Are skin boosters and mulgwang injections the same? How they differ from salmon injections and Rituo

Evidence and details

What the approval record says

Hyaluronic acid skin boosters are approved as medical devices, not drugs, so their records are in the MFDS medical device database (의료기기안심책방). In a product-name search on September 27, 2026, “물광” (mulgwang) returned 0 results, and all 4 results for the Korean “스킨부스터” (skin booster) were for export only. The English word “Skinbooster” appears in the names of some products for sale in Korea (not export-only), such as Restylane Vital (Restylane Skinboosters). The table below is taken from the approval records and the attached documents (the directions for use and the precautions for use) of three main products called skin boosters.

Item	Restylane Vital	SKINVIVE	Belotero Revive
Approval no. and product name	수허12-702호 Restylane Skinboosters Vital Light 1.0 ml · 수허12-703호 Restylane Skinboosters Vital Lidocaine 1.0ml	수허18-134호 SKINVIVE by Juvederm	수허22-105호 Belotero Revive 1.0ml
Importer · manufacturer	Galderma Korea (갈더마코리아(주)) · Q-MED AB (Sweden)	AbbVie Korea (한국애브비(주)) · Allergan (France)	Merz Asia Pacific (멀츠아시아퍼시픽피티이엘티디) · Anteis SA (Switzerland)
Category · class	Tissue repair biomaterial, Class 4	Tissue repair biomaterial, Class 4	Tissue repair biomaterial, Class 4
Approval date · valid until	2012-05-17 · until 2027-06-30	2018-05-09 · until 2029-10-31	2022-05-09 · until 2027-05-08
Intended use (the approved use)	Temporary improvement of fine wrinkles of the face in adults through physical repair, by injecting cross-linked hyaluronic acid (containing lidocaine)	Temporary improvement of moderate to deep fine wrinkles of the cheeks in adults, by injecting cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel containing lidocaine hydrochloride 0.3% into the skin	Temporary improvement of shallow to moderate fine lines around the lips in adults, by injecting cross-linked hyaluronic acid from the surface of the dermis to the mid dermis
Injection depth (directions for use)	The dermis; the lower dermis is most suitable (12-703호)	Into the skin (intradermal) only	From below the epidermis to the mid dermis
Checked	2026-09-27	2026-09-27	2026-09-27

The approved use of all three products is to “temporarily” improve fine wrinkles or fine lines with cross-linked hyaluronic acid, and the approved area differs by product. The area is the whole face for Restylane Vital, the cheeks for SKINVIVE and the area around the lips for Belotero Revive. For Restylane Vital, we read the attached documents for the lidocaine product (수허12-703호).

We read the intended use of all 182 products in the same item category (tissue repair biomaterial) that are not for export, have active status and are for sale in Korea. None of them contains the words “수분” (moisture), “보습” (hydration), “물광” (mulgwang), “광채” (radiance), “피부결” (skin texture), “모공” (pores), “속건조” (inner dryness) or “윤기” (glow).

In the remarks field of the SKINVIVE and Belotero Revive records, “technical document review” is marked and “clinical data review” is blank.

What the names skin booster, mulgwang and salmon injection mean

According to a 2024 Korean review paper, “skin booster” began with Restylane Skinboosters, the name of Galderma’s hyaluronic acid products. Papers now use the term not only for hyaluronic acid but also for polynucleotide and polylactide injections. Juvelook (제허17-972호) is a product that injects polylactide and hyaluronic acid.

“Mulgwang” is also a word that does not appear in the approval records. A 30-person study published in Korea under the name mulgwang (hydrofilling) injected Restylane Vital over the whole face.

How salmon injections (PDRN) are approved

In Korea, PDRN is approved or filed as a drug, not a medical device. A search of the MFDS drug database (Nedrug, 의약품안전나라) for the product name “폴리데옥시리보뉴클레오” on September 27, 2026 returns 52 products, and the main ingredient in all of them is sodium polydeoxyribonucleotide (1 is written as “폴리데옥시리보뉴클레오타이드나트륨”). By dosage form, there are three sets of indications (the approved uses and conditions).

Dosage form · category	Number	Indications	Dosage and administration
Injection · prescription drug	31 (28 active)	Treatment and tissue repair of wounds caused by skin grafts	1 vial per day, by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection
Eye drops · over-the-counter drug	15 (13 active)	Nutritional supply in ulcerative diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva caused by malnutrition, and others	2 to 4 times a day, 2 to 3 drops each time
Cream · over-the-counter drug	6 (6 active)	Conditions of the skin and connective tissue caused by malnutrition, or prone to ulcers because of malnutrition: wounds, nutritional supply	Apply a suitable amount to the affected area 1 to 2 times a day

The indications of the 52 PDRN drugs checked on September 27, 2026 do not include facial skin or wrinkles. The directions for the injections also do not include injection into the skin (the dermis).

