TL;DR

What?  Laser hair removal.
Where?  Joseph Skin.  Downtown Daegu. 11th floor of Lotte Cinema. 
When?  M-F open until 7:30pm.  Saturdays until 5pm.  
Why?  General dermatological care & dermatological procedures
How?  5 treatments (one month apart)
How much?  50,000-100,000 won per treatment (for happy trail/bikini line)

So as English teachers in Korea, we are lucky enough to have a somewhat disposable income, free time, and access to medical procedures at a fraction of the cost.  

With this in mind, I decided that it was now or never to get Laser Hair Removal.  I have been wanting it for years (as long as I can remember).  If money was plentiful, I would get my whole body done.  However, seeing as it isn’t, I opted to get my number one embarrassing area done:  my happy trail.  

Hate the damn happy trail.  Makes me feel like a dude.  I’ve tried shaving, waxing, bleaching and even individually plucking the obnoxious hairs.  Laser hair removal seems to be the only option left.

A Korean friend on facebook suggested Joseph Skin.  After checking out their website at http://www.josephskin.co.kr, I recruited the help of my co-teacher for investigatory phone calls.  After inquiring about price, I was told that depending on the density, each treatment would run between 50,000-100,000 won ($45-$90). I would also need a minimum of 5 treatments.  So we’re looking at close to $500 for complete hair removal.

Ouch.  BUT, after just briefly looking at American prices, $500 is more than half of the price of skin clinics in the USA.  I’m talking Happy Trail removal for over $1000!  

It was either now or never.  Treatments need to be done every month — this ensures that all your hair (which grows cyclically) will get removed.  I only have 5-6 months left in Korea, so today was the day.  I scheduled my appointment that very same day.  

It’s very easy to find as most expats know where the Lotte Cinema/Carrie and Kelly/Burger King/next to 2.28 Park.   There are TONS of bus lines that stop real close by at the Hanil Cinema.  Joseph Skin is on the 11th floor.

Keep in mind that the assistants will speak little or no English.  However, your consultation and procedure is done by Ryu Young-Ook, who speaks in near-perfect English.  

After checking in, I saw Dr. Ryu for a quick consultation and price discussion.  I was then led by an assistant into another room where an anesthetic gel was applied to the area.  It was then covered and I sat in the waiting room for about 30 minutes (bring a book or ipod!!!).  After that, I was led to the procedure room where I just lifted up my shirt and pulled down my pants a smidge.

Dr. Ryu joined us in the procedure room and brought in the laser.

“You might feel a small bite,” he told me.  And then he put the laser to my skin.

“Was that okay?” he asked.    I didn’t even know he had done anything!!!!  It was so virtually painless!  There were only a couple times I felt anything at all, and it felt similar to plucking a hair.  

We shared some English conversation for less than 5 minutes, and he announced he was finished.   So not only was the process painless, but it was super fast!!!!

Because my hair is obviously more dense and coarse than a Koreans, I was charged 100,000 for the visit and told to come back in one month for my next treatment.  

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Overall, I would absolutely recommend Joseph Skin to anyone needing a great dermatologist or laser hair removal.  It was refreshing to have prompt, clean service…. and in English!!!  Have your co-teacher or Korean friends give them a call at (053)421-1475.