Okay, so years ago, I suffered from Adult on-set cystic acne. Like the kind you see in a textbook. It was horrendous & left deep, crater scarring.

I’ve received microdermabrasion treatments, chemical peels and spent a fortune on “miracle” serums… 5 years after Accutane and I still have severe scarring.

It just hasn’t felt like my skin since it happened…acne stole my best skin years from me in my early 20s. I had researched in the states, but luckily, in Korea, a lot of the treatments I was considering are a lot less expensive. So, I took the plunge! I have finished my second (of five) extensive skincare treatments and I’d like to go a little in-depth of what I’m getting:

First, when I go in for my appointments, they apply numbing cream for about 30-45 minutes and then proceed with the following:

INTRAcel™

AKA fractional radio frequency or RF micro-needling. The machine uses micro-needles that are insulated except for 0.3 mm at the end of the tips where it emits the RF energy. AKA I GET PAINFUL STAPLES IN MY FACE. It literally feels like a stapler on my face and they do it twice targeting different levels of the epidermis.

Benefits: General tightening, textural improvement, enlarged pores, acne scars and wrinkles. The punctures help to stimulate the skin’s healing response, leading to the release of growth factors and the stimulation of collagen production.

Pain: 100/10… worse pain I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. Ears ringing, eyes watering, the whole 9. The second time was better than the first, but because I anticipated the crazy pain.

Fraxel®

I looked into Fraxel many times in the states, but treatment can costs up to $1500 per treatment and dermatologists recommended me for FIVE treatments… the total costs here for five treatments is less than one treatment in the states! What is it though? Fraxel is a type of non-invasive laser treatment.

Benefits: Improves the skin’s texture, tone and clarity by encouraging it to repair itself. It’s used to treat pigmentation, discoloration, freckles, sun spots, age spots, uneven skin tone and you guessed it: acne scarring. 

Pain: 7/10. The treatment itself was much less painful than Intracel, and felt like a quick harsh burn, but the machine has a cooling fan which provides pretty instant relief.

Rejuran Healer

After Intacel and Fraxel, the doctor then literally injects allllll over my face (I’m talking like 30 of your annual flu shot but to my face…) with a skin rejuvenation treatment, made of biological molecules called Polynucleotide, which are derived of salmon DNA. This treatment is more popular in Asia, specifically made popular by South Korea and China, and to my knowledge, is not that huge in the US.  What Intracel and Fraxel are taking away, Rejuran Healer gives me back of what it took, but better because it’s anti-inflammatory properties help with skin healing, regeneration and renewal.

Benefits: skin tightening, elasticity, texture and tone

Pain: 9/10. Honestly, if you just got this and nothing else, probably 6/10, but after my face takes a literal beating… I was holding my breath until he was done!

Cryotherapy

Here is the difference between the United States and South Korea. After you’re done with the treatments now that your skins all hot and inflamed, South Koreans use cryotherapy whereas most places in the US just use an ice pack.

Benefits: Generally clearer skin, tighter pores toxin removal, promotes collagen production and this production helps the skin stay tight and even.

Pain: 0/10. Feels so soothing! Exactly what you need to calm your skin down instantly.

After this, they give me a sheet mask and I relax for a few minutes. Favorite part of the appointment!

One week later, I go for a follow up. There, I receive a little more:

MGF “Injection”

This is a skin repairing product that they keep telling me is serum, but I feel like they’re giving me more painful injections… so who knows. After that, they use something that smells very acidic to burn off the peeling skin from the previous week and then use cryotherapy again to sooth.

Benefits: Skin regenerating and healing product after aesthetic treatments, eliminates fine lines and wrinkles and prevents moisture loss and environmental damages.

Pain: 4/10-Honestly, this isn’t pain free! I’m not sure what kind of “serum” pricks your skin multiple times…so I call BS. It’s an injection. The acid hurts too, but they put an ice cold sheet mask on my face so it don’t really feel the burning as much.

Summary

Overall, yes, it is SO painful, but I have been seeing improvements. You can have your opinions about aesthetic treatments, but this is something that’s bothered me for a while. My skin hasn’t felt like my skin in years. J has been sweet and supportive in all this and he tells me: “God didn’t make you with those scars.” Thank you all for reading! If you have any more specific questions, feel free to reach out!