Korean Anti Aging Facial: Treating Surface and Deep Aging Differently

What does a Korean anti aging facial actually treat?

Hello, I'm Dr. Hyo Seop Ryu, a board-certified dermatologist (M.D., Ph.D.) and Chief Director at WELLS Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul. I was previously an assistant professor at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. This article is based on my YouTube video from December 2025 above, on treatments that slow skin aging; translated captions are available on YouTube.

Patients often ask me for a Korean anti aging facial as if it were one treatment. My answer is that skin ages in two different ways, and each needs its own treatment: the surface gets rougher with fine lines, while the deeper layers lose firmness and volume. A good plan names which one you are dealing with first.

Skin is the largest organ in the body and the one most exposed to the outside world, so it shows age earlier than anything else. The body ages in four broad ways: the skin, the hair, a loss of muscle and a gain in body fat. Below I go through the two kinds of skin aging, what we use for each, and how they fit together.

Surface aging or deep aging: which one is changing your face?

Surface aging is what you notice up close: rougher texture, fine lines, larger pores and spots. It is visible, but it is usually not what makes a face look older from across the room.

Deep aging matters more. As the skin loses elasticity, it hollows and sags, so you see more of a double chin and heavier jowls, while the middle of the face loses volume. The lower face gets heavier and the mid-face gets flatter at the same time, which is why a single treatment rarely covers both.

Treatment works best alongside habits that slow aging in the first place. I tell patients to keep away from alcohol and smoking, protect against UV every day, eat well, including enough vitamins, and stay positive. These help the body as a whole, not only the skin.

Which treatments improve surface aging?

For fine lines and pores, fractional lasers and microneedle radiofrequency work on the skin's own renewal. At WELLS we use Genius RF microneedling, which delivers energy at the depth where collagen is made, for elasticity and enlarged pores.

For spots and sun-related pigment, a pigment-specific laser such as a picosecond laser is the right tool. Clearing that pigment is often what makes skin look fresher, even before anything is lifted.

• Rough texture, fine lines, pores: fractional laser or microneedle RF
• Spots and sun damage: a pigment laser, such as PicoSure Pro
• Dry, tired-looking skin: a skin booster such as Rejuran

How is deep aging lifted and refilled in a Korean anti aging plan?

Sagging areas need to be lifted, and empty areas need to be filled. They are two separate jobs.

For lifting, Ultherapy works well, and a wrinkle-relaxing injection can reduce bulk in the lower face so the contour looks lifted. At WELLS the lifting option I recommend most for a heavy jawline is Ultherapy Prime FIT: FIT 400 is ₩1,925,000 and FIT 500 is ₩2,409,000 (VAT excluded), and the dermatologist chooses between them at consultation.

For a flat mid-face, volume has to come back. Filler gives an immediate change, while collagen-stimulating injectables such as Sculptra rebuild volume gradually, the way a cushion fills out. Newer collagen boosters, and the long-standing skin booster Rejuran, either deliver collagen or help the skin make its own while supporting hydration.

Why combine treatments instead of choosing one?

Because each one works on a different layer. Regular skin boosters support hydration and collagen; Sculptra prompts the body to build its own collagen; Thermage and Ultherapy work on firmness and lift. Put together, they keep skin looking younger for longer than any single session.

• A board-certified dermatologist plans and performs your treatment in person.
• Genuine Ultherapy and Thermage tips, with a ten-times refund if one is ever found not to be genuine.
• No deep sedation: Air NOX keeps you awake and comfortable.
• In Apgujeong since 2008, with consultations available in English.

If your main concern is lines rather than sagging, Dr. Choi's article on Korean anti aging explains how collagen-focused Thermage MAX works.

How do you plan an anti aging facial in Seoul around a trip?

Start by telling us which change bothers you most. Send a photo, your concerns and your travel dates on WhatsApp, and we reply in English with options; a dermatologist confirms the plan and price at the clinic.

We cannot stop aging completely, any more than exercise and diet stop the body from aging. But skin responds well to care, and with healthy habits it can stay in good condition for a long time. WELLS is on the 8th floor of the Apgujeong Building, about five minutes on foot from Apgujeong Station (Line 3), Exit 3. Results vary, and the right plan is decided in consultation with your dermatologist.

This article explains general medical information from the video. It is not a diagnosis; results vary by person and are decided in consultation.