Toxin in the chewing muscle for a slimmer lower face or less clenching. Cheap in Seoul, but the result shows up after you've flown home.
Higher is better for a traveller. Tap a score to see why.
In Seoul, jaw Botox costs a median of ₩44,000 (about $32) across 97 clinic listings this week, ranging from ₩7,590 to ₩220,000.
Seoul prices are event listings on Gangnam Unni's Korean app, VAT included. Many are first-visit or trial deals, clinics can show foreigners different prices, and the tourist VAT refund ended in 2025. How Korean clinic prices work →
4 of the 12 listings shown are promotions (first visit, trial price or once per person). A repeat or regular booking usually costs more. How Korean clinic prices work →
| Clinic | As listed | Seen | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 유앤아이의원-잠실점 | 첫방문) 턱보톡스(국산) 1회 체험가 · VAT 포함First visit onlyTrial price | 2026-10-05 | ₩7,590 |
| 유앤아이의원-영등포점 | 첫방문) 턱보톡스(국산) 1회 체험가 · VAT 포함First visit onlyTrial price | 2026-10-05 | ₩8,690 |
| 톡스앤필의원-삼성점 | 사각턱보톡스 50U · VAT 포함 | 2026-10-05 | ₩9,000 |
| Clinic | As listed | Seen | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 벨뷰의원 | 사각턱보톡스 첫고객방문대상 · VAT 포함First visit only | 2026-10-12 | ₩10,890 |
| 힐세리온의원 | 사각턱보톡스(국산) 1회 체험가 · VAT 포함Trial price | 2026-10-12 | ₩11,000 |
| 유앤아이의원-상봉망우점 | 턱보톡스(국산) · VAT 포함 | 2026-10-12 | ₩16,500 |
| 브이에스(VS)라인의원-잠실점 | 사각턱보톡스(리즈톡스) 50u · VAT 포함 | 2026-10-12 | ₩18,600 |
| 신사에그의원 | 턱 보톡스(국산) 1부위 · VAT 포함 | 2026-10-12 | ₩18,700 |
| 포에버성형외과의원 | (국산) 사각턱보톡스 · VAT 포함 | 2026-10-12 | ₩18,700 |
| 아비쥬의원-홍대점 | 국산 사각턱보톡스 50u · VAT 포함 | 2026-10-12 | ₩19,690 |
| 베러미의원-압구정점 | 사각턱보톡스 · VAT 포함 | 2026-10-12 | ₩19,800 |
| 리앤클의원 | 사각턱보톡스 하이톡스 50유닛 · VAT 포함 | 2026-10-12 | ₩20,000 |
1 session × ₩44,000, lasting about 5 months. In the phase 2 trial, 24–48 units of Botox kept the effect for about 6 months and 72–96 units up to 9 months; lower Korean-brand doses may wear off sooner.
Uses this week's Seoul median and the typical duration from studies. Other treatments use their midpoint duration and usual first course.
Tiny marks that fade within hours; in the phase 3 trial side effects were mostly mild, with jaw fatigue or soreness in 3.5%.
Small marks over each jaw muscle where the needle went in. They settle within minutes to hours.
AI-generated models, not real patients. Effects are illustrated to show typical healing; everyone heals differently. Pick a face like yours, then hover or tap the photo to zoom.
Early in your trip. Nothing shows for about 2 weeks anyway, so the main reason to book early is to have a few days to report any chewing or smile problem before you leave.
There's no evidence-based waiting time before flying. Just stay upright for 4–6 hours afterwards, so don't book it right before an overnight flight you'll sleep on.
One visit does it. The effect lasts roughly 3–6 months, so a twice-a-year Seoul trip can keep it topped up. Ask for the brand, units and lot number in writing so your next injector knows what you had.
Easy to add to other treatments in the same visit, and many clinics discount 10–20% when you combine. For frown or forehead lines, see our Botox guide.
Season doesn't change how jaw toxin works: no wound, no sun sensitivity, and no evidence that heat shortens the effect. What matters is skipping saunas and jjimjilbang afterwards (one Seoul clinic asks for 3 weeks) and booking ahead in the post-Suneung and winter-break rush.