The word “연어” (salmon) does not appear anywhere in the product names or detail pages of the 52 products, and a product-name search in the MFDS device database also returns 0 results. The description that the raw material comes from salmon appears in papers, not in the approval records. Two 2025 review papers describe both PN (polynucleotide, Rejuran’s ingredient) and PDRN as DNA fragments, with long chains in PN and short chains in PDRN. One of them, written by employees of industry companies, said that papers mix the two names and cause a lot of confusion.

PharmaResearch, which makes Rejuran, also has a PDRN injection. The two products differ in the law that applies to them, the name of the ingredient and the approved wording. Rejuran is a medical device; its ingredient is sodium polynucleotide and its approved use is the temporary improvement of facial wrinkles in adults. The PDRN injection is a drug; its ingredient is sodium polydeoxyribonucleotide and its indication is the treatment of wounds caused by skin grafts.

Creams with PDRN in the name are over-the-counter drugs, while ampoules and creams with the Rejuran name are functional cosmetics (a cosmetic category that the MFDS reviews or that is reported to the MFDS). Products applied to the skin also fall under two different legal statuses.

How Rituo is classified

In product-name searches of the MFDS device database and the MFDS drug database on September 27, 2026, Rituo does not appear as either a medical device or a drug. We did not find an MFDS item record for Rituo that lists an approval number, class and intended use, as Rejuran’s record does.

The manufacturer, L&C Bio, explained in news articles that Rituo is classified as human tissue, not as a drug or a medical device. According to the company, Rituo is skin (dermis) from human donors with the cells removed, and the tissue is obtained from donors outside Korea. In a different article, an MFDS official said, without naming Rituo, that an ECM (extracellular matrix) skin booster made by turning acellular allogeneic dermis into a powder counts as human tissue. Humedix handles sales.

According to an article that reported MFDS data submitted to the National Assembly, Rituo was distributed 119,669 times in 2025, and 96.2% of these went to clinic-level medical institutions. The same article reported that in July 2026 the MFDS gave advance notice of a proposed amendment to the Rules on the Safety of Human Tissue (인체조직안전에 관한 규칙).

Humedix separately reported 3 functional cosmetics with the Rituo name that are applied to the skin (엘라비에리투오이씨엠 ampoule · cream · BB).

What the hyaluronic acid skin booster studies reported

All hyaluronic acid skin booster trials that compared against saline or a dummy injection had 60 or fewer participants, and larger trials compared against people who received no treatment. On September 15 and 27, 2026, we searched PubMed for skin boosters, intradermal hyaluronic acid injection, polynucleotide, PDRN and acellular allogeneic dermis together with topic words such as skin moisture, pores and side effects.

Study	Participants	Compared with	Reported result	Funding and interests
30-person saline trial	30 people, half of the face each	Saline	Ten days after the third session, moisture 35% and firmness 27% higher	3 employees of the product company (FILLMED) took part
55-person saline trial	55 women, half of the face each	Saline	After 3 months, a difference only in skin radiance; no clear difference in elasticity	Funded and conducted by the product company (Pierre Fabre)
60-person dummy injection trial	60 people, whole face	Dummy injection	Higher moisture, no difference in elasticity	Not stated in the PubMed record
12-person saline trial	12 women, around the mouth	Saline	Dermal thickness increased on both sides, no difference	No conflicts of interest declared
202-person SKINVIVE trial	202 people, cheeks	No treatment	Cheek smoothness improved in 57.9% vs 4.5% after 1 month	Supported by the manufacturer (Allergan · AbbVie)
448-person trial	448 people, whole face	No treatment	Higher moisture up to 4 weeks after the last injection	No conflicts of interest declared, no product name
Analysis that pooled 12 studies	Several studies	Varied by study	Improved moisture and radiance, no difference in elasticity	No funding

The 30-person saline trial injected non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid into one side of the face and saline into the other, three times. Ten days after the last session, the study reported that skin radiance and moisture were 35% better and firmness 27% better on the hyaluronic acid side, that 82% had improved or much improved in the investigators’ assessment, and that no one improved on the saline side. Three employees of the product company FILLMED took part in this trial. The assessment was made once, ten days after the last session, so the trial does not show how long the effect lasts.

The 55-person saline trial injected a non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid product (Glytone 1) into one cheek and saline into the other cheek of 55 women, three times, one month apart. After 3 months, skin radiance was better on the hyaluronic acid side, and the difference in elasticity between the two sides was not large enough to rule out chance. Pierre Fabre funded and conducted this trial, and 9 of its employees took part.

