Internal Medicine Consultation vs Scalp: How to Choose
Choosing between an internal medicine consultation and a scalp examination is a common question for visitors who are researching hair loss care at Hairon Clinic in Seoul. Both are diagnostic services rather than treatments themselves, and they are often used together rather than as alternatives. Understanding what each one actually measures can help you decide where to start, especially if you have limited time in the city and want to make the most of a single visit.
What Each Option Is
The Internal Medicine Consultation & Precision Examination is a structured intake session with an internal medicine physician. During this appointment, the doctor reviews family history, lifestyle patterns, stress levels, and hormone-related history for 30 minutes or more, with first visits averaging around 60 minutes in total. The goal is to look beyond the scalp itself and consider whether internal factors, such as thyroid function, nutrition, or chronic stress, may be contributing to hair thinning.
The Scalp & Follicle Examination is a more localized, instrument-based assessment. A microscope with 60x magnification is used to quantitatively check the number of hairs per follicle, signs of scalp inflammation, and sebum condition. It focuses on the physical state of the scalp and hair follicles rather than systemic health factors.
Who It Suits
People who suspect their hair loss may be linked to broader health issues, medication changes, thyroid concerns, or high stress periods are often better served by starting with the internal medicine consultation. This is also a reasonable starting point if you have never had a structured hair-related medical review before.
The scalp and follicle examination tends to suit people who already suspect a scalp-specific issue, such as visible thinning in a particular area, oiliness, itching, or flaking, and who want objective, magnified imaging of the scalp rather than a broader health discussion. Many patients choose to have both, since the internal medicine consultation vs scalp examination distinction is really about depth of focus rather than one being superior to the other.
Who Should Avoid It
Neither service is invasive, so there are few absolute restrictions. However, if you are seeking a same-day treatment decision without any prior evaluation, jumping straight into a procedure without either assessment is not advisable, since hair loss causes vary significantly between individuals. If you have a diagnosed neurological or hormonal condition that already requires ongoing specialist management elsewhere, it is worth mentioning this during intake so the consultation can be coordinated appropriately rather than duplicating existing care.
The clinic's advisory director, Kwon Ha-nim, holds credentials as a Neurology Specialist and has served as a former outpatient professor at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, which may be relevant context if your hair concerns are connected to neurological factors; this should be discussed directly with the clinic rather than assumed from this page alone.
How the Session Goes
For the internal medicine consultation, expect a conversational format. You will be asked about your family history of hair loss, recent life changes, sleep and stress patterns, diet, and any hormone-related symptoms. The physician, Son Hyong-gon, who holds credentials as an Internal Medicine Specialist and is a Regular Member of the Korean Society for Hair Research as well as a Certified Functional Medicine Physician, uses this information to build a picture of possible underlying contributors.
The scalp and follicle examination is more mechanical. A handheld microscope is used on several areas of the scalp to capture magnified images. The process itself takes only a few minutes per area and does not require any preparation such as fasting or medication changes. Results are typically reviewed with you immediately afterward.
Downtime and Recovery
Both services are non-invasive diagnostic appointments, so there is no downtime or recovery period in the traditional sense. You can resume normal activities, including work or travel around Seoul, immediately after either appointment. No wound care, medication, or activity restriction is involved.
Pricing
Specific pricing for these examinations is not published on this page. Costs can vary depending on the scope of testing recommended after your initial discussion, and VAT or consultation fees may apply separately. For current pricing, please contact Hairon Clinic directly at 02.6949.2030 before your visit.
Safety
Both examinations are generally considered low risk since they involve observation and discussion rather than any procedure that breaks the skin or introduces medication. That said, individual results and recommendations vary, and no diagnostic test can predict future hair loss progression with certainty. Findings from either the internal medicine consultation or the scalp and follicle examination are best understood as a starting point for discussion with the clinic's physicians rather than a definitive diagnosis on their own.
| Aspect | Internal Medicine Consultation | Scalp & Follicle Examination |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Whole-body and lifestyle factors | Local scalp and follicle condition |
| Method | Verbal history and physician review | 60x magnification microscope imaging |
| Typical Duration | 30+ minutes; first visit averages 60 minutes | Several minutes per scalp area |
| Best Starting Point If | Cause is unclear or possibly systemic | Concern is localized and visible |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both examinations, or can I choose just one?
Many patients benefit from both, since one looks at internal health factors and the other at the physical scalp condition, but you can start with whichever seems more relevant to your concern and add the other later.
How long does a first-time visit usually take?
First visits with the internal medicine consultation average around 60 minutes, while the scalp and follicle examination itself takes only a few minutes, though total appointment time depends on how many services are combined.
Will I receive a diagnosis on the same day?
You will typically discuss findings with the physician during the same visit, though further testing or follow-up may be recommended depending on what is observed.
Is any preparation required before the scalp and follicle examination?
No special preparation, fasting, or medication changes are required, since the examination is a non-invasive imaging process performed directly on the scalp.
Where is Hairon Clinic located and what are its hours?
The clinic is located on the 3rd floor of the Hongwoo Building, 373 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 20:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 15:00, with a daily lunch break from 14:00 to 15:00.