Analysis Report

The First Dermatology Clinic

Representative Director Hwang Sung-hwan In-depth Analysis

Dermatology Expertise Premium Skincare Busan Aesthetics

Key Points Overview

Institution Overview

The First Dermatology Clinic Busan Main Branch is a large-scale institution in Hwamyeong-dong, Busan, providing comprehensive skin care from cosmetic procedures to intractable skin diseases.

Medical Staff Expertise

Led by Representative Director Hwang Sung-hwan, a former university hospital professor, the team consists of dermatologists from the top 2% in Korea, ensuring solid clinical and academic background.

Technology & Infrastructure

Equipped with multiple high-end devices like Ultherapy and Thermage (2 units each), Pico Laser, Vbeam Perfecta, and an expanded 'Aestige Lounge' for premium services.

Reputation & Achievements

Awarded 1st place in Dermatology at the 2024-2025 Customer Preferred Brand Awards and maintains high patient ratings (9.7~9.8/10 on Gangnam Unni).

Representative Director Hwang Sung-hwan

Education & Major Career

  • Education

    Graduated from Inje University College of Medicine and completed Dermatology Residency.

  • Professor Career

    • Former) Professor of Dermatology, Inje University Paik Hospital
    • Former) Chief Professor, Skin Laser Center, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital
  • Clinical and Training Career

    • Clinical Fellow, Department of Dermatology, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital and Haeundae Paik Hospital.
    • Training at Kyushu University Hospital, Japan.
    • Training at Skin Laser Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul.
    • Training at Hair Transplant Center, Kyungpook National University Hospital.
    • Work experience at Bestian Woosong Hospital Scar & Burn Center.

Academic Activities & Media Engagements

  • Major Memberships

    • Regular Member, Korean Dermatological Association and The Association of Korean Dermatologists.
    • Director, Korean Society for Clinical Therapeutic Dermatology.
    • Director, Korean Society of Hair Restoration Treatment.
    • Regular Member, American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV).
  • Specialized Fields

    Covers a wide range of dermatology areas ranging from pigment diseases, lifting, and scar treatment to hair transplantation and burn scar treatment.

  • Media & Communication Activities

    Actively involved in academic research and strengthens communication with the public through his YouTube channel and broadcast appearances, focusing on correcting wrong folk remedies for intractable diseases such as atopic dermatitis and pediatric skin diseases and presenting medical guidelines.

Hospital Information

Location & Scale

The First Dermatology Clinic Busan Main Branch is located on the 7th floor of 287 Geumgok-daero, Buk-gu, Busan (Hwamyeong-dong, Samhan Golden View).

To enhance the comfort and professionalism of the treatment environment, the treatment space is separated into the Main Center and the Aestige Lounge. This is analyzed as a strategy to maximize treatment efficiency by separating the movement paths of general skin disease patients and customers desiring private cosmetic procedures.

Treatment Philosophy

The core philosophy of the hospital emphasizes the scarcity and professionalism that "Dermatologists make up only 2% of doctors in Korea."

This distinguishes it from indiscriminate procedures performed by non-specialists, and it operates on the principle of providing personalized treatment through a university hospital-level precision diagnosis system and scientific analysis (utilizing skin diagnostic devices like Mark-Vu).

Medical Staff Composition

The First Dermatology Clinic Busan Main Branch has a total of 7 male and female dermatologists residing, including Representative Director Hwang Sung-hwan. All medical staff are composed of dermatologists, providing university hospital-level diagnosis for both cosmetic procedures and insurance treatments.

Specialist-Centered Treatment

All medical staff are certified dermatologists, offering a significant competitive edge over clinics run by general practitioners (GPs).

Collaborative System

A cooperative system is established by multiple specialists including Director Ryu Da-jeong, Director Kwon Do-ik, Director Shin Jun-o, Director Jo Gyeong-je, and Director Kim Chan-seong.

Personalized Approach

With a balanced gender ratio, personalized treatment based on patient gender or preference is available, with directors specializing in specific treatment fields.

Major Procedures & Equipment

Advanced Equipment & Facility Infrastructure

The First Dermatology Clinic builds an image of a 'hospital that does not spare investment in equipment' and tends to preemptively introduce the latest high-end equipment.

Lifting & Anti-aging Equipment

  • Ultherapy Prime: 2 units, uses HIFU with 'Deep Sono' technology for SMAS layer targeting.
  • Thermage FLX: 2 units, RF lifting with 'Custom Design' procedures tailored by clinical consultants.
  • Shurink Universe: 2nd generation device, faster and less painful, utilizes MP Mode and Normal Mode.
  • Density: Increases skin density by simultaneously irradiating monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency.
  • Titanium Lifting: Comprehensive lifting solution reflecting recent trends.

Pigment & Scar Treatment Equipment

  • Enlighten Pico Laser: Dual wavelengths (532nm, 1064nm), combined picosecond/nanosecond modes for tattoos and intractable pigments.
  • Fotona StarWalker & QX-MAX: Low-power target focusing for melasma and skin tone improvement.
  • Vbeam Perfecta: Treats facial flushing, telangiectasia, and acne red marks.
  • New Ultra Pulse Encore: Top-tier fractional CO2 laser, effective for deep acne scars or burn scars.

