Types of skin boosters in Suwon: how do they differ by ingredient, and how do you choose?
If there are so many skin booster names that you're confused about which to choose, it is easier to understand by sorting them by ingredient rather than by product name. Skin boosters are treatments that deliver active ingredients by injection directly into the dermis, which topical cosmetics have difficulty reaching, and the basic method is to inject them shallowly and densely across the entire face.
Depending on the ingredient, skin boosters are divided into hydrating types that hold water, regenerative types that support a healing environment for damaged skin, collagen types that stimulate the skin to produce its own collagen, and ECM types that fill in the very components that support the dermis. At our Suwon clinic, we first look at skin thickness, dryness, redness, and the location of pores and fine lines during the consultation, then decide on the product and dose.
In this article, we go over how skin boosters work, the types of skin boosters by ingredient, criteria for choosing based on your concerns and the treatment steps at our Suwon clinic, post-treatment care, and side effects, in that order.
Types of skin boosters: key points
- Skin boosters are treatments that inject ingredients shallowly in portions into the dermis, and their purpose differs from filler, which creates volume in one spot.
- Hyaluronic acid works toward hydration, PN toward regeneration, PDLLA, PDO, and PCL toward collagen stimulation, and ECM toward replenishing dermal components.
- Collagen-producing types go through a regeneration process, so changes are monitored over several weeks and treatment is divided into multiple sessions.
- For Rejuran Healer, 3 sessions at intervals of 3–4 weeks are recommended, followed by maintenance treatments depending on your skin condition.
How do skin boosters work?
The skin barrier is built to keep outside substances from getting in, so to make ingredients work in the dermis, a path must be created with a needle or tiny channels. That is why skin boosters are injected shallowly and densely across the entire face, and they are used differently from filler, which fills volume in sunken areas to create shape.
The injected ingredients work in two ways. One is holding water in place to add moisture, like hyaluronic acid, and the other is stimulating skin cells to produce new collagen and matrix. The latter goes through a regeneration process, so the usual approach is to build up changes by dividing treatment into sessions at regular intervals.
How are skin boosters categorized by ingredient?
Even though product names differ, grouping them by their ingredients organizes them into four types. The table below breaks down the representative ingredients, the corresponding products, and how each type works.
| Category | Key ingredient | Corresponding products | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrating type | Hyaluronic acid (HA) | Rejuran HB+ (PN and HA blend), water glow injections | Holds water in the dermis to address inner dryness and refine texture |
| Regenerative type | PN (polynucleotide) | Rejuran Healer, Rejuran HB+ | DNA components obtained from salmon support a healing environment for damaged skin |
| Collagen type | PDLLA, PDO, PCL | Juvelook, Ultracol 100, Gouri | Ingredients gradually break down and stimulate collagen production in the surrounding area |
| ECM type | Acellular dermal matrix (hADM) | Rituo, Juveacell 3% | Replenishes matrix components that support the dermis, such as collagen and elastin |
Water glow injection refers to a hydrating treatment in which hyaluronic acid is evenly injected into the shallow layer of the dermis to hold moisture, and an automatic injector such as DermaShine is sometimes used to inject at the same depth and spacing over a wide area. Gouri is a collagen-type skin booster made from PCL (polycaprolactone) in a particle-free liquid form; it spreads widely in the dermis, stimulates collagen regeneration, and is broken down by the body over time.
How do you choose skin boosters, and how is treatment performed?
Criteria for choosing ingredients based on your concerns
- If your biggest concern is inner dryness, with makeup lifting and skin always feeling tight, we start by looking at hydrating types containing hyaluronic acid.
- If your skin is thin, gets red easily, and recovers slowly after laser treatment, we first look at regenerative types such as PN.
- If fine lines, loss of elasticity, and enlarged pores bother you together, we review collagen types or ECM types together.
How much recovery time you can take and how many sessions you can continue are also criteria for choosing. For skin with overlapping concerns, two types with different roles may be injected together on the same day or planned alternately at each session, and if you are also getting lifting or laser treatments, the order and intervals are decided during the consultation so that swelling and recovery do not overlap.
Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic
- Personalized Consultation
- Numbing Cream
- Disinfection
- Treatment
- Finishing Care
Rejuran Healer is performed after numbing cream; the procedure takes about 15 to 30 minutes, and you can return to daily activities right afterward. Generally, 3 sessions at intervals of 3–4 weeks are recommended, followed by maintenance treatments depending on your skin condition. For other products, the intervals are at least 3 sessions every 2–3 weeks for Rejuran HB+, at least 3 sessions every 4 weeks for Juvelook, 3 or more sessions every 2–4 weeks for Ultracol 100, and multiple sessions every 3–4 weeks for Juveacell 3%. Gouri takes about 20 minutes, with 3 sessions at 4-week intervals as the standard, and 1–2 maintenance sessions are sometimes added every 6 months to 1 year afterward.
View the Gouri Treatment Guide
Recovery and care after skin booster treatment
- You can wash your face and wear makeup 2–3 hours after treatment.
- Injection marks and bumpy marks (embossing) mostly settle within 1–3 days.
- For 3–7 days after treatment, avoid heavy drinking, smoking, saunas and jjimjilbang, hot baths, and strenuous exercise.
- Do not rub or massage the treated area hard, and moisturize and protect from the sun thoroughly.
Collagen-producing types need to go through a regeneration process, so rather than judging right after one treatment, progress is followed by continuing sessions at the right intervals. Hydrating types tend to give a sense of moisture relatively early, but they are absorbed over time, so it may help to also plan maintenance according to dry seasons or your skin condition.
Skin booster side effects and precautions
Common reactions are stinging pain at the injection sites, redness, embossing, swelling, and bruising. Embossing mostly settles within a few days, and bruising or swelling that occurs depending on skin condition mostly fades within 1–2 weeks. The degree of reaction and when you notice changes vary depending on the product and your skin.
Depending on the product, a small lump or nodule may be felt at the injection site, and in rare cases, infection, inflammation, or allergic reactions may occur. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an infection or inflammation in the treatment area, or have an underlying condition, you need to consult with the medical team 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 skin boosters?
If any of these apply, start with a skin diagnosis
- Even after applying moisturizer, my skin still feels tight underneath and my makeup often lifts.
- My skin is thin, so redness appears easily and recovery is slow.
- Fine lines and enlarged pores have both started to bother me.
- There are so many skin booster names that I haven't been able to decide which ingredient is right for me.
If two or more apply, it is a good idea to check whether your concern is hydration, regeneration, or elasticity before choosing a product name. 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 with skin boosters is to sort them by ingredient rather than product name, match them to your skin concerns, and continue sessions at the right intervals.
FAQ
Q. What is the difference between skin boosters and fillers?
A. Filler is a treatment that fills volume in sunken areas to create shape, while skin boosters are treatments injected shallowly in portions across the entire face to build up the skin's hydration, elasticity, and healing environment. The injection depth, amount, and purpose are different.
Q. When do skin booster effects appear?
A. With hydrating types, you may feel moisture within a few days, while with collagen-producing types, changes build up slowly over several weeks. The timing and degree vary depending on the product and your skin condition, so rather than judging after one session, progress is followed by continuing sessions.
Q. What type of skin booster is a water glow injection?
A. Water glow injection refers to a hydrating treatment in which hyaluronic acid is evenly injected into the shallow layer of the dermis to hold moisture. An automatic injector is sometimes used to inject at the same depth over a wide area, and the number of sessions is decided based on how dry your skin is.
Q. What type of skin booster is Gouri?
A. Gouri is a collagen-type skin booster made from PCL in a particle-free liquid form. The standard is 3 sessions at 4-week intervals, and since changes in elasticity from collagen regeneration take time, progress is monitored by continuing sessions.
Q. Can I get two kinds of skin boosters together?
A. If you have overlapping concerns, two types with different roles, such as a hydrating type and a collagen type, are sometimes planned together. Whether to inject them together on the same day or alternate at each session, as well as the dose and order of each, are decided during the consultation based on your skin condition.
Q. How can I find out the cost of skin boosters?
A. The cost depends on which product is used, the dose, and the number of sessions. We decide during the consultation the ingredient and dose suited to your skin concerns and how many sessions to plan before giving you the details, and you can also check the items for each product on our treatment information page.
This content is provided as general treatment information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a medical professional to decide whether and how to proceed with a treatment.