Skin boosters in Korea: which one first? Rejuran, Juvelook, salmon PDRN and Water-tox compared
Quick answer: Skin boosters deliver ingredients such as salmon DNA (PN), PDLLA or PDRN directly into the skin to refine texture, fine lines and firmness, usually as a three-session course. Injection marks stay for 1 to 3 days. At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, a salmon PDRN injection 2cc starts at KRW 85,000, and the needle-free Water-tox is KRW 100,000 (September 2026, VAT excluded).
How are skin boosters different from filler and lasers?
Skin boosters change the condition of your skin, not the shape of your face. Split treatments into three groups and there is little room for confusion.
- Filler: adds volume. Nose, chin, cheeks, smile lines.
- Lasers and radiofrequency: tighten and lift with heat. Thermage and HIFU belong here.
- Skin boosters: put repair and hydration ingredients straight into the dermis. They smooth texture, soften fine lines and help skin hold water.
So who are they for? People whose volume is fine but whose skin looks worn out. Rough texture, makeup falling apart by lunchtime, a tight feeling that stays even after moisturiser. If your concern is "my face has dropped", on the other hand, a booster is not the first step.
Which skin boosters does Repic offer?
There are three injectables, each with a different main ingredient and role.
- Rejuran Healer (PN, salmon DNA): the repair option. Polynucleotides support the skin's own recovery; used for texture, firmness and fine lines under the eyes. The standard course is 3 sessions, 2 to 4 weeks apart.
- Juvelook Skin (PDLLA): the option that gets your skin to make its own collagen. Less instant glow, more firmness that builds over time.
- Salmon injection (PDRN): the easiest place to start. Also from the salmon DNA family, and priced low, so many first-timers pick it.
Is Water-tox an injection?
No. No needle goes in at all. Because of the name, many people assume it is a kind of botox, but Water-tox is a PHA peel. It uses polyhydroxy acid, a gentle exfoliating ingredient, to clear surface dead skin and then replenish hydration. It does not change the deeper skin. Think of it as care that lifts how your skin looks tonight.
If you have a free afternoon and plans that evening, I recommend this over an injection. The price, KRW 100,000 or KRW 150,000 for the premium version, matches that role.
Which skin booster should I start with? How much downtime is there?
Pick by your concern. At consultations I start by asking what bothers you; a treatment your friend had is not a useful guide. Injectables leave marks for 1 to 3 days, and Water-tox leaves almost none.
| As of September 2026 | Main ingredient | For | Sessions | Downtime | Price (KRW, VAT excluded) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rejuran Healer | PN (salmon DNA) | Texture, under-eye fine lines, firmness | 3 sessions, 2 to 4 weeks apart | Bumps for 1 to 3 days | 2cc 250,000 |
| Juvelook Skin | PDLLA | Firmness, pores, density | Based on 3 sessions | Bumps for 1 to 3 days | 4cc 400,000 |
| Salmon injection (PDRN) | PDRN | First booster, calming | Repeated in short courses | 1 to 3 days | 2cc 85,000 |
| Water-tox (PHA peel) | PHA + hydration, no needle | Dullness, flaking, same-day glow | 1 session, repeatable | Almost none | 100,000 / premium 150,000 |
After injections you get a small bump at each point, and sometimes redness or bruising. These are usually temporary. The bumps settle as the product spreads, and bruises fade with time. The low-downtime option is a peel, not an injection. Injections are done with numbing cream, and if needles make you anxious you can add the sedation (sleep) option separately.
What I say most often in the consultation room: you do not need everything on this list. One well-chosen booster, plus a lifting device if needed, gives a better result than stacking them all.
How much do skin boosters cost in Gangnam? (September 2026)
Prices are from Repic Gangnam's September 2026 price list and exclude 10% VAT, which is added at payment. The same prices apply to Korean and international patients; the tax-refund scheme for cosmetic procedures is no longer available in Korea. Pricing depends on area and dose, and you get an exact quote after assessment.
- Rejuran Healer 2cc: KRW 250,000
- Juvelook Skin 4cc: KRW 400,000 (3 sessions KRW 1,050,000)
- Salmon injection (PDRN) 2cc: KRW 85,000
- Water-tox (PHA peel): KRW 100,000 / premium KRW 150,000
Some products split into more items, such as Rejuran Healer HB, Eye Rejuran and Juvelook Volume, so check the full list on our price page. The consultation fee is fully deducted if you are treated the same day.
How we do it at Repic
We start by measuring. Mark-Vu photographs pores, pigment, redness, oil and hydration on the surface, and the doctor examines firmness and texture in person. Once that is done, the choice is usually clear. Firmness problems point to the collagen option, texture problems to PN, and if tonight is what matters, the peel. The doctor treats you personally and puts together home care to protect the result.
Related reading
- Skin botox: does it really help pores and oil?
- Wedding skin treatments: when to start
- Thermage FLX cost in Gangnam
Consultations and booking: Repic Clinic, B1 & 2F, 318 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Yeoksam-dong, TOWER837) · +82-2-6952-0312 · English-speaking staff on site · Book online
This is general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.
Related treatments
Frequently asked questions
Which skin booster should I get first?
- Start from your concern. For firmness and pores, Juvelook (PDLLA). For texture and fine lines under the eyes, Rejuran (PN). For a gentle first try, the salmon PDRN injection. For a same-day glow with no needle, Water-tox. At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, the choice is confirmed after a skin assessment.
Do skin boosters actually work?
- They help when the problem is skin condition: texture, hydration, fine lines and firmness. They do not transform your skin overnight. Improvement builds gently over about three sessions, so expecting a one-day change leads to disappointment. If volume loss or sagging is the issue, filler or a lifting device comes first, as Repic Clinic in Gangnam will advise.
Is Water-tox a skin booster injection?
- No. Water-tox is a PHA peel combined with hydration care, and no needle is used. It clears surface dead skin and boosts hydration for a while, but it does not regenerate the deeper skin the way injected PN or PDLLA do. At Repic Clinic in Gangnam it costs KRW 100,000, or KRW 150,000 for the premium version.
Do skin booster injections hurt?
- Numbing cream goes on first, and most people describe it as stinging or pressure rather than pain. If needles really bother you, you can add the sedation (sleep) option separately at Repic Clinic in Gangnam. Water-tox has no needle; expect only a light tingle while the acid is on the skin.
How many skin booster sessions do I need?
- For injectables, the standard course is 3 sessions spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart (4 weeks or more for Juvelook), with maintenance timed to how well your skin holds up. Water-tox is a single session, repeated as needed. The exact number depends on the ingredient and your skin, and Repic Clinic in Gangnam confirms it after assessment.
How long does swelling last after skin boosters?
- Expect a small bump at each injection point, possibly with redness or light bruising, usually settling in 1 to 3 days as the product finds its place. If you have an event or a flight with photos coming, leave a few days after injectables. If you need to look good today, Water-tox is the better pick at Repic Clinic.
What is the difference between Juvelook and Rejuran?
- Juvelook uses PDLLA to prompt your skin to make its own collagen, so it suits firmness and pores. Rejuran uses salmon DNA (PN) to support repair, so it suits texture and fine lines. The two are sometimes used in one plan, and Repic Clinic in Gangnam sets the order and combination at consultation.
