Under eye wrinkle treatment Korean clinics offer: what a dermatologist picks

Which under eye wrinkle treatment Korean dermatologists recommend, and why it depends

Hello, I'm Dr. Hyo Seop Ryu, a board-certified dermatologist (M.D., Ph.D.) and Chief Director at WELLS Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul. Before WELLS I was a clinical instructor and assistant professor of dermatology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Patients often write to me looking for an under eye wrinkle treatment Korean clinics are known for, usually after creams and eye masks have stopped making a difference.

My direct answer: there is no single best option, because lines under the eye come from different causes. Thin skin that has lost collagen, dehydration, loosening of the eyelid and brow, and pigment that makes the area look darker all look like 'tired eyes' in the mirror. The treatment has to match the cause.

In this post I go back to what I said about collagen-stimulating injectables in a 2022 interview, and explain how we choose between injectables, skin boosters and eye lifting at WELLS today.

What I told Rapportian about collagen-stimulating injectables in 2022

In October 2022 I was quoted in Rapportian (라포르시안), a Korean medical news outlet, in an article on how to get more collagen regeneration from anti-aging treatment. It noted that from the thirties onward many people start looking at lasers, injections and threads, and that skin boosters were drawing interest for supporting collagen with relatively little downtime.

The article focused on Juvelook, an injectable that encourages the skin to make its own collagen rather than changing it with an outside material. It described Juvelook being used at the time for fine lines around the thin under-eye skin and for dark circles.

The article also stressed two safety points. The product is supplied as a powder and mixed with saline before injection, so you want a clinic that uses genuine product in the correct quantity. And it should be injected directly by a dermatologist who knows facial anatomy and can judge your degree of aging and skin condition.

How does WELLS use Juvelook today?

That interview is from 2022, so I want to be precise about today. On our site, Juvelook is described as PLA plus hyaluronic acid, KFDA-approved, and WELLS uses it to fill depressed acne scars immediately while stimulating collagen. You will find it on our acne scar and enlarged pore treatment page, and its price is confirmed at consultation.

If you are interested in it for the under-eye area, ask at consultation. I will look at the thickness of your skin, the type of lines and what is causing the shadow before suggesting it or something else. For more on the product, see our Juvelook Korea guide.

What else works for fine lines under the eyes?

Depending on the cause, I often reach for one of the treatments below first. Each works on a different layer.

Before choosing, I look at the under-eye area at rest and while you smile, check how thin the skin is, and see whether the lid and brow above it have dropped. I also ask what you have already tried, because a cream that did nothing tells me something too.

Dry, crepey skin and fine lines: a polynucleotide booster

Rejuran HB+ is a salmon-derived polynucleotide with hyaluronic acid and lidocaine. It adds elasticity in the epidermis and dermis, smooths fine lines and texture, and improves hydration. The lidocaine reduced post-injection pain by an average of 53% on the VAS scale compared with Rejuran Healer, which helps in a sensitive area like this. Four sessions at 2–3 week intervals are recommended.

Loosening eyelids and a dropping brow: eye lifting

When the lines come from skin that has started to hang, a booster will not lift it. Our 3X Upper Face Lifting combines Eye Thermage (450 shots) for thin eyelid skin, EMFACE (2 passes) for the muscles holding the brow, and Eye Ultherapy (50 shots) for the deeper layer around the brow, at ₩2,500,000 (VAT excluded). No incisions.

Lines that move when you smile

Expression lines behave differently from lines that are there at rest. My colleague explains the difference in moving versus resting wrinkles, which is worth reading before you decide.

Is it wrinkles, or is it a dark circle?

Many people searching for an under eye wrinkle treatment Korean clinics offer are really bothered by the shadow, not the lines. The two often appear together, but they are treated differently.

Some dark circles come from pigment, and pico laser toning can treat those, though not every dark circle: some come from blood vessels showing through thin skin, or from the shape of the area. Dr. Choi explains this in his Korean laser treatment article.

Getting this right saves money and time. A patient who treats pigment with an injectable, or loose lids with a booster, may spend a trip on something that was never going to change what they see in the mirror.

What recovery should you plan for around the eyes?

The 2022 article described collagen-stimulating injectables as having a quick return to daily life compared with lasers, with care around alcohol and smoking as with other injections. I still give that advice to patients after under-eye injections.

• Massage the area only as your dermatologist instructs, when instructed
• Go easy on alcohol and avoid smoking while the skin recovers
• Small marks at injection points are common with injectables and usually settle
• Tell us your flight dates so the dermatologist can advise on timing

Side effects are possible with any treatment, and individual results vary. Every treatment at WELLS starts with a dermatologist consultation.

Planning under-eye treatment at WELLS in Seoul

At WELLS, a board-certified dermatologist does the consultation, the diagnosis and the treatment, and every injection uses genuine products. We are on the 8th floor of the Apgujeong Building, five minutes from Apgujeong Station Exit 3, and consultations are available in English.

For a short trip, the order matters. Lifting and injectables can sometimes be done on the same visit and sometimes should be spaced, and a booster course is easier if you can come back. Send your dates first and the dermatologist will build the plan around them rather than the other way around.

You can read about my training on my doctor page. If you send a photo before you fly, we can talk through options so your time in Seoul goes to treatment rather than deciding.

Results and recovery vary by individual. Every treatment carries possible side effects, which are explained at the consultation. Prices are in Korean won, excluding 10% VAT, and confirmed at your consultation. This article is general information from the clinic, not a diagnosis.

Written by

Dr. Hyo Seop Ryu

Medical Director · M.D., Ph.D. · WELLS Clinic, Apgujeong

• Board-certified dermatologist, M.D., Ph.D.
• Clinical instructor, Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
• Assistant professor, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
• Visiting professor, Dubai Maris Clinic, through International St. Mary's Hospital
• Former chief director, Bundang Bon Dermatology Clinic

Full profile