Most people are interested in health, beauty, or both. I’m always interested in discussing what I should eat, digestion issues and so on. But, I’m definitely set on maintaining a youthful, glowing face. It’s no secret that the two go hand in hand, and there’s no better person to discuss these topics with than a Korean traditional medicine doctor who specializes in dermatology and women’s health.
This article is a follow-up to an article I published in May 2017. I’ve always been interested in understanding how western and traditional Asian treatments differ, and I’m also very curious about traditional clinics which utilize modern skin treatments. To discover more, I revisited Dr. Yoon at his clinic located in Insa Dong, Seoul, along with my friend Lydia.
Disclaimer:
I received two treatments by Dr. Yoon free of charge. In exchange for my consultation and treatments, I would write about Dr. Yoon’s service and my treatment results. As someone who considers carefully what beauty treatments are worthwhile, I was very curious to see what Dr. Yoon deemed safe to bring into his regular practice.
Rejuvenating, Acne Scaring Treatment
A month before this visit, Dr. Yoon informed me that I had lots of tiny acne scaring. Now, I thought that I simply had large pores, but since I had gone through both teenage and adult acne, this news shouldn’t have caught me by surprise. We decided there and then that my next treatment would include some kind of acne resurfacing treatment that would diminish the scaring to give me more even, less porous looking skin.
When I asked Dr. Yoon which treatment he intended to use on my face, as a former esthetician with ongoing interest in innovative skin care treatments, I understood perfectly what he had in mind when he introduced me to the AMTS. I learned about this treatment two years earlier in Victoria Canada through a skin specialist.
The AMTS CRP – CELL machine works by injecting five pins simultaneously into the skin, puncturing the dermis (all skin layers) through to the blood supply beneath. The treatment works by creating new scars where the skin is punctured which replaces older acne scars. The result is that older, pock-marked or damaged skin tissue which may appear as “large pores,” become refined and smooth after several treatments.
Procedure:
First, I was asked to wash my face using a facewash provided. Next, I lay down, and a comforting warm pillow was placed on my stomach. This may have been to help relax me. Dr. Yoon then applied a face peel gommage which removed dead skin cells from the skin’s surface and after removing the gommage, applied a think layer of anesthetic gel to numb the skin surface. He added a sheet of transparent cellophane cling film over top, presumably to enhance the potency of the numbing agent.
After fifteen minutes, the anesthetic gel was removed and Dr. Yoon began the AMTS treatment. It felt a little like a staple gun would, i’d imagine. The hand piece was pressed against my face, particularly the areas which have lots of acne scaring, which in my case was my forehead and chin. The treatment was a little painful around the cheekbones and forehead as these areas don’t have much cushioning.
As the punctures penetrated to my blood supply, blood appeared on my face. The treatment was over in probably seven minutes. Blood was left on my face to act as a serum to nourish the skin, and a mask sheet of moisturizing essence was applied over top. Then Dr. Yoon painted a cooling face mask over top of the essence sheet, and I was left to relax for about twenty minutes to absorb these topical ingredients.
Time: approximately 1.5 hours
Note:
I’d recommend this treatment for people who can tolerate a little pain.
Patients have to use sunblock for a few weeks after the treatment to ensure that fresh regrowth skin cells are not prematurely damaged by UV rays.
You will be provided with a topical cream to apply. Don’t apply too much on your forehead or too close to your eyes otherwise it may seep into your eyes and bother you. That happened to me.
My skin is sensitive, and after the treatment, some areas on my face were red and sore, and I had bruises on my skin, particularly the less fleshy areas like my forehead and cheekbones. I actually avoided putting any make-up on the day after, and just to be extra safe, avoided the sunshine hours. Two days later, my daily routine returned to normal and I was using my make-up (with SPF UV protection) along with the topical cream provided.
Aftercare visit
I visited Dr. Yoon one week after the rejuvenation treatment. The aftercare treatment was to promote healthy cell production.