Across 97 Seoul clinic listings this week, the median for a Korean brand is about ₩44,000, with a range of ₩7,590–₩220,000. Unit counts are often not stated, and imported Allergan Botox costs several times more. The lowest ads are often promotional or tied to one brand, so confirm the brand, units and VAT.
It depends on how big the muscle is. We price about 50 units for both sides; the 2026 phase 3 trial used 72 units of Botox, and US clinics often use 25–50 units per side. Bigger muscles and strong clenchers usually need more.
Not right away. Slimming usually starts around 2–4 weeks, is clearly visible at about 4–8 weeks, and in trials kept improving up to about 3 months. It typically lasts 3–6 months.
Often, yes. Reviews of randomised trials found fewer grinding episodes, less jaw pain and lower bite force, though the evidence is still limited. Splints tend to last longer; toxin tends to work faster. See a dentist if you have jaw joint pain.
A Korean brand is great value for a first try. Units aren't always equal between brands, so compare the same brand and unit count. If you get jaw Botox often, some doctors prefer Xeomin because it has no complexing proteins and resistance has been rarer with it.
It can, mostly in older people or anyone who already has loose skin, because the shrinking muscle was supporting the skin. A careful dose and injection placement lowers the risk. If you already have jowls, ask about lifting treatments instead.
Most experts recommend waiting at least 3 months between sessions and avoiding booster doses within 3 weeks. Frequent, high doses are the main risk factor for antibodies that make toxin stop working.
Not yet. In the US it's used off-label. Allergan's application for Botox Cosmetic in masseter prominence was accepted for FDA review in August 2026.
| Korean brands | Botox (Allergan) | Xeomin (Merz) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examples | Botulax, Nabota, Coretox, Liztox | The original, and the brand in the masseter trials | "Naked" toxin with no complexing proteins |
| Units vs. Botox | Botulax matched Botox 1:1 for frown lines in trials | Reference | Labelled about 1:1, but an Allergan-funded lab study found it weaker per unit |
| Seoul price, about 50 units | The cheapest; see this week's median below | About ₩199,000 at one listed clinic | About ₩99,000–160,000 at listed clinics |
| Antibody angle | Contains complexing proteins | Contains complexing proteins | No complexing proteins; lowest resistance in reviews |
| Best for | First-timers and value | Following the trial data closely | Frequent, high-dose users worried about resistance |
| Seoul price this week | ₩44,000 | — | — |
Botulinum toxin blocks the signal from nerve to muscle. In the masseter, the relaxed muscle is used less and gradually shrinks, so the jaw looks narrower. That's why slimming takes weeks, not days as it does for frown lines.
Reviews found onset at 2–4 weeks and the maximum effect at about 3 months. A phase 2 study showed a clear dose response: at 3 months, lower-face volume fell by about 4.4 cm³ with 24 units of Botox and about 8.2 cm³ with 96 units, and the higher doses lasted up to 9 months.
In a 2026 phase 3 trial of 376 people (72 units of Botox), 51% of treated people vs 2% on placebo improved by at least 2 grades at 3 months, with lower-face width down about 5.2 mm. Side effects included chewing problems in 3.5% and paradoxical bulging in 2.1%.
For bruxism, a 2024 review of 9 randomised trials (137 people) found toxin can reduce grinding episodes, jaw pain and stiffness, but called the evidence preliminary. Another review found splints last longer, while toxin works faster.
Paradoxical bulging happens when part of the muscle the toxin didn't reach contracts harder and pushes outward. Reported rates range from 0.5% to 18.8%. It is usually fixed with a small extra dose, about 5–15 units, aimed at the bulging part.
Units are brand-specific. Botulax and Nabota were tested 1:1 against Botox for frown lines, but an Allergan-funded study found Xeomin 1.3–1.7 times weaker per unit in lab tests. Jaw doses are large, and reviews flag doses above 100 units, boosters within 3 weeks and gaps under 3 months as the main triggers for resistance.
See instantly if it's the Korean price or the tourist price.
General information for travellers, not medical advice. A doctor should assess you before any treatment. Prices are Korean-consumer event prices collected from public listings; clinics may charge differently on the day.