Some patients undergo five or even ten sessions of treatments like Potenza, ResurFX, or Pico Fraxel and still see very little improvement in their deep acne scars.

That doesn’t necessarily mean these treatments are ineffective. RF microneedling and non-ablative fractional lasers can help improve pores, oil production, redness, overall skin texture, and mild scarring. However, they may not be enough as the main treatment for deep, depressed acne scars.

Deep acne scars are structural. Boxcar, rolling, and ice-pick scars have different shapes, widths, and depths—and many people have a combination of them on the same face. A broad, shallow depression shouldn’t be treated in exactly the same way as a narrow, deep scar.

For deeper scarring, ablative treatments such as Er:YAG, fractional CO₂, CPG, or customizable systems like UltraClear may be considered. Some are better for smoothing surface irregularities, while others can reach deeper layers or treat wider, resistant boxcar scars.

Treatments like Mirajet may also be used as part of a combination approach. It can deliver regenerative ingredients into the skin while creating mechanical stimulation that may help support the scar from below and improve overall skin recovery.

But this doesn’t mean every deep scar should simply be treated with the highest possible energy.

The treatment depth, beam size, density, treatment area, skin type, and aftercare all need to be carefully adjusted. Stronger treatments usually require more recovery, and supportive treatments may be needed between sessions to manage redness, dryness, and sensitivity.

The main point is that severe acne scars often cannot be treated effectively by repeating one low-downtime treatment over and over again. Although each gentle session may involve less recovery, the overall treatment process can become longer without producing the improvement the patient expected.

The machine matters—but the treatment plan, settings, combination of techniques, and experience of the person performing the procedure matter even more.

Before starting another acne-scar treatment package, consider asking:

• What types of acne scars do I have?
• Is this treatment intended to improve the scars themselves or mainly my overall skin texture?
• Why is this treatment depth appropriate for my scars?
• What level of downtime and aftercare should I realistically expect?

Have you ever completed several acne-scar treatments without seeing much improvement?

Under-eye hollowness can make dark circles more noticeable and leave you looking tired. However, this area isn’t easy to treat.

Hyaluronic acid filler is one option, but it may look unnatural when under-eye elasticity is reduced. Rejuran can improve elasticity and help prevent further hollowness, but it doesn’t provide volume.

Juvelook Volume can indirectly improve under-eye hollowness by restoring volume in the front cheeks. However, injecting it directly under the eyes may carry a high risk of nodules.

For suitable patients, we use regular Juvelook—not Juvelook Volume—with less dilution to create natural-looking volume while improving elasticity. It may also be suitable for patients who cannot receive filler due to reduced under-eye elasticity.

However, results vary, appear gradually, and depend heavily on the product mixture, dosage, injection depth, and technique. Radiofrequency treatments such as Eye Density or Eye Oligio may also be combined when reduced elasticity is present.

Have you tried any treatments for under-eye hollowness? What was your experience like?

If you've been researching non-surgical skin tightening, you've probably come across Thermage. It's one of the longest-standing radiofrequency (RF) treatments in dermatology—but what exactly does it do?

How does Thermage work?

Thermage is a monopolar radiofrequency (RF) treatment. It works by delivering controlled heat into the deeper layers of the skin while continuously cooling the surface to help protect the epidermis.

The heat causes microscopic, controlled thermal injury. Rather than being harmful, this controlled injury triggers the skin's natural wound-healing response, encouraging new collagen production over the following months.

What improvements should you realistically expect?

Thermage isn't designed to dramatically change your face overnight.

Instead, its goal is gradual improvement in:

• Skin firmness
• Fine lines
• Skin elasticity
• Overall skin quality

Most patients begin noticing changes gradually, with improvements continuing as new collagen forms.

Why collagen matters

Collagen makes up the majority of the skin's structural support.

As we age, collagen production naturally declines each year. The skin gradually becomes thinner, loses elasticity, and fine lines become more noticeable.

Thermage works by stimulating the skin to rebuild part of that collagen network.

Does it hurt?

Most people describe Thermage as a brief burst of heat. Some areas—especially over the jawline, cheekbones, and around the temples—can feel more sensitive than others.

Topical anesthetic is often enough for many patients, while local anesthetic injections may be helpful for people who are particularly sensitive to discomfort.

What about side effects?

Like any energy-based treatment, safety depends heavily on appropriate treatment settings.

When excessive heat is delivered, complications such as burns or fat loss can occur. Modern treatment protocols, combined with built-in cooling technology and temperature monitoring, have significantly reduced these risks compared with earlier generations of the device.

Why has Thermage remained popular for so long?

One reason is experience.

Thermage has been used clinically for more than 20 years, with a large body of published research evaluating both its effectiveness and safety. While newer RF devices continue to emerge, the long clinical history behind Thermage remains one of its biggest strengths.

The most important takeaway is this:

A good result doesn't come from the device name alone. It depends on selecting the right patient, the doctor's skill and experience, using appropriate energy settings, and following a safe treatment protocol. 

