two weeks.

International patients should avoid scheduling aggressive scar treatment immediately before an important event or flight.

Is VAT Included?

Cosmetic acne-scar treatments are generally subject to 10% VAT. Some clinics include tax in the displayed price, while others add it at payment.

Before booking, ask:

• Is VAT included?
• Is this price available to foreigners?
• Is numbing included?
• Is local anesthesia included?
• Is aftercare included?
• How much injectable product is included?
• What is the final payment amount?

Refund eligibility and clinic participation may change, so current information should be confirmed directly with the clinic.

Possible Additional Costs

Extra charges may include:

• Doctor consultation
• Skin analysis
• Numbing cream
• Local anesthesia
• Sedation
• Additional laser passes
• Premium Potenza tips
• Filler or skin boosters
• Medication
• LDM recovery care
• Follow-up appointments
• English interpretation

Ask for an itemized quote before treatment.

How to Compare Clinic Prices

When comparing acne-scar treatment prices in Seoul, confirm:

• Scar types being treated
• Full-face or limited-area coverage
• Exact device name
• Number of passes
• Potenza tip
• Subcision method
• Product brand and amount
• Doctor involvement
• Expected downtime
• Number of sessions
• VAT and additional fees

Packages with the same name may include completely different procedures.

How Much Should Foreigners Budget?

For mild texture and pores, budget approximately ₩300,000 to ₩700,000 per session.

For Potenza or fractional laser with a skin booster, budget approximately ₩500,000 to ₩1,200,000.

For subcision combined with laser, filler, or Juvelook, budget approximately ₩800,000 to ₩2,000,000.

For a comprehensive full-face acne-scar program, budget approximately ₩1,500,000 to ₩3,000,000 per session.

Final Thoughts

Acne scar treatment costs in Seoul depend more on scar type and treatment complexity than on one standard price. Mild scars may respond to microneedling or fractional laser, while tethered rolling scars often require subcision and deep ice-pick scars may need TCA CROSS or punch techniques.

International patients should receive an individualized scar assessment before purchasing a package. The most effective plan usually combines treatments according to scar structure rather than applying the same laser across the entire face.