HYCOOX Skin Booster Injections in Japan | Benefits, Prices, Downtime & Results

Author:
Houreisen Skin Clinic — Specialist Clinic for Nasolabial Folds and Wrinkle Treatment
Osaka Clinic／Tokyo Clinic／Nagoya Clinic
Dr. Shinya Sasagawa, Representative of Shingetsukai Medical Corporation　Meet Our Doctors

“My skin feels dry, and my foundation no longer applies smoothly.”

“Lately, my pores and fine lines have become more noticeable.”

“I want my skin to look its best for an important upcoming event.”

Skin booster injections are a treatment that delivers selected ingredients directly into the skin to address concerns like these.

However, skin booster injections do not necessarily produce the same results at every clinic.

The products used, injection volume, needle depth, suction pressure, and care taken during the procedure can all affect the skin’s response, discomfort, and likelihood of bruising.

What Are Skin Booster Injections?

Skin booster injections involve placing small amounts of ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, amino acids, polynucleotides, and botulinum toxin preparations into the superficial layers of the skin using very fine needles.

Unlike toners and serums, which are applied to the skin’s surface, these injections deliver ingredients directly into the skin. They may be suitable for patients seeking improvement in dryness, fine lines, visible pores, and reduced skin firmness.

The Japanese term “suikou” describes skin that appears dewy, luminous, and well hydrated.

There is no single product called “skin booster injection.”

Skin booster injection describes a method of administration, and the expected effects depend greatly on the formulation used. When choosing a clinic, it is worth checking not only the device but also the specific ingredients and the volume injected.

Who May Benefit from Skin Booster Injections?

• Skin that feels dry or rough
• Reduced radiance or a dull-looking complexion
• An increase in fine lines
• Visible pores on the cheeks or around the nose
• Loss of firmness or elasticity
• Foundation that no longer applies smoothly
• Excess sebum or shine
• A desire to improve overall facial skin quality

Rather than filling a specific wrinkle or hollow, skin booster injections are intended to improve overall skin quality across the face.

They may therefore have limited ability to correct deep nasolabial folds, structural hollows beside the nose, or pronounced skin sagging on their own.

Depending on the cause, other options may be more appropriate, such as growth factor treatment for etched-in nasolabial fold lines or reduced skin firmness, hyaluronic acid fillers for structural hollows, and thread lifts or device-based treatments for more pronounced sagging.

Learn Which Types of Nasolabial Folds May Respond to Skin Booster Injections

Potential Benefits of Skin Booster Injections

Case Study: Woman in Her 30s

View This Case and Its Detailed Follow-Up

Case Study: Woman in Her 70s

View This Case and Its Detailed Follow-Up

Improve Skin Hydration and Radiance

Injecting hydrating ingredients such as non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid may help the skin retain moisture.

Dry, rough skin may feel plumper and smoother, with a more radiant appearance when light reflects off the surface.

Reduce the Appearance of Fine Lines Caused by Dryness

Fine lines around the eyes, cheeks, and mouth can become more noticeable with dryness or a loss of skin firmness.

By supplementing hydration and skin-supporting ingredients, skin booster injections may improve skin plumpness and make fine lines less apparent.

However, deep-set wrinkles and lines caused primarily by facial movement may not respond sufficiently to skin booster injections alone.

Improve the Appearance of Pores, Texture, and Smoothness

As hydration and firmness improve, the skin around pores may appear plumper, making pores less noticeable.

When Skin Botox is added, it may help reduce sebum and sweat production, which can be useful for patients concerned about shine and visible pores.

Improve the Appearance of Dullness for a Brighter-Looking Complexion

When skin is dry or uneven in texture, light does not reflect evenly from its surface, which can make the face appear dull.

Improving hydration and texture can help create a brighter-looking, more radiant complexion.

Our Skin Booster Device: HYCOOX

Houreisen Skin Clinic uses HYCOOX, a skin booster injection device manufactured in South Korea.

Nine Fine Needles for Small, Evenly Distributed Injections

HYCOOX uses a multi-needle tip with nine fine needles.

The device gently suctions the skin while delivering measured amounts of product at a selected depth. Compared with injecting the entire face manually, it can help distribute the product more evenly over a broad treatment area.

Adjusting Injection Depth and Suction for Each Area

Skin thickness and sensitivity differ between the forehead, cheeks, nose, and mouth area.

Rather than using identical settings everywhere, we assess skin thickness and condition and adjust the injection depth, suction pressure, and product volume for each area.

Designed to Reduce Leakage and Deliver the Intended Volume

Some of the injected product may leak onto the skin’s surface through the needle entry points during a skin booster procedure.

