Gangnam
Chief MD
Duk-ha Kim
The trust our patients have placed in this clinic was built on conviction and principle. We intend to hold to both, unchanged, through the next hundred years.
Career
Treatment comparison
Juvelook vs skin booster (hydration) injections at Abijou Gangnam: same effect, same day, and the downsides
Juvelook and a hydration injection are not two names for one treatment. Juvelook is a named product made of PDLLA and hyaluronic acid; a hydration injection describes putting a product into the skin, and what that product is depends on the syringe. Published studies of the two use different schedules, so their figures cannot be set side by side. The Abijou Gangnam menu lists both in its Skin Booster category, plus a first-visit trial package that pairs them in one session; whether to combine them is a clinical decision made at consultation.
- Juvelook
- PDLLA (poly-D,L-lactic acid) combined with hyaluronic acid, per the maker
- Hydration injection
- A route into the skin; contents depend on the product, and published terminology work finds no comprehensive definition
- Gangnam Juvelook units
- 1cc, 4cc, Eye 2cc, a 1+1 October promotion; Juvelook Volume is listed separately under facial volume
- Gangnam hydration units
- Lilied 2cc and 5cc, with Cryocell variants, and one October Tuesday-to-Thursday item
- Price snapshot
- Booking-centre menu observed 2026-10-12, VAT excluded, not a current quote
Language support and contact channels
This branch lists KakaoTalk, WhatsApp for international enquiries. Channel availability and the language of the responding staff can vary, so confirm both when you contact the clinic.
- KakaoTalk: use the official contact link in the booking section below.
- WhatsApp: use the official contact link in the booking section below.
Do Juvelook and a hydration injection have the same effect?
The two cannot be matched like for like, because they are described at different levels. Juvelook is a product with a stated composition. A hydration injection is a way of delivering something into the skin, so its effect follows whatever is in the syringe.
Skin booster terminology work published in 2024 says a specific, comprehensive definition of the term has not yet been established. In practice, a menu name tells you the route and little else, and the comparison that carries information is Juvelook against the particular product named on the hydration line you are offered.
The studies cited below were run on different materials and schedules. Their numbers describe what each study measured and are not a scoreboard.
Sources: Yi KH et al., Skin Res Technol 2024 — skin booster terminologyJUVELOOK Magazine Vol. 2 · VAIM
Can both be done in the same visit?
The Gangnam menu lists a first-visit trial package called Juvelook & Hydro Injection, one session, so the pairing exists as a menu item. That tells you it is offered, not that it suits every skin.
- Whether to combine, in what amounts and in which order is set by the doctor after seeing your skin.
- Mention any injectable, laser or energy treatment from the last few weeks and any you plan during the same trip.
- The trial package is a promotion with a listed regular price; check on your booking date that it is still offered.
What are the downsides people ask about?
Both are injections, so the realistic list starts with discomfort and short-lived marks and continues with rarer events described in the literature.
- Juvelook: discomfort depends on area, technique and personal sensitivity; temporary redness, swelling or bruising has been reported, and a published case report describes a nodular reaction after a PDLLA injection.
- Hydration-type injections: a systematic review of 423 people with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection after mesotherapy found symptoms starting on average 32.5 days after injection.
- In a series of 31 people treated for complications after hyaluronic acid injection, delayed nodules were recorded in 32.1%. The series counts people who already had a problem, so it is not an incidence rate.
- Keep the product name and a way to reach the clinic in writing before you fly.
Sources: 2025 skin-booster pain study · PubMed PMID 403099882024 nodular-reaction case report · PubMed PMID 39283001Singsing ME et al., Int J Womens Dermatol 2022 — NTM infection after mesotherapyNguyen L et al., J Cosmet Dermatol 2026 — HA injection complications
How were the two studied, and why can't the numbers be lined up?
Each has a protocol of its own, and a follow-up window is only the period the researchers watched.