The 60-person trial injected hyaluronic acid or a dummy injection over the whole face three times with an automatic injector and followed people up to 12 weeks. Skin moisture was higher in the people who received hyaluronic acid, and there was no clear difference in elasticity between the two groups.

The 12-person saline trial injected the hyaluronic acid product Profhilo on one side of the mouth and saline on the other in 12 women, twice, 30 days apart. Dermal thickness increased on both sides, so the Profhilo side was not better than saline, and 54.5% of participants were not satisfied with the results. Profhilo is a product that did not appear in a name search of the MFDS device database.

The trials with more participants compared against people who received no treatment. The 202-person trial compared 131 people who received SKINVIVE (the product containing lidocaine) in the cheeks with 71 people who did not, and after 1 month the share whose cheek smoothness score improved was 57.9% and 4.5%. Allergan supported this trial, and AbbVie took part in interpreting the data and reviewing the paper. Because the comparison group received no injection at all, participants and investigators knew who received what.

The 448-person trial in China injected 4 mL of non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid over the whole face three times, 28 days apart, and compared these people with 224 people who received no treatment. Moisture was higher on the injected side at every assessment, and elasticity was better 7, 14 and 28 days after the last injection. The last assessment was 4 weeks after the last injection. The study summary gives no product name and declares no conflicts of interest. The amount of 4 mL is what this trial used, not the right amount for an individual.

A 2025 analysis that pooled 12 studies of hyaluronic acid injections reported that moisture and radiance improved but found no clear difference in elasticity. The size of the moisture results varied widely between studies. Another review that gathered 13 studies judged that most of them were not trials that properly divided people into two groups for comparison, and that the quality of the evidence was low.

How pores were measured

In this search, we did not find a trial that measured pores by comparing skin injected with a hyaluronic acid skin booster or polynucleotide against skin that received no treatment or saline.

A 30-person trial in Thailand injected Belotero Revive and another hyaluronic acid filler from the same company on opposite sides of the face, three times, 4 weeks apart. Through 32 weeks, pore volume decreased on both sides, and it decreased 24.2% more on the Belotero Revive side. Because both sides were injected, there is no result compared with no injection. Merz supplied the products.

A 20-person study in Korea reported that pore measures improved at 12 and 24 weeks after three sessions of Belotero Revive. The study had no comparison group, Merz funded it, and one member of the research team served as an advisor and speaker for Merz.

A 32-person trial in Thailand gave people with enlarged pores botulinum toxin alone on one side of the face, and toxin together with hyaluronic acid filler injected into the skin on the other. Both sides improved, but at 6 months the toxin-only side was slightly better, and 18 people (56.25%) developed lumps that could be felt on the combined side, most of which went down within a few months. The research team declared no conflicts of interest.

What the PDRN injection studies reported

In this search, we did not find a trial that injected PDRN to look at wrinkles, skin texture or dryness in facial skin and compared it with an untreated side or a dummy injection. The studies that injected PDRN in people were two scar studies.

A 44-person trial in Korea compared people who received PDRN injections into the surgical site on the neck on the day after thyroid surgery and the day after that with people who did not, 3 months later. There was no clear difference in the overall scar score, and only the scar redness (blood vessel) score was lower on the PDRN side. The scars were neck surgery scars, not facial skin.

A 17-person acne scar study followed three groups up to 16 weeks: toxin injected with air, PDRN injections, and both together. Scar scores fell most in the combined group. Each group had 5 to 6 people, and the study summary does not include a calculation of the differences between the groups.

A 2026 review that gathered 7 trials of polynucleotide and PDRN (183 people) wrote that the evidence was limited because of small numbers of participants and varied methods. The four trials that this review grouped as skin rejuvenation trials either applied polynucleotide to the skin or compared two products with each other. None of them compared polynucleotide or PDRN injected into the face against a dummy injection or no treatment.

What the Rituo study reported

The only study that tested Rituo in people was a 2026 trial of 20 people at a Korean university hospital. In 20 people aged 30 to 65, the trial injected Rituo into one side of the face and a non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid skin booster from the same seller (Humedix) into the other, 1.5 mL each in a single session with an automatic injector, and followed them up to 20 weeks. The injection on the Rituo side also contained that hyaluronic acid product.

The research team reported that the Rituo side improved more at several time points on measures such as skin density and elasticity, wrinkle depth, pore area and moisture. There were no serious adverse reactions, and brief redness and mild swelling went down without treatment.

The research team stated two limitations. Because the trial was small and followed people for only 20 weeks, how long the effect lasts and side effects that appear late are not known, and the team did not separately correct for the chance that differences appear by luck when many measures are compared. One member of the research team advised L&C Bio on developing this product, and there was no outside funding. The paper described Rituo as a human tissue product regulated by the MFDS.