If a substantial amount leaks out, less of the prepared product may reach the intended tissue.

HYCOOX uses suction to stabilize the skin against the needle tip, helping reduce leakage during injection. Leakage cannot be prevented completely.

At our clinic, we clearly state the actual amount used in cubic centimeters (cc), not just the product name. Because some skin booster formulations are expensive, we prioritize using the stated amount and delivering it into the skin as carefully as possible.

What Matters Most to Us When Performing Skin Booster Injections

A skin booster procedure involves more than simply moving a device across the face.

Because these treatments represent a meaningful investment, we pay attention to every step, from selecting the product and applying anesthesia to adjusting the injection settings and checking the skin afterward.

Using the Intended Product Volume Without Cutting Corners

Even if two treatments use the same formulation, a smaller injected volume may be insufficient to cover the entire face adequately.

We therefore state the quantities used, such as Sunekos 4 cc and Vitaran 2 cc, in our price information.

Rather than prioritizing treatment speed alone, we focus on using the intended volume and injecting it carefully across the face.

Minimizing Discomfort

Before treatment, we apply topical numbing cream and allow sufficient time for it to take effect.

For thinner or more sensitive areas, we adjust suction pressure and needle depth to avoid unnecessary stimulation.

Pain sensitivity varies, so the procedure cannot be guaranteed to be painless. Our aim is to make it more comfortable than patients may expect.

Minimizing Bruising and Needle Marks

Because skin booster injections involve needles, bruising cannot be eliminated completely.

However, inappropriate contact with the skin, suction, or injection depth may cause avoidable bleeding or more noticeable needle marks.

We monitor the skin throughout the procedure and fine-tune the settings in response to redness or bleeding.

Choosing Products According to Your Skin Concerns

A patient whose main concern is dryness may need a different formulation from someone concerned about pores, excess sebum, or fine lines around the eyes.

A more expensive product is not automatically better. We recommend formulations and combinations after assessing your skin and discussing the changes you hope to achieve.

Products Used for Our Skin Booster Injections

We offer several skin booster formulations for different skin concerns.

Cytocare

Cytocare is a combination formulation containing non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients.

It may suit patients concerned about dryness or dullness, those having skin booster injections for the first time, and those seeking general improvements in skin condition.

Sunekos Performa

Sunekos Performa combines non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid with six amino acids in an internationally patented ratio.

In addition to improving hydration, it is intended to support the dermal environment in which collagen and elastin are found, with the goal of improving firmness, fine lines, visible pores, and elasticity.

It is the most frequently selected base formulation for skin booster injections at our clinic.

Learn More About the Benefits and Features of Sunekos Performa

Vitaran

Vitaran is a skin booster formulation primarily composed of salmon-derived polynucleotides.

We use it for skin concerns such as dryness, fine lines, visible pores, and reduced firmness, with the aim of supporting skin recovery and a smoother, more supple appearance.

Rejuran

Rejuran is another skin booster formulation whose primary ingredient is salmon-derived polynucleotides.

It may be suitable for fine lines on the cheeks, pores, and loss of firmness or radiance. Although both Vitaran and Rejuran are PN-based formulations, we choose between them according to skin condition, desired results, and budget.

Learn More About Rejuran and Vitaran

Pluryal Densify

Pluryal Densify contains polynucleotides, non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid, and mannitol.

It may suit people who want to address several concerns at once, including hydration, redness, reduced firmness, and fine lines.

Learn More About Pluryal Densify

Skin Botox

Skin Botox involves placing small amounts of botulinum toxin preparation in more superficial layers than those generally targeted for expression-line Botox injections.

It may help reduce sebum and sweat production and make pores, shine, and fine lines less noticeable.

Unlike conventional Botox, which is intended to act more directly on underlying muscles, Skin Botox aims to improve skin texture without substantially restricting facial expressions.

Our Most Popular Option: The Premium Skin Booster Set

Using more products does not guarantee better results for everyone.

However, when dryness, visible pores, fine lines, reduced firmness, and excess sebum coexist, a combination may address concerns from multiple angles compared with a single formulation.

This is an option we particularly recommend to patients who want to improve overall skin quality during their skin booster treatment.

Skin Booster Device vs. Manual Injections: Which Is Better?

Neither device-assisted skin booster injections nor manual injections are universally better.

Device-assisted injections are well suited to distributing product evenly across the face. Manual injections may be more appropriate when precise placement is needed around the eyes, for specific wrinkles, or for acne scars.

