Hongdae
Chief MD
Jae-wook Kim
I will give my best with the attentiveness to catch even the smallest change.
Body botulinum toxin
Trap botox at Abijou Hongdae: the seven menu lines, label status and the airport-train route
Trap botox means botulinum toxin type A injected into the trapezius, the muscle along the neck-to-shoulder line. It acts on muscle, not fat, and cosmetic trapezius injection is not listed on the U.S. BOTOX labels or the Korean MFDS records checked here, so it is an off-label choice made by the treating doctor. In the 12 October 2026 snapshot, Abijou Hongdae lists seven trapezius lines under four origin labels (Korean, Premium Korean, German and a US 50-unit line), from KRW 53,900 to KRW 198,000, VAT excluded. The branch is a short walk from Hongik Univ. Station, which the airport railroad serves.
- What it acts on
- Trapezius muscle, at the neuromuscular junction, not fat
- Label status
- Cosmetic trapezius use not listed on the U.S. BOTOX labels or Korean MFDS records checked here (off-label)
- Hongdae menu
- Seven trapezius lines: Korean, Premium Korean and German at 50 or 100 units; US at 50 units only
- Price snapshot
- Booking-centre menu, 2026-10-12, VAT excluded, not a current 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 does the injection act on?
The toxin blocks acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, so the injected muscle contracts with less force, and over time lower activity can reduce the bulk of that muscle. It has no action on fat. If the line from neck to shoulder comes mostly from fat, the bone frame or posture, a muscle drug will not be the right tool.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX (therapeutic)FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic
Is trapezius injection on the label?
Not in the records checked for this page. The U.S. BOTOX and BOTOX Cosmetic labels list the uses they were reviewed for, and cosmetic trapezius injection is not among them; the Korean MFDS records for Nabota and Meditoxin do not name it either. Off-label is not illegal, since a licensed doctor can prescribe outside the label, but no regulator has assessed this use. You decide with the doctor, with that in view.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX (therapeutic)FDA label — BOTOX CosmeticMFDS drug product record — Nabota 50 UMFDS drug product record — Meditoxin
What did the published trapezius trial measure?
A randomized trial of 30 healthy Chinese women followed them for 6 months and compared two injection patterns, a conventional one and a nerve-distribution one. Mean muscle-thickness reduction was 0.27±0.08 cm and 0.21±0.09 cm at 3 months, and 0.28±0.06 cm and 0.2±0.09 cm at 6 months.
- The comparison was one technique against the other, with no untreated group.
- Shoulder and neck strength were not measured, so ask what the doctor expects for lifting, sport or desk work.
- Six months is how long people were observed, not a promised duration.
Sources: Wang L et al., Aesthetic Plast Surg 2024;48(6):1210-1217
What does the boxed warning say, and who should not be injected?
The U.S. BOTOX labels carry a boxed warning on distant spread of toxin effect: effects can travel from the injection site hours to weeks later and cause swallowing and breathing difficulty that may be life threatening. The BOTOX Cosmetic label lists two contraindications, hypersensitivity to any botulinum toxin preparation and infection at the injection site, and says people with existing neuromuscular disorders may face higher risk.
- Tell the doctor about neuromuscular disease, pregnancy or breastfeeding, aminoglycoside antibiotics and earlier toxin injections with dates.
- Swallowing, speech or breathing trouble, drooping eyelids, double vision or whole-body weakness after an injection is an emergency.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX (therapeutic)FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic
What does the aftercare guide say?
Abijou’s reservation-centre aftercare page (checked 2026-10-12) gives general notes for botulinum toxin. It is not an individual prescription; if the Hongdae team tells you something different, follow the team.
- Redness, swelling or bruising can show up and generally ease within 1 to 2 weeks, according to the guide.
- For 7 days skip alcohol, smoking, sauna, massage, jjimjilbang and hard exercise; wait at least 2 to 3 weeks before meridian massage.
- Severe redness, itching or hives mean contact the clinic right away.
- The labels describe judging the effect over days to weeks, so plan your trip with that window in mind.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX CosmeticAbijou reservation center aftercare page · checked 2026-10-12
How do you get to the Hongdae branch from the airport, and how do you book?