The procedure included applying several products to my face, including cooling creams, a gauze and then a mask. The treatment usually includes a herbal treatment, but this step was skipped in my case due to time constraints. The treatment was done by Dr. Yoon’s nurse, so unfortunately, due to communication barriers, I could not ask questions about the exact products applied to my skin.
Anti Aging Naturopathic Fillers for Frown Lines
Fillers essentially fill in creases including forehead frown as well as smile lines. Fillers are sometimes used an an alternative to botox in so much as they reduce sharp lines in the skin and plump out the skin. But botox, a paralysing agent used to prevent the muscles from contracting, is considered a toxin. As a result, some people avoid botox and similar brands because, when digested into the body, they are considered unhealthy.
The clinic I currently attend for laser hair removal treatments specializes in skin treatments, and this clinic (You&I) offers filler treatments. However, when attempting to research what exactly fillers are made from, I have found little information available in English within Korea. Thus, I really liked the idea of receiving fillers based on natural ingredients at Dr. Yoon’s clinic.
Different options were available with Dr. Yoon. Lydia asked for a filler treatment that was essentially vegan, and contained no animal byproduct. I had the treatment that did include animal byproduct.
Procedure
Dr. Yoon asked me to frown to locate exactly where the creases lie. He then injected into the appropriate areas between my brows. About five minutes and 5 injections later, the procedure was over. It was my second treatment, and the procedure went very smoothly. Lydia was more sensitive to the injection needle. She had recently undergone lots of facial acupuncture, and is prone to headaches, so Dr. Yoon abandoned treatment partway through as she found it stressful.
FINAL RESULTS
Rejuvenation treatment and aftercare results
Pros
My face has lost some of the more prominent pores particularly in the area around my chin where I tend to get hormonal breakouts monthly.
The tone of my skin seems to have changed a little. I tend to get red patches on my face, particularly around my nose and cheek area, but the treatment seems to have ‘evened’ my skin tone somewhat. Since my treatment, I have not felt obligated (as I usually do) to wear face foundation.
Cons
Firstly, I only had one treatment. My results were subtle, and to be honest, to see a real difference in notable removal of acne scar tissue and evening of skin tone, you need to have several treatments. Most clients book multiple treatments which work out cheaper as a package.
Also, the treatment itself may be considered expensive, however, Dr. Yoon explained that of all the laser skin resurfacing treatments currently available, the prices for his treatment are pretty standard. Each treatment is usually approximately 250,000 won ($250). He is currently offering this treatment at a reduced price for clientele who mention this article.
Finally, non-Koreans (or foreigners) are not as accustomed to needles as local Koreans. Acupuncture treatments are common here, but inserting something into the skin may be daunting to westerners. The rejuvenation treatment works by inserting several needles at once into the facial tissue, drawing blood. This treatment is not for the squeamish, however, Dr. Yoon knew exactly what he was doing. While it was a little painful, and my face was blotchy, bruised and sensitive for a few days afterwards, I definitely feel that the results made the treatment worthwhile.
Naturopathic Filler results
Pros
The treatment was very effective. The lines created from repeated muscle contraction between my brows are completely filled out. I’m very pleased with the overall result.
Filler treatments lasts up to a month before the body absorbs the filler ingredients.
You have the option to chose from fillers that contain animal product (deer antler) or vegan (only plant base). I used the non vegan filler which is popular among the Korean clients.
The fillers used at Dr. Yoon’s clinic give a youthful ‘glow’ to the skin as the product is absorbed into the blood stream.
Naturopathic fillers are made from natural ingredients. Unlike fillers received at western style clinics, naturopathic fillers are not dangerous once absorbed into the body.
Cons
Initially, because the lines between my brows are fairly deep, Dr. Yoon injected a substantial amount of filler, meaning that for the first few days, the injected area was raised, forming a slight bump under the skin. Several days later, as the filler began to disperse and be absorbed by my body, the bump disappeared.
The filler possibly affects the tear making glands, as I’ve noticed that my tears stung my eyes a little for a few days after the treatment.
