Is Botox from Korea the same product as UK-licensed Botox?
Not necessarily. “Botox” is often used as shorthand for any botulinum toxin injection, but it is one brand name, and what matters is which product is in the vial and whether it is authorised where you live. The MHRA, the UK medicines regulator, said in August 2025 that it had seized more than 4,700 vials of unlicensed botulinum toxin since May 2023, almost all of it from South Korea, and named Botulax, reNTox, Innotox and Toxpia as brands that are not authorised for sale in the UK (MHRA, 30 August 2025).
That statement is about product sold in the UK outside the licensing system. It does not describe how any particular clinic in Korea works, and it does not mean every Korean-made product is unsafe. What it does mean is that “Korean” or “imported” is not a quality mark in either direction: you need the brand name, and whether that product is approved in Korea is a separate question only the clinic can answer in writing.
- Which brand will be used, and who makes it
- How many units are planned for each area (units are not interchangeable between brands)
- Whether you can see the box and vial before it is mixed, including the batch number
- Whether the brand, units and batch number will be written on your treatment record
See our page on Botox and other botulinum toxin treatments for how the main brands differ and what a session involves.
Why do UK rules treat botulinum toxin as a prescription medicine?
In the UK, botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine, and the MHRA tells the public to check that a practitioner is trained and qualified (MHRA). That is why a UK clinic will normally want a consultation with a prescriber before any injection, and why you should expect the same questions to be answered by a clinic abroad.
It also shapes the adverts you see. CAP guidance points to the prohibition on advertising prescription-only medicines, such as Botox (CAP/ASA, Cosmetic interventions). The ASA says its rules cover paid-for advertising or sponsored content that targets UK consumers, but unpaid marketing from an advertiser with no UK registered address generally falls outside its remit (ASA, In or out?).
If a paid post aimed at UK followers names a toxin brand, treat it as a reason to ask more questions, not as proof of anything. Whether a specific advert breaks the rules is for the ASA to decide.
What should a written product record from a Korean clinic include?
Ask for a written record before you pay a deposit and again after the session. The MHRA advises people to ask to see the packaging and check the batch number, and the same habit helps if you need to explain your treatment to a doctor at home (MHRA). The table sets out a minimum.
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Brand and maker | The product name as printed on the box, not only “Botox” or “toxin” |
| Units | How many units for each area, and why that amount |
| Batch number | Written on your record, matching the box you were shown |
| Prescriber | Who examined you, who decided on the treatment and who injected |
| Aftercare contact | A named person who can look at a photo or video, and how quickly they reply |
| If you feel unwell | Who to contact, and what the clinic will send to your UK doctor if asked |
Treat the table as a minimum for any clinic. If a clinic will not put these details in writing, that is useful information in itself.
Are there age rules for botulinum toxin injections?
In England, it is an offence “to administer, in England,” botulinum toxin to a person under 18, with defences for a registered medical practitioner and for some health professionals acting on a doctor’s directions (Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021, section 1).
By its wording, the Act covers administration in England, so it does not itself govern an injection given in Korea. It does show where the UK draws a line. If the person being treated is under 18, speak to a UK doctor first and ask the clinic in writing for its own age policy before anything else is arranged.
What should you do if you feel unwell after you are back in the UK?
Get medical help straight away. The MHRA says botulism symptoms can take up to four weeks to appear and include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and difficulty breathing, and that anyone with these symptoms after a recent treatment should seek help immediately via NHS 111 or emergency services (MHRA). Side effects can also be reported through the Yellow Card scheme, which the MHRA runs.
Plan the aftercare conversation before you travel. NHS advice on cosmetic surgery abroad warns that follow-up may be missing or weaker overseas and that there may be no UK-based professional to contact about problems, and it advises checking your travel insurance (NHS, Cosmetic surgery abroad). That page is about surgery, but the questions carry over: who will answer from the clinic, and what does your own insurer cover for a reaction to an injection?
What does COMEDI do, and what does it not do?
COMEDI is not a clinic and does not inject anything. It does not examine you, choose a product or dose, or tell you to have a treatment; those decisions stay with the doctor who sees you in person. COMEDI is operated by OUR Marketing, a licensed medical travel facilitator (Seoul Metropolitan Government, Reg. No. A-2026-01-02-07119, valid 30 Jul 2026 – 29 Jul 2029; see OUR Marketing partners), and helps with clinic information, English-language consultation scheduling and written treatment plans, so you can work through the checklist above before you commit to a trip.
Botox: what is used
| Devices, products and methods | |
|---|---|
| Botox Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) Allergan Aesthetics (AbbVie), USA | Approved in the US for frown lines, crow's feet, forehead lines and vertical neck bands. |
| Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA) Merz, Germany | Purified to remove the complexing proteins, leaving the active toxin with human albumin and sucrose. |
| Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) Galderma (US distributor) | Approved in the US for frown lines between the eyebrows in adults under 65. |
| Nabota (prabotulinumtoxinA) Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Korea | A Korean botulinum toxin type A; the manufacturer lists frown-line approval in Korea, the US, the EU and Canada. |
| Botulax / Letybo (letibotulinumtoxinA) Hugel, Korea | One Korean-made toxin sold under two names; as Letybo it is approved by the US FDA for frown lines. |
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Botulinum toxin type A. Each brand is a different preparation, and units of one brand cannot be converted into units of another. |
| How it works | Small amounts are injected into specific muscles. It blocks the nerve signal that makes the muscle contract, so the lines above it soften. |
| Session time | Usually under 15 minutes. |
| When it shows | Most people see a change within 3 to 7 days. |
| How long it lasts | About 3 to 4 months, sometimes longer. |
| Interval | US labelling (for example Letybo) says treatment should be given no more often than every three months. |
Full details and sources: Botox
Facts to check before you book
| Registration | Clinics and agencies that work with international patients must be registered with Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare. Medical Korea lists 3,114 registered medical institutions and 1,927 registered agencies (as of March 2025), and registered institutions have had to carry medical malpractice liability insurance since 2016. Ask for the registration number before you pay a deposit. [1] |
| Official help line | The Medical Korea Information Center answers on +82-2-1577-7129, daily 09:00 to 18:00 Korea time, and has desks at Seoul Station (B2, Airport Railroad) and Incheon Airport Terminal 1. It gives information on clinics, takes complaints and dispute enquiries, and takes reports of illegal brokers. [2] |
| Tax refund | Korea's VAT refund for cosmetic procedures for foreign visitors (Restriction of Special Taxation Act, Article 107-3) applied only to procedures received at registered clinics on or before 31 December 2025, and the refund had to be claimed within three months of the procedure. Procedures received now are not covered, so do not plan your budget around a refund, and ask the clinic whether VAT is included in the written quote. [3] |
| If something goes wrong | The Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency accepts mediation applications from foreign patients. Patients living abroad apply by email or fax ([email protected]), and the counselling line is +82-2-1670-2545. Keep your records, receipts and consent forms. [4] |
Checked on 2026-10-07. Rules change, so confirm with the official source before you travel.