Hello, this is VS Line Clinic Gangnam.
One of the most common questions we hear during consultations with those considering dermatology treatments is: "Does the procedure hurt a lot?" 😵
No matter how effective a treatment is, concerns about pain can make the decision difficult. First-timers especially tend to be more sensitive to reviews and others' experiences. 💉
Today, we'll take a detailed look at why dermatology procedures can feel painful and why pain levels vary between different treatments.
What Causes Pain in Dermatology Procedures
Pain during dermatology procedures isn't just simple stimulation—it results from multiple factors working together.
The main causes are the type of procedure, delivery depth into the skin, and administration method. Additionally, an individual's skin condition significantly affects how intense pain is felt.
📌 Pain Varies by Cause
Multiple factors combine to determine each procedure's pain level. Generally, the deeper the delivery depth, the more pain is typically felt.
These days, numbing cream, icing, and injectors can help reduce pain. 😉
1. Type of Procedure
- Injection: There's physical stimulation as the needle passes directly through the skin, and the pressure and expansion from substance injection can feel painful. Skin boosters like Rejuran involve repeated injections at multiple points, so momentary stinging sensations can accumulate.
- Laser: As energy is delivered to the skin, stinging, burning, and heat sensations occur. This is a response to micro-damage and heat stimulation within the skin.
- Ultrasound & RF (Radiofrequency): Though they deliver energy without blades or needles, they work in deep layers, so pulling sensations or heavy heat can be perceived as pain.
2. Delivery Depth
- Injection: Deliver substances directly to the dermis or deeper
- Laser: Primarily deliver heat/light energy to epidermis~upper dermis
- Ultrasound & RF: Energy reaches the dermis or even deeper layers
3. Administration Method
- Manual Injection: Injected directly by the practitioner's hand, so depth and speed variations can make pain more noticeable.
- Injector Device Use: Equipment that injects substances at a consistent depth and pressure, uniformly, helping reduce substance loss and alleviate pain. Injectors are devices used to administer skin boosters.
- Energy-Based Procedures (Laser/Ultrasound/RF): Heat sensation and stimulation accumulate with repeated applications or increased energy intensity, leading to pain.
📌 Different Pain Levels by Procedure Type
Dermatology procedures exhibit different pain profiles depending on the procedure type. Here are 3 representative procedures ranked by pain level:
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★☆☆☆☆ - Botox, Fillers, Some Collagen Boosters (Juvelook)
Relatively minimal skin irritation, so numbing cream alone often provides sufficient pain control. Even first-timers can receive these without much burden.
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★★☆☆☆ - Skin Boosters
Since substances are injected deep into the dermis, momentary stinging or aching sensations may occur. However, most cases can be sufficiently alleviated with numbing cream or cooling.
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★★★☆☆ - High-Energy Lifting Procedures like Ultherapy, Thermage
As ultrasound or RF energy is delivered to deep skin layers, strong heat and vibration sensations can be felt. Areas close to the bone, like the jawline and cheekbones, tend to react more sensitively to pain.
📌 Pain Varies Greatly by Individual
The truth is, pain from dermatology procedures isn't an absolute standard but a relative sensation. Even with the same procedure, some people feel "it was better than expected," while others feel "the pain was intense."
This is because multiple factors affect pain—individual skin sensitivity, skin thickness, treatment area, constitution, and more.
Additionally, areas with a high nerve density, such as around the eyes and mouth, can feel more painful even with the same procedure.
Are you hesitating about skin treatments because you fear the pain? 🤔
Pain from dermatology procedures isn't an unavoidable fear—it's a process that can be managed with understanding and preparation.
Rather than vague worries, choose procedures and management methods suited to you based on accurate information.
If you'd like to create an appropriate treatment plan considering your skin condition and pain sensitivity, we encourage you to visit VS Line Clinic for a consultation with our specialists. 🤗
