Medical Aesthetic News

 Many women have carried concerns about nipple-areolar and vulvar pigmentation in silence — held back by the unfounded belief that darker intimate skin reflects sexual experience, or simply by the anxiety of undergoing a procedure in such a sensitive area. In reality, the darkening of these areas is primarily driven by natural fluctuations in female hormones, repeated mechanical irritation, and post-inflammatory pigmentation. As Brazilian waxing and laser hair removal have become more common, interest in tone improvement for these areas is growing rapidly, yet conventional options have come with limitations: ablative fractional CO₂ lasers carry considerable pain and downtime, while needle-based injection in sensitive areas presents a substantial psychological barrier. Dr. Yejin Choi, medical director of Lante OBGYN in Seoul, drew on her own firsthand experience receiving CureJet treatments at a dermatology clinic to bring this needle-free jet injector — which delivers skin boosters...

 On April 18, the HILO WAVE SYMPOSIUM, held under the slogan "Discover the New Wave" at the Cruise Ballroom of Ananti at Busan Cove, brought together physicians from the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam region to examine the academic and clinical potential of a dual-HA-based "regenerative biostimulator." The program highlighted the topic from multiple angles: two blinded comparative studies that suggested the possibility of reversing fibrotic changes, the "Highwave Technique" derived from cumulative clinical use of more than 1,000 cc, and a characterization of HILO WAVE's rheological profile. Against the backdrop of nodule concerns associated with polymer-based collagen stimulators, the rise of filler-averse patients, and other gaps that conventional materials struggle to fully address, the four speakers and the panel discussion offered a noteworthy proposal that HILO WAVE be understood as a new product category in its own right.  #MedicalAestheticNews #HIG...

 DEKA's microwave platform ONDA has established a leading presence in the South Korean aesthetic market. At the core of its differentiation lies an energy delivery mechanism fundamentally distinct from conventional radiofrequency — dielectric heating driven by 2.45 GHz microwave technology. In an online lecture at the 28th Spring Conference of the Association of Korean Dermatologists, Juhyuk Park, MD, Director of The Heal Dermatology Clinic, Sinsa, Seoul, explored why ONDA achieves uniform bulk heating, how it selectively acts on fibrous and adipose tissue, and how physicians can flexibly design treatments for tightening and fat reduction through treatment-depth configuration. At the lecture recording session, we spoke with Dr. Park about the mechanistic comparison with RF and HIFU, depth-specific treatment strategy, and device safety. #MedicalAestheticNews #DEKA #ONDA #TheHealDermatologyClinic #DrJuhyukPark ★ Article Link: https://www.medicalaestheticnews.com/news/articleView.html...

 When wrinkles, enlarged pores, loss of elasticity, and facial sagging begin to appear together, the first reaction is often, "Do I really have to address each of these separately?" Skin care is not a short-term project but a decades-long journey, which makes the choice of treatment — and how it builds over time — all the more important. Dr. Kyeongrok Choi of Cheongdam Hin Clinic in Seoul, Korea, who has refined his own clinical protocol over more than twelve years of working with a wide range of RF microneedling devices, offers a clear answer to this dilemma: "Improving the eyes alone does not improve the whole face." With VirtueRF's patented cooling system protecting the epidermis while energy reaches deeper tissue layers, the treatment now reaching beyond wrinkles, pores, and laxity into lifting, and a "Total Care" protocol grounded in the philosophy that "skin can be built like muscle" — Dr. Choi explains why RF microneedling has become t...

 Periorbital concerns rarely come alone. The under-eye can be hollow and dark while the upper eyelid feels heavy and droops — different origins, different tissue layers. That's why at Cheongdam Rancell Clinic, Dr. Hyeran Park combines Juvelook i and VIRTUE Eye in a single session: filling below with collagen, lifting above with RF. Juvelook i, the first step, uses 20 μm PDLLA particles that settle gently into the thin under-eye skin with reduced concern about nodules, gradually building collagen to brighten dark circles and improve skin thickness over time. Dr. Park reconstitutes a single vial to treat both eyes and uses a cannula to stay in the correct plane, minimizing bruising while allowing a subtle brightening effect to be appreciated from immediately after treatment. "What matters is not the immediate effect, but the steady, cumulative process," she explains. See her approach and hands-on technique in Part 1.  #MedicalAestheticNews #Vaim #JuvelookI #SHENB #VIRTUERF ...

