[Suddenly Curious] Manufacturers Say They Don't Sell Them... So How Do Oriental Medicine Clinics Perform "Lifting Procedures"?

Oriental medicine clinic A in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd. In front of the entrance, standing signs promoting skin lifting procedures lined up. On the clinic's signboard and windows, the names of various kinds of skin lifting procedures were written. All were procedures using laser devices.

An ultra-low-price event was also underway. It promoted providing procedures that cost 50,000 won or more elsewhere for under 10,000 won. The notice included the phrase, "All procedures are conducted on the principle of correct dosage and genuine products."

Is it okay to receive lifting procedures at an oriental medicine clinic rather than a dermatology or plastic surgery clinic? "Suddenly curious" about whether oriental medicine doctors' use of cosmetic medical devices is permitted, and whether the safety and after-care of the equipment are properly handled, we listened to industry and legal-community figures.

Oriental medicine doctors turning their eyes to laser and ultrasound procedures

Skin lifting procedures are performed with laser devices. The principle is to apply physical stimulation to the tissue beneath the skin to induce a regeneration process, tightening sagging skin and promoting collagen production. There are ultrasound and radiofrequency procedures that apply thermal energy, and thread lifting that inserts medical threads.

Usually consumers seeking lifting procedures go to dermatology or plastic surgery clinics, but recently oriental medicine clinics touting cosmetic procedures are also increasing. Searching "lifting oriental medicine clinic" on social media (SNS) returns more than 100 related promotional posts.

Oriental medicine doctors touting the use of medical devices such as lasers as their specialty field are also increasing. The Korean Society of Integrative Laser Medicine, under the Korean Oriental Medical Society, holds annual academic conferences and clinical special lectures.

There is no regulation uniformly banning oriental medicine doctors' use of medical devices. However, whether a given procedure exceeds an oriental medicine doctor's scope of license must be judged according to the principle, harmfulness, and purpose of use of the individual device. Amid unclear permission standards, the cosmetic-procedure market of oriental medicine clinics is rapidly growing.

"Concern over judicial risk," laser device

companies say "We don't supply"

In fact, the companies that manufacture and sell lifting medical devices take the position that they do not directly supply equipment to oriental medicine clinics. When we inquired at four major companies, all answered, "We do not supply products to oriental medicine clinics."

Company A posted on its homepage, "We supply our products and related consumables only for physicians' procedure purposes," adding, "We do not supply them for dental or oriental medicine treatment/procedure use." Company B also wrote on its device-demonstration application page, "Oriental medicine clinics, skin care shops, and individuals cannot apply."

The biggest reason companies are reluctant to supply oriental medicine clinics is cited as judicial risk. Article 27 of the Medical Service Act stipulates that abetting or aiding a medical practitioner to perform a medical act outside the scope of license can be punished. Article 2 of the Medical Service Act defines the duties of an oriental medicine doctor as "oriental medicine treatment and oriental medicine health guidance."

Since there is no clear standard on whether the use of a particular lifting device constitutes oriental medicine treatment, manufacturers cannot help but worry that supplying equipment could lead to a future legal dispute.

Then through what channel do oriental medicine clinics bring in equipment? An industry official said, "It is possible that they used used-equipment dealers or wholesalers rather than direct supply from manufacturers." Under current law, medical device sellers are not restricted in their trading counterparts according to the type of medical institution.

Concern over gaps in equipment education and after-care

Purchasing equipment through used-equipment dealers or a separate distribution network is not in itself illegal. One cannot conclude that equipment is defective or a procedure is dangerous merely because the manufacturer did not supply it directly.

However, there is also concern that when equipment used outside the manufacturer's education and after-care system is used, gaps may arise in consumer protection. If one does not sufficiently master the equipment's output and usage, or does not use genuine consumables, the risk of side effects such as burns and pigmentation can grow.

The unclear locus of responsibility when a product malfunction or procedure accident occurs is also a burden. If the manufacturer did not supply the equipment on the premise of oriental medicine clinic use, it may be difficult to receive support in equipment education, inspection, or the side-effect response process.

On the other hand, there is also the opinion that it is difficult to accept at face value the claim of lifting-equipment companies that they do not supply to oriental medicine clinics. Since backlash from doctors' groups and others is so strong, there are not a few cases of choosing roundabout supply through dealers, etc.

An oriental medicine industry official said, "Oriental medicine clinics also use genuine products," adding, "Since dermatology and the like are important customers, there are quite a few companies that keep quiet about the fact that they supplied products to oriental medicine clinics."

"Pros and cons" over oriental medicine doctors' use of medical devices

Opinions in the legal community are also divided over the scope of oriental medicine doctors' use of medical devices.

Attorney Hong Seung-pyo of the law firm Daeryun said, "Regarding oriental medicine doctors' use of laser devices, decisions of non-referral and non-prosecution have continued," adding, "The fact that health insurance recognizes oriental medicine doctors' laser-acupuncture procedures as oriental medicine acts is also proof that oriental medicine doctors' use of lasers is in effect recognized."

In fact, last November the police concluded a case, finding no charge, against an oriental medicine clinic that had been reported for performing laser procedures. In 2023, a Supreme Court ruling that an oriental medicine doctor's use of an ultrasound diagnostic device cannot be punished as a violation of the Medical Service Act was also confirmed.

There are counterarguments. The point is that just because the use of some diagnostic devices was permitted, it should not be interpreted that the use of all cosmetic/treatment devices is also permitted.

Attorney Lee Yong-hwan, representative attorney of the law firm Godo, said, "One must distinguish between using a diagnostic device as an auxiliary means and fully using a treatment device," adding, "Oriental medicine doctors' lifting procedures are a clear violation of the scope of license."

Reporter Hyun Jung-min now@chosunbiz.com

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