Hongdae
Chief MD
Jae-wook Kim
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Treatment by area
Calf botox at Abijou Hongdae: units, menu prices and what to ask
Calf botox is botulinum toxin type A injected into the calf muscle (gastrocnemius) so that it contracts less strongly; it acts on muscle, not on fat. Abijou Hongdae lists it as Calf Toxin in 50, 100 and 200-unit lines under four origin labels, priced from KRW 31,900 to KRW 594,000 per session in the 12 October 2026 snapshot, VAT excluded. Cosmetic calf injection is not a listed indication on the U.S. or Korean labels checked for this page, so it is an off-label decision made by the treating doctor after an in-person assessment.
- What it acts on
- The calf muscle (gastrocnemius) at the neuromuscular junction, not fat
- Hongdae menu
- Calf Toxin in 50, 100 and 200 units, labelled [Korean], [Premium Korean], [German] and [US]
- Label status
- Cosmetic calf use is not listed on the U.S. BOTOX labels or the Korean MFDS records checked here
- Price snapshot
- 2026-10-12, regular single-session lines, VAT excluded, not a quote
Language support and contact channels
This branch lists KakaoTalk, WhatsApp for international enquiries. Channel availability and the language of the responding staff can vary, so confirm both when you contact the clinic.
- KakaoTalk: use the official contact link in the booking section below.
- WhatsApp: use the official contact link in the booking section below.
What is calf botox, and what does it act on?
Calf botox is a menu name for botulinum toxin type A injected into the gastrocnemius, the large muscle at the back of the lower leg. The toxin blocks acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, so the injected muscle contracts with less force, and sustained reduced contraction can reduce its bulk over time. That describes the mechanism, not a promised result.
- Because the drug acts on the neuromuscular junction, it does nothing to fat.
- If the shape of your calf comes mainly from fat, bone structure or posture, a muscle-targeted drug will not change it. Which component dominates is decided at an in-person assessment.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX (therapeutic)FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic
Is calf botox an approved use?
Not in the records checked for this page. The U.S. BOTOX and BOTOX Cosmetic labels list the uses they were approved for, and cosmetic injection of the calf is not among them; the Korean MFDS records for Nabota and Meditoxin do not list it either. Off-label does not mean illegal: a licensed doctor may use a drug outside its label on clinical judgement. It does mean no regulator has reviewed this use, and the labels state that safety and effectiveness have not been established for uses that are not listed.
In practice, you are the one who weighs the evidence and the risk before you consent, so ask the doctor what they expect and what they do not claim.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX (therapeutic)FDA label — BOTOX CosmeticMFDS drug product record — Nabota 50 UMFDS drug product record — Meditoxin
Does calf botox affect walking or balance?
One uncontrolled prospective study measured gait after gastrocnemius injection in 15 healthy adult women over 3 months. Step length, cadence and walking speed showed no significant change. Dynamic balance-control measures worsened: in the sagittal plane during double support (p=0.033 and p=0.050) and in the frontal plane during early single support (p=0.038).
Walking looked unaffected while fine balance control measured worse. With 15 participants and no control group this is not a risk figure you can apply to yourself, but it is the finding most specific to the calf. Raise it if you run, hike, wear heels or spend long days on your feet.
Sources: Lin SH, Wang TM, Lu TW, Gait Posture 2026;123:109994
Is there downtime, and what aftercare applies?
The effect is not immediate: the labels describe assessment days to weeks after injection, not on the day. Injection-site pain, bruising and headache are among the local reactions described on the label. The points below are general botulinum toxin guidance from the Gangnam page of Abijou’s booking centre (checked 2026-10-12), not a Hongdae-specific policy; follow Hongdae’s instructions if they differ.
- Redness, swelling or bruising can appear; the guide says these generally ease within 1 to 2 weeks.
- For 7 days avoid alcohol, smoking, sauna, massage, jjimjilbang and strenuous exercise.
- Severe redness, itching or hives are reasons to contact the clinic right away.
- Contact the clinic for weakness that interferes with daily tasks or any change in your walking or balance.
- Swallowing, speech or breathing difficulty, drooping eyelids, double vision or generalized weakness are emergencies. The U.S. label’s boxed warning describes toxin effects that can spread hours to weeks after injection.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX (therapeutic)FDA label — BOTOX CosmeticAbijou booking centre — aftercare guide (Gangnam page)
What should you ask and disclose before the injection?
Ask for the product name, the number of units, the exact muscle and who performs the injection, and have it written down. Ask what follow-up is included and how to reach the clinic if weakness appears after you fly home.
- The BOTOX Cosmetic label lists two contraindications: hypersensitivity to any botulinum toxin preparation, and infection at the proposed injection site.
- Disclose neuromuscular disease such as myasthenia gravis, pregnancy or breastfeeding, medicines that affect neuromuscular transmission such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, and any previous toxin injection with its date.
- Tell the doctor how much you rely on your calves: running, hiking, heels, long walking days on your trip.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX CosmeticLin SH, Wang TM, Lu TW, Gait Posture 2026;123:109994
How do you book and reach Abijou Hongdae?
Book through the Abijou booking centre or the clinic’s KakaoTalk channel, and give your travel dates when you book so the injection and any check fit your stay. Hongik Univ. Station is on the AREX Airport Railroad, so you can ride in from Incheon Airport without changing trains.