When the effect starts and how long it lasts

According to the SKINVIVE precautions for use, the clinical trial in the approval documents assessed people over 4 weeks, and the safety and efficacy of long-term use beyond the period shown in clinical trials “have not been confirmed.” The precautions for use of Restylane Vital Lidocaine (수허12-703호) contain the same sentence, and this document has no summary of clinical trial results.

The clinical trial in the SKINVIVE approval documents is a manufacturer trial of 131 people with no comparison group. At 4 weeks, 96.2% had cheek skin roughness improve by 1 point or more. A 2019 paper (by Allergan researchers) that reported the same number of people and response rate found that the share who improved fell to 96.2% at 1 month, 76.3% at 4 months and 34.9% at 6 months, and was 87.1% after retreatment.

A Korean study of 6 men injected non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid three times, 2 weeks apart, with an automatic injector. Skin moisture values rose and then returned to about the pre-treatment level 4 weeks after all sessions were finished. In a Korean mulgwang study with Restylane Vital (30 women, no comparison group), 66% said the effect lasted more than 4 months and 77% were satisfied.

The number of sessions and the interval differ between product documents. The directions for use of Restylane Vital Lidocaine say “a treatment regimen of 3 treatments at 4-week intervals is recommended,” recommend repeating maintenance treatment every 6 months, and add that “the results or patient preference may vary.” SKINVIVE advises waiting “at least 2 weeks” before retreatment, until side effects have resolved. The Belotero Revive and Rejuran documents do not give a number of sessions or an interval.

Most studies gave three sessions 4 weeks apart, and some gave three sessions 2 weeks apart or two sessions 4 weeks apart. We did not find a trial that compared session intervals or numbers of sessions with each other. The studies reviewed in this article measured the effect 1 week after the last session at the earliest (elasticity in the 448-person trial), and we did not find a study that measured how many days it takes to see a change.

How it differs from Rejuran and skin Botox

How Rejuran and mulgwang injections differ

Placed side by side, the approval documents differ in ingredients, approved areas and treatment instructions. Rejuran (제허14-825호) is a Class 4 medical device (the highest-risk class in Korea’s four-class system) made by PharmaResearch, and we checked its approval documents on September 15, 2026.

Item	Restylane Vital Lidocaine	SKINVIVE	Belotero Revive	Rejuran
Listed ingredients	Cross-linked hyaluronic acid, lidocaine	Cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel, lidocaine hydrochloride 0.3%	Cross-linked hyaluronic acid	Sodium polynucleotide
Approved area	Fine wrinkles of the face	Fine wrinkles of the cheeks	Fine lines around the lips	Facial wrinkles
Injection depth	The dermis, lower dermis	Intradermal only	Below the epidermis to the mid dermis	Not in the document
Sessions · interval	3 sessions 4 weeks apart, maintenance every 6 months recommended	Retreatment at least 2 weeks apart	None (maximum 1.0ml in 1 session)	None
With other fillers	Not mixed with other products	No clinical data for areas treated with another company’s filler	Contraindicated in areas with permanent filler	Contraindicated in areas with non-resorbable filler or recent filler
Clinical trial in the approval documents	None (list of post-marketing reports only)	131 people with no comparison group, 4 weeks	170 people around the lips, 8 and 12 weeks	None

The only study that directly compared polynucleotide and hyaluronic acid on the face was a 27-person trial around the eyes. The trial injected polynucleotide around one eye and non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid around the other, three times, 2 weeks apart, and found no clear difference between the two sides in visual assessment scores and overall improvement scores. Improvement rates in elasticity and moisture measured with devices fell over time on both sides and were higher on the polynucleotide side. The study summary does not give product names.

We did not find a trial that compared Rejuran directly with Restylane Vital, SKINVIVE or Belotero Revive on the face, nor a trial that compared them on inner dryness.

Rejuran HB plus (제허21-629호) has a different approval number from Rejuran. The intended use is “used to temporarily improve fine lines at the outer corners of the eyes in adults through physical repair, by injecting sodium hyaluronate and sodium polynucleotide under the skin.”

How it differs from skin Botox

The 60 botulinum toxin products checked in the MFDS drug database on September 22, 2026 are all prescription drugs. Hyaluronic acid skin boosters are approved as medical devices, as the table above shows.

A 2024 analysis that pooled 10 studies (153 people) of toxin injected shallowly into the skin (commonly called skin Botox) reported good results for sebum, pores, redness, wrinkles, skin texture and elasticity, but not for skin moisture. The research team also stated that the pooled studies were too small to draw conclusions. Most of the research team had served as advisors or speakers for the toxin company Allergan.

We did not find a trial that compared toxin injected into the skin with a hyaluronic acid skin booster, each given on its own. The closest is the 32-person pore trial above, in which adding hyaluronic acid to toxin was no better than toxin alone and lumps increased.