Hongik Univ. Station is on the AREX Airport Railroad as well as Line 2 and the Gyeongui–Jungang Line, so the ride from Incheon Airport needs no change of train. Payment is made at the clinic on the day, with no deposit or online prepayment.
- Getting there
- About 50 m from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station, about 1 minute on foot; the clinic is on the 3rd floor of the building with MEGABOX
- Address
- 3F, Ilex Tower, 147 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 03995
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 10:30–14:00 and 15:00–20:30; Sat 10:00–16:30 (no lunch break); closed Sundays and public holidays
- Languages
- English, Japanese and Chinese alongside Korean
- Contact
- Phone 1544-0377; KakaoTalk and WhatsApp; online booking through the reservation centre
What should you settle before consenting?
Have the answers written down, not only spoken.
- Is my shoulder line mainly muscle, or fat, bone or posture?
- Which product is behind the origin label, how many units, and how many injection points?
- Who injects, and what is the plan if weakness appears after I am back home?
- Does the doctor know my earlier toxin dates and my medicines?
- How do I contact the clinic from abroad?
Reading one Hongdae trapezius line
Each menu line packs an origin label, a unit count and a price. Each part leaves a question open.
| Part of the line | What the menu shows | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Origin label | Korean, Premium Korean, German or US | Which product, since units differ between products |
| Units | 50 or 100 (US: 50 only) | Why that amount for my muscle, and whether both sides are covered |
| Price | KRW 53,900 to KRW 198,000 per session, VAT excluded | Whether it is still current and what is included |
| Label status | Not stated on the menu | That it is off-label and what the plan rests on |
A map for the consultation, not a ranking of products and not a comparison of effects.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX CosmeticAbijou booking centre, Hongdae body toxin menu
Abijou Hongdae trapezius toxin menu (snapshot 2026-10-12)
| Option | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| [Korean] Trapezius toxin 50 units, 1 session | KRW 53,900 | See full details |
| [Korean] Trapezius toxin 100 units, 1 session | KRW 86,900 | See full details |
| [Premium Korean] Trapezius toxin 50 units, 1 session | KRW 99,000 | See full details |
| [Premium Korean] Trapezius toxin 100 units, 1 session | KRW 154,000 | See full details |
| [German] Trapezius toxin 50 units, 1 session | KRW 154,000 | See full details |
| [German] Trapezius toxin 100 units, 1 session | KRW 308,000 | See full details |
| [US] Trapezius toxin 50 units, 1 session | KRW 198,000 | See full details |
Historical example from the 12 October 2026 booking-centre snapshot for Abijou Hongdae. VAT excluded; not a current quote. Origin labels are shown as written on the menu.
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
What does trap botox do?
It is botulinum toxin type A injected into the trapezius. The muscle contracts with less force, and over time that can reduce its bulk. It does not act on fat.
What does trap botox cost at Abijou Hongdae?
In the 12 October 2026 snapshot, seven trapezius lines ran from KRW 53,900 (Korean, 50 units) to KRW 198,000 (US, 50 units), VAT excluded and per session. These are menu prices, not a quote.
Is there a 100-unit US line at this branch?
Not in the snapshot. The US label appears only at 50 units; Korean, Premium Korean and German appear at both 50 and 100.
Is trap botox approved?
Cosmetic trapezius injection is not listed on the U.S. BOTOX labels or the Korean MFDS records for Nabota and Meditoxin checked here. Doctors may use it off-label, but no regulator has reviewed that use.
Can I go straight from the airport and book on the day?
The clinic is a short walk from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station, which the airport railroad serves directly. Booking is through the reservation centre, by phone or by messenger; confirm your slot before you travel.
When can I exercise or have a massage?
The reservation-centre guide says to avoid alcohol, smoking, sauna, massage, jjimjilbang and strenuous exercise for 7 days, and to wait at least 2 to 3 weeks before meridian massage.
How long does it last?
The labels describe assessing effect over days to weeks, and the trapezius trial observed people for 6 months. Neither is a promised duration, so ask the doctor which interval they use and why.
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
More from the blog
Book a consult
Find the right treatment for your skin
Discuss your options with our medical team. Suitability and individual outcomes vary.