The Beauty Standard with Dr. Roy Kim

Advanced Skincare: Discovering Korea's Beauty Secret

• Dr. Roy Kim

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Join Dr. Roy Kim, a plastic surgeon from San Francisco and Beverly Hills, as he delves into the world of skin boosters—an emerging trend in cosmetic treatments that's taken Asia by storm but hasn't yet caught on in the U.S. Learn about the key ingredients, the advanced technologies used in Korea, and why these treatments haven't become popular stateside. Discover the potential benefits, safety concerns, and whether you'd be willing to try skin boosters like fish DNA or human tissue for better skin. Stay tuned for an insightful episode on the latest in aesthetic innovations.

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Beauty Standard with Dr Roy Kim. Hello and welcome to the Beauty Standard. I'm Dr Roy Kim, a plastic surgeon within San Francisco and Beverly Hills, and today we're diving into a topic that's been buzzing overseas but, honestly, is still flying under the radar here in the United States. We're talking about skin boosters, what they are, why they're so popular in places like Korea and why you haven't heard much about them stateside. If you're someone who's interested in the latest cosmetic innovations and wants to stay ahead of the curve, stick around. This episode is for you. So let's get started. Why are skin boosters such a big deal in Asia and why is the US lagging behind? And, more importantly, would you let someone inject fish DNA into your face for better skin? Yeah, you heard that right. Let's break it all down. First off, what exactly are skin boosters? In simple terms, skin boosters are treatments where certain compounds, think hyaluronic acid or even more exotic ingredients, are injected just underneath your skin. The goal To boost hydration, improve texture and give your skin that healthy, dewy glow everyone's after. Here in the US, we have one FDA-approved option called SkinVeve, which uses a diluted form of hyaluronic acid. The treatment involves multiple tiny injections across the face, and while it does hydrate and plump the skin, the effects are temporary, usually lasting about six to nine months. Interestingly, while the technology works, it hasn't really taken off here. Meanwhile, in Korea, skin boosters are everywhere and they've developed more advanced delivery systems and a wider range of compounds, from salmon DNA to exosomes. We'll get into all of that in just a bit. But why the difference? Is it just a matter of regulation or is there more to the story?

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Let's dig deeper. What's in a skin booster? Let's start with the basics. In the US, the main skin booster is SkinVeve, which, as I mentioned, is a diluted hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid, or HA, is a naturally occurring substance in your body that helps retain moisture. When injected, it hydrates the skin from within, making it look more plump and youthful. The technique involves a lot of tiny needle sticks, sometimes 75 to 100 across the face and neck. After each injection, I'll massage the area to help spread the product evenly.

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Now the effects are pretty nice More hydration, a dewy look and even a slight boost in collagen production. But it's not permanent and the process is well a bit tedious. Imagine sitting through all those needle pricks. And that's just for the cheeks, since that's the only area FDA approved for this treatment. Why hasn't it caught on in the US? You'd think something that makes your skin look better would be a hit right. But there are a few reasons why skin boosters haven't exploded in popularity here. First, there aren't many competing products in the US market Skinviv is pretty much it and the process is labor intensive. Second, the manual injection method isn't exactly user friendly. Even for an experienced injector, it's hard to get perfectly even results every time. And third, the FDA is pretty strict about what can be injected, especially when it comes to newer or more biological compounds. Now, technically, you can try to replicate the effects with off-label use of other HA fillers, but it's still a lot of work for a temporary result.

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Korean innovations why are they ahead? Let's hop over to Korea for a minute. Over there, skin boosters are a whole different ballgame. They've got advanced delivery systems. Instead of one needle, they use devices that inject in a grid pattern 9, 15, even 20 little bubbles at once. Some clinics even use needleless injectors, which use ultrasonic energy to push the product under the skin. Less pain, faster recovery and more even results, more compound options Korea has a wider range of skin boosters, including some you might find surprising.

