Rituo pain in Suwon: how much does it hurt, and what about swelling and nodules?

If you are worried about how much it will hurt or how many days the swelling will last before your first Rituo treatment, it helps to first understand where the pain comes from. Rituo is a skin booster that directly replenishes the dermis with extracellular matrix (ECM) components derived from human acellular dermal matrix (hADM), injected in small portions across the face with a fine needle.

Rituo pain consists of two sensations, a sting when the needle goes in and a dull ache as the product is injected, and a topical anesthetic applied before treatment reduces these sensations. At our Suwon clinic, we first check your skin condition, dermal thickness, and treatment areas during the consultation before deciding on the dose and area, and the procedure takes about an hour, including anesthesia.

In this article, we go over how Rituo works, why pain occurs and how it differs by area, ways to reduce pain and the treatment steps at our Suwon clinic, swelling and recovery care, and side effects such as nodules, in that order.

Rituo pain: key points

• Unlike skin boosters that stimulate collagen production, Rituo is a skin booster that fills in the very components that make up the dermis.
• Rituo pain consists of the sting of the needle and a dull ache during injection, and thin areas such as around the eyes and mouth are more sensitive.
• A topical anesthetic is applied before treatment, and if you are sensitive to pain, the order of areas and rest breaks are adjusted.
• Slight swelling and tightness usually settle within 2–7 days, and for nodules, which occur rarely, we check their progress during a visit and decide on treatment.

How does Rituo work?

What supports the skin's thickness and elasticity is the extracellular matrix of the dermis. Components such as collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, proteoglycans, and fibronectin fill the spaces between cells to form a mesh-like framework, and with age and prolonged UV exposure, this framework becomes thinner and sparser.

Many skin boosters work by stimulating the skin to produce collagen again on its own. Rituo takes a different approach by replenishing the dermis with the very components that make up this framework, and the raw material is in a form that has been processed to remove cellular components that could trigger an immune response.

It takes time for the replenished components to integrate with the surrounding tissue, so changes in skin texture and density are observed over several weeks. It can be considered as part of your plan when thinning skin, reduced elasticity, fine lines, and pores are all concerns, or when you also want to refine skin texture after laser or lifting treatments.

Why does Rituo cause pain, and how does it differ by area?

Rituo is a treatment in which small amounts are injected densely across the entire face, so the stimulation adds up with each injection. There is a sting when the needle pierces the skin, and a dull ache as the product enters the dermis and the skin swells slightly. The degree of the ache also varies depending on the amount injected in one spot and the injection speed.

• Areas where the skin is thin or there are many nerves, such as around the eyes, around the mouth, and beside the nose, feel more sensitive than the cheeks.
• Before or after your period, on days when you haven't slept enough, or when your skin is dry and sensitive, the same stimulation may feel more painful.
• If your skin barrier has recently been weakened by laser treatments or peels, the stinging may feel stronger.

Even with the same Rituo treatment, the pain you feel varies depending on skin thickness, the area, and how you feel that day. If you tend to be sensitive to pain, let us know during the consultation, and we will take it into account when adjusting the order and speed.

How is Rituo treatment performed?

Ways to reduce Rituo pain

A topical anesthetic is applied to the treatment area and given enough time to work, then wiped off before injection begins. Since the anesthetic needs time to take effect, it is best to allow plenty of time on the day of treatment. The order of areas can be adjusted, for example by treating sensitive areas last or taking breaks in between.

If you want to receive it around the same time as lifting or laser treatments, we decide the order first. We look at whether the heat-based device should come first and the injections later, whether your schedule can accommodate overlapping swelling, and whether the treatment areas overlap, and then decide during the consultation whether to do them on the same day or on separate days.

Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic

1. We examine your skin condition, dermal thickness, and treatment areas during a medical consultation.
2. Topical anesthesia is applied to the treatment area to reduce pain.
3. ECM components are injected evenly into the dermal layer.
4. We explain post-treatment care, including moisturizing and sun protection after soothing care.

The procedure takes about an hour, including anesthesia. Treatment options are divided into one or two sessions of Rituo 5cc, and a package using 3 syringes on the whole face and neck (including neck skin botox). Standalone treatment is usually done 2–3 or more times at intervals of 3–4 weeks (about 1 month), after which maintenance treatments can be done every 6–12 months depending on your skin condition. The appropriate number of sessions is decided after a consultation based on your skin condition and degree of aging.

