A salmon sperm facial in Korea is an injection of polynucleotide (PN), a purified gel of fish DNA fragments, placed into the skin by a doctor; it is a medical procedure, not a spa treatment. For someone choosing a first skin booster, the main alternative is a hyaluronic acid (HA) booster. The two feel similar on the day, since both use many tiny injections after numbing cream, but they aim at different things. HA mainly holds water and gives a quicker look of hydration, while PN is used for skin quality and repair over a course of sessions. PN tends to leave small bumps for one to three days. Results vary from person to person.
Guide
How PN and HA boosters differ in what they do
The product most clinics use for a salmon sperm facial in Korea is Rejuran (PN, polynucleotide — not PDRN), made by the Korean company PharmaResearch. PN is thought to act as a scaffold and signal for repair in the dermis, so changes in texture and fine lines build gradually over a course rather than showing the next morning.
HA skin boosters, such as Skinvive by Juvederm from Allergan or Belotero Revive from Merz, place a thin, water-binding gel in the skin. The first effect is plumper, dewier skin within days. HA is not animal-derived, which matters to some first-timers.
There are also blended products. Rejuran HB contains PN together with HA and lidocaine for comfort, which some doctors suggest when a patient wants a bit of both.
| Point to compare | PN (salmon) booster | HA booster |
|---|---|---|
| Main aim | Skin quality and repair over weeks | Hydration and a smoother surface |
| When change shows | Gradually, across a course | Often within the first days |
| Usual course | Several sessions a few weeks apart | Often one or two sessions |
| Visible marks | Small bumps for one to three days | Small bumps, usually settling sooner |
| Source | Fish DNA, so mention any fish allergy | Non-animal hyaluronic acid |
Guide
What studies on PN can and cannot tell a first-timer
Evidence for PN is still small. In 2015, Park and colleagues reported in Dermatologic Therapy on five Korean women who received four rounds of long-chain PN filler two weeks apart, about forty points on one cheek. Pore size and skin thickness improved in the patients in their thirties, while tone, wrinkles and sagging improved more in those in their forties, with no serious side effects. Five patients is a case series, not proof.
A larger 2022 split-face trial by Gulfan and colleagues in Dermatology and Therapy treated thirty women with melasma using RF microneedling on both sides, with PN on one side and saline on the other. Both sides improved, and adding PN made no significant difference. If dark patches are your main reason for booking, PN alone is not the obvious first choice.
Guide
Which one suits a first booster
The choice depends on what bothers you most and how much time you have in Seoul. Anyone offered a salmon facial in Korea for the first time can sort it this way.
- Dry, dull or tight skin with a near-term event: an HA booster is usually the simpler start.
- Fine crepey lines, rough texture or skin that looks tired with age: PN is commonly suggested, planned as a course.
- Only one visit possible: either works, but expect PN's change to be partial after a single session.
- Fish allergy, or a preference to avoid animal-derived products: HA is the more appropriate option.
- Not sure: ask the doctor which concern each product is meant to address, and why one is preferred for your skin.
Guide
Planning the first session around a Hongdae stay
Numbing cream sits for about thirty minutes, and the injections themselves are quick. Returning home on a plane the same day is generally possible, but PN bumps are easy to see in photos for a day or more, so put the session early in the trip if you have plans.
For the first few days, skip makeup on the area for the time the clinic advises, avoid saunas, hot baths and heavy drinking, and use sunscreen. If a course is planned, ask the clinic to write down the product and amount used so another doctor can continue it later.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Long-chain polynucleotide filler for skin rejuvenation: efficacy and complications in five patientsDermatologic Therapy · 2015 · doi:10.1111/dth.12299
Case series of five Korean women given four long-chain PN injections two weeks apart, reporting improved pores and skin thickness in their thirties and tone, wrinkles and sagging in their forties, with no serious side effects.
- Efficacy and Safety of Using Noninsulated Microneedle Radiofrequency Alone Versus in Combination with Polynucleotides for the Treatment of Melasma: A Pilot StudyDermatology and Therapy · 2022 · doi:10.1007/s13555-022-00728-8
Split-face randomized trial in thirty women with melasma found that adding PN after microneedling radiofrequency gave no significant extra benefit over radiofrequency alone at six months.
FAQ
Questions about Facials in Hongdae
Is a salmon sperm facial in Seoul the same as a spa facial with salmon serum?
No, at a medical clinic the term means PN injections placed into the skin by a doctor. Cosmetic creams or masks sold with salmon DNA on the label stay on the surface and are a different product. If a menu lists a salmon facial without needles, ask whether any injection is involved, because the evidence and the aftercare differ completely.
Does a PN injection hurt more than an HA booster?
On the day, the sensation is similar, because both are delivered as many small, shallow injections after numbing cream has been on for a while. Some people find PN stings a little more as it goes in, which is one reason blended products with lidocaine exist. Tell the doctor if you are sensitive to needles; they can adjust the numbing time or the injection method.
Can I switch from HA to PN, or the other way, on a later trip?
Yes, the two are commonly alternated or combined over time, depending on how the skin responded the first time. Bring a note of the product, amount and date of your last session so the next doctor can plan from it. Leaving a gap of a few weeks between different boosters lets you see what each one actually did for your skin.
Can I have PN injections while pregnant or breastfeeding?
It is usually postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding, because safety data for skin boosters in those periods are limited. The same caution applies to HA boosters and blended products. Doctors also delay treatment when there is an active infection, a cold sore or an eczema flare on the face, and they ask about blood thinners or supplements that make bruising more likely.
How many PN sessions would a first-timer usually plan?
PN is generally planned as a course of several sessions spaced a few weeks apart rather than a single visit. The small Park case series used four sessions two weeks apart, and the melasma trial used three. If you can only fit one session into this trip, treat it as a start and plan the remaining sessions for later visits.