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When we counsel patients about sagging pores, cases that look like the same "wide pores" often have very different causes. A pore that looks wide because of sebum and a pore that sags downward because the dermis has emptied out call for different approaches. That is why, before grouping Retigen and Oligio X into a single set, in the clinic we first sort out why the pore became sagged in the first place. The degree of improvement and the time it takes can vary depending on each person's skin condition.

At first, many people only feel that their makeup cakes a little or that their pores stand out in the afternoon. Often they come in for a consultation only after the pores have visibly sagged to the point where makeup can no longer cover them. In between, we frequently hear how frustrating it was to try pore-care cosmetics first and feel no noticeable change.

If you spend time on cosmetics alone without pinpointing the cause, you may realize only belatedly that the pores are actually sagging downward due to a loss of firmness. The first two things we distinguish in the clinic are the following.

• Pores that look wide because there is a lot of sebum
• Pores that sag downward because firmness has declined

These two are different problems, so checking your own pore type first is the starting point for deciding the direction of treatment. In the early stage the direction may be relatively easier to set, but this too varies depending on skin condition.

Retigen is known as a procedure that helps replenish collagen in the dermis. As an analogy, it is close to the principle of helping the sponge inside a sunken mattress fill back up from within. When the area around the pore is filled from the inside, it gains the strength to support the pore opening, which can help with the management of sagging pores.

When collagen in the dermis decreases, the structure that supported the pore weakens, and this tends to lead to the pore opening sagging downward. That is why Retigen is one of the procedures considered as an approach to a state where the pore has emptied out and sagged.

That said, the effect and response of the procedure can differ depending on each person's skin condition, and swelling, pain, or redness may occur. Whether the procedure is applied is decided through consultation with the medical staff. The sequence of checking the skin first before recommending lifting devices including Oligio X was addressed in the same vein in Why we look at the skin first in the clinic before recommending Oligio X.

Oligio X is a lifting procedure that delivers radiofrequency (RF) heat energy into the dermis. It is known to instantly contract existing collagen while, at the same time, inducing the production of new collagen inside the skin through heat stimulation, which can help with firmness management.

If Retigen was compared earlier to the process of a sponge filling back up, Oligio X can be likened to the finishing stage of pressing the filled sponge down to fix it in place and smoothing the surface. It is a procedure that can be considered as an approach to a state where firmness has weakened and the pore has sagged.

Oligio X too has individual differences in effect and response, and since swelling or redness may occur after the procedure, sufficient consultation with the medical staff must come first. The reason we recommend different approaches even within the same radiofrequency category, device by device, is explained in detail in Why we recommend Oligio Kiss and ONDA lifting differently.

If you have any questions, you can ask comfortably through Get a consultation via chat now.

Sagging pores often do not arise from a single cause alone. Because an emptied-out pore and weakened firmness frequently appear at the same time, a single procedure alone may have limits in its approach. We take the view that designing them together—filling the foundation around the pore with Retigen and firming this up with Oligio X—can be more helpful for firmness management.

The points each procedure targets can be summarized as follows.

At On Clinic, after analyzing the skin condition with the AI skin analyzer MUSE, we guide the treatment combination according to each person's degree of sagging and skin thickness. In some cases we also consider other devices such as Thermage FLX together instead of Oligio X. The reason we do not judge even a widely known device like Thermage by shot count alone was discussed in Why we do not judge Thermage shot count by numbers alone.

The key is to find the combination that fits your own pore type. Rather than settling on a single laser first, we recommend that you confirm through examination whether the pore has sagged because it emptied out or because firmness weakened, and then decide the direction.

Many people put off visiting a dermatology clinic because they think pores can be managed with home care. Cosmetics can mainly help temporarily tidy up the sebum or dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. However, pores that have sagged due to reduced collagen in the dermis or a loss of firmness are often hard to change noticeably through surface care alone.

A procedure is different in character in that it acts directly on the dermis and approaches the problem in the direction of helping to replenish collagen or improve firmness. That does not mean a procedure is the only right answer. Surface care and procedures target different layers, so which one you need can only be judged after checking your pore type.

There are cases where people receive just one procedure, feel there is no change, and stop. Behind this, not infrequently, is a sequence in which the procedure was decided before the pore type was even checked. The criteria worth checking when choosing a place for consultation can be summarized as follows.

1. Do they carefully analyze your skin condition to identify what type your pores are?
2. Do they propose a treatment combination suited to you based on the analysis results?
3. Do they have a variety of devices and options rather than being limited to a single device?

No single place's direction is the only right answer. We recommend that you receive sufficient consultations at several places and confirm for yourself what combination fits your own pore type and skin condition. The perspective of sorting out whether sagging comes first or firmness comes first also continues in Which comes first, sagging or firmness—the criteria that divide the choice of lifting.

Which pore types are Retigen and Oligio X suitable for?

Retigen can help when a pore has emptied out and sagged due to reduced collagen in the dermis, and Oligio X is a procedure that can be considered when a pore has drooped due to a loss of firmness. When the two appear at the same time, a combined procedure is sometimes reviewed, and since the suitable combination varies with skin condition, it is best decided through consultation with the medical staff.

Can swelling or pain occur after a pore procedure?

With both Retigen and Oligio X, swelling, pain, or redness may occur after the procedure. Since the degree of the response and the recovery period differ depending on each person's skin condition, we recommend consulting thoroughly with the medical staff before the procedure.

When do the effects of a pore procedure start to appear?

The timing and degree at which effects appear vary depending on each person's skin condition. Procedures that induce collagen production often show changes gradually over a certain period, and the number of sessions and the care direction are also decided individually through examination.

Can another device be used instead of Oligio X?

Depending on the skin condition and the degree of sagging, other devices such as Thermage FLX are sometimes considered instead of Oligio X. Which device is suitable is best decided through analysis using tools such as an AI skin analyzer and through consultation with the medical staff.

What is the difference between cosmetic pore care and a dermatology procedure?

Cosmetics can mainly help temporarily manage the sebum or dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, but pores that have sagged due to reduced collagen in the dermis or a loss of firmness are often hard to change noticeably with cosmetics alone. Because a dermatology procedure acts directly on the dermis and approaches the problem in the direction of helping to replenish collagen or improve firmness, you may consider a treatment consultation depending on your pore type.

After radiofrequency lifting such as Oligio X, warmth, redness, or a tingling sensation may linger at the treated area, but these tend to settle within a few days, with individual variation. With an injectable procedure like Retigen that works in the dermis, slight swelling or small marks at the injection sites can appear briefly and often fade over time. How recovery unfolds and how long it takes depend on your skin condition and the extent of treatment, so it is worth leaving some room in your schedule.

There is no single fixed price for pore treatment. The makeup of the cost varies with whether Retigen and Oligio X are done together, whether the whole face or a specific area is treated, the number of shots or sessions, and whether pre-treatment analysis such as AI skin measurement and aftercare are included. The exact cost is explained through a consultation after your pore type and degree of sagging have been assessed.

On Clinic is located in the Gangnam area of Seoul, with convenient subway access that makes it easy to stop by during a trip to Korea. Consultation and interpretation support in English, along with reservations, are available, so from confirming your pore type to deciding whether to combine Retigen and Oligio X, feel free to reach out through our online consultation.

Written by Dr. Oh Seung-min (Director of On Clinic, graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine, Chair of the Academic Committee of the Korean Society of Laser Dermatology and Hair). You can find his detailed profile at Meet the medical team. First published 2026-06-05 / Last reviewed 2026-07-09

This article is intended to provide general information; the appropriate treatment and results may vary depending on each individual's condition.