[Hongdae Dermatology Forena Clinic] Four Promises I Want to Make to First-Time Visitors - Chief Director Yeom Ji-hye

To those visiting Forena Clinic for the first time,

The '4 promises' I especially want to make

Hello.

I am Yeom Ji-hye, Chief Director of Forena Clinic.

Have you ever had thoughts like this when choosing a dermatology clinic?

“Which place really provides honest care?”

“Which place will really do the procedure that suits my face?”

Honestly, when I choose a hospital too,

I search extensively,

and read every review...

So I understand that feeling better than anyone.

These days, there are many dermatology clinics that feel like ‘factories for becoming pretty.’

You go in and they start with the machines,

and fillers or Botox are sometimes attached like optional extras.

Maybe that is why I am often asked this question.

“Director, what kind of hospital is Forena?”

“Are you really honest in how you treat patients?”

This post is my answer to those questions.

I will not include a single line of promotion or exaggeration.

Instead,

for those who visit Forena for the first time,

I want to share the ‘4 promises’ I absolutely want to keep.

Maybe by the time you finish reading this,

“You know, I’d like to go in for a consultation sometime.”

“Oh, so there are hospitals like this.”

You may end up thinking that.

If so,

that would be enough for me.

Rather than someone who changes your skin,

I want to be someone who helps restore the confidence that skin concerns have diminished.

And I believe that the beginning of that always starts with sincerity.

If you can spare just 5 minutes from now,

I would appreciate it if you read this post carefully :)

• First Promise -

Not more, but ‘right’;

we only suggest procedures that truly fit your face

When consulting with patients,

sometimes they say things like this.

“Director, if I get a lot of procedures, I’ll be able to become pretty faster, right?”

“I heard 1–2 cc is the basic amount for fillers these days.

Should I do that too?”

Every time, I smile and ask this.

“Suppose you went shopping for clothes and only free-size items were available. What would you do?”

To patients who tilt their heads at that question, I say again:

"Procedures also need the right ‘fit’ for your face."

In fact, at Forena Clinic, we treat the face like a canvas.

We analyze volume, contours, skin texture, and the overall impression in a three-dimensional way and design the changes that fit your face perfectly.

For example,

we do not simply inject filler under the eyes just because there is hollowness there.

If the issue is that the under-eye fat has shifted downward, it may actually make things look more unnatural.

As another example,

we do not immediately recommend lifting just because you are worried about nasolabial folds.

That is because protruding gums or volume loss are often the real cause.

In other words, we do not just look at the wrinkle that appears on the surface.

We also think about and identify why that issue happened in the first place.

Today’s procedure trend is no longer about putting in more, pulling tighter, and changing more.

The key is to bring out natural beauty without disrupting the flow of the face.

If you received many procedures but still hear things like these:

"Why do you look more tired?"

"You look better... but somehow unfamiliar."

There is a high chance the direction was wrong.

That is why I always prioritize ‘balance’ over ‘excess.’

Because in procedures, direction matters, not quantity.

At Forena, whenever we recommend a procedure, we consider face shape, skin thickness, muscle movement, and even lifestyle patterns.

Even the same filler or the same Shurink can produce completely different results depending on who receives it and how it is done.

In the end,

"My face improved in a way that feels like me, naturally."

Hearing that is what I consider a truly successful procedure.

• Second Promise -

We insist on genuine products/genuine amounts, and precise diagnosis

One day in the consultation room,

a patient said the following to me.

“These days, devices are better, and aren’t the medicines all basically the same?”

At that moment, I smiled slightly and replied,

“Even with the same flour, who kneads it can create completely different bread, right?

The same applies to dermatology procedures.

The product is not everything; where, how, and why it is used is what really matters.”

Unlike what you may think, skin is not just a simple surface.

Sebum, pigmentation, blood vessels, and elasticity layers are all intertwined, layer by layer, and one issue can trigger another.

For example, someone may come in because of pigmentation, but in reality the cause may be invisible vascular inflammation, or it may be secondary pigmentation caused by a damaged skin barrier.

That is why, before any procedure, we always photograph the condition first with skin diagnostic equipment, and we understand not only the visible symptoms but also the skin’s history.

"It looks like melasma, but in fact it is a complex pigment issue mixed between the epidermis and dermis."

"It is not that the pores are large; it is an illusion caused by the breakdown of the elasticity layer."

Only when the diagnosis is accurate like this can the procedure be effective.

After that, our medical staff of 9 people, including myself, plan the procedure based on genuine medications and standards for precise dosage.

The Botox and fillers used at that time are all genuine products approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety,

and we never use less than the specified amount or dilute them arbitrarily.

In truth, these should be ‘the most basic of basics.’

But because these very obvious promises are somehow harder to keep these days...

we try to be even more careful about keeping them.

If a product should never be used on my own skin, of course it will not be used on any patient.

If I cannot explain a procedure to my own family, I will not recommend it to anyone.