Diagnostic & Other Equipment

  • Mark-Vu: Precisely analyzes pigment depth, sebum distribution, and pore condition for scientific procedure plans.
  • Dermoscopy: Actively utilized for early diagnosis of malignant tumors such as skin cancer and melanoma.

Major Procedure Programs & Features

The treatment areas of The First Dermatology Clinic are largely divided into 'Premium Anti-aging' and 'Intractable Skin Disease Treatment'.

Signature Lifting Program: Ulthermage

  • Custom Design: Procedures are performed after creating a design chart considering the patient's face shape (fat amount, degree of sagging, skin thickness).
  • Pain Management: Equipped with a sleep anesthesia system to support pain-sensitive patients in receiving high-intensity procedures comfortably.
  • Combined Procedure: Operates a protocol that pulls the deep layer (SMAS) with Ultherapy, tightens the dermis layer with Thermage, and simultaneously improves volume and skin texture by combining with Juvelook Volume or skin boosters.

Intractable Pigment & Scar Treatment

Based on Director Hwang Sung-hwan's university hospital career, strengths are shown in treating intractable diseases.

  • Pigment Treatment: Applies 'Dual Toning' or 'Multi-Laser' methods combining high-power and low-power lasers for intractable pigment diseases such as melasma, Ota nevus, and Café-au-lait spots.
  • Scar Treatment: Performs combined treatment using Ultra Pulse Encore laser and Juvelook (collagen booster) for burn scars and surgical scars as well as acne scars.

Medical Skincare (Disease-Centered)

In addition to cosmetic procedures, insurance treatment areas are not neglected.

  • Atopy & Allergy: Systematically provides immunotherapy, light therapy, and moisturizing management education for pediatric and adult atopy patients.
  • Skin Tumors: Equipped with a benign tumor removal and skin cancer diagnosis system, enabling primary diagnosis and treatment without transfer to a university hospital.

Reputation & Comprehensive Analysis

External Evaluation & Patient Reviews

Awards & Certifications

  • Continuously awarded '2024 Customer Preferred Brand Grand Prize' and '2025 Korea Consumer Preference Evaluation 1st Place (Dermatology Category)'.
  • Certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as a 'Medical Institution for Attracting Foreign Patients'.

Positive Patient Feedback (Gangnam Unni, Modoodoc, etc.)

  • Professionalism: Dominant reviews state that "Dermatologists check meticulously in person" and "Unlike factory-type clinics, the director takes responsibility from consultation to procedure."
  • Facilities & Service: High satisfaction with hotel-grade interiors, friendly staff response, and systematic reservation system.
  • Procedure Effect: Satisfaction with effects after high-priced lifting procedures like Ultherapy and Thermage is particularly high, with many reviews citing natural results without side effects.
  • Ratings: Based on Gangnam Unni, Representative Director Hwang Sung-hwan maintains a very high rating of 9.8 (out of 10).

Considerations & Internal Evaluation

Negative Evaluation & Improvements

  • Waiting Times: Some reviews pointed out long waiting times, but efforts to resolve this by introducing additional equipment (2 units each of Ultherapy/Thermage) are visible.
  • Cost: In terms of cost, there is a perception that the price range is higher compared to low-cost clinics due to the premium strategy.

Internal Employee Evaluation (JobPlanet, etc.)

Unlike external customer evaluations, internal employee evaluations tend to be mixed:

  • Pros: Female-friendly culture, name value, internal events (meet-and-greets, etc.), and provision of a cafeteria are mentioned positively.
  • Cons: There are voices of dissatisfaction regarding the vertical atmosphere in some departments, workload, and political corporate culture. This appears to be an organizational management challenge that can occur during the process of growing into a large hospital.

Conclusion & Implications

The First Dermatology Clinic Busan Main Branch is evaluated as a model that successfully combines 'University Hospital-level Expertise' and 'Premium Cosmetic Medicine' in the Busan region.

Professionalism-Centered Branding

By using Representative Director Hwang Sung-hwan's academic authority and the identity of being a 'Dermatologist' as key marketing points, it succeeded with a high-price strategy based on 'trust' in the cosmetic market where low-price competition is fierce.

Bold Facility Investment

It continuously invests in improving Patient Experience (PX) by operating multiple high-priced devices like Ultherapy and Thermage and expanding space (Aestige Lounge).

Balanced Treatment Portfolio

By running treatment-centered practices such as atopy and scars alongside profitable lifting/pigment procedures, it enhances the medical reliability of the hospital.

Comprehensively, The First Dermatology Clinic Busan Main Branch is one of the top-considered medical institutions for patients desiring high-quality dermatology treatment in the Busan/Gyeongnam region, and continued growth is expected under the leadership of Representative Director Hwang Sung-hwan. However, internal personnel management due to organizational scale expansion and operational efficiency such as waiting times seem to be ongoing challenges.