 The skin booster landscape is expanding beyond injectable treatments to include topical formulations designed to act beyond the surface of the skin. As more patients seek visible skin improvement without the pain or downtime associated with injections, topical skin boosters are emerging as a compelling alternative. Among them, PRX-PLUS — an Italian-developed formulation containing ATCA (Ammonium Trichloroacetate) and HCA (Homocysteic Acid) — is drawing attention as a novel topical agent designed to deliver active ingredients to the dermal layer while minimizing surface irritation, helping induce visible improvements in skin quality through topical application alone. Dr. Byeonggon Choi of Doctors Dermatology Clinic, Gangbuk Mia Branch, explains that PRX-PLUS may be particularly well-suited for patients who are hesitant about injectable procedures, as well as for those experiencing reduced skin elasticity, dullness, and uneven tone. Dr. Choi shares the clinical insights he has gaine...

 One year with Ultherapy PRIME. One physician says the upgraded ultrasound imaging has given him greater confidence in targeting the intended tissue plane — and that this confidence has allowed him to design more precise, individualized protocols for each patient. Dr. Youngmin Cho of Cheongdam ANZ Dermatology Clinic, serving as a Merz Aesthetics Korea Clinical Advisor, drawing on one year of clinical experience with Ultherapy PRIME, discusses how he adapts the Korean Gold Standard Guideline in practice, how he adjusts the 4.5 mm to 3.0 mm ratio based on fascial depth, where the 1.5 mm transducer has the greatest clinical value in periorbital treatment rather than skin-quality indications, and what he still hopes to see improved in the platform — from the perspective of day-to-day clinical practice.  #MedicalAestheticNews #MerzAesthetics #UltherapyPRIME #DrYoungminCho #CheongdamANZDermatology ★ Article Link: https://www.medicalaestheticnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=11279...

 The biostimulator market is evolving rapidly, with formulation innovation setting new standards in clinical practice. Dexlevo's GOURI — the world's first fully liquid PCL biostimulator — was designed to address the structural limitations of particulate formulations, including the risk of nodules and vascular compromise. Since its international launch in 2021, no cases of unresolved nodules or granulomas have reportedly been documented in cannula-based procedures. Dr. Jimyung Seo of Galleria Dermatology, Gaepo-Dogok Branch, who has accumulated 80 to 100 cases over five months since adopting GOURI, says she has seen clinically meaningful tightening and volumizing outcomes even after a single session. From dilution protocols to EBD combination strategies and adverse event management, we explore the realities of GOURI in clinical practice.  #MedicalAestheticNews #Dexlevo #GOURI #GalleriaDermatologyGaepoDogok #DrJimyungSeo ★ Article Link: https://www.medicalaestheticnews.com/news/...

 Held on April 11 at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, Solta Medical Korea's Thermage FLX Roadshow brought together approximately 150 medical professionals for a frank, clinically grounded discussion on why Thermage continues to be chosen as the gold standard amid a crowded radiofrequency market. The Roadshow spotlighted a new preventive paradigm — "dermal prejuvenation" — that proactively addresses collagen depletion rather than merely tightening lax skin, while Live Voting data on differences in aesthetic goals across international patient groups reinforced the clinical case for hyper-personalized treatment design. Safety guidelines were also reemphasized, with particular attention to the mandatory use of an Eye Shield during Thermage Eye procedures. With a Korea-specific Thermage Delphi Consensus paper scheduled for publication this summer and efforts underway to expand MFDS-cleared indications, the next phase of Thermage in Seoul — now established as a global hub for medi...

 This is part two of our on-site coverage from the ASLS KOREA 2026 Spring Congress. The skin booster and drug delivery sections drew as much attention as the EBD halls. Active ingredients are diversifying rapidly — PCL, PDLLA, CaHA, HA, human acellular dermal matrix, exosomes, TCA — and so are the approaches, spanning injectable and topical formats, biostimulators and hydration- and regeneration-focused formulations. Yet across every booth, the first response from clinicians converged around a single question: "Is it really safe?" As ingredient options diversify, the demand for rigorous validation of nodule risk and adverse events is rising in parallel — a shift that was unmistakable on the exhibition floor. We visited skin booster and drug delivery company booths to report firsthand.  #MedicalAestheticNews #ASLSKOREA2026 #ASLS #VAIM #HIGHERCorporation #BAZBIOMEDIC #Curiosis #reH #Humedix #WiQo #DNCAesthetics #HuonsMeditech #Dexlevo #PrimorisInternational ★ Article Link: http...