- Address
- 3F, Ilex Tower, 147 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- Getting there
- About 50 m from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station (AREX, Line 2, Gyeongui–Jungang Line), in the building with MEGABOX
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 10:30–14:00 and 15:00–20:30; Sat 10:00–16:30; closed Sundays and public holidays
- Phone
- 1544-0377
Abijou Hongdae calf toxin menu (snapshot 2026-10-12)
| Menu line | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| [Korean] Calf Toxin 50 units, 1 sessionOrigin labels as written on the menu, not product names | KRW 31,900 | See full details |
| [Korean] Calf Toxin 100 units, 1 session | KRW 64,900 | See full details |
| [Korean] Calf Toxin 200 units, 1 session | KRW 119,900 | See full details |
| [Premium Korean] Calf Toxin 50 units, 1 session | KRW 88,000 | See full details |
| [Premium Korean] Calf Toxin 100 units, 1 session | KRW 132,000 | See full details |
| [Premium Korean] Calf Toxin 200 units, 1 session | KRW 165,000 | See full details |
| [German] Calf Toxin 50 units, 1 session | KRW 86,900 | See full details |
| [German] Calf Toxin 100 units, 1 session | KRW 173,800 | See full details |
| [German] Calf Toxin 200 units, 1 session | KRW 347,600 | See full details |
| [US] Calf Toxin 50 units, 1 session | KRW 148,500 | See full details |
| [US] Calf Toxin 100 units, 1 session | KRW 297,000 | See full details |
| [US] Calf Toxin 200 units, 1 session | KRW 594,000 | See full details |
Historical example: regular single-session lines from the booking-centre snapshot of 12 October 2026, not a current quote. VAT excluded; prices can change. Units are not interchangeable between products.
Medical care at Abijou
Consultation and treatment are provided by the medical team at this branch. The clinician shown leads the branch; the doctor assigned to your visit may vary, so confirm the assignment when booking.
Listed branch medical team — not a medical-review byline for this article.
Frequently asked questions
How much is calf botox at Abijou Hongdae?
In the 12 October 2026 snapshot, the regular single-session lines ran from KRW 31,900 for [Korean] Calf Toxin 50 units to KRW 594,000 for [US] Calf Toxin 200 units, VAT excluded. The full list is in the table above. Ask the branch for a current written quote naming the product and units.
How many units do I need for my calves?
That is the doctor’s decision after an in-person assessment. Cosmetic calf use is not a labelled indication, so there is no label dose for it. The Hongdae menu sells 50, 100 and 200-unit lines; ask how many units are planned, for which muscle, and whether that covers both legs.
Is 100 units of [Korean] toxin the same as 100 units of [US] toxin?
No. Units are defined by each manufacturer’s potency assay, and the U.S. BOTOX label states its units are not interchangeable with other products. The origin label on the menu is not a product name, so ask which product you would receive.
Will it affect running, hiking or wearing heels?
Discuss this before the injection. In one small study of 15 women with no control group, walking speed, cadence and step length did not change at 3 months, but dynamic balance-control measures worsened. If your trip or your routine depends on your calves, tell the doctor.
Is there downtime, and can I fly home afterwards?
Injection-site pain, bruising and headache are described on the label, and the booking centre’s general guide says redness, swelling or bruising generally ease within 1 to 2 weeks. The effect develops over days to weeks, and the boxed warning describes effects that can appear hours to weeks later, so agree with the clinic how to reach it after you fly.
Does calf botox reduce fat?
No. It acts on muscle at the neuromuscular junction and does nothing to fat. If your calf shape comes mainly from fat or bone structure, this injection will not change it.
What does off-label mean?
Off-label means the use is not listed on the product label. The decision on whether to use it, and at what dose, rests with the treating doctor after an in-person assessment.
Where Hongdae sits in the Abijou network
Abijou began in Gangnam in 2006 and the network now runs 17 branches across Korea. The line the group works to is skin transformation woven into everyday life. Hongdae sits at the station the airport train serves, so many of the people who come in are fitting a visit into a few days in Seoul — and most of the top bookings here are first-visit options.
- One of 17 Abijou branches nationwide
- On the AREX Airport Railroad — reachable from Incheon Airport without a transfer
- We quote the official published price list as it stands
- Across the 17 branches in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon and Busan: over 1,000 medical professionals and more than 350 certified medical devices
- Authentic products only, in appropriate amounts — the treatment is fitted to the condition, not to a package
Contact and location
- Address
- 3F, Ilex Tower, 147 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 03995, Republic of Korea
- Directions
- About 50 m from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station — about a 1-minute walk. The station is served by the AREX Airport Railroad as well as Subway Line 2 and the Gyeongui–Jungang Line, so you can ride in from Incheon Airport without changing trains. Come out of Exit 1, keep walking straight past the 8Seconds store, and the building with MEGABOX in it is the one; Abijou Medical Clinic Hongdae is on the 3rd floor.
- Hours
- Mon–Fri, morning · 10:30 – 14:00 / Mon–Fri, afternoon · 15:00 – 20:30 / Saturday (no lunch break) · 10:00 – 16:30 / Sunday & public holidays · Closed
- Phone
- 1544-0377
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