Aftercare & travel
Can I fly after Ultherapy or Botox? Downtime by treatment and a 2–3 day Seoul itinerary
Same-day, no-revisit treatments at LIV in Sinsa, Seoul, what is and is not known about flying afterwards, and model itineraries for a 2- or 3-day trip.
Updated 2026-09-06 · 10 min read · Written by LIV Plastic Surgery
Two or three days in Seoul, and you want to know whether a lifting treatment or Botox fits the trip — and whether you can board your flight home afterwards. This guide separates what LIV Plastic Surgery already states on its website (treatment times, return visits, how soon you return to daily life) from what is only decided at your consultation, including when you can fly. LIV is a non-surgical anti-aging clinic in Gangnam, one minute from Sinsa Station and next to Garosu-gil; consultations are available in English, interpretation is free on request, and international patients pay from the same price list as Korean patients.
Downtime by treatment: time at the clinic, recovery and return visits
The table combines LIV's treatment pages (time, anesthesia, recovery) with the international patients page (which treatments need a return visit).
| Treatment | Time | Anesthesia | Recovery, as listed | Return visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultherapy Prime | 60–90 minutes | Topical anesthetic cream (30 min) | Immediate return to daily life | Same day · no revisit required |
| Thermage FLX | 45–60 minutes | No anesthesia (vibration reduces discomfort) | Immediate return to daily life | Same day · no revisit required |
| Botox | 10–20 minutes | No anesthesia, or topical anesthetic cream on request | Immediate return to daily life | Same day · no revisit required |
| Filler | 20–40 minutes | Topical anesthetic cream or nerve block | Immediate to 3 days (varies by area) | Same day · no revisit required |
| Skin booster | 30–45 minutes | Topical anesthetic cream | 1–3 days (micro-needle marks) | Same day · no revisit required |
| Thread lift | 30–60 minutes | Local anesthesia | 3–7 days (bruising and swelling possible) | Optional check about 1 week later, or a remote photo check |
Shurink (30–45 min), InMode (30–60 min), Density (40–60 min) and ONDA (face 15–30 min) are also listed as immediate return or no downtime and, although they are not on the return-visit list, each is generally completed in a single session with no return visit needed; the interval for any maintenance sessions is decided at the consultation.
Recovery is not results: Botox results begin after 3–7 days, so on a 2–3 day trip you will see the effect at home, not in Seoul. A skin booster is recommended as a course of 3–4 sessions at 2–4 week intervals — one visit is one session.
What this site can, and cannot, tell you about flying
Stated on LIV's site, and safe to plan around: Ultherapy Prime, Thermage FLX, Botox, filler and skin boosters are all "same day · no revisit required"; most non-surgical treatments take 30 to 90 minutes with no hospitalization, so many patients are treated on the day they visit; and Ultherapy Prime, Thermage FLX and Botox are listed as immediate return to daily life.
Not stated on the site: any rule of the form "you may fly X hours after treatment". As general guidance, non-surgical treatments carry no restriction on flying, so a flight home the same day or the next day is usually not a problem; after a thread lift (including APTOS) it is generally better to allow 1–2 days for the swelling to settle before you travel. Your own timing is confirmed with you at the consultation.
Before you pick a departure day, note that filler recovery is listed as immediate to 3 days and skin boosters as 1–3 days with micro-needle marks — on a 2-day trip that overlaps with your journey home — and that a thread lift lists 3–7 days of possible bruising and swelling; its optional one-week check can be done by photo from home. Whether that is acceptable for you is decided at the consultation.
Model itinerary A: 2 days / 1 night
Both itineraries are time layouts, not medical advice. They assume you booked before flying (steps below) and that your appointment falls inside clinic hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–19:00, Saturday 10:00–16:00, closed on Sunday (Korea time).
| Day | Time | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Morning | Land at Incheon (ICN). AREX train or limousine bus to Sinsa Station about 70–90 minutes, taxi about 60; from Gimpo (GMP) about 40 minutes by taxi or subway. |
| Day 1 | Early afternoon | Drop your bags. The clinic is a 1-minute walk from Sinsa Station Exit 4 (Line 3), next to Garosu-gil. |
| Day 1 | Afternoon | Consultation with the surgeon (interpreter if requested) → numbing cream about 30 minutes where used → treatment (Botox 10–20 minutes, Thermage FLX 45–60, Ultherapy Prime 60–90). Same day, no hospitalization. |
| Day 1 | Evening | A quiet evening near your hotel, following the written aftercare guide in English. |
| Day 2 | Morning | Free time. |
| Day 2 | Afternoon | Departure slot — see the note under itinerary B. |
Model itinerary B: 3 days / 2 nights
| Day | Time | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Any time | Arrive and settle in. If you land early enough, the consultation can move to Day 1. |
| Day 2 | Morning | Consultation → numbing cream (about 30 minutes, where used) → treatment (10–90 minutes by treatment). Same day, no hospitalization. |
| Day 2 | Afternoon to evening | Free, at your own pace, following the aftercare guide. |
| Day 3 | Morning | Free time — a full day between treatment and departure. |
| Day 3 | Afternoon | Departure slot. |
After the treatment: what LIV's pages ask you to do
- Ultherapy Prime: mild swelling or redness is possible, and depending on the area a temporary change in sensation; mild swelling and redness usually settle within a few hours to 1–2 days, although this varies from person to person.