What side effects have been reported

The precautions for use of all three products list injection-site reactions, and each describes how long they last a little differently. Restylane Vital says reactions such as bruising, redness, itching, swelling and pain “resolve spontaneously within a few days,” SKINVIVE says inflammatory reactions “may last for one week,” and Belotero Revive says they “disappear naturally within a few days.” In the Rejuran documents, they last about 1 week.

The documents for all three products advise against use around the eyes, such as between the eyebrows, because injection into a blood vessel can cause serious side effects such as blindness, and the Restylane Vital and SKINVIVE approval documents say not to inject into a blood vessel. According to the Restylane Vital warnings, rare but serious side effects include temporary or permanent vision damage, blindness, cerebral ischemia or cerebral hemorrhage leading to stroke, and skin necrosis. Injection into the eyelids is a contraindication for SKINVIVE, and Belotero Revive states that the risk of granulomas, necrosis and vascular occlusion rises with deeper injection and larger amounts.

In the 131-person clinical trial in the SKINVIVE approval documents, there were injection-site lumps in 12 people (9.2%), bleeding in 4 (3.1%) and hematoma in 3 (2.3%). Most reactions were mild or moderate and lasted 1 week or less, and 95% returned to daily activities within 1 day after treatment. There were no serious adverse events related to the procedure.

In the 170-person clinical trial (around the lips) in the Belotero Revive approval documents, 48.2% had procedure-related adverse events, and the most common were swelling at the injection site (30.6%) and hematoma (22.9%). The list of adverse events in the same document also includes “cystic acne, milia, dry skin.”

The Restylane Vital precautions for use list adverse reactions reported worldwide after the product went on sale, ranging from edema to ischemia and necrosis including vascular occlusion, and eye disorders such as reduced vision. The document states that these frequencies were counted based on the number of products sold. People with darker skin (Fitzpatrick types IV to VI) can develop pigmentation after inflammation following injection, according to the same document.

According to a 2024 case report, vision problems developed after Restylane Vital was injected under the skin with a cannula into wrinkles between the eyebrows and on the forehead, and part of the field of vision remained blocked 8 months later. The research team wrote that skin boosters are commonly thought to carry no risk of vision problems. There is also a 2025 case report of optic nerve damage after a skin booster injection, and its title does not name the product. Case reports describe what happened to one person or a few people, so they do not show how often it happens.

The only study that counted raised bumps at the injection points was a 15-person polynucleotide trial. Bumps appeared in 56.7% of treatments on the Rejuran i side and in 13.3% on the side treated with the other company’s product, and the study summary does not say how many days they lasted. The other company in the comparison (BR PHARM) funded this trial. In participant reports from the 202-person SKINVIVE trial, redness, swelling and lumps were the most common, and most went down within 3 days.

In this search, we did not find a study that measured, independently of the manufacturers, how often lumps or blood vessel accidents occur with hyaluronic acid skin boosters, nor a study that measured how many days it takes before people can wear makeup or go back to work.

What the documents say to be careful about after treatment

The table below shows instructions from the approval documents submitted by the manufacturers, not results of comparison trials in people. Instructions can differ by product and procedure. Check the actual instructions with the medical staff who treated you.

Item	Restylane Vital Lidocaine	SKINVIVE	Belotero Revive	Rejuran
Makeup	Not in the document	Advised not to apply for 12 hours	Not allowed for at least 12 hours (including skincare products)	Avoid for 12 hours
Sun · temperature · sauna	Avoid sun, UV light and extreme temperatures until the initial swelling and redness go down	Avoid sun, UV light and long exposure below 0°C; stay out of saunas and steam rooms for 2 weeks	Avoid saunas, peels, sun, UV light and extreme heat and cold for at least 2 weeks	Avoid long exposure to sun, UV light, cold or heat (sauna, steam room and so on) for 2 weeks
Alcohol · exercise · touching	Not in the document	Not in the document	Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and after treatment, avoid strenuous physical activity, do not press or touch the treated area	Not in the document
Laser · peels	A “theoretical risk” of inflammatory reaction if laser or peel treatment is done after the procedure	“Must not be used at the same time” as laser, deep chemical peels or dermabrasion	Not used within 2 weeks after the last treatment	Not in the document
Massage	Gently massage right away if irregularities appear (part of the procedure)	Massage the treated area after injection (part of the procedure)	Gently massage after injection (part of the procedure)	Massage after injection (part of the procedure)
Reactions that last	Not in the document	If inflammatory reactions last 1 week or longer or other side effects appear, the treating doctor must be told	Not in the document	If reactions last 1 week or longer, see a doctor as soon as possible

We have not published prices yet

We publish a price range only after we have collected at least 3 publicly posted prices for the same conditions. For skin boosters we have none so far. The Belotero Revive directions for use say the maximum amount in 1 treatment session should not exceed 1.0ml, and SKINVIVE states that the injected amount depends on the area, based on the doctor’s experience. When you look at quotes, check that the product name, the amount and the number of sessions are the same; only then are you comparing the same conditions.

