Contour injections in Suwon: how many sessions before you see a difference?

If extra fullness under the chin or below the cheeks makes your facial lines look blurred and it bothers you, it helps to first check whether that volume is due to fat. Contour injections deliver fat-reducing ingredients directly into the fat layer of the target area to help break down fat cells, and the broken-down fat leaves the body through its metabolic processes over several weeks.

That is why the effect of contour injections builds up over several sessions rather than one; for facial contour injections, at least 3 sessions at 1- to 2-week intervals is the standard plan, and the difference is often judged after the third session. At our Suwon clinic, we first assess the thickness of fat you can pinch, skin elasticity, bone structure, and chewing muscles during consultation, and determine the extent to which fat is the cause.

In this article, we go through how contour injections reduce fat, the types of injections and the differences between face and body, the number of sessions before a difference appears and the treatment steps, aftercare, and side effects.

Contour injection effects: key points

• Contour injections act on fat cells to release stored fat, and changes appear gradually over 2 to 3 weeks.
• The standard plan is at least 3 sessions at 1- to 2-week intervals for facial contour injections, 2 to 3 sessions at 4-week intervals for deoxycholic acid injections under the chin, and at least 4 sessions at 1-week intervals for the body.
• If the jawline looks blurred because of sagging, bone structure, or muscle, more sessions are unlikely to bring the change you expect.
• For at least 3 days after treatment, gently massage the area three times a day and drink plenty of water.

How do contour injections reduce fat?

The injected ingredients act on the membranes of fat cells, allowing the fat stored inside the cells to leave. The released fat is carried through blood vessels and lymph to be metabolized and is also excreted in urine, so changes appear gradually over several weeks rather than right after treatment. We advise drinking plenty of water after treatment to help this elimination process.

Contour injections are not a treatment for major weight loss but one for refining the lines of localized areas that do not slim down easily with exercise and diet. If there is not much fat to reduce to begin with, or if causes other than fat, such as sagging or square-jaw muscles, play a large role, lifting or jaw Botox that addresses those causes is considered as well.

Types of contour injections and differences between face and body

The ingredients and intervals of the injections vary with the area to be treated and the amount of fat.

On the face, the area is small and the fat layer is thin, so small amounts are divided among several points; on the body, the area is larger and the fat thicker, so more sessions are needed at closer intervals. Which injection to use is decided in consultation based on where the fat is and how extensive it is, a schedule that can accommodate swelling, and your previous treatment history.

How many contour injection sessions does it take to see a difference?

Changes by session

For 1 to 2 weeks after the first session, swelling at the injection sites is going down, so it is hard to tell whether fat has decreased. After the second and third sessions, changes in the lines under the chin and below the cheeks gradually begin to show, and comparing photos taken at the same angle as before treatment 2 to 3 weeks after the third session is a good way to gauge the change. With deoxycholic acid injections, changes are checked from one month after treatment.

If the difference is small even after completing the sessions, we look together at whether there was not much fat to reduce in the first place, whether you gained weight during the treatment period, and whether you kept up the massage and water intake after treatment.

Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic

1. Personalized Consultation
2. Design
3. Disinfection
4. Treatment

Facial contour injections take about 10 minutes or less, you can return to your daily routine right away, and they come in 1-, 3-, and 5-session options. Nose sculpting injections come in 1- and 3-session options, and deoxycholic acid injections take about 10 to 20 minutes. For the body, Body GPC injections are given in the order of a personalized consultation, size measurement, treatment, and finishing, in 1-, 3-, and 5-session options per area; getting them on an empty stomach can be hard on the body, so have at least a light meal before treatment, and please tell us in advance if you have high blood pressure or are taking any medication.

See the Contour Injection Treatment Guide

Aftercare for contour injections

• To help the ingredients spread evenly, gently massage the treated area for about 3 minutes, three times a day, for at least 3 days after treatment.
• Drink plenty of water to help the broken-down fat be eliminated.
• For 3 to 7 days after treatment, avoid heavy drinking, smoking, saunas and Korean bathhouses, hot baths, and strenuous exercise.
• After facial contour injections and deoxycholic acid injections, you can wash your face and wear makeup right away.

If you gain a lot of weight between sessions, the reduced volume may fill back in. Combining dietary control with exercise can help maintain the change, and how long it lasts depends on fat distribution and the treatment area, so the timing of the next care is decided by looking at your condition after the last session.

Side effects and precautions of contour injections

Bruising, swelling, pain, or a foreign-body sensation may occur at the injection site, and most subside within 1 to 2 weeks. With deoxycholic acid injections, swelling can last more than a week as fat cells are destroyed, and body injections may cause a tingling or warm sensation that mostly subsides within a few days.

Rarely, an allergic reaction to an ingredient causes swelling, which usually subsides within a few days. Body injections may cause slight dizziness, headache, palpitations, hand tremors, or nausea on the day of treatment, and some ingredients may temporarily change menstrual flow and cycle or cause irregular bleeding, which return to normal over time. These reactions can be stronger on an empty stomach, so treatment is done after eating. Please tell us before treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have a history of allergies. In addition, how much fat decreases and how long it takes vary from person to person depending on the amount of fat and lifestyle habits.

If a warm sensation with itching persists or swelling keeps increasing, please contact the clinic right away and get examined.

What should be checked before contour injections?

If any of these apply, start with an assessment of fat thickness

• I have flesh under my chin that I can pinch.
• Compared with my weight, there seems to be a lot of extra flesh below my cheeks and along my jawline.
• When I clench my teeth, the muscle at the corner of my jaw bulges firmly.
• I also feel that my skin has sagged and my jawline has become less defined.

If two or more apply, it is best to first check whether the jawline looks blurred because of fat, or because of muscle or sagging. Whether to treat, and the method and extent of treatment, are decided together in consultation after a doctor's examination.

In short, the key to judging the effect of contour injections is to first identify the extent to which fat is the cause, complete the sessions at the set intervals, and then compare from the same angle.

FAQ

Q. How many contouring injection sessions do I need?

A. For facial contour injections, at least 3 sessions at 1- to 2-week intervals is the standard plan, and deoxycholic acid injections under the chin are given 2 to 3 times at 4-week intervals. The resulting change varies with the amount of fat and the treatment area, so the number of sessions is adjusted.

Q. I had one contour injection, but it had no effect.

A. For 1 to 2 weeks after the first session, swelling at the injection sites is going down, so it is too early to tell whether fat has decreased. It is best to compare photos taken at the same angle as before treatment 2 to 3 weeks after completing the third session.

Q. When do double chin contour injections start to make a difference?

A. With deoxycholic acid injections under the chin, changes are checked from one month after treatment, and they are given 2 to 3 times at 4-week intervals. Swelling can last more than a week as fat cells are destroyed, so if you have an important event, please discuss it with us in advance.

Q. Can I wear makeup right after a contour injection?

A. After facial contour injections, you can wash your face and wear makeup right away, and they do not interfere with daily life. To help the ingredients spread evenly, gently massage the injected area for about 3 minutes at a time, three times a day, for at least 3 days.

Q. Can contour injections also be used on the abdomen or upper arms?

A. For the body, Body GPC injections are given by area, and because the area is large and the fat thick, at least 4 sessions at 1-week intervals is the standard plan. Dizziness can occur on the day of treatment, so avoid an empty stomach and receive the injection after eating.

Q. How can I find out the cost of contour injections?

A. The cost depends on the type of injection, the area, and the number of sessions. We will explain it after confirming in consultation which area, among the face, nostril wings, under the chin, and the body, will be treated and how many times, and you can also check the options by number of sessions on the treatment information page.