Gel, Depth and Technique at a Hongdae Skin Clinic

Prices below come from the listed clinics' own price lists, before VAT. 10% VAT is added at payment.

Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane by Galderma or Juvederm by Allergan come in a range of gel firmness and particle size. Firmer gels hold shape and are placed deep, close to bone, to support the chin or cheek. Softer gels spread more easily and suit areas that move a lot, such as the lips, or thin skin where a lump would show.

Clinics near Hongik University often see first-time requests for lips, chin and the folds beside the nose. Asking which gel is planned for each area, and why, shows whether the plan fits your face or one product on the shelf.

Doctors describe filler placement with a few standard terms, and knowing them makes a quick explanation easier to follow.

• Serial puncture: small deposits placed point by point along a line or fold.
• Linear threading: the needle is inserted fully and the gel laid down as it is withdrawn.
• Fanning: several threads spread out from one entry point, used to cover a wider patch.
• Cross-hatching: threads laid in a grid for broader, even support.
• Cannula: a blunt-tipped tube used through a small entry hole, often chosen for larger areas; a needle gives finer control in small spots.

Rohrich, Ghavami and Crosby, writing in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2007, reviewed their experience with Restylane at a university plastic surgery department. They listed the parts of a good result: a careful look at facial anatomy, changing or combining fillers by particle size, adjusting injection depth, varying technique, and adding botulinum toxin type A when it fits.

The review noted that hyaluronic acid fillers do not need a skin allergy test before injection, unlike older collagen fillers, and that their results are long-lasting but not permanent. Rohrich and colleagues also reported that combining filler with botulinum toxin type A could extend the effect and its longevity by as much as 50 percent. It is an experience-based review from one center, so read it as a guide to planning, not a promise for your face.

Lines that appear only when you move, such as frown lines or crow's feet, come mainly from muscle action. Folds and hollows that are visible at rest come more from lost volume. Filler addresses the second group, while botulinum toxin (Botox) relaxes the muscles behind the first.

On a short stay, doing both on one day is common. Toxin takes several days to start working and about two weeks to settle, so its effect will usually show after you have left. Ask for a written note of which product went where.

These checks take minutes and prevent the common regret of a product you cannot name later.

• Which product and gel type is used in each area, and can you see the sealed box?
• How many cc or syringes go into each area?
• Needle or cannula, and why for this area?
• Is hyaluronidase, the enzyme that dissolves HA filler, kept on site?
• What swelling and bruising should you expect before your flight or any photos?
• Who should postpone: anyone pregnant or breastfeeding, or with an active cold sore, infection or irritated skin over the area.