HUMAN Dermatology - Skin Boosters in Songdo, Incheon | Songdo Human Dermatology

Botox (Botulinum Toxin) in Songdo, Incheon | Songdo Human Dermatology

Keywords: Botox Treatment in Songdo, Botulinum Toxin, Expression Lines, Frown Lines, Masseter Botox (Jawline Slimming)At Songdo Human Dermatology, many patients tell us they want to smooth their forehead and frown lines. What most people call "Botox" is technically a botulinum toxin injection. Once you understand how it works, it is easy to see which wrinkles it can actually help.How Does Botulinum Toxin Smooth Wrinkles?Botulinum toxin temporarily blocks the release of acetylcholine, the chemical messenger that tells muscles to contract, so the overactive muscles behind your facial expressions gently relax. This smooths the dynamic wrinkles (lines that appear when your face moves) that form as those muscles crease the skin over and over. The key point is that it works on wrinkles caused by muscle movement, while those caused by volume loss call for a different approach. The effect is not permanent — once muscle function returns after a few months, another injection is needed.Which Areas Can Be Treated?The most common areas are the expression lines of the upper face — frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines), horizontal forehead lines, and crow's feet around the eyes. Botulinum toxin is also used to slim the jawline by relaxing the masseter (the jaw muscle), to soften vertical neck bands, and to treat excessive underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis). Injection sites and doses vary by area and goal, so treatment should be planned by a specialist who knows facial muscle anatomy well.How Long Does It Last, and How Is It Done?The effect usually appears within days and lasts several months, then wears off gradually. For hyperhidrosis, the effect has been reported to last 4 to 5 months on average. Injections are given with a very fine needle (30 to 32 gauge). The procedure is quick, and most people get back to their normal routine soon afterward. Units are not interchangeable from one botulinum toxin product to another, so doses cannot be compared one-to-one — the right dose is determined at your consultation. Botulinum toxin is a prescription medication, so it must be prescribed and administered in a medical setting.Side Effects and PrecautionsThe treatment is generally safe when performed by a trained provider, and minor bruising or swelling at the injection site is common but usually clears up within a few days. If the toxin spreads to a nearby muscle after a frown-line injection, a drooping, heavy-feeling eyelid (ptosis) can occur; with an experienced injector the rate is low (under 2%), and it usually resolves on its own within 2 to 3 weeks. Overtreating the forehead muscle can lead to brow drooping, and some people get a headache after injections in the upper face. Be sure to tell us before treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a neuromuscular condition.Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. Will botulinum toxin make my face look frozen or unnatural?A. With the right dose for each area, you can keep your natural expressions. A stiff, frozen look comes from injecting too much, which is why we tailor the dose to your facial muscles.Q. How often do I need injections?A. The effect wears off as muscle function returns, and most people come back for a touch-up after a few months. Exactly how often varies by treatment area and by person, so we will suggest a schedule based on how your muscles respond.Q. Can botulinum toxin treat hollow cheeks or smile lines (nasolabial folds)?A. Botulinum toxin works on wrinkles caused by muscle movement. Lines and sagging that come from volume loss need a different treatment, so we start with a consultation to see which one is driving your concern before choosing an approach.Q. What side effects can Botox cause?A. Side effects mainly occur when the product spreads to a nearby muscle or when too much is injected, and can include eyelid drooping, unnatural expressions, asymmetry, bruising or itching at the injection site, and headache. Fortunately, most of these resolve on their own within 1 to 3 months.If expression lines are bothering you, schedule a consultation at our Songdo clinic so we can pin down what kind of wrinkle you are dealing with. Whether it is an expression line or a volume issue, we can decide on the right approach together.This content is general information about botulinum toxin treatment provided at Songdo Human Dermatology. Diagnosis and treatment are determined during an in-person examination, based on each patient's individual condition.