What we have not confirmed yet

Related pages

• Rejuran
• Rituo (in Korean)
• Juvelook Skin · Juvelook Volume (in Korean)
• Rejuran i and Juvelook Eye for under the eyes (in Korean)
• Precautions after filler and botulinum toxin (in Korean)
• Guide to types of skin procedures (in Korean)

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Sources

• Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (식품의약품안전처), MFDS medical device database (의료기기안심책방). Tissue repair biomaterial (조직수복용생체재료), Galderma Korea (갈더마코리아(주)), 수허12-702호 Restylane Skinboosters Vital Light 1.0 ml · 수허12-703호 Restylane Skinboosters Vital Lidocaine 1.0ml, approval date 2012-05-17. Approval record, and attached documents for 수허12-703호 (directions for use · precautions for use). Korean text quoted: “4주 간격으로 3회 처치하는 처치법이 권고된다” · “그 결과나 환자 선호도는 다를 수 있다” · “수 일 이내에 자발적으로 소실된다” · “이론적 위험” · “확인되지 않았다”. Checked 2026-09-27~28
• Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (식품의약품안전처), MFDS medical device database (의료기기안심책방). Tissue repair biomaterial (조직수복용생체재료), AbbVie Korea (한국애브비(주)), 수허18-134호 SKINVIVE by Juvederm, approval date 2018-05-09. Approval record and attached documents (directions for use · precautions for use, including the clinical trial summary). Korean text quoted: “확인되지 않았다” · “최소 2주 간격” · “일주일 동안 지속될 수 있다” · “동시에 사용해서는 안된다” · remarks “기술문서 심사” · “임상자료 심사”. Checked 2026-09-27~28
• Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (식품의약품안전처), MFDS medical device database (의료기기안심책방). Tissue repair biomaterial (조직수복용생체재료), Merz Asia Pacific (멀츠아시아퍼시픽피티이엘티디), 수허22-105호 Belotero Revive 1.0ml, approval date 2022-05-09. Approval record and attached documents (directions for use · precautions for use, including the clinical trial summary). Korean text quoted: “며칠 내에 자연적으로 사라진다” · “낭포성 여드름, 비립종, 피부 건조” · intended use “일시적으로 개선”. Checked 2026-09-27~28
• Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (식품의약품안전처), MFDS medical device database (의료기기안심책방). Tissue repair biomaterial (조직수복용생체재료), PharmaResearch ((주)파마리서치), 제허14-825호 리쥬란 (Rejuran), approval date 2014-04-09. Approval record and attached documents (directions for use · precautions for use). Checked 2026-09-15. Intended use in the approval record for 제허21-629호 리쥬란HB plus (Rejuran HB plus), Korean text quoted: “히알루론산나트륨과 폴리뉴클레오티드나트륨을 피하에 주입하여 물리적인 수복을 통해 성인의 눈꼬리 잔주름을 일시적으로 개선하기 위해 사용”. Checked 2026-09-27
• Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (식품의약품안전처), MFDS medical device database (의료기기안심책방). Intended use of the 182 products for sale in Korea with active status, out of all 1,292 in item classifications B04230 · B04230.01 · B04230.02; product-name searches for “물광” · “스킨부스터” · “연어” · “Profhilo” and others. Checked 2026-09-27
• Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (식품의약품안전처), MFDS drug database (Nedrug, 의약품안전나라). Indications · dosage and administration · precautions for use of the 52 products with the product name “폴리데옥시리보뉴클레오” (리쥬비넥스주 · 플라센텍스주, PharmaResearch ((주)파마리서치); 리본힐주사, Dongkook Pharmaceutical (동국제약(주)); and others). Checked 2026-09-27
• Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (식품의약품안전처), MFDS drug database (Nedrug, 의약품안전나라). Category (prescription drug) of the 60 products whose main ingredient is botulinum toxin type A. Checked 2026-09-22
• Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (식품의약품안전처), MFDS medical device database (의료기기안심책방) · MFDS drug database (의약품안전나라). Product-name search for “리투오” (Rituo): 0 medical devices · 0 drugs. Functional cosmetic product information (reported) 2026002513 엘라비에리투오이씨엠액티브앰플 and 2 others, Humedix ((주)휴메딕스). Checked 2026-09-27
• 이데일리 (Edaily) 2026-04-06 「”ECM 스킨부스터 의료기기 아닌 인체조직”…식약처, 규제 예고」 [ECM skin booster is human tissue, not a medical device; MFDS announces regulation] · 이투데이 (Etoday) 2026-04-29 「엘앤씨바이오, ECM 스킨부스터 ‘리투오’ 논란 해명…”법·기준 준수”」 [L&C Bio responds to controversy over ECM skin booster Rituo: complies with law and standards] · 머니투데이 (Money Today) 2026-09-21 「기증된 시체서 나온 피부조직, 미용 시술에 쓰였나…관리 사각지대」 [Was skin tissue from donated cadavers used in cosmetic procedures? A gap in oversight]. The articles are news reports quoting an MFDS official, the company, and data submitted to the National Assembly, not MFDS records. Checked 2026-09-27
• Rho NK, Kim HS, Kim SY, et al. Injectable “Skin Boosters” in Aging Skin Rejuvenation: A Current Overview. Arch Plast Surg. 2024;51(6):528-541. PMID 39544509 · full text checked · no conflicts of interest declared · the 2024 Korean review paper in the text
