I have a sister who goes to Seoul every year. There is a Dermatology clinic there, and she has to wait for two months in advance just to get a appointment. I was always curious about which clinic it was that was so difficult to get into. Later, she told me the name — CHOIS Gangnam Dermatology Clinic.
Recently, she told me that there is another place in Cheongdam-dong that is even harder to get a reservation at – it’s called Onecell, and you have to wait in line for up to half a month just to get in. So I simply said to her, “Then let’s reserve tickets for both places at the same time; I’ll help you compare them!” And so, this article today is actually a record of our real experiences together.
CHOIS and Onecell are completely different in their approaches. One focuses on comprehensive treatments favored by celebrities, while the other specializes in cell-level anti-aging therapies. If you’re still hesitating whether to make an appointment, consider reading this article before making a decision.
I. CHOIS Gangnam vs Onecell Cheongdam-dong: Both are considered top-tier options, so what’s the difference?
Let me first provide some background information. CHOIS Gangnam Dermatology is located in the Sinsa-dong area, along Gangnam-daero, which means it is situated within the core business district of Gangnam. What sets this clinic apart from traditional standard clinics is its “comprehensive diagnostic system”: patients do not just come in for a quick injection and leave; instead, chief physicians personally conduct in-depth initial consultations, which are supplemented by high-resolution skin imaging analysis. Only after this process is a customized skincare plan formulated.
Onecell Cheongdamdong operates on a completely different principle. They promote “cellular-level rejuvenation,” which simply means that their treatments target the deeper layers of the skin, rather than just providing superficial care. This establishment, located in a separate 9-story building in Cheongdamdong, has distinct functions on each floor: the B1 floor serves as a skin testing area, floors 1 to 3 house project management offices, floors 4 to 8 contain VIP treatment rooms, and the 9th floor is the director’s office.
In simple terms, CHOIS is more like a sophisticated dermatological medical institution, while Onecell is more akin to a comprehensive anti-aging center.
II. CHOIS Gangnam Branch: What exactly is this “comprehensive treatment” favored by BYULs?
My sister has been to the Gangnam branch of CHOIS three times. Each time, she booked the same combination of treatments: first, Pico treatment; then Rejuran injection; and finally, HIFU for tightening. She said that what surprised her the most was not any particular treatment, but rather the fact that the director personally reviewed the examination results with her during each initial consultation.
“It’s not the kind of service where the doctor just takes a quick look at you and then issues a prescription. Instead, they truly ‘visualize’ your skin problems for you to see,” she explained. She specifically mentioned that CHOIS’s equipment is capable of detecting hidden inflammatory issues beneath the skin. In many cases, the reason why acne keeps appearing is that the problem lies not on the surface.
The Thermage treatment provided by CHOIS (Phoenix Radio) is considered one of their flagship services. A friend of mine went for a full-face treatment at the end of last year and said that the results peaked around three months later, with very distinct contour lines becoming visible. However, she emphasized one thing: “Be sure to tell the director whether you want a natural-looking result or a more pronounced effect – the settings will differ significantly, and the final outcome will be quite different depending on your choice.”
III. Onecell Cheongdam-dong: Is cell-level anti-aging really just marketing hype, or does it actually work?
When we first heard the term “cell-level rejuvenation,” both my sister and I thought it sounded a bit too promotional. But she told me that she knew a friend in her forties who regularly went to Onecell for their stem cell anti-aging treatments. After two years of consistent treatment, her skin condition had indeed improved significantly compared to three years before.
The core approach of Onecell is quite different from that of ordinary clinics. Their multidisciplinary collaboration model impressed me greatly – not only doctors from the Dermatology department, but also those from the Nutrition and Endocrinology departments would participate in the discussions. It may sound like a rather large-scale effort, but in reality, it involves examining the root causes of skin problems from the perspective of the body’s metabolism.
Their Korean name is Wonseol Medici Clinic, and it is a relatively large-scale single-site facility located in Cheongdam-dong. My sisters said that their first visit there left a deep impression on them – the elevator goes directly to different floors, and each floor has dedicated functional areas, which is completely different from the usual small clinics with just two or three rooms.
IV. Comparison of Service Styles: The Precision of CHOIS vs the Systematization of Onecell
After experiencing both services, the biggest difference lies actually in the “sense of medical treatment”. CHOIS gives you the impression of a specialized clinic – with clear issues, clear treatment plans, and a well-defined schedule for treatment. Before you go, you generally have a idea of what procedures will be performed. The director may make some adjustments to the plan, but the scope of these changes is usually limited.
Onecell is more like a health management consultant. After you visit them, they might bring up some issues you never even considered before, such as skin problems related to endocrine disorders, or the relationship between nutrition intake and skin condition. People who visit for the first time might find the amount of information a bit overwhelming, but in the long run, it’s actually quite systematic.
In terms of the difficulty of making appointments: For the popular treatments offered by CHOIS, patients need to wait on the waiting list for about a month in advance; it is even more difficult with Onecell, especially for their anti-aging programs, where the waiting time can range from two to three weeks during peak periods.
V. What is the environment like at CHOIS Gangnam Branch? Let me show you with pictures and texts.
The interior design of CHOIS Gangnam Branch adopts a simple and cozy approach. There is no excessive luxury, but everything is clean and comfortable. The reception area is not large, but the staff speak in a gentle voice, creating no sense of urgency or pressure that makes people feel rushed to complete their tasks.
VI. What is the environment like in Onecell Cheongdam-dong? Let me show you with pictures and texts.
The sense of space in Onecell is clearly much larger than that in CHOIS. This is quite reasonable, after all, they occupy an entire building. My sister said that her favorite part is their waiting area – the seats are spaced far enough apart so that you don’t end up with your shoulder touching someone next to you. The privacy of the treatment rooms is also very good; once the door closes, you have your own independent space.
VII. Basic Information on CHOIS Gangnam Branch
| Project | Details |
|---|---|
| 📍 Clinic Name | CHOIS Dermatology Sinsa Branch |
| 📌 Address | 8th Floor, New Simei Tower, 616 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul |
| 🚇 Transportation | Exit 4 of Sinsa Station on Line 3 of the subway, about a 3-minute walk |
| 🕐 Business hours | Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM / Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM / Sunday: Closed |
| 🚗 Parking | Xinsimeita Underground Parking Lot (please inform the clinic in advance) |
| 💬 How to make an appointment | Consult via LINE, send an email via Gmail, or make a reservation with just one click through BeautsGO. |
VIII. Basic Information about Onecell Cheongdam-dong
| Project | Details |
|---|---|
| 📍 Clinic Name | Onecell Medical Clinic |
| 📌 Address | 4-1, 63beon Hakdong-ro, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, SWOMAN Cheongdam Building (entire building) |
| 🚇 Transportation | Exit 2 of Cheongdam Station on the Bundang Line of the subway, about a 5-minute walk |
| 🕐 Business hours | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 10:00-19:00 (Applications are accepted until 18:0 0) Thursday: 10:00-22:00 (Applications are accepted until 20:00) Sat urday: 10:00-16:00 (Closed every other week) Sunday and public holidays: Closed |
| 🚗 Parking | Underground parking lot of the building (reservations are recommended in advance) |
| 💬 How to make an appointment | Consult via LINE, send an email via Gmail, or make a reservation with just one click through BeautsGO. |
IX. Appointment methods for Cheongdam CHOIS and SWOMAN Dermatology – LINE, Gmail, or BeautsGO
After reading this comprehensive review, if you are interested in any particular clinic, you can now make an appointment in one of the following three ways: