Non-Surgical · Picosecond Laser

Best Tattoo Removal in Korea: How to Choose

Best tattoo removal in Seoul, compared on laser, assessment and pacing

Gangnam, Seoul | Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonghwan Choi
KHIDI-registered for international patients · Apgujeong Rewind

Choosing a Tattoo Removal Clinic Choosing a Tattoo Removal Clinic Choosing a Tattoo Removal Clinic Choosing a Tattoo Removal Clinic 
Ink

Choosing a tattoo removal clinic

How do you choose a tattoo removal clinic in Korea?

The short answer

Choose a clinic that names its laser, looks at your tattoo before quoting a number of sessions, explains which features of your ink and skin will slow things down, and has a doctor set the energy. Removal is a course, and safe spacing between passes protects the skin as much as the laser does.

Rewind uses its Pico K picosecond laser, listed by the clinic at 300 picoseconds and 2.9 W. Ink is priced per pass by the area it covers, and the clinic publishes no fixed session count, since the count depends on ink nobody has yet examined.

Facts about Rewind on this page come from the clinic's tattoo removal and device pages, its price sheet and its registration details.

Tattoo removal is often sold as a fixed package before anyone has seen the tattoo. Ink colour, depth, skin tone, body site and past treatment all change how a tattoo responds, so a realistic plan starts with an assessment. Asking for one in advance is the quickest way to judge a clinic from abroad.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi working with a laser handpiece at Rewind
Fig. 01 · Energy settings follow the assessment of the ink
Check

Before you book

Best tattoo removal in Seoul: five questions to send with a photo

A clear photo and these five questions will tell you a great deal about how a clinic approaches ink.

check 01
Which laser, by name
Ask for the device and whether it is a picosecond or a nanosecond laser. The pulse length changes how ink fractures and how much heat reaches the skin.
check 02
An assessment before a number
Ask what in your tattoo will help or slow removal: colour, density, depth, skin tone, location and any earlier laser work. A count quoted without looking is a guess.
check 03
Who sets the energy
Ask whether a doctor sets the laser settings and which specialty certification that doctor holds. Pushing energy too far is how textured scars are made.
check 04
Price per pass, by area
Ask how your tattoo is measured and what one pass costs. A flat package for a tattoo nobody has examined is a price set on a guess.
check 05
Spacing and cosmetic pigment
Ask how far apart passes are spaced, and mention any brow or lip tattoo. Some cosmetic pigments darken on the first pass and need a test spot.
Types

Comparing providers

Four kinds of tattoo removal provider in Seoul, and what to ask

Laser removal is offered in quite different settings. Each one calls for a different first question.

01Doctor-led

A doctor-led clinic that also treats scars

A physician can spot keloid-prone or damaged skin over the ink. Ask whether that doctor sets your settings and reviews each pass.

02Volume

A high-volume laser centre

Appointments are quick and prices may be low. Ask which laser is used, who operates it, and how the interval between passes is set.

03Package

A fixed session package

Some offers sell a set number of passes up front. Ask how that number was reached before your tattoo was assessed, and what happens if fewer are needed.

04Agency

A booking through an agency

The agency arranges the visit but does not treat you. Ask it to name the clinic and the laser, then compare with the clinic's own per-pass rates.

Private room at Rewind Plastic Surgery, Richro Building, Apgujeong
Fig. 02 · Eye protection goes on before any pulse is fired
Rewind

The same questions, answered here

How Rewind answers the tattoo removal questions

These answers come from the clinic's tattoo removal and device pages and its price sheet.

01Laser

Pico K, a picosecond device

The clinic lists Pico K at 300 picoseconds and 2.9 W. A picosecond pulse fractures ink particles faster than heat can spread, and the fragments are cleared by the body over the following weeks.

02Assessment

A range, given before you pay

Colour, density, skin type, site and history are read from the tattoo, and you are told which features in your case are likely to be slow. The tattoo is photographed at each visit.

03Settings

A plastic surgeon sets the energy

Dr. Jonghwan Choi, a board-certified plastic surgeon, sets the settings and reviews each pass. Skin that makes laser removal a poor bet is identified at the assessment.

