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What Is the Rejuran Hydra Injection? | A Doctor Explains the Effects, Number of Sessions, and Downtime
"I wonder what effects Rejuran Water Light Injections have? How do they differ from other treatment methods?"
"Are the pain and downtime with Rejuran hard to deal with?"
"About how many treatments should I have? How often?"
Do you have questions like these about Rejuran Water Light Injections?
Hello, this is the cosmetic dermatology clinic, Smart Skin Clinic.
We explain, from a medical standpoint, what Rejuran Water Light Injections are, their effects, how they are performed, the recommended number and frequency of treatments, downtime, and how to spend your time afterward.
*You can jump to a section by clicking the item of interest in the table of contents below.
Group Chief Director, Smart Skin Clinic Group
Ishii Kota
Career
Graduated from Juntendo University School of Medicine
Worked at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital and affiliated facilities
Worked at a major aesthetic clinic in Tokyo
Affiliations / Qualifications
Board-certified specialist, Japan Surgical Society
Board-certified specialist, Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine
Water Light Injection add-on medication discount campaign now on
Those receiving a Water Light Injection are eligible for the following two options:
1. High-concentration Vitamin C & Vitamin A, or glutathione, can be added for +1,000 yen/session (regular standalone price: 21,800 yen)
2. Skin Botox can be added for +2,000 yen/session (regular standalone price 23,800 yen)
What is a Water Light Injection x [Rejuran preparation]?
The Rejuran Water Light Injection is a skin-quality improvement treatment that injects a product called Rejuran directly into the dermal layer using a dedicated injector.
You can expect a synergistic effect between "Rejuran's cosmetic effect of activating skin cells" and "the Water Light Injection's action of prompting the skin to heal itself."
What Is Water Light Injection?
The Water Light Injection is a treatment that injects the product like a stamp, using nine ultrafine needles per shot.
When the needles are set, suction pressure drives the ultrafine needles into the skin, and the product is injected evenly at a preset depth. When the needles leave the skin, the injection is complete. By creating tiny wounds with the needles, the treatment harnesses the "wound-healing" ability inherent to the human body, and can be expected to promote collagen production.
For more about Water Light Injections, please also see this article.
What is Rejuran?
Rejuran is a preparation whose active ingredient is polydeoxynucleotide (PDRN), extracted from salmon DNA, and it works to enhance the skin's self-regenerating ability.
Polydeoxynucleotide (PDRN) has various effects, including boosting growth factor production, promoting capillary circulation, anti-inflammatory action, and DNA resynthesis. It also contains "astaxanthin," an ingredient with excellent antioxidant properties. There are also several types of Rejuran, such as "dedicated to the eye area" and "with anesthesia."
For more about Rejuran, please also see this article.
Various studies have reported on the effectiveness of Rejuran, including the following paper.
Compared with phosphate-buffered saline and Ivoire® (a hyaluronic acid preparation) injections, Rejuran injection showed the highest elasticity and collagen composition for wrinkles at the outer corners of the eyes, with significant differences in texture and wrinkle depth.
Chang Sik Pak, Jongho Lee, Hobin Lee, Jaehoon Jeong, Eun-Hee Kim, Jinwook Jeong, Hyeyeon Choi, Byunghwi Kim, Sujin Oh, Iksoo Kim, Chan Yeong Heo. A phase III, randomized, double-blind, matched-pairs, active-controlled clinical trial and preclinical animal study to compare the durability, efficacy and safety between polynucleotide filler and hyaluronic acid filler in the correction of crow's feet: a new concept of regenerative filler. Journal of Korean medical science. 2014 Nov;29 Suppl 3(Suppl 3);S201-9. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.S3.S201.
Polynucleotide (PN) filler was injected around one side of the periorbital area and non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) filler around the opposite side, and the two were compared. The rate of improvement in skin elasticity and hydration decreased over time in both groups, with a higher rate of improvement in the PN group; and the rate of improvement in rough skin and pore volume was higher in the PN group than in the HA group.
