SeoulSkin Guides · Choosing an injector
Clients often tell us the hardest part is not choosing a treatment but finding an injector they trust. Many also do not know how many units they received elsewhere. We have treated nearly 4,000 clients with more than 5,000 Xeomin treatments in New York, and this is what we would want a friend to check, at our clinic or anywhere else. We went through 11 videos from seven Korean dermatologists, New York State licensing rules, the Xeomin label and CDC guidance. "Botox" is one brand of botulinum toxin. SeoulSkin uses Xeomin, but the questions below apply to any brand.
Toxin brands work in a similar way. What changes the result is where it goes and how much. One Korean dermatologist put it this way: if your toxin barely seemed to work, it was probably not placed well, because a well-placed treatment gives a clear change. Another said the forehead is one of the most variable areas on the face, since muscle length and how the brow attaches differ from person to person.
Units are the dose. The Xeomin label says its units cannot be compared to or converted into units of any other botulinum toxin product, so "20 units" means something different from brand to brand. That is why you need both numbers: the product and the units. As a reference, the middle dose in our own records is 10 units for frown lines, 11 for the forehead, 12 for crow's feet and 50 for both jaw muscles. Larger muscles take more. We record the units for every area we treat, so you can always ask for them.
Xeomin's label covers frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet in adults. Jaw (masseter) and other lower-face areas are off-label: widely used, but not FDA-approved indications.
New York licenses health professionals through the State Education Department. Its free online verification search (eservices.nysed.gov/professions/verification-search) shows a licensee's profession, license number, date of first license and registration status. "Registered" means currently allowed to practice. You can also search summaries of disciplinary actions from 1994 on. Here is what each license allows for injectables, as of November 2026:
Carries out treatment prescribed for a specific patient by a physician or other qualified provider who has examined that patient. An RN cannot decide on their own what to treat. New York allows standing orders for RNs only for a short list of services, such as vaccines, and cosmetic toxin is not on it.
Can examine, diagnose and prescribe within their specialty. NPs with more than 3,600 hours of practice do not need a written practice agreement with a collaborating physician. Newer NPs do.
Practices only under a physician's supervision and within that physician's scope. Supervision must be continuous but does not require the physician to be in the room.
Licensed to practice medicine. A New York medical license is not tied to a specialty. Board certification in dermatology or plastic surgery is a separate credential.
From CDC guidance and the Korean dermatologists' videos.
You cannot compare clinics, or tell the next provider what you had.
The CDC advises asking whether the product came from an authorized source and asking to watch it drawn from a labeled vial. It lists six FDA-approved cosmetic toxins: Botox, Daxxify, Dysport, Jeuveau, Letybo and Xeomin.
A Korean dermatologist warned that toxin priced unusually low is likely diluted, and that diluted toxin works less and wears off sooner.
In 2024 the CDC linked harmful reactions in 22 people across 11 states to counterfeit toxin, unlicensed injectors or non-healthcare settings.
Someone should look at how your face moves and ask about past treatments, including when you last had toxin.
A Korean dermatologist said products sold as exclusive to one clinic are often not approved medical products at all.
A dermatologist recommended clinics that fix your main concern first rather than selling many treatments in one visit.
Korean dermatologists use the term 공장형 피부과, "factory-style clinic", for high-volume, low-price clinics. They do not all say these clinics are bad. One said simple toxin can be a reasonable first step there, while warning that results still depend on who injects. Their concerns are structural. One dermatologist who had worked at both kinds of clinic described doctors waiting at a shared table and being called from room to room, with less sense of owning each patient. Another described a counselor (실장) discussing treatment with you while the doctor only performs it.
Their advice for choosing a clinic in Korea: a sign reading "○○피부과의원" means a dermatology specialist runs the clinic, while "진료과목: 피부과" means any licensed doctor may be treating skin. Look for a doctor who examines you, does the treatment and sees you at follow-up. For devices such as Ultherapy, one dermatologist explained how to check for a genuine machine and a tip with its own serial number and expiry date, because refilled tips deliver energy unpredictably.