We choose between device-assisted and manual injections according to the patient’s concerns and the treatment area.

Learn More About Device-Assisted vs. Manual Skin Booster Injections

Skin Booster Treatment Cases

The results of skin booster injections vary depending on the formulation, skin condition, and number of treatments.

The following images show progress before treatment, immediately afterward, and at two weeks. Redness and small needle marks can be seen immediately after treatment; by two weeks, these have subsided, and changes in skin radiance and texture are visible.

Case photos illustrate individual outcomes and do not guarantee identical results for everyone.

View Skin Booster Case Study 1

View Skin Booster Case Study 2

Downtime and Side Effects of Skin Booster Injections

Although skin booster injections do not require incisions, they involve multiple needle punctures and product injections, so downtime and side effects are possible.

Redness, Swelling, and Pinpoint Bleeding

Temporary redness, mild swelling, or small spots of bleeding may occur immediately after treatment.

These usually become less noticeable within approximately one to three days, although recovery depends on the skin and products used.

Bruising

Bruising may occur if a needle contacts a small blood vessel.

Minor bruises can often be concealed with makeup, but complete resolution may take one to two weeks.

Needle Marks, Roughness, and Small Bumps

Needle marks, small bumps, or a rough texture may be noticeable immediately afterward.

They usually become less apparent over the next few days as the injected product settles into the skin.

Pain and Tightness

Discomfort during treatment, stinging, or a feeling of tightness afterward may occur.

We allow numbing cream to take effect and adjust the settings for different areas to minimize discomfort as much as possible.

Allergic Reactions and Infection

Although uncommon, allergic reactions to the injected products and infection at the needle entry points are possible.

Contact the treating clinic promptly if you experience severe swelling, worsening redness, heat, severe pain, pus, or difficulty breathing. Difficulty breathing requires urgent medical attention.

How Many Skin Booster Sessions Are Recommended?

Some patients notice changes in hydration and radiance after just one session.

However, improving overall skin quality is not necessarily achieved in a single treatment. Multiple sessions may help maintain changes in fine lines, visible pores, and firmness, depending on your skin’s response.

A common initial schedule is approximately every three to four weeks, with longer intervals later according to skin condition.

Recommended intervals vary among Sunekos, Vitaran, Rejuran, and Pluryal. Rather than recommending the same schedule for everyone, we assess the product used and the skin’s response before suggesting the next appointment.

Learn More About Skin Management Tailored to Your Skin

Skin Booster Injection Prices

Prices and available clinic locations may change. Please check our current price list for the latest information.

View Current Skin Booster Injection Prices

Frequently Asked Questions About Skin Booster Injections

Can skin booster injections work after just one session?

Some patients notice improved hydration, radiance, or smoothness after one session.

However, multiple treatments may be appropriate to maintain improvements in skin texture, fine lines, pores, or firmness.

Are skin booster injections painful?

Because we use topical numbing cream, many patients do not experience severe pain, although areas such as the forehead, around the nose, and around the mouth may be more sensitive.

We allow sufficient time for numbing and adjust needle depth and suction pressure for each area.

How far in advance of an important event should I book?

Although redness and needle marks often become less noticeable within a few days, bruising can last one to two weeks.

For weddings, photo shoots, trips, and other important events, we recommend allowing at least two weeks before your event.

I don’t know which product to choose. What should I do?

The best choice depends on your concerns: Cytocare for dryness and reduced radiance, Sunekos for firmness and fine lines, Vitaran or Rejuran for those considering PN formulations, and Skin Botox for pores or excess sebum, for example.

When several concerns overlap, such as dryness, visible pores, fine lines, reduced firmness, and excess shine, we often suggest considering our Premium Skin Booster Set, combining Sunekos, Vitaran, and Skin Botox.

Conclusion: Choose Skin Booster Injections Based on the Products and Quality of Care

Skin booster injections may suit patients seeking to improve overall facial skin quality, including dryness, fine lines, visible pores, reduced firmness, and a dull-looking complexion.

However, the term “skin booster injection” alone does not tell you exactly which treatment you will receive.

The formulation, injected volume, depth, and care taken during treatment all affect the expected changes and possible downtime.

At Houreisen Skin Clinic, we focus not only on using HYCOOX but also on administering the intended product volume while adjusting settings to suit different areas and skin thicknesses.

Our Premium Skin Booster Set, with Sunekos 4 cc, Vitaran 2 cc, and Skin Botox, is especially popular among patients looking to address hydration, firmness, fine lines, visible pores, and overall skin texture.

Ask Us About Skin Booster Injections

Book a Consultation or Treatment

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