• Lee BM, Han DG, Choi WS. Rejuvenating Effects of Facial Hydrofilling using Restylane Vital. Arch Plast Surg. 2015;42(3):282-7. PMID 26015882 · full text checked · no conflicts of interest declared · the Korean 30-person mulgwang study in the text
• Kim ST. Comparison of Polynucleotide and Polydeoxyribonucleotide in Dermatology: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Perspectives. Pharmaceutics. 2025;17(8):1024. PMID 40871045 · abstract only · university funding · the 2025 review paper in the text
• Marques C, Porcello A, Cerrano M, et al. From Polydeoxyribonucleotides (PDRNs) to Polynucleotides (PNs): Bridging the Gap Between Scientific Definitions, Molecular Insights, and Clinical Applications of Multifunctional Biomolecules. Biomolecules. 2025;15(1):148. PMID 39858543 · abstract only · many authors are employees of industry companies · the review paper by company employees in the text
• Duteil L, Queille-Roussel C, Issa H, et al. The Effects of a Non-crossed-linked Hyaluronic Acid Gel on the Aging Signs of the Face versus Normal Saline: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Split-faced Study. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2023;16(2):29-36. PMID 36909864 · abstract only · 3 authors are FILLMED employees · the 30-person saline trial in the text
• Baspeyras M, Rouvrais C, Liégard L, et al. Clinical and biometrological efficacy of a hyaluronic acid-based mesotherapy product: a randomised controlled study. Arch Dermatol Res. 2013;305(8):673-82. PMID 23715889 · abstract only, funding sentence checked in full text · supported by Pierre Fabre · the 55-person saline trial in the text
• Choi SY, Ko EJ, Yoo KH, et al. Effects of hyaluronic acid injected using the mesogun injector with stamp-type microneedle on skin hydration. Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(6):e13963. PMID 32621657 · abstract only · the 60-person dummy injection trial in the text
• Zanella G, de Souza Ataíde FT, de Lima Bonato TC, et al. Effects of Profhilo® Tissue Bioremodeling on Skin Texture and Perioral Wrinkles: A Randomized Controlled Triple-Blind Clinical Trial. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026;50(11):4324-4332. PMID 41731228 · abstract only · no conflicts of interest declared · the 12-person saline trial in the text
• Alexiades M, Palm MD, Kaufman-Janette J, et al. A Randomized, Multicenter, Evaluator-blind Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of VYC-12L Treatment for Skin Quality Improvements. Dermatol Surg. 2023;49(7):682-688. PMID 37163665 · full text checked · supported by Allergan, AbbVie involved · the 202-person SKINVIVE trial in the text
• Cheng H, Jiang M, Zhong S, et al. A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Assessor-Blinded Study Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Injectable Non-Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid for Improving Facial Skin Rejuvenation. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2026;19:590699. PMID 41971651 · abstract only · no conflicts of interest declared · the 448-person trial in the text
• Zhou R, Yu M. The Effect of Local Hyaluronic Acid Injection on Skin Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(1):e16760. PMID 39807700 · full text checked · no funding · the analysis that pooled 12 studies in the text
• Ghatge AS, Ghatge SB. The Effectiveness of Injectable Hyaluronic Acid in the Improvement of the Facial Skin Quality: A Systematic Review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2023;16:891-899. PMID 37038447 · full text checked · no funding · the 13-study review paper in the text
• Rutnumnoi T, Palakornkitti P, Anuntrangsee T, et al. Superficial Intradermal Injections of Cohesive Polydensified Matrix Hyaluronic Acid Fillers for the Improvement of Facial Pores and Skin Quality: A Split-Face Randomized Study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(5):e70209. PMID 40304039 · full text checked · products supplied by Merz · the Thai 30-person trial in the text
• Park JY, Youn C, Lee C, et al. Facial Skin Quality Improvement After Treatment With CPM-HA20G: Clinical Experience in Korea. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(1):e16795. PMID 39844659 · abstract only · Merz funding, author is a Merz advisor · the Korean 20-person study in the text