Prices in Seoul are often lower and visits are fast. The Korean doctors above link that speed to the low prices. Language can be a barrier at consultation, especially around dose and aftercare.
Many products used in Korea are not FDA-approved. That includes many Korean-made toxins, injected Rejuran and other skin boosters. Some Korean toxins are approved in the US under other names: Letybo, from the Korean company Hugel, was approved for frown lines in 2024. A US provider should not use products that are not FDA-approved. In October 2026 the CDC reported neurologic symptoms in patients at a Colorado medical spa after injections of a toxin approved abroad but not in the US, bought from an online supplier.
The CDC's travel health guidance advises getting your medical records in English before you leave and knowing who will provide follow-up care. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons warns that cosmetic travel packages offer limited follow-up, if any, once you are home, that local doctors may not know what was done, and that products used abroad may not have FDA review. If you had toxin in Seoul, tell your provider at home the product, units and date. Xeomin's label says to retreat no more often than every three months.
Real questions from our clients, and our answers.
Ask these at any clinic, including ours. Our own answers are in the last column.
| Question to ask | Why it matters | SeoulSkin's answer |
|---|---|---|
| How many units, in each area? | Units are the dose. You need the number to compare prices and to plan the next visit. | $6 per unit, so your total shows your units. Typical in our records: frown lines 10, forehead 11, masseter 50. |
| Which product? Can I see the vial? | Units differ between brands. The CDC suggests watching it drawn from a labeled vial. | Xeomin only. Ask to see the vial at your visit. |
| Who injects me, and what license do they hold? | RNs, NPs, PAs and physicians work under different New York rules. | U.S.-licensed registered nurses, under the clinical oversight of our lead nurse practitioner. |
| Who examines me and orders the treatment? | An RN can inject only on an order written for you by a provider who examined you. | A good-faith exam confirms the treatment is right for you before anything is done. |
| Price per unit or per area? | A per-area price hides the dose. | $6 per unit. $100 visit fee, waived at $500 or more. |
| What is the touch-up policy? | A cautious first dose often needs a check at about 2 weeks. | Same $6 a unit and the 20-unit minimum is waived: within 1 month for face areas, within 2 months for large muscles. |
| What happens if something goes wrong? | Rare effects such as trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing need urgent care. | Text us at (929) 713-0059. For those symptoms, seek emergency care right away. |
| Do you offer injected Rejuran, filler or sedation? | Common in Korea. Injected Rejuran is not FDA-approved. | Not offered. Rejuran is applied with microneedling, from $290. |
Unit counts are typical, not a quote. The final dose is decided at the in-person assessment.
The videos are in Korean. Turn on captions and choose auto-translate to English.
Dr. Park Ji-yoon 박지윤의 피부 설명서 · 68.6K subscribers
Tell the clinic when and where you last had toxin, talk in units, and feel free to ask to see the product before it is drawn up. Some clinics dilute heavily so fewer units go in.
Dr. Lee Ha-eun 알쓸피식 피부과전문의 이하은 · 133K subscribers
Choose a clinic run by a dermatology specialist, where the doctor (not a counselor) assesses you, the same doctor treats and follows up, and you are not sold everything at once.
Dr. Lee Seung-ju 피친남 이승주 · 115K subscribers
Having worked at a high-volume clinic, he says the structure changes how doctors work, not bad intent. A clinic where one doctor is responsible for you depends on you coming back satisfied.
Last reviewed November 2026. This page combines what we see in our own treatment rooms with public videos and published research. It is not medical advice, and none of the outside doctors or authors cited is affiliated with or endorses SeoulSkin.
Xeomin is $6 per unit, so your total tells you how many units you received. Book a visit and ask anything in the table above before we start.
Questions first? Text us at (929) 713-0059