View the Rituo Treatment Guide

Swelling and recovery care after Rituo treatment

• Avoid saunas, steam rooms, and strenuous exercise for about a week after the treatment.
• Refrain from alcohol and smoking for about a week after the treatment.
• Keep up thorough moisturizing and sun protection after the treatment.
• Until the bumpy injection marks settle, do not rub or massage the treated area hard.
• Schedule other laser treatments or peels after the swelling and redness have settled.

Right after treatment, small red dots and bumpy marks (embossing) are visible along the needle marks, and they gradually settle as the product spreads. Slight swelling or tightness usually settles within 2–7 days, and changes in skin texture and elasticity are observed gradually over 1–2 weeks. Changes in density tend to be confirmed as sessions accumulate, so rather than judging right after one treatment, we follow progress according to the intervals.

Rituo side effects and precautions regarding nodules

Common reactions include red dots at the injection sites, embossing, and temporary swelling and tightness. If the needle touches a spot where a blood vessel runs, bruising may occur, and bruises last a little longer than swelling. The degree and duration of reactions, as well as the results, vary from person to person.

In rare cases, a small lump (nodule) may be felt at the injection site, itching and redness may continue for more than a few days, or infection and inflammation may occur. Nodules are more likely to form when the product collects in one spot, so rather than kneading it hard yourself, we observe its progress and decide on treatment during a visit. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have an infection or inflammation in the treatment area, a consultation is needed before treatment. If you have an autoimmune disease or have previously had an allergic reaction to an injected ingredient, please let us know before treatment.

If the treated area becomes more swollen and hot as the days go by, the pain gets worse, or you see pus, please contact the clinic right away.

What should be checked before Rituo?

If any of these apply, start with a Rituo consultation

• I feel that my skin has become thinner and less elastic with age.
• My skin texture remains rough and dry even with moisturizing.
• Fine lines, pores, and reduced skin density are all concerns for me.
• I've been putting off the decision because I'm worried about the pain of injection treatments.

If two or more apply, it is a good idea to check your skin thickness, the treatment areas, and your concerns about pain before getting Rituo. Whether to treat, which method to use, and the treatment area are decided together during the consultation after the doctor's examination.

In short, the key is to reduce Rituo pain with anesthesia and by adjusting the order of areas, and to prepare for swelling and nodules with care and progress checks during the first week after treatment.

FAQ

Q. Does Rituo hurt a lot?

A. A topical anesthetic is applied before the procedure to reduce the stinging, but you may still feel a dull ache when the needle goes in and when the product is injected. Thin-skinned areas such as around the eyes and mouth tend to feel more sensitive than the cheeks.

Q. What can I do to prepare and reduce Rituo pain?

A. Since the anesthetic needs time to take effect, it is best to allow plenty of time on the day of treatment. Get enough sleep beforehand, and if you are sensitive to pain, let us know during the consultation so we can adjust the order of areas and rest breaks.

Q. How many days does Rituo swelling last?

A. Slight swelling or tightness usually settles within 2–7 days. The bumpy marks along the injection sites gradually decrease as the product spreads, and spots where the needle touched a blood vessel and caused bruising may last a little longer than the swelling.

Q. What should I do if I get a Rituo nodule?

A. In rare cases, the product may collect in one spot and a small lump may be felt. Do not knead it hard yourself; let the clinic know, and we will observe its progress and decide on treatment during a visit. If there is also redness and warmth, please contact us right away.

Q. How many Rituo sessions are needed, and at what intervals?

A. Standalone treatment is usually done 2–3 or more times at intervals of 3–4 weeks, after which maintenance treatments can be done every 6–12 months depending on your skin condition. The appropriate number of sessions is decided after a consultation based on your skin condition and degree of aging.

Q. How can I find out the cost of Rituo?

A. The cost depends on the dose, number of sessions, and treatment area. We confirm during the consultation whether you will treat only the face or continue to the neck and how many sessions you plan before giving you the details, and you can also check the items for each package on our treatment information page.