Nonsurgical Skin Tightening & Lifting in Songdo, Incheon | Songdo Human Dermatology

Keywords: Skin Tightening and Lifting in Songdo, Skin Elasticity, Radiofrequency, Ultrasound, CollagenAt Songdo Human Dermatology, patients often tell us their skin has started to sag and lose firmness. With nonsurgical lifting, understanding how it works — and where its limits are — goes a long way toward avoiding disappointment.Why Does Skin Lose Firmness and Sag?With age, collagen and elastin — the proteins that give skin its structure and elasticity — break down, and as the support from the fat and ligaments underneath weakens, the skin stretches and settles downward. Sun exposure accelerates the process, a phenomenon known as photoaging. Loss of firmness is therefore not just a surface problem; it is the combined result of changes across several layers.How Does Nonsurgical Lifting Work?Radiofrequency (RF) and focused ultrasound devices — high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and micro-focused ultrasound (MFU) — heat the dermis and the layers beneath it without damaging the surface of the skin (nonablative), contracting existing collagen right away and stimulating new collagen production over the following months. The heat also tightens the fibrous septa (the connective-tissue walls that divide the fat into compartments) beneath the skin, which adds to the firming effect. Because there are no incisions, downtime is minimal.Who Is a Good Candidate, and What Results Can You Expect?Nonsurgical tightening works best for people with mild-to-moderate skin laxity and no severe sagging — those in the early stages of losing elasticity, or those who want to get ahead of it before surgery becomes a consideration. Most patients who see a clear benefit are roughly 25 to 55 years old, though it can still be worth considering outside that range for anyone who would rather avoid surgery. The brow and forehead, midface, jawline, and neck tend to respond best. Clinical studies report roughly 18% to 30% improvement in laxity of the lower face, neck, and eye area — a visible change, though not on the scale of surgery. Treating the forehead, for example, typically lifts the brow by 1 to 2 mm over 60 to 90 days, and repeat sessions are usually needed to maintain the result. When the skin is severely lax, a nonsurgical approach can only do so much, and a facelift may be the better option — surgery remains the gold standard for correcting significant laxity.Side Effects and PrecautionsNonsurgical tightening is generally safe. Redness (erythema) and swelling can last from a few hours to a few days after treatment. As treatment protocols have moved away from very high-energy settings, burns and fat atrophy have become rare, and scarring or pigment changes are uncommon as well. That said, it helps to keep expectations realistic: more invasive approaches tend to deliver more visible results but come with more downtime and greater risk — which is why choosing the approach that fits your skin is the most important step.Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. Can nonsurgical lifting do as much as a facelift?A. Nonsurgical lifting aims for gradual, natural-looking improvement rather than a dramatic surgical change. HIFU and radiofrequency tighten the skin and improve mild sagging by stimulating new collagen production, but they cannot match a facelift, which repositions the deeper tissues and removes excess skin. For severe sagging, nonsurgical care alone can only do so much, and a facelift may be the better option. The right approach depends on how much sagging is present, so it is best determined at a consultation.Q. Will I see results after one session?A. Results usually build gradually rather than arriving all at once. With collagen-stimulating treatments such as HIFU, radiofrequency, and lasers, the change develops over two to six months. Depending on the area and your skin condition, several sessions may be needed.Q. What is a thread lift?A. A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure that lifts and anchors sagging tissue with dissolvable threads, and it is worth considering for mild laxity. The results may not last as long as those of a facelift, and severe sagging is beyond what threads can do, so candidacy is best assessed at a consultation.Q. How long do lifting results last?A. Lifting treatments produce some immediate tightening, and a fuller lifting effect develops over the next two to six months as new collagen forms. Both HIFU and radiofrequency work through this collagen remodeling process, and clinical studies report that results last roughly six months to two years. How long they last varies with your skin condition, age, and lifestyle, so we generally recommend maintenance sessions every six months to a year.Q. What are the options for treating facial wrinkles?A. The approach depends on the cause. Dynamic wrinkles formed by repeated facial expression respond well to botulinum toxin, which relaxes the muscles that create them, while static wrinkles from sagging and loss of elasticity respond better to collagen-stimulating treatments such as radiofrequency, ultrasound, or skin boosters. Ingredients such as retinoids can help as part of a daily skincare routine. In most cases the best results come from combining treatments once the cause has been identified.If sagging or loss of firmness is bothering you, the place to start is a consultation at our Songdo clinic to see how much laxity is present. From there we can decide together whether a nonsurgical or a surgical approach makes more sense for you.This content is general information about the skin tightening and lifting treatments provided at Songdo Human Dermatology. Diagnosis and treatment are determined during an in-person examination, based on each patient's individual condition.