Consultation with Dr. Jonghwan Choi at Rewind Plastic Surgery
Fig. 03 · The skin over the tattoo is assessed as well as the ink
Apgujeong

The clinic

Where tattoo removal at Rewind takes place

Clinic floor at Rewind Plastic Surgery, Gangnam, Seoul

Fig. 04 · Laser passes are given on this floor

Waiting area at Rewind Plastic Surgery, Apgujeong

Fig. 05 · The waiting area before and after a pass

Rewind Plastic Surgery is found in Apgujeong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on levels four and five of the Richro Building. Tattoo removal is by booked appointment on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10:00 to 19:00, and on Saturday, 10:00 to 16:00. The clinic does not see patients on Thursday or Sunday.

Pico K picosecond laser
Priced per pass by area of ink
Photographed at every visit
Test spot for cosmetic pigment
Eye protection throughout
Messages answered as soon as possible
Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeon at Rewind

Board-certified plastic surgeon

Laser settings for tattoo removal at Rewind are decided by Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeon. KHIDI registration for international patients: M-2025-01-08-09288.

Area

Pricing

Tattoo removal prices at Rewind, by area of ink

Ink is priced by how much skin it covers, using everyday objects as size bands. Which line applies to your tattoo is settled when it is measured.

Coin-sized area, per passThe smallest band
₩50,000
Business-card area, per passAbout one name card
₩100,000
Two business cards, per passThe largest named band
₩150,000
Pico tattoo removal, session rateThe line on the main price sheet
₩200,000

Rates are excluding VAT (10% VAT is added at payment). Tattoos larger than the named bands are measured and quoted at consultation.

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This month at Rewind — offers published by the clinic, updated monthly.

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Fit

Suitability

Who tattoo removal tends to suit, and when it is delayed

Usually workable when

  • The ink is black or dark blue, on the trunk, arms or shoulders
  • The piece is amateur or hand-poked, with shallower pigment
  • You want to fade a tattoo before a cover-up
  • You can attend a course spread over months
  • The work is older and already faded, without aggressive earlier laser work

Delayed or declined when

  • Brow or lip pigment has not yet been test-spotted
  • There is a keloid or thickened scar history over the area
  • The skin over the tattoo is tanned or recently sun-exposed
  • Infection, inflammation or an open wound is present in the field
  • The tattoo must be gone by a fixed date
After

After a pass

Tattoo removal aftercare during a trip to Seoul

The instructions follow the clinic's laser guidance. The quiet weeks between passes are when the ink is actually cleared.

Straight after
Whitening and redness
The area turns white for a short while, then red. Both are expected and settle.
Next days
No heat or friction
Skip saunas, jjimjilbang and sweaty workouts, and avoid massaging or rubbing the treated skin.
Whenever outdoors
Sun protection
Use sunscreen on the area, since sun on freshly treated skin raises the risk of pigment change.
Weeks after
Fading continues
Immune cells carry the fragments away over weeks. The next pass is spaced to let that finish.

Possible effects include blistering, crusting, lightening or darkening of the skin, textural change or scarring, and darkening of some cosmetic pigments. Complete clearance cannot be promised. Report blistering or worsening pain to the clinic. Results vary by individual.

Doctor

Professional

What goes wrong in tattoo removal is a skin injury. At Rewind the energy is set by a surgeon who also treats scars.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeonRewind,
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery article co-authored by Dr. Jonghwan Choi
Fig. 06 · Published clinical research

Rewind's Doctor

Dr. Jonghwan Choi Medical Director

Clear the ink
at the pace skin allows.

Board-certified plastic surgeon and medical director, whose ten peer-reviewed papers have appeared in craniofacial surgery and medical science journals.

