l Written by Dr. Lee Seung Hwan, Chief Director at Tong-in Korean Medicine Clinic
| Edited by Sia Shin, The Pylon Square
In March this year, Professor Edvin Dervišević of the University of Ljubljana, who works in sports medicine, visited our clinic in Seoul with his wife, Adriana. They wanted to see firsthand how Korean cosmetic acupuncture, a treatment in which fine needles are placed across the face, is performed.
We had arranged for a Korean model, and I demonstrated the treatment just as I perform it in the clinic. Reading the facial anatomy, the movement of each muscle, and the balance between the left and right sides, I used approximately 150 to 200 needles.
They were surprised by how visible the change was. But their admiration was quickly followed by a concern about applying it back in Europe.
“Patients aren’t used to having many needles in their face yet. If you used that many, I think they’d all run away.”
Hearing this, I understood their concern. A treatment that feels familiar in Korea can feel foreign to patients in Europe. Explaining that a treatment works is one thing; helping a patient feel at ease receiving it is another.
The conversation naturally turned to plans for an autumn seminar in Europe. Rather than simply introducing Korean cosmetic acupuncture to European doctors, we decided to work out together how it could be adapted comfortably for their own clinics.
Lowering the Barrier, Keeping the Essentials
Generally, the more needles used, the greater the effect one can expect.
For first-time patients, however, we decided to prepare an approach using 15 needles per side of the face, chosen with the key acupoints and muscles in mind. The aim was to use fewer needles while still giving the right stimulation to the areas that matter most.
Fifteen Needles, One Side, a Visible Difference
The first subject was myself. I placed 15 needles on the right side of my face and removed them about 30 minutes later. At the time, I noticed only a subtle sense of firmness in the muscles on that side.
A week later, I filmed a video for the clinic’s YouTube channel with Dr. Nam Tae-gwang. After watching it, my wife suddenly asked: “Why does your face look lopsided?”
I was taken aback for a moment, but I soon realized why. I had needled only the right side. Comparing earlier photos and videos, I could see that the two sides of my face moved unevenly when I smiled or spoke.
In actual practice, we always treat both sides together while checking the face’s balance, so this is something I would never do with a patient. If anything, the experiment gave me a rare side-by-side comparison of a treated and an untreated side.
The right side, which received needles, and the left side, which did not, also showed a contrast in how the corners of the mouth moved and in the tension of the expression muscles. Even with fewer needles than usual, the change was noticeable, and it lasted about three weeks.
From the Czech Republic to Slovenia
This autumn, I traveled to the Czech Republic and Slovenia to introduce Korean cosmetic acupuncture to local physicians, including doctors from neighboring Slovakia.
In these countries, there is no separate profession of acupuncturist or TCM practitioner. Physicians who complete additional training in acupuncture are qualified to practice it.
What stood out most throughout the trip was how engaged these physicians were.
A Seminar in Brno with 36 Physicians
On September 26, I led a clinical lecture and workshop in Brno, Czech Republic, for 36 physicians from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The session was held at the invitation of Dr. Ladislav Fildán, President of the Czech Medical Acupuncture Society of the Czech Medical Association.
The program covered long-needle techniques, cosmetic acupuncture, and MTS. I gave demonstrations on about 10 models, with a camera projecting the details of each procedure onto a screen. Seeing the treatment on a real face, rather than in a book or photo, drew far more specific questions than I had expected.
How is this applied in actual clinical practice? Which areas should be assessed? What precautions are needed during treatment?
Their eagerness to understand Korean cosmetic acupuncture in clinical depth was evident throughout the session.
Continuing the Clinical Exchange at the University of Ljubljana
From Brno, I traveled on to Slovenia for the International Professional Seminar at the Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, held on October 3–4, 2026.
Dr. Ladislav Fildán joined from the Czech Republic, along with Professor Edvin Dervišević, president of the Slovenian association of medical acupuncturists, who had visited our clinic in March.
Dr. Fildán lectured on collagen injections and thread lifting, and I introduced the clinical approach to cosmetic acupuncture I have developed in Korea.
My session moved from the fundamentals of medical cosmetic acupuncture to advanced techniques, demonstrations, and clinical protocols. Rather than stopping at theory, we examined actual procedures and how to apply them.
Learn more about Tong-in’s international clinical exchange on our Global Clinical Exchange page.
Considering Cosmetic Acupuncture?
Cosmetic acupuncture begins with understanding the structure of the face, how its muscles move, and its left-right balance. At our clinic, we first observe your face and listen to your concerns, then decide together on the number of needles and the areas to treat. If needles feel daunting, you can start gently, focusing on the key areas.
I will continue to turn the small changes I see in the clinic into questions that lead to better care, so that patients from anywhere in the world can approach Korean medicine with ease.
> Book a Consultation through The Pylon Square — Tong-in Korean Medicine Clinic, Seoul
[FAQ]
Q. What is cosmetic acupuncture?
It is a Korean medicine treatment in which fine needles are placed on the face after assessing facial anatomy, muscle movement, and left-right balance. At Tong-in Korean Medicine Clinic, a typical session uses around 150 to 200 needles.
Q. I’m nervous about having many needles in my face. Can I receive fewer?
For first-time patients, an approach using 15 needles per side of the face, focused on key acupoints and muscles, may be used. It reduces the number of needles while still giving the right stimulation to the most important areas. Because more needles can generally bring a greater effect, the approach is decided together during your consultation.
Q. Can international patients book a consultation?
Yes. Consultations and bookings are arranged through The Pylon Square, with English as the default language. Coordinators who speak Russian, Mongolian, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Turkish can be assigned on request.