Rejuran and Juvelook are two of the most popular skin boosters in Korea, but despite being grouped into the same category, they work in very different ways.

How Rejuran Works

Rejuran's key ingredient is Polynucleotide (PN), a molecule that supports the skin's natural healing and regeneration process. Rather than forcing the skin to produce collagen directly, it helps damaged skin recover by improving the environment where skin cells repair themselves.

Because of this mechanism, patients often notice:

• Better skin hydration
• A stronger skin barrier
• Reduced skin sensitivity
• A healthier glow and smoother skin texture

Many people begin seeing improvements within 1–2 weeks, making Rejuran a popular option for skin that feels stressed, irritated, or dehydrated.

How Juvelook Works

Juvelook contains PDLLA (Poly-D,L-lactic acid), a collagen biostimulator. Instead of mainly supporting skin repair, PDLLA stimulates fibroblasts to produce **new collagen** inside the dermis.

Since collagen remodeling takes time, results appear more gradually—typically after 3–6 weeks—but continue to improve over the following months.

Patients commonly report:

• Firmer, thicker skin
• Improved elasticity
• Softer fine lines
• Smaller-looking pores
• Improvement in acne scars and shallow depressed scars

The Biggest Difference

The easiest way to think about them is:

Rejuran improves the quality of your existing skin.

Juvelook encourages your skin to build new collagen, changing the structure of the skin over time.

Onset of Results

One advantage of Rejuran is that improvements are usually noticeable sooner. Many patients report increased hydration and healthier-looking skin within the first couple of weeks.

Juvelook requires more patience because collagen production is a biological process. While early improvements may appear after about a month, collagen remodeling continues over time, which is why the final result develops gradually.

Longevity

Because Juvelook stimulates new collagen formation, its results generally last longer than Rejuran. Newly formed collagen can remain for **12–18 months**, although this varies depending on age, metabolism, and treatment protocol.

Rejuran's regenerative effects are also beneficial but usually require maintenance treatments to sustain the improvements.

Which One Should You Choose?

Rejuran may be a better option if you have:

• Sensitive or easily irritated skin
• A damaged skin barrier
• Dehydrated skin
• Dull complexion
• Skin that simply looks "tired" and needs recovery

Juvelook may be more suitable if your concerns include:

• Fine lines
• Loss of skin elasticity
• Thin or fragile skin
• Enlarged pores
• Acne scars or other atrophic scars
• Long-term collagen loss due to aging

Final Thoughts

Neither treatment is universally "better." They simply address different aspects of skin aging and skin quality. Rejuran focuses on repairing and restoring the skin, while Juvelook focuses on rebuilding collagen and improving structural support.

In many Korean dermatology clinics, these treatments are even combined or alternated to address both skin regeneration and long-term collagen remodeling, depending on the patient's individual skin concerns.

Before answering that, it helps to understand how Potenza Pumping Tip actually works.

Unlike standard RF microneedling or manual skin booster injections, Potenza Pumping Tip combines both approaches in a single treatment.

Tiny microneedles create microscopic channels in the skin while simultaneously delivering “radiofrequency (RF) energy” into the targeted layer. As the needles are withdrawn, “air pressure helps deliver the skin booster through those microchannels.”

This means the treatment combines two mechanisms at the same time:

• RF energy to stimulate the skin's natural repair process.
• A skin booster to provide additional regenerative benefits.

Because of this combination, RF microneedling may help improve:

• Acne and enlarged pores by reducing excess sebum production.
• Skin firmness, fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars by stimulating collagen production.
• Redness by reducing inflammation.
• In some treatment protocols, it has even been used as part of Melasma management.

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So if the technology is the same, why can results differ so much from one clinic to another?

The biggest reason isn't the device itself—it's how the device is used.

1. The settings matter more than many people realize.

Potenza isn't a one-size-fits-all treatment.

The physician chooses between monopolar and bipolar RF, adjusts the treatment depth, and selects the appropriate energy level based on each patient's skin concerns. Different settings can lead to very different outcomes.

2. Needle depth isn't just the number shown on the screen.

Even if the same depth is entered into the device, treatment technique matters.

For example, pressing the handpiece too firmly against the skin can cause the needles to penetrate deeper than intended, which may increase discomfort, downtime, and the risk of unwanted side effects.

3. Operator technique plays a significant role.

Many people assume Potenza is simply a device that does all the work automatically.

In reality, hand pressure, movement, contact with the skin, and overall technique all influence how consistently energy is delivered.

4. Skin booster preparation also matters.

When treatments are performed with Potenza Pumping Tip and skin boosters such as Juvelook, the preparation of the product is just as important as the product itself.

If the mixture isn't optimized, more product may be dispersed outside the skin rather than effectively delivered through the Pumping Tip.

5. Experience can make a noticeable difference.

Many of these factors aren't simply learned from the device manual.

Treatment parameters, injection strategy, and product preparation are often refined through clinical experience and repeated practice.

Let me know if you'd like any additional information about the treatments listed below.