- Thermage FLX: temporary redness is possible.
- Botox: avoid alcohol and saunas on the day of treatment; do not massage the treated area.
- Filler: bruising and swelling are possible; no massage or pressure on the area; avoid strenuous exercise and saunas for 3 days.
- Skin booster: fine needle marks and redness are possible; avoid makeup and alcohol on the day; thorough sun protection.
- Thread lift: bruising and swelling possible for 3–7 days; avoid strong facial expressions and massage for 2 weeks; light makeup from 24 hours after.
- Laser treatments, if part of your plan: the medical Q&A asks for SPF 50+ sunscreen and a hat or parasol for at least 2–4 weeks afterwards and advises against laser in seasons with a lot of outdoor activity; Clarity II treatment of surface pigmentation can darken the pigment or form thin scabs for 3–5 days. See laser treatments.
- Hot baths, saunas and alcohol after Ultherapy Prime or Thermage FLX: as general guidance, avoid alcohol, saunas and hot baths, and strenuous exercise on the day of treatment; most people are back to their usual routine after 1–2 days.
- Tell the clinic if you are pregnant or breastfeeding (most cosmetic treatments are not recommended), have a pacemaker (Thermage FLX is not performed) or have a metal implant in the treatment area (consultation needed first).
Aftercare after you fly home
After you return home you can send photos through chat or messenger; the clinic reviews your progress and guides your aftercare, and you receive a written aftercare guide in English, Japanese or Chinese. A thread lift's optional one-week check can be a remote photo check. For Botox, the clinic notes that a touch-up may be needed 2–3 weeks after a first treatment. If you have already flown home, send photos so the clinic can check the result; it will then adjust the dose at your next visit or advise you on what can be done locally. Any touch-up cost is confirmed at the consultation. More answers are on the medical Q&A page.
Booking, interpretation and payment in brief
- Contact the clinic in English on WhatsApp (+82 10-6888-2773), the live chat on this site or the contact form. No agency or broker, no deposit; replies within one business day.
- Remote consultation and quote. Send your concerns and photos; the clinic suggests suitable treatments and a clear price estimate (see the price list).
- Schedule your visit on a date and time that fits your travel plans — include your flight times.
- Visit and same-day treatment. In-person consultation with the surgeon, then treatment the same day in most cases; the 1:1 consultation fee of KRW 10,000 is fully deducted from the treatment cost if you proceed that day.
- Remote aftercare through your messenger or chat after you return home.
Payment: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, UnionPay or Korean won in cash; card installments are available. No deposit is taken for a consultation booking, so if your plans change — a delayed flight included — simply tell the clinic through the same chat as early as you can. See also the Ultherapy price guide and how to book as a foreigner.
Before you book
Which treatment suits you, and when you can fly, are decided with the surgeon at the consultation. Send your dates and flight times via the international patients page or the contact form — the clinic replies within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fly home the day after Ultherapy or Botox?
In general, yes. Non-surgical treatments such as Ultherapy Prime and Botox carry no restriction on flying, so a flight home the same day or the next day is usually not a problem. Both are listed as same day · no revisit required with immediate return to daily life, so no return appointment holds you in Seoul. The clinic does not publish a fixed hours-before-flying rule; your own timing is confirmed at the consultation, so tell the clinic your flight when you book.
How many days should I stay in Seoul for treatment?
Most non-surgical lifting and anti-aging treatments take about 30–90 minutes, are done in a single day and require no hospitalization. Ultherapy Prime and Thermage FLX are completed in one session with no revisit needed. For a thread lift, an optional check-up after one week is recommended but not required.
Do I need to come back to the clinic before I leave?
Not for Ultherapy Prime, Thermage FLX, Botox, filler or skin boosters. A thread lift has an optional check about one week later, which can be a remote photo check.
What aftercare is possible once I am home?
You can send photos via chat or messenger and the clinic will review your progress and guide your aftercare. A written aftercare guide is provided in English, Japanese and Chinese.
Can I be treated on the same day as my consultation?
In most cases, yes. Most treatments take 30 to 90 minutes with no hospitalization, so after the in-person consultation you are usually treated the same day.
This guide is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Suitability and the final plan are decided at your in-person consultation. Prices are per session, exclude VAT, and are confirmed after consultation.