• Vachiramon V, Chirasuthat S, Boonpethkaew S, et al. A Study of Combined Onabotulinumtoxin A and Hyaluronic Acid Filler for the Treatment of Enlarged Facial Pores. Toxins (Basel). 2025;17(1):38. PMID 39852991 · full text checked · no conflicts of interest declared · the Thai 32-person trial in the text
• Kim BR, Kwon SH, Kim JW, et al. Early Postoperative Injections of Polydeoxyribonucleotide Prevent Hypertrophic Scarring After Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2023;12(7):361-370. PMID 35713247 · abstract only · the 44-person neck scar trial in the text
• Park MH, Hwang SK, Hwang JK, et al. Air-Botulinum Neurotoxin and Polydeoxyribonucleotide Injections for Acne Scar Treatment. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025;49(23):6668-6674. PMID 40826297 · abstract only · the 17-person acne scar study in the text
• Alhussain AM, et al. Polynucleotides and Polydeoxyribonucleotides for Skin Rejuvenation, Postoperative Scar Prevention, and Wound Healing: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. Cureus. 2026;18(7):e112403. PMID 42572627 · full text checked · no funding · the 7-trial review paper in the text
• Lee YI, Chau NH, Nguyen NH, et al. Injectable Particulated Human Acellular Dermal Matrix Booster for Skin Restoration: An Integrated Randomized, Split-Face, Double-Blinded Clinical Trial and Preclinical Study. Int J Mol Sci. 2026;27(5):2193. PMID 41828422 · full text checked · one author advised L&C Bio on product development, no outside funding · the 20-person Rituo trial in the text
• Niforos F, Ogilvie P, Cavallini M, et al. VYC-12 Injectable Gel Is Safe And Effective For Improvement Of Facial Skin Topography: A Prospective Study. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:791-798. PMID 31749628 · abstract only, interests sentence checked in full text · Allergan researchers · the 2019 131-person paper in the text
• Seok J, Hong JY, Choi SY, et al. A potential relationship between skin hydration and stamp-type microneedle intradermal hyaluronic acid injection in middle-aged male face. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2016;15(4):578-582. PMID 27401775 · abstract only · the Korean 6-man study in the text
• Lee YJ, Kim HT, Lee YJ, et al. Comparison of the effects of polynucleotide and hyaluronic acid fillers on periocular rejuvenation: a randomized, double-blind, split-face trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2022;33(1):254-260. PMID 32248707 · abstract only · no product names in the abstract · the 27-person trial around the eyes in the text
• Rahman E, Rao P, Philipp-Dormston W, et al. Intradermal Botulinum Toxin A on Skin Quality and Facial Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024;12(8):e6084. PMID 39185380 · abstract only · most authors are Allergan advisors · speakers · the analysis of 10 toxin studies in the text
• Barrera P, Murray G, Pantano A. Partially Reversible Episode of Blindness after Intravascular Hyaluronic Acid Filler Injection. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024;12(11):e6316. PMID 39568688 · full text checked · the 2024 case in the text
• Joo HJ, Kim DH. Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Following Skin Booster Injection. J Neuroophthalmol. 2025;45(1):e60-e62. PMID 38595300 · title only · the 2025 case in the text
• Jeon W, Park M, Kim SW, et al. Efficacy of Ionization-Adjusted PN Filler in Minimizing Injection Pain: A Randomized, Patient-Blinded, Split-Face Study. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026;50(7):2723-2730. PMID 41361144 · full text checked (research for the Rejuran article) · Rejuran i is the comparison product · supported by BR PHARM · the 15-person polynucleotide trial in the text
• Chiu A, Montes JR, Munavalli G, et al. Improved Patient Satisfaction With Skin After Treatment of Cheek Skin Roughness and Fine Lines With VYC-12L: Participant-Reported Outcomes From a Prospective, Randomized Study. Aesthet Surg J. 2023;43(11):1367-1375. PMID 37074002 · full text checked · 2 authors are AbbVie employees · participant reports from the 202-person SKINVIVE trial in the text

Written by SKINMODU 2026-09-28 · Approval records checked 2026-09-27~28 (Rejuran 2026-09-15, botulinum toxin 2026-09-22) · Studies checked 2026-09-15 · 2026-09-27 · Cross-reviewed 2026-09-28 (Codex · Gemini) · Final review pending · No prices collected yet · English edition 2026-10-04, translated from the Korean page as of 2026-09-28