 We reported from the exhibition floor at the ASLS KOREA 2026 Spring Congress. Held April 11–12 at COEX Magok, Seoul, this was the first time ASLS had hosted at the Magok venue — and the first spring meeting under ASLS's new twice-yearly format. With President Minho Lee openly addressing a cooling domestic market alongside rising overseas demand, a walk through the EBD booths made one thing clear: spec-driven competition is giving way to a broader focus on indications and workflow. Across monopolar RF, HIFU, and laser categories, companies were repositioning around broader indications and more efficient workflows. We visited EBD company booths on site to report firsthand on how the competitive landscape is shifting.  #MedicalAestheticNews #ASLSKOREA2026 #ASLS #LASEROPTEK #SHENB #VIOLMedical #DEKA #Candela #MerzAesthetics #LTRAGlobal #CynosureLutronic #ChungwooMedical #SoltaMedical ★ Article Link: https://www.medicalaestheticnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20026

 On April 8, Humedix held the inaugural Elravie Re2O Advisory Board Meeting (ABM) at the Andaz Seoul Gangnam, bringing together seven board-certified dermatologists. Convened to develop consensus-based treatment guidance for Elravie Re2O — one year after its rapid clinical uptake — the meeting laid the foundational framework for mixing and injection protocols under the guiding principle of "conservative, yet evidence-based." Dr. Seongmin Noh (Benjamin Clinic, Sinsa) highlighted the scaffold effect as Re2O's core differentiator, Dr. Jeyoung Park (Oracle Dermatology, Apgujeong) introduced the layer-specific approach concept, and Dr. Junho Shim (Benjamin Clinic, Myeongdong) outlined complication prevention strategies drawing on more than three decades of clinical experience with hADM. Three additional ABM sessions will follow to finalize site- and indication-specific protocols, leading to a large-scale symposium in October and the publication of a formal consensus paper.  #M...

 In Part 1, we explored DCLASSY's brand philosophy and portfolio. Here's Part 2, where we sat down again with Junghee Kim, Head of the Aesthetics Business Division, to discuss the clinical significance of the revamped products and the company's education strategy. "We are developing standardized combination treatment protocols together with KOL practitioners and bringing them into clinical practice through our proprietary education brand, DEEP," Kim explained. The company is also accelerating its global expansion, currently selling in 30 countries with a goal of reaching 50 countries next year, while directly managing marketing operations in Indonesia. "We aim to be a growth partner for practitioners, not just a sales company," said Kim. "We hope to be remembered as a company that collaborates across all areas—from R&D to clinical practice to education—to find solutions together."  #MedicalAestheticNews #DNCAesthetics #DCLASSY ★ Article Lin...

 Dr. Sangyub Kim of JF Cell Dermatology Clinic continues his WiQo Toning hands-on with the second half of his treatment protocol. After securing a photomechanical effect with higher-energy delivery in Coolshot mode, he layers on a photothermal component using 3,000 to 5,000 shots in Flex mode — demonstrating his two-step approach in real time. He also shows how to use EP-2 mode and smaller spot sizes for areas with denser residual pigment and small lentigo-like lesions. The video then moves to the PRX-PLUS (marketed as WiQo Uno in Korea) application process, where Dr. Kim shares his clinical experience of shortening conventional 10-session toning programs to five sessions in selected cases, along with the patient feedback that supported this shift. He also looks beyond pigmentation, noting that ATCA may help engage fibroblasts and support ECM remodeling — suggesting potential for combination with lifting devices as well.  #MedicalAestheticNews #WiQoToning #BluecoreCompany #Cur...

 For many aesthetic patients, fractional laser treatments bring back memories of "great results, but too much pain and too much downtime to ever do again." Crusting, adhesive dressings, and more than a week of staying indoors — those experiences still linger. Recently, however, as the skin booster trend continues to grow, non-ablative fractional lasers are drawing renewed attention as a compelling combination option — offering enhanced efficacy with significantly reduced downtime. We sat down with Dr. Seongoo Lee of Alive Dermatology Clinic (Cheonan-Asan), who uses a dual-wavelength device featuring 1550 nm and 1940 nm that addresses pores, scars, pigmentation, and skin texture, all while allowing patients to wear makeup the very next day. We asked how each wavelength targets different skin concerns, what kind of synergy it creates when paired with skin boosters, and why he says it ranks No. 1 in patient satisfaction at his clinic.  #MedicalAestheticNews #Candela #NordlysMini...

 As the monopolar RF market becomes increasingly crowded with devices based on similar principles, Dr. Seulki Lee of Yes Dermatology, Yeongjong Island, chose SHENB's combined monopolar–bipolar RF system SUNNY as her primary device. After first encountering it at a conference in Busan and requesting a hands-on demonstration, what caught her attention was the Quasar tip's IMCT technology — 25 electrodes that independently conform to curved surfaces to reduce energy concentration — and the dual-handpiece structure combining the 6.78 MHz Sunny handpiece with the 1 and 2 MHz Pulsar handpiece, enabling thermal column formation across multiple dermal depths. From her full-face protocol of 300–400 shots with the Face tip and 200–300 shots with the Quasar tip, to her monopolar-to-bipolar ratio strategy, HIFU combination approach, and the treatment philosophy that "real-time adaptation to patient response matters more than fixed parameters" — we spoke with Dr. Lee about her pra...