Board-certified plastic surgeon (Plastic Surgery)
10 peer-reviewed publications
Medical Director, Rewind Plastic Surgery
Korean Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons
Former chief director, Apgujeong Y&T Plastic Surgery
Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
J Craniofac Surg · JKMS · Arch Craniofac Surg
Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Ask

Questions

Choosing a tattoo removal clinic: common questions

Why should a clinic see my tattoo before quoting sessions?
The number of passes depends on ink colour, density and depth, your skin tone, where the tattoo sits and any earlier treatment. A count given without seeing it cannot be accurate. Rewind gives a range after assessing these features, before the first pass is paid for.
Is a picosecond laser better for tattoo removal?
A picosecond pulse is short enough to fracture ink with less heat reaching the surrounding skin, and split-tattoo trials have compared picosecond with nanosecond devices. Rewind uses Pico K, a picosecond laser. The settings still depend on your ink and skin.
Which tattoo colours are hardest to remove?
Black and dark blue usually respond first. Greens, light blues and some reds tend to lag. Cosmetic brow and lip pigments can contain inks that darken on the first pass, so they are test-spotted before a full treatment.
How is tattoo removal priced at Rewind?
Per pass, by the area the ink covers, using coin-sized, business-card and two-card bands, alongside a pico session rate on the main sheet. Larger tattoos are measured and quoted at consultation. VAT is added at payment.
Can I finish tattoo removal during one trip?
Rarely. Removal is a course with weeks between passes, because the body clears the fragments slowly. Visitors usually take one pass and continue on later trips, or begin here and plan the rest with the clinic.
Can laser tattoo removal leave a scar?
It can, especially when energy is pushed too high or passes are too close together. Blistering, crusting and changes in skin colour are also possible. Skin with a keloid history is assessed carefully, and some tattoos are better left as they are.
Does a tan affect tattoo removal?
Yes. Pigment in tanned skin competes with the ink for laser energy, which narrows the margin before skin colour changes. A tan over the site is a reason to wait until it has faded.
Can I send a photo before booking tattoo removal?
Yes. Use the form below or WhatsApp to send a photo with the tattoo's location, approximate size and your dates in Seoul, and Rewind replies as soon as possible. A firm plan follows only after the tattoo is examined in person.
Voices

Google Reviews

What our patients say.

G 5.0 ★★★★★ 51 Google reviews · Rewind Plastic Surgery, Apgujeong — live-synced from Google Business Profile
★★★★★

Came to REWIND to get my facial treatment and i'm absolutely obsessed about it💞 the doctor is so kind and is an expert! Everyone must visit!

YunHee Hong2 weeks ago
★★★★★

There are just way too many cosmetic clinics in Korea and I'm so happy I found Rewind Clinic in Gangnam. Dr. Choi was so kind and patient while explaining the different face-lifting options, from threads to mini-lifts to deep-plane lifts…

J. S.5 months ago
★★★★★

I found Rewind clinic through a Korean chat forum and many local clients highly recommended it. The clinic is brand new, featuring large, clean rooms and many private waiting areas so it doesn't give off that "factory" clinic vibe. All the…

J. Siou5 months ago
★★★★★

Really nice environment. Doctor is easy to communicate and understands my visions. Waited two weeks to make a review and I confirm the results exceeded my expectations and I am super happy with it. Can't wait to come back!! :))

Kristie Chu5 months ago
★★★★★

I received a thread lift at Rewind Plastic Surgery. The clinic was clean and the atmosphere was comfortable. The consultation was thorough, and I felt confident because they kindly explained everything tailored to my facial condition. They…

한주연2 weeks ago · Translated by Google
Booking

Reservation

REWIND,booking

Tell us where your tattoo is, roughly how large it is and when you will be in Seoul, and we reply as soon as possible.

Visit

REWIND,visit

For international patients — interpreter-assisted, from your first message to your follow-up.

Location
Apgujeong, Gangnam
4F & 5F, Richro Building,
812 Nonhyeon-ro,
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Hours
Mon·Tue·Wed·Fri 10:00–19:00
Sat 10:00–16:00
Closed Sundays & Thursdays
Lunch 12:00–13:00
Consultation
In your language
WhatsApp · Instagram
Interpreter-assisted
consultations available
Registration
KHIDI Registered
Registered institution for
international patients
Reg. M-2025-01-08-09288

Scientific evidence

Research behind the tattoo removal checklist

The first paper reviews laser tattoo removal; the second sets out its fundamental principles and practical approach; the third compares picosecond and nanosecond alexandrite lasers on split tattoos; the fourth analyses injury claims after laser procedures. None of these studies included Rewind patients.