Naturopathic fillers last up to four weeks. Fillers administered at western clinics linger in the area for three to four months. Thus, if you wish to consistently retain the effect of naturopathic fillers, you may find yourself getting retouch treatments fairly regularly. Dr. Yoon charges 55,000 won for the first treatment, and a touch up within three weeks is approximately 33,000 won for clients who mention this article. Consultations are free.
Would I repeat these treatments?
Rejuvenation treatment
Yes, although I have grown used to having ‘porus’ looking skin, Korean obsession with flawless skin has increased my expectations for acquiring the skin I’ve always wanted. I credit Korean skincare products with eliminating the adult acne I suffered from since the age of thirteen, so I feel that Koreans are definitely doing something right.
If I continue to have more treatments, my t-zone area (forehead, nose and chin) would be considerably smoother, and my face tone would have significantly reduced red patches.
Fillers
Yes, I would have this treatment again. I have already had it done twice. It essentially makes me look younger. For people worried about smile lines or vertical forehead lines, filler also works for these areas.
Dr. Yoon’s clinic
Dr. Sook-yoon Lee, Pibro Haniwon Skin Women Clinic, 26 Insa dong, 5 gil, Tel: 02-3667-1577
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3162.2574653296597!2d126.98264541531184!3d37.57255457979675!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x357ca2e83d2769d5%3A0xdf2e9e0b6f8deb86!2s26+Insadong+5-gil%2C+Jongno-gu%2C+Seoul%2C+South+Korea!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sca!4v1502784165917&w=600&h=450]
What treatments have you tried, and what was your experience?
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Hi Tawny, Thanks for leaving a comment on my Anti Aging Fillers (Korea) article. What exactly did you have in mind? Thanks for taking the time to reach out and leave a comment.
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Thanks for your comment, Deedee. Yes, there’s always lots to learn, and when you think you know everything, something new to learn appears!
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Awesome, thanks for your comment Julianne. I’m so glad you received value from this article. I still visit Dr. Yoon. I get filler and acupuncture treatments every few months.
SO fascinating! I for one have the smallest pain threshold so I always get deterred by anything that has to do with the picking and prodding of my face. I had no idea you could opt for vegan fillers as opposed one ones using animal byproducts. I have hyper pigmentation so whenever something scars on my face, it leaves a permanent mark. Excellent review, I honestly would seek out Dr. Yoon’s counsel if ever I decided to make my forray into the world of Korean beauty.
There are so many options, especially in beauty-obsessed Korea. I’m glad you found a doctor to be able to communicate with and to trust and a willing friend for moral support and to compare results. You are brave for sharing, thank you!
Great review! I love how you also included the cons. It’s fascinating how the technology in Korea is way advanced than other countries in Asia. I’m looking forward to read about more of your treatments.
Wow! I didn’t realize there were so many different alternative treatment styles to target skin issues. Personally, the needles would be difficult for me to deal with, but it’s awesome to see that you are exploring these methods and you know they work for you! This is an excellent article for anyone considering these styles of treatments in Korea.
Your post is so informative! I’m amazed at how you described your experience, even the pros and cons. I also admittedly find it a bit expensive, but I guess that’s not so uncommon with beauty treatments in Korea. I do hope that you can still feel the (slight) difference in the days to come!
Looks painful but I guess “no pain, no gain”! Good luck on your beauty journey! you are helping your readers see whether they go through with those treatments or not through your honest write-up.
Very interesting article Tasha! It is nice to read of an alternative to heavy layers of makeup to cover scars and discoloration. It sounds like, redness and hormonal acne-wise, our skin types are similar! Perhaps one day I’ll consider this as an option to even things out. It does sound a bit intimidating to someone who haaates needles though! Thanks for sharing your experience and being so honest about the results and the amount of pain, etc.!
It’s interesting reading of your experience of these kind of therapys abroad.
It’s great that you have found someone that you can communicate all of what you would like to have done and be able to have treatments outside of the UK or Canada.
You will have to let me know how the pore minimising goes. There are so many treatments out there that are for pore minimising, so I will be interested to see if yours worked..