- Juvelook: a 2025 case series of 15 people gave three sessions three weeks apart, combining microneedling with PDLLA. A needle-free study used five sessions and assessed outcomes through 24 weeks. Published delivery methods include direct injection, microneedling-assisted and needle-free microjet, and what is reported for one should not be carried over to another.
- Hydration (non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid): a randomised, evaluator-blinded trial of 448 people used 4 mL per session at 1.0 to 1.2 mm depth on days 0, 28 and 56. At day 84, moderate-or-greater improvement on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale was recorded for 90.09% of the treated group and 9.57% of the untreated group; follow-up stopped at day 84.
- A review of 15 studies reported hyaluronic acid alone performing better than cocktail mixtures, so a longer ingredient list is not in itself a reason to choose.
Sources: 2025 case series · PubMed PMID 40469551Needle-free PDLLA delivery study · PubMed PMID 41389157Cheng H et al., Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2026 — non-cross-linked HA RCTGhatge & Ghatge, Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2023 — systematic review
Visit facts for the Gangnam branch
Practical details taken from the published branch information.
- Say in your booking message that you want a consultation on both options so the doctor can plan the visit.
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 10:00-14:00 and 15:00-20:00; Sat 10:00-16:30 with no lunch break; closed Sundays and public holidays
- Access
- About 100 m from Gangnam Station Exit 10, about a 1-minute walk; Exit 9 is 126 m
- Languages
- English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
- Booking
- Reservation centre link or messenger (KakaoTalk, WhatsApp); payment is made at the clinic, with no deposit
What to ask before choosing
These turn a name comparison into a plan you can check.
- Standard Juvelook or Juvelook Volume, and for which area?
- For the hydration injection: product name as printed, manufacturer, volume, and whether anything is mixed in.
- Delivery method and depth, and who performs it.
- How many sessions, at what interval, and whether the quote covers one session or a package.
- Aftercare instructions and how to reach the clinic from abroad.
- Disclose pregnancy or breastfeeding, skin infection or inflammation, keloids, reactions to past injectables, autoimmune conditions, blood thinners and recent procedures.
Juvelook and a hydration injection, side by side
A checklist of what to confirm, not a ranking. It does not say either one works better.
| Question | Juvelook | Hydration injection |
|---|---|---|
| What the name refers to | A named product | A route into the skin; the product varies |
| Material | PDLLA plus hyaluronic acid | Most hydration items on the Gangnam menu; ask for its composition. The cited trial used non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid |
| Study schedule | 3 sessions 3 weeks apart (15 people); 5 sessions, assessed to 24 weeks | 3 sessions on days 0, 28, 56, assessed at day 84 (448 people) |
| Reported downsides | Discomfort, temporary redness, swelling, bruising; a nodular-reaction case report | Delayed nodules and late infections in the complication literature |
| Gangnam units | 1cc, 4cc, Eye 2cc | Lilied 2cc, 5cc; Cryocell variants |
A consultation map, not an efficacy comparison.
Sources: JUVELOOK Magazine Vol. 2 · VAIMCheng H et al., Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2026 — non-cross-linked HA RCT
Abijou Gangnam Juvelook and hydration injection lines (snapshot 2026-10-12)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Juvelook 1cc, 1 sessionRegular item | KRW 108,900 |
| Juvelook 4cc, 1 sessionRegular item | KRW 319,000 |
| Juvelook Eye 2cc, 1 sessionRegular item | KRW 319,000 |
| Juvelook 1+1, total 2cc, 1 sessionOctober-limited promotion; listed regular price KRW 198,000 | KRW 110,000 |
| Juvelook Volume 1 vial, 1 sessionSeparate line under filler and facial volume | KRW 649,000 |
| Lilied 2cc, 1 sessionRegular item | KRW 108,900 |
| Lilied 5cc, 1 sessionRegular item | KRW 217,800 |
| Lilied 2cc & Cryocell, 1 sessionPackage | KRW 108,900 |
| Hydro Injection 2.5cc & Cryocell, 1 sessionPackage | KRW 108,900 |
| Lilied 5cc & Cryocell, 1 sessionPackage | KRW 217,800 |
| Juvelook & Hydro Injection, 1 sessionFirst-visit trial promotion; listed regular price KRW 255,000 | KRW 141,900 |
| Lilied Hydro Toxin, 1 sessionOctober-limited, Tue-Wed-Thu only; listed regular price KRW 165,000 | KRW 108,900 |
Historical example from the 12 October 2026 booking-centre snapshot for Abijou Gangnam. VAT excluded; first-visit trial and limited-time promotional lines are labelled as such; not a current quote.