 "For both laser toning and pigment treatment, the 785nm DOE mode alone is enough." Dr. Jung Min of REDI Dermatology has a straightforward approach to HELIOS 785 PICO. Though the platform combines nanosecond-mode 1064nm and 532nm with a picosecond-mode 785nm wavelength, he says the 785nm wavelength alone now covers most pigment-focused cases in his daily practice. At the LEAD Symposium in January, Dr. Min presented "Why I Recommend HELIOS 785 PICO." We spoke with him about his single-wavelength workflow, how the 250mJ output upgrade has changed his clinical routine, and his candid take on cost-effectiveness versus imported devices.  #MedicalAestheticNews #LASEROPTEK #HELIOS785PICO #DrJungMin #REDIDermatology ★ Article Link: https://www.aestheticnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=11287

 Dr. Sangyub Kim of JF Cell Dermatology Clinic presents a hands-on video demonstrating 'WiQo Toning' — a combination protocol pairing Bluecore Company's Q-switched Nd:YAG laser CureMax with PRX-PLUS (marketed as WiQo Uno in Asia). He walks through a full pigmentation treatment on a patient in the mid-fifties, showing how Coolshot mode's contact cooling allows higher-energy delivery than conventional laser toning while protecting the skin through contact cooling. When PRX-PLUS is added to the protocol, its key ingredient homocysteic acid (HCA) is described as helping promote melanin transfer from melanocytes into keratinocytes, where the toning laser can then clear it — a complementary mechanism that may help break through the treatment plateau typically seen around the sixth or seventh session. From EP Modulation pulse-splitting principles to high-energy setting techniques, this video covers the practical details.  #MedicalAestheticNews #WiQoToning #BluecoreCompany #Cur...

 Collagen-stimulating biostimulators are gaining popularity — but if you have ever hesitated over the question "what happens if nodules form?", you are not alone. Skincare is a long game, not a quick fix. When you are committing to treatments you may repeat for years or even decades, knowing that any issue can be reversed matters just as much as the results themselves. Dr. Changhwan Cho of Dongan Joongsim Clinic — one of the most experienced practitioners of a dual HA biostimulator — puts it simply: "Better treatments will come along. But don't ruin your skin in the meantime." A treatment that builds your skin's foundation from within, with the reassurance of reversibility if needed — we asked Dr. Cho why an HA biostimulator may be a compelling starting point for anyone thinking long-term about their skin.  #MedicalAestheticNews #HIGHERCorporation #HILOWAVE #DonganJoongsimClinic #DrChanghwanCho ★ Article Link: https://www.aestheticnews.co.kr/news/articleView...

 In a medical aesthetic market flooded with new devices, committing to one platform for seven years speaks to clinical conviction. The Top Rankers series takes an in-depth look at practitioners with that level of commitment. This edition features Dr. Sangsoo Lee of Mirabel Clinic, named Top Ranker for LTRA GLOBAL's Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, BRIGHTONE. "Aggressive laser treatment is not the answer for melasma." "Laser treatments making skin more sensitive? That's not entirely wrong." "Never treat pigment the same way every session." We sat down with Dr. Lee to explore the real-world clinical insight behind seven years with one device.  #MedicalAestheticNews #LTRAGLOBAL #MIIN #BRIGHTONE #MirabelClinic #DrSangsooLee ★ Article Link: https://www.aestheticnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=11331

 In non-surgical lifting, one question comes up again and again: why do results differ so much from person to person, even with the same treatment? The answer lies in individual anatomy — skin thickness, the depth of the lifting layer, and fat distribution all vary from person to person. Even with identical equipment and the same number of shots, results depend on whether the energy reaches the right layer beneath the skin. Ultherapy PRIME addresses exactly this — reading each patient's skin structure in real time with ultrasound and designing a treatment accordingly. As interest grows in this hyper-personalized approach to lifting, we sat down with Dr. Youngmin Cho of Cheongdam ANZ Dermatology Clinic. From pre-treatment facial mapping and transducer selection based on skin depth, to shot distribution tailored to each patient's primary concern, how discomfort is managed, differences in approach between male and female patients, and what first-timers should look for when choosin...

 We were on site at the 28th Spring Meeting of the Association of Korean Dermatologists. Held on March 29 at the Swiss Grand Hotel in Seoul, the conference brought together dermatology specialists from across Korea for a practice-ready program featuring CME-accredited sessions, high-definition procedural video sessions, and lectures on complication prevention. This year also saw the launch of the inaugural Practice Management Exhibition, bridging clinical education and practice operations. Safety took center stage throughout the academic sessions — from the anatomical basis of botulinum toxin injection in facial muscles to post-filler ophthalmic complications and biostimulator nodule prevention. We also toured the exhibition floor. Across both medical aesthetic devices and injectables, "combination" and "safety" were the defining themes. Multi-wavelength and dual-frequency platforms are gaining ground beyond single-modality treatments, while differences in safety pr...