Ye Jin Lee, Hak Tae Kim, You Jin Lee, Seung Hwan Paik, Young Seon Moon, Woo Jin Lee, Sung Eun Chang, Mi Woo Lee, Jee Ho Choi, Joon Min Jung, Chong Hyun Won. Comparison of the effects of polynucleotide and hyaluronic acid fillers on periocular rejuvenation: a randomized, double-blind, split-face trial. The Journal of dermatological treatment. 2022 Feb;33(1);254-260. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2020.1748857.
Differences in Rejuran treatment methods
Rejuran treatment methods include the "Water Light Injection" as well as "manual injection by a physician" and "Dermapen." We compare the advantages and disadvantages of each.
| Benefits | Drawbacks | |
| Manual injection by a physician | - Can deliver the required amount of product to the required depth - Almost no product leakage | - The result depends on the physician's skill - Higher price |
| Dermapen | - The Dermapen itself is highly effective through the puncturing action of fine needles - Suitable for smoothing the skin surface, since the product is applied topically | - The product does not penetrate easily into the skin |
| Vital Injector | - Can inject the product evenly to the desired depth - Cheaper than manual injection by a physician | - The product may not be injected 100% into the skin and a small amount may leak (not 30% leakage, but rather on the order of a few % to 10%) |
Manual injection by a physician has the advantage of delivering the product exactly where it is needed, but the result depends on the physician's skill.
Like the Water Light Injection, Dermapen inserts multiple ultrafine needles like a stamp. Because the product is applied over the needle openings, it is suited to treating skin-surface concerns such as acne and pores, but the disadvantage is that the product does not easily penetrate into the skin.
Because the Water Light Injection can inject nine needles at once per shot, the speed and pressure are consistent. It has the advantage—difficult to achieve with other methods—of "injecting the product evenly to the desired depth." However, if you want to vary the injection amount by area, detailed adjustments are needed each time.
Effects of Water Light Injection x Rejuran
Rejuran Water Light Injections may work on fibroblasts to promote angiogenesis and may have an anti-inflammatory effect.
As a result, you may notice improved skin radiance and makeup application, and improvement in fine lines, pores, and sagging.
For those whoRecommended
Rejuran Water Light Injections are recommended for people with skin concerns such as the following.
- Very dry skin that needs moisture
- Want to refine skin texture
- Want to improve skin firmness and radiance
- Pores that are noticeable or darkened and that you want to tighten
- Want firmness and to improve nasolabial folds
- Want to improve spots, dullness, and melasma
- Want to improve fine lines and dark circles
- Concerned about acne scars
- Want a natural-looking result
People who cannot receive Rejuran Water Light Injections
Please note that the following individuals cannot receive this treatment.
- Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Those with abnormal immune function or a history of it, and those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy
- Those prone to keloid formation, hypertrophic scars, or pigmentation disorders
- Those with a bleeding tendency, or those using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics such as aspirin or anticoagulants such as warfarin
- Those with excessive sunburn, eczema, dermatitis, severely inflamed acne, or scabs at the Water Light Injection site
- Those with a fish allergy
Differences between Rejuran and other preparations
Various preparations are used in Water Light Injections, so what makes Rejuran different from the others?
A typical agent used in Water Light Injections is hyaluronic acid. When volume is created by an injected ingredient like hyaluronic acid, the skin returns to its original state as the ingredient is absorbed by the body.
Rejuran, on the other hand, does not create volume physically; instead, it prompts the skin to regenerate itself and increase collagen, so its effects are less likely to fade.
When Rejuran Water Light Injections take effect, how long the effects last, and injection frequency
Rejuran's effects appear after 2 to 4 weeks. A single session is effective, but the effects become easier to notice with repeated sessions.
Receiving 3 to 4 treatments spaced about 2 to 4 weeks apart can be expected to sustain the effects for a year or more. After that, maintenance every six months to a year is recommended.
Smart Skin Clinic's "commitment" to Water Light Injections
The flow and treatment time of a Rejuran Water Light Injection
The procedure takes about 30 to 40 minutes excluding counseling, and about 60 minutes including anesthesia.
The treatment proceeds as follows.