At Forena, we always believe that good judgment is as important as good products.

With that belief, we create designs tailored to each individual.

• Third Promise -

An approach that ‘designs’ the face and skin, not just simple procedures

As you also know, every person has a different face shape, skin condition, and way of living.

Then how could one machine, one method, solve every skin concern?

That is why, before we ever begin treatment at Forena Clinic, we first look at how that person’s face has aged over time

and what flow it has drifted away from now.

For example, instead of simply injecting filler because volume has decreased,

we first identify where that loss began and in what direction the structure has collapsed.

Nasolabial folds, the jawline, and even the strength around the eyes all affect one another, so the face changes as a whole.

After that, we examine skin texture, elasticity, blood vessels, and pigmentation together.

Wrinkles cannot be solved with lifting alone, melasma often recurs if only pigmentation is treated, and acne requires balancing the pores and sebaceous glands together.

That is why Forena has chosen a method of designing procedures, rather than treatments that simply use one machine.

What dermatology often calls ‘combination treatment’ is not simply using several devices at once.

The key is to match the rhythm of the skin with the proper timing and in the correct order.

For example, when treating melasma, we do not simply use Excel V, PicoSure, and Zoom Pass all at once. Depending on the depth of the melasma and whether inflammation is present, we may separate the order and use them once a week.

For lifting, we first use energy devices such as Ulthera or InMode, and then only supplement volume where needed, or stabilize the flow with thread lifting, so we design treatment to suit a moving face.

In this way, the procedures Forena aims for are not about forcing customers to fit the machine, but about matching the device and method to the customer.

That is why, before any procedure, diagnosis is detailed, consultations are thorough, and the procedure is performed only in the amount truly needed.

The result is natural yet clear, the change is noticeable yet not unfamiliar.

This is the beauty Forena wants to create.

• Fourth Promise -

Different nationalities, different face shapes

• the experience is different

At Forena, we also often see customers of different nationalities.

People from the Middle East, people who lived in Europe and came here, customers with African skin characteristics, and even travelers from various Asian countries visiting Korea..

Skin tone, sebum production, pigmentation response, pore density, elasticity, and more are all slightly different, and the desired results vary widely as well.

But there is one thing in common. They all want a “change that truly feels like themselves.”

One remark from a patient especially stayed with me.

“Hospital clinics in Korea are all good, but I was afraid they might just make me look Korean no matter what.”

So Forena does not force a ‘Korean style’ of beauty.

• Some people want glowy skin,

• some prefer a matte texture,

• and some value ‘clearer contours’ more than skin brightness.

These standards of beauty can differ completely depending on culture, experience, and life environment.

At Forena Clinic, we acknowledge and respect those differences.

That is because we believe procedures are not something doctors simply lead on their own, but something we design together with the customer.

That is why, for international patients, a dedicated manager who can provide interpretation accompanies them from the consultation stage, so that even the smallest needs are not missed.

(English / Chinese / Japanese available)

And above all, we believe that even if the language is different, sincerity can still be understood.

When you cannot express yourself well, but nod and speak with your eyes, saying “I understand,”

that moment always remains one of Forena’s warmest memories.

‘Skin is just skin’ is not true.

It is a story and a record that contains a person’s life, culture, habits, and self-esteem as they are.

That is why, instead of simply treating the skin, we provide care that understands the person.

If that sincerity reaches people, borders are no problem at all.

We will repay the time and trust you have given us with results

Lastly,

coming to a hospital is not simply about wanting to become pretty.

For some, it is because their own reflection in the mirror feels unfamiliar,

for others, long-standing worries have accumulated and now they need to make a decision,

and perhaps for some, it is the beginning of bravely caring for themselves for the first time.

I understand that feeling well.

I, too, have had especially sensitive skin since I was young,

so I know better than most how hesitant and careful it can feel to cross the threshold of a hospital.

That is why Forena aims to be not just a place that performs procedures,

but a space that listens to concerns together, finds solutions together, and rejoices in the results together.

I believe beauty begins with what is natural for each person.

Rather than forced changes, I value changes that remain harmonious with me naturally, even as time passes.

I believe my role is to create that.

From now on, I will continue to keep this promise: no excessive diagnosis, customized treatment plans, and only procedures that I could recommend to my own family,

I will keep this for longer than any trend.

And, I will not lose the heart of care that approaches each person with sincerity.

Forena will become the bridge connecting the person reading this now and a better tomorrow for you.

With a consistent heart, I will be waiting in the consultation room.

Thank you for reading this long post.

2025. 07

Yeom Ji-hye Chief Director, Forena Clinic

| ​This article was written not for commercial purposes, but for the purpose of providing accurate medical information, and fully complies with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act.​ |

This post was written directly by Forena Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information, in accordance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act.

All treatments may differ in effectiveness or side effects depending on an individual’s health condition or constitution.

Therefore, for safer and more accurate treatment, we recommend making your decision after 충분한 consultation with an experienced medical team.