Do Skin Boosters Hurt? How Seoul Clinics Make Rejuran and SkinVive More Comfortable
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Skin boosters like Rejuran and SkinVive involve many tiny injections, but the discomfort can be brought down. Seoul clinics combine lidocaine formulas, the Dermashine automatic injector, numbing cream and, if needed, laughing gas or sleep sedation. Bumps usually settle within one to three days.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kang Kun Woo, Chief Doctor, Newstar Clinic · Last reviewed: November 5, 2026
"I know Rejuran works, but hundreds of tiny injections across my whole face sounds terrifying." International patients tell us this all the time. Skin booster pain is not something you just have to put up with. Korean clinics bring it down by layering the right product, the right injection method and the right numbing.
Four layers of comfort at a glance
Layer 1, the product: choose a formula with lidocaine (Rejuran HB Plus, SkinVive)
Layer 2, the method: Dermashine, a 9-needle automatic injector, instead of hand injections
Layer 3, numbing cream: applied at the clinic before treatment
Layer 4, laughing gas or sleep sedation: added if you are sensitive to pain
Why do skin boosters hurt?
A skin booster places very small amounts of product into the dermis hundreds of times across the face. Each injection is tiny, but there are many of them, and PN products such as Rejuran are thick, so you feel pressure as they go in. That is why two skin booster treatments can feel very different depending on the product and the method.
Which skin boosters hurt less?
Products that contain lidocaine, a local anesthetic, tend to hurt less. SkinVive's US FDA approval lists 0.3% lidocaine in the gel to reduce pain on injection (source: FDA). In the Rejuran range, Rejuran HB Plus adds hyaluronic acid and lidocaine to the original PN formula, and it was approved in Korea in 2021. For how PN skin boosters differ, see What Is PDRN? PDRN vs PN vs Rejuran, and for a side-by-side comparison, see SkinVive vs Rejuran.
What is Dermashine, and why does it hurt less?
Dermashine is an automatic skin booster injector made by Huons Meditech in Korea. Nine fine needles sit in a head that uses gentle suction to hold the skin taut, then the device injects at a set depth and volume. According to the manufacturer, a full face of 80 shots takes about five minutes (source: Huons Meditech). Because each pass is quick and the depth stays consistent, many patients find it more comfortable than hand injections. The company also makes a 31G 9-pin needle designed to reduce pain and leakage with thicker products such as Rejuran and Juvelook.
Does a machine work as well as hand injections?
Dermashine's strength is even delivery: the same depth and the same amount at every point. Some product stays in the needles and cartridge, though, so when we use Dermashine for Rejuran we plan a slightly larger volume. For curved or small areas, your doctor may add a few hand injections.
"Dermashine on its own keeps pain low for most people. We still apply numbing cream carefully, and for patients who are sensitive to pain, we add AIRNOX laughing gas," says Dr. Kang Kun Woo, Chief Doctor at Newstar Clinic.
Will I get numbing cream?
Yes. At Newstar Clinic, numbing cream is standard before skin boosters. It needs time to work, so plan one to two hours for your visit, including numbing and waiting. Avoid applying strong numbing creams over large areas at home and covering them with plastic wrap. The US FDA warns that high-concentration lidocaine used this way can cause serious side effects such as an irregular heartbeat and seizures (source: FDA).
Does laughing gas (nitrous oxide) help?
Laughing gas is a pain-relieving gas you breathe through a mask. You stay awake, but pain and tension ease. A 2018 systematic review in Dermatologic Surgery found that nitrous oxide significantly reduced pain in several skin procedures, including laser treatments, while noting that more randomized trials are needed (source: Dermatologic Surgery). Newstar Clinic has a nitrous oxide system (AIRNOX) available.
Can I be asleep for my skin booster?
If you are very sensitive to pain, you can choose sleep sedation. An anesthesiologist works at our clinic, and sedation must be booked in advance. Do not drive on the day of sedation.
What happens after treatment?
After Rejuran, small bumps at the injection points can last one to two days. After SkinVive, needle marks, bumps and swelling usually settle within two to three days. Any bruising or redness is temporary. Avoid rubbing your face, and leave a few days before an important event or photo shoot.
Can I have skin boosters during a trip to Seoul?
Yes. Rejuran can even be done on your last day before flying home. We plan treatments so international patients finish in one visit. Tell us at your consultation if pain is a worry, and your doctor will choose the product and numbing method with you.
How does comfort affect the cost?
Skin booster pricing depends on the product and the volume in cc. Adding laughing gas or sleep sedation changes the total. Once your doctor has chosen the product and volume for your skin, you see the full amount, including 10% VAT, before anything starts.
Worried about pain? Send the treatment you are considering and your Seoul dates on WhatsApp, and we will plan the most comfortable way to do it.