Medical care at Abijou
Consultation and treatment are provided by the medical team at this branch. The clinician shown leads the branch; the doctor assigned to your visit may vary, so confirm the assignment when booking.
Listed branch medical team — not a medical-review byline for this article.
Frequently asked questions
Do Juvelook and a hydration injection give the same result?
They are different things studied in different ways. Juvelook combines PDLLA with hyaluronic acid, while the hydration trial cited here used non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid over three sessions with assessment at day 84. Neither figure predicts your result, and they cannot be ranked against each other.
Can I have both on the same day?
The Gangnam menu lists a first-visit trial package pairing Juvelook and a hydration injection in one session. Whether it fits you, and in what amounts, is the doctor's decision after an assessment of your skin and recent treatments.
What are the downsides of Juvelook?
Reported items include injection discomfort that varies by area and technique, temporary redness, swelling and bruising, and a published case report of a nodular reaction after PDLLA. The cited studies are small, so they show what has been reported rather than how often it happens.
Are there downsides specific to hydration injections?
The literature records late problems: in a review of 423 people with infection after mesotherapy, symptoms began on average 32.5 days after injection, and a 31-person series of hyaluronic acid complications recorded delayed nodules in 32.1%. Both describe people who already had a problem.
Is Juvelook Volume the same as Juvelook?
No. The Gangnam menu lists standard Juvelook under Skin Booster and Juvelook Volume under filler and facial volume, each with its own price lines. Confirm the product name on any quote.
Is Juvelook a skin booster?
It is commonly grouped with skin boosters and sits in the Skin Booster category of the Gangnam menu. Since the term itself lacks an established comprehensive definition, compare product names and composition instead of the label.
How do I book, and when is the clinic open?
Use the reservation centre link or a messenger such as KakaoTalk or WhatsApp. Weekday hours are 10:00-14:00 and 15:00-20:00, Saturday 10:00-16:30, closed Sundays and public holidays. Payment is made at the clinic with no deposit.
Which languages can I use at the clinic?
The published branch information lists English, Korean, Japanese and Chinese. Say which you prefer when booking.
How Abijou works
We started in Gangnam in 2006 and the network now runs 17 branches across Korea. The line we work to is skin transformation woven into everyday life — care you can keep up with, rather than one dramatic intervention.
- Opened in 2006, the first Abijou branch — now one of 17 nationwide
- We look at the condition first and propose only the scope it needs
- We quote the official published price list as it stands
- Across the 17 branches in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon and Busan: over 1,000 medical professionals and more than 350 certified medical devices
- Authentic products only, in appropriate amounts — the treatment is fitted to the condition, not to a package
Contact and location
- Address
- 3F, 11F & 13F, Nude Zone Building, 9 Seocho-daero 77-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06615, Republic of Korea
- Directions
- About 100 m from Exit 10 of Gangnam Station on Subway Line 2 and the Sinbundang Line — about a 1-minute walk. From Exit 9 it is 126 m, about 2 minutes: come out of Exit 9, walk straight toward Megabox, and the building is the one with a 7-Eleven on the ground floor.
- Hours
- Mon–Fri, morning · 10:00 – 14:00 / Mon–Fri, afternoon · 15:00 – 20:00 / Saturday (no lunch break) · 10:00 – 16:30 / Sunday & public holidays · Closed
- Phone
- 1544-0377
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