- When the handpiece is set on the skin, suction pressure drives the needles in
- The product is injected evenly at the preset depth
- When the needles leave the skin, the injection is complete
Pain of the Rejuran Water Light Injection
The Rejuran Water Light Injection causes only a slight, prickling level of pain.
By injecting while applying suction, there is less pain than with manual injection. Because the needles are ultrafine and nine can be inserted at once, the amount injected per pass is large and repeated passes are unnecessary, which also reduces pain. However, the perception of pain varies from person to person.
Pain can be reduced by cooling the affected area beforehand or using a surface anesthetic. For those who are very anxious about needles and pain, it may be reassuring to check whether laughing gas anesthesia, which has an anxiety-relieving effect, is available.
Downtime, side effects, and risks of the Rejuran Water Light Injection
We introduce the downtime, side effects, and risks of the Rejuran Water Light Injection.
Downtime duration and symptoms of the Rejuran Water Light Injection
The downtime period is about 2 to 3 days.
Because the needles pierce the skin, redness occurs at the injection site and the skin may develop bumpy raised areas, but these gradually subside and return to normal in about 24 hours.
Due to the nature of the treatment, subcutaneous bleeding may occur at the needle puncture site, though not always. If bruising occurs, it gradually fades over 10 to 14 days.
For details on the downtime of Water Light Injections, please also see here.
Rejuran: What is the pain after a Water Light Injection? How to relieve it?
Post-treatment pain is mild, but the perception of pain varies from person to person.
If the pain is bothersome, cooling can relieve it. Wrap a cold pack in a clean cloth and apply it intermittently to the affected area.
About the risks of the Rejuran Water Light Injection
In addition to downtime symptoms, the Rejuran x Water Light Injection treatment carries side effects such as the following.
- Pigmentation
- Infection
- Allergy
Swelling, pain, and redness subside over time, but if they intensify there may be an infection. Please consult the clinic.
Also, because Rejuran uses an ingredient extracted from salmon DNA, it cannot be used by those with a fish allergy.
How to spend your time after a Rejuran x Water Light Injection
A Rejuran x Water Light Injection has no major impact on daily life, but please note the following points.
- Skincare: possible immediately after the treatment
- Shower: possible on the same day
- Makeup: possible after about 24 hours
After the treatment, your skin is working to repair the needle punctures. Please also avoid activities that increase blood circulation and can hinder recovery, such as long baths, strenuous exercise, and massage.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Rejuran x Water Light Injection
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the Rejuran x Water Light Injection.
Benefits
- Less pain than manual injection
- Can reach deep into the skin
- Can be injected up to the eye area
- Short treatment time
- Effects are felt soon after the downtime
- Inserting the needles adds firmness
Drawbacks
- Needle marks remain after the treatment
- There is downtime
- The effects are not permanent
How to maximize the effects of the Rejuran Water Light Injection
To maximize the effects of the Rejuran Water Light Injection, the following points are key.
- Choose a reliable clinic based on its track record and reviews
- In counseling, share your concerns and goals, confirm the suitability, treatment details, downtime, and pricing, and resolve any questions
- Follow the precautions
- Receive regular treatments
Even for the same treatment, skill levels differ from physician to physician. Confirm the suitability, share your goals, and take care of what you can do on your own.
| Treatment Time | About 30 to 40 minutes (not including counseling) |
| Recommended Number & Frequency of Treatments | Although it varies by drug, we recommend about three to four sessions at intervals of roughly two to four weeks. |
| Downtime | About 2 to 3 days |
| Treatment on the day of counseling | Available |
| Makeup | Possible from about 24 hours later |
| Skincare | Possible right after the treatment |
| Shower | Possible from the same day |
| Pain | A slight pricking sensation when the needle is inserted. |
For Water Light Injections, come to Smart Skin Clinic
Smart Skin Clinic cuts back on lavish interiors and unnecessary costs and carefully selects its equipment, striving to provide smart medical care.
At Smart Skin Clinic, the Water Light Injection uses nine ultrafine needles, the depth can be adjusted from 0.6 to 1.2 mm below the skin, and the injection volume can be controlled. Pricing is clear and transparent.
If you have any questions, please feel free to consult us at a free counseling session. A physician will assess suitability and propose the most appropriate treatment.
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