[Beauty Clinic Director Reveals Truth] Top 5 Popular Treatments: Realities of 'Fair Market Price' vs. 'Rip-off Prices'

Starting April 1, 2026, revisions to the Medical Practitioners Act have strengthened regular reporting obligations and safety management for aesthetic medical institutions.

Our clinic has reorganized its internal structure with the goal of sincerely and honestly delivering 'Serious Aesthetic Medicine.' We have implemented safety management measures, clarified doctor information, established detailed medical record systems, and improved emergency response protocols.

Rosa Beauty Clinic (Location: CORE Meieki Building 6F, 5-10 Tsubaki-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi; Director: Yuto Tsuchiya, hereinafter "our clinic"), which operates aesthetic surgery, aesthetic dermatology, and plastic surgery, will now publish a price comparison guide for the top 5 popular treatments to promote price transparency in aesthetic medicine.

Background of the Announcement: Why Disclose the 'Truth About Prices' Now?

The aesthetic medicine market continues to expand year by year, but because it operates on a free-choice medical care system, there are cases where prices for identical treatments can differ by several times across clinics.

Furthermore, it appears that some clinics make patients wait for extended periods in counseling rooms, where unqualified staff, such as counselors, conduct diagnoses.

On August 15, Reiwa 7 (2025), the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued a notice explicitly prohibiting diagnoses by unqualified personnel, including counselors.

"I went for a consultation, and the quote was completely different from the price advertised online." "Options were successively added, and the total cost tripled my initial estimate." — Such comments are routinely posted on social media and review sites. The National Consumer Affairs Center has also repeatedly issued warnings about contract disputes in aesthetic medicine, making it urgent to create an environment where consumers can grasp appropriate prices.

Our clinic's director, Yuto Tsuchiya, is dedicated to providing 'Serious Aesthetic Medicine' sincerely. With the motto "Truth in Beauty," he continues to disseminate information on YouTube and other platforms to prevent customers from being deceived or becoming unhappy. This time, we are publishing a list of fair market prices for the top 5 popular treatments to provide a benchmark for customers.

Top 5 Popular Treatments: Thorough Comparison of Fair Market Price vs. Rip-off Prices

Market price data independently surveyed by our clinic (referencing prices listed on the official websites of multiple major aesthetic clinics)

Treatment Name | Type | Fair Market Price (incl. tax) | Rip-off Price Range
---|---|---|---
Botox (1 area for expression wrinkles) | Allergan | 10,000〜15,000 yen | Over 30,000 yen
Hyaluronic Acid (1cc) | Allergan Juvederm | 50,000〜80,000 yen | Over 120,000 yen
Thread Lift (approx. 8 threads for both cheeks) | PDO/PCL | 100,000〜250,000 yen | Over 400,000 yen
Double Eyelid Burying Method (both eyes) | Point/Line Suturing | 60,000〜150,000 yen | Over 300,000 yen
Under-eye Dark Circle Removal (both lower eyelids) | Transconjunctival fat removal | 150,000〜300,000 yen | Over 400,000 yen
| Reverse Hamra method | 200,000〜400,000 yen | Over 600,000 yen

*The above are reference market prices based on our clinic's independent survey. Prices may vary depending on clinic location, drugs used, doctor's experience, etc.

6 Common Patterns of Rip-off Tactics

Pattern 1: Attracting customers with cheap ads/coupons → Upselling to higher plans

Clinics attract customers with ads like "Botox 1 area for 1,980 yen," "Double Eyelid Burying Method 9,800 yen," or "Up to 30,000 yen off treatments." After they visit, they are told, "You don't qualify for this condition," or "That method won't work for your situation," and are then switched to high-priced plans.

Pattern 2: "Option-stacking" sales tactics

For example, during double eyelid surgery, unnecessary fat removal, ptosis options, thinner needle options for swelling reduction, or during dark circle removal, successively adding hyaluronic acid, growth factors, or changes to special threads, thereby upselling the total cost to 3-5 times the initial amount.

Pattern 3: Pressuring for immediate decision with "Today-only discount"

Customers are rushed with phrases like, "This price won't apply if you don't decide today," or "Only for today, the doctor said this price is okay," robbing them of time to compare and consider.

Pattern 4: Separate billing for procedures, anesthesia, and drugs

In addition to the treatment fee, separate charges are added for procedures, MC fees, local anesthesia, laughing gas anesthesia, aftercare fees, and swelling-reducing IV drips/oral medication, making the final quote more than double the advertised price.

Pattern 5: Pricing trick in 0.1cc units

Hyaluronic acid is listed as "XX yen per 0.1cc," making it seem cheap at first glance, but when converted to 1cc, it becomes 2-3 times the market price. Similarly, some clinics list Botox as "XX yen per unit."

Pattern 6: Expressions with authority and exclusivity

Counselors say things like, "Our doctor is very famous," or "This procedure can only be done by our doctor," implying that only that doctor can perform the treatment to pressure patients into signing contracts. In principle, there are no procedures that only one doctor can perform.

7 Checkpoints to Identify Rip-off Clinics

1. Is there a significant discrepancy between the advertised price and the actual quote?
2. Are you being aggressively pushed to add options?
3. Are you pressured for an immediate decision with special discounts?
4. Are additional fees for procedures, anesthesia, or drugs billed separately without clear prior explanation?
5. Is pricing for injectables (like hyaluronic acid or Botox) displayed in small units (e.g., 0.1cc or 1 unit) that mask a high overall cost?
6. Are counselors using exaggerated claims about the doctor's fame or exclusivity of procedures to push for contracts?
7. Is there transparent information available regarding the doctor's qualifications and clinic's safety management?