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One of the most famous is called Regeran, which is based on salmon DNA yes, actual fish DNA. This compound, known as PN polynucleotide, is thought to activate fibroblasts, the cells that help your skin produce collagen. Combination products In Korea it's common to mix HA with other compounds, like neurotoxins think Botox or even vitamins, for a customized effect. So why the difference? Partly it's about regulation. The FDA moves slowly when it comes to approving new injectable products, especially those derived from animals or humans. In Korea, the regulatory environment is more open to innovation, which means patients have access to a broader range of treatments.

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What about other skin boosters? Let us break down a few of the most popular options in Korea Rejuran, pn polynucleotide. As I mentioned, this is derived from salmon DNA. It's injected into the skin to boost collagen production, improve texture and reduce fine lines and pores. You can get it with a needle or via needleless injection. Juveluk, pdla plus HA. Pdla is similar to Sculptra, a filler we use in the US for contouring, but in Korea it's processed into a much finer powder and mixed with HA for a skin-boosting effect. Again, it's not about changing the shape of your face. It's about improving skin quality.

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Micronized Acellular Dermal Matrix ADM this one's wild. It's made from finely chopped human dermal tissue yes, from cadavers. The idea is that human-derived tissue helps stimulate collagen production even more effectively than chemicals alone. Exosomes these are tiny messenger vesicles that help cells communicate. In Korea, exosomes are injected as skin boosters to help with fine lines and wrinkles. In the US, exosomes are only approved for topical use, not injection. Mixing and matching custom skin boosters. It's also common in both countries to mix skin boosters with vitamins or other compounds for added benefits. The difference is in Korea you can inject these mixtures, while in the US you're mostly limited to topical application or microneedling.

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Safety and regulatory concerns. Now let's talk about the elephant in the room. Safety Injecting biological material like fish DNA or human tissue raises some eyebrows, and for good reason. The FDA is cautious about approving these treatments, especially when it comes to potential allergic reactions, disease transmission or other unknown risks. Some argue that the US is being overly cautious and that patients are missing out on cutting-edge treatments. Patients are missing out on cutting-edge treatments. Another viewpoint suggests that this caution is warranted, given the risks involved with injecting foreign DNA or tissue into the body.

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Are skin boosters the future? Here's the big question. Are skin boosters the next big thing in aesthetics. I think they're pretty revolutionary. The idea that you can improve your skin's texture, hydration and even collagen production without changing the shape of your face is appealing to a lot of people.

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Plus, with newer delivery systems like needleless injectors, the recovery time is minimal. You could get a treatment on Friday and be back at work Monday with no one the wiser. But as with any new technology, there are trade-offs, the effects are temporary and the treatments can be expensive. Plus, not everyone is comfortable with the idea of injecting DNA, whether from salmon or humans, into their skin. Personal observations you know, as a plastic surgeon, I see a lot of patients who want natural-looking results. They don't necessarily want bigger lips or higher cheekbones, they just want to look refreshed. Skin boosters could be the answer for these patients, especially as the technology improves and more products become available in the US. But I have to admit the idea of injecting fish DNA or human tissue is a little well, let's say, unconventional. I'm curious to see how American patients will react as these options become more widely available.

Speaker 1:

So, to wrap up, skin boosters are an exciting development in the world of aesthetics, offering a way to improve skin quality without surgery or major downtime, while the US is a bit behind Korea in terms of available products and technology. I think we'll see more options in the coming years, especially as patients demand treatments that deliver real results with minimal fuss. But here's my question for you Would you be willing to try a skin booster, even if it meant injecting something like fish DNA or human tissue into your skin, or do you think the risks outweigh the benefits? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks for tuning in. If you enjoyed this episode, check out my other podcasts for more insights on the latest in plastic surgery and skincare. Until next time, stay curious and take care of your skin. Thank you for listening to the Beauty Standard with Dr Roy Kim. Make sure to follow for future topics and episodes.