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When consulting about wrinkles in the clinic, many people ask, "Wouldn't it be enough to just get the single most powerful procedure?" But even for the same facial wrinkles, when the underlying cause is different, the direction changes. Fine lines, expression wrinkles, and wrinkles that have deepened as elasticity breaks down are each telling a different story, and you have to read the cause first to decide which is right among Rejuran, botulinum toxin, and monopolar RF. In this article, we break wrinkles down by cause and lay out why the treatment direction changes.

When the cause of a wrinkle is different, the right procedure is also different. They can be broadly divided into three types: fine lines where the texture cracks shallowly due to skin aging, expression wrinkles that fold as the facial muscles move repeatedly, and deep, coarse wrinkles that set in as skin elasticity declines.

A wall analogy makes it easy to understand. A shallow hairline crack on the surface can simply be filled in, but a crack caused by the wall itself tilting has to be addressed by correcting the structure. Wrinkles are the same, so if you get a procedure that doesn't match a wrinkle with a different cause, it can be hard to get the result you expected. That's why the first thing we do in a consultation is not to choose a procedure, but to check together what the cause of your wrinkle is.

For fine lines that form as if the skin texture cracks shallowly with collagen loss, you can consider Rejuran. Rejuran is a procedure that works by injecting an ingredient directly into the skin to improve the skin's own texture and regenerative capacity.

It is often suitable for areas where the skin is thin and fine lines stand out, such as around the eyes or the cheeks. Its characteristic is the pace of change. Rather than changing right after the procedure, the texture improves gradually as new collagen is created, so it is better to observe the change over time. Effects and reactions can differ depending on each person's skin condition, and whether the procedure is suitable is decided through a consultation with the medical staff.

For the same reason, there are cases where people feel "it doesn't seem to have worked" even after getting the procedure. Most of the time it is related to the pace at which the change appears or the early recovery reaction, and I have organized this part separately in Things to check first when you feel Rejuran isn't working. If you are weighing shallow fine lines around the eyes and forehead, Fine lines around the eyes and forehead and the skinbooster approach is also worth referring to.

If you are unsure which type your fine lines are, you may want to first check the area and condition through Get a consultation via chat now.

Wrinkles that appear on the glabella, around the eyes, and on the forehead when you smile or frown are often mainly caused by muscle movement. For these expression wrinkles, botulinum toxin is often the approach, and it works by easing the excessive movement of the muscles.

What is easy to miss here is the interval and dose. There is a view that if you repeat it too often or excessively, antibodies form and the effect can become lower than before. Keeping an appropriate interval and dose helps with long-term management. After the procedure, temporary changes in muscle movement, swelling, and redness may appear, and reactions can differ depending on individual condition. That is why deciding the appropriate dose and area together during the pre-procedure consultation is important.

For deep, coarse wrinkles that set in as skin elasticity declines, you can consider monopolar radiofrequency (RF, Radio Frequency) lifting devices such as Thermage FLX or Oligio X. It is a method that delivers heat energy to the deep layers of the skin to induce collagen regeneration and help improve elasticity.

Like Rejuran, the RF family also produces results as new collagen forms, so many people feel the change some time after the procedure rather than right after. Swelling, a sensation of heat, and redness may temporarily appear at the treated area, and there are individual differences. If you are curious about the characteristics of each device and the criteria for judgment, reading Misconceptions about Thermage pain and effect and The difference between Oligio and ONDA lifting together will broaden your understanding.

There are cases where Rejuran, botulinum toxin, and monopolar RF are done together in the hope of synergy. For someone who has wrinkles with different causes mixed on one face, it can be a reasonable choice.

However, this combination is not equally suitable for everyone. A process of weighing your own wrinkle type, skin condition, and recovery circumstances together to decide the order and combination is needed. Piling on strong procedures is not the right answer; choosing a method that matches the cause and proceeding only as much as needed often leads to satisfaction.

A procedure's effect is not completed by the procedure alone. Daily habits affect how the results are maintained, and two things are especially important.

1. Sun protection — UV is associated with collagen damage and is known as a factor that worsens skin aging and wrinkles. Even the elasticity newly formed by a procedure can be quickly used up if UV care is neglected, so the habit of consistently applying sunscreen helps.
2. Correcting expression habits — If you have a habit of unconsciously furrowing your brow or squinting your eyes strongly, expression wrinkles form repeatedly. Just consciously reducing these habits helps maintain the effect.

If you want to know more about care after a procedure, refer to A talk about regeneration care after a procedure too. Rather than piling on excessively strong procedures, consistently managing with a method that suits your own skin can help in the long run.

If you are curious about which type your wrinkles are closest to and in what order it would be good to approach them, Get a consultation via chat

Can I get the same procedure for fine lines and coarse wrinkles?

Because the cause differs by wrinkle type, the same procedure may not be equally suitable for all wrinkles. Fine lines are considered for Rejuran, expression wrinkles for botulinum toxin, and coarse wrinkles from loss of elasticity for the monopolar RF family, respectively, and it is important to identify your own wrinkle type through a consultation with the medical staff.

Is it true that getting botulinum toxin often reduces its effect?

There is a view that if you repeat it too often or excessively, antibodies form and the effect may not be as good as before. Keeping an appropriate interval and dose can help with long-term management, and since the specific interval can vary depending on individual condition, it is best to decide after a consultation.

If I don't feel the effect right after a Rejuran or Thermage procedure, is something wrong?

The Rejuran and monopolar RF (Thermage, Oligio X) families work as new collagen is created and the change appears gradually. Even if you don't feel an immediate change right after the procedure, many people feel the improvement as time passes. The pace of change can differ from person to person.

Is getting all three procedures at once unconditionally more effective?

There are cases of hoping for synergy by combining the three procedures, but this combination is not equally suitable for everyone. It is important to consider your own wrinkle type, skin condition, and overall health, and decide the optimal combination and order through a consultation.

What daily care is most important after a wrinkle procedure?

Sun protection and correcting expression habits can help maintain the effect. UV is associated with collagen damage and can quickly use up newly formed elasticity, and reducing the habit of unconsciously furrowing your brow or squinting your eyes strongly also helps delay the recurrence of expression wrinkles.

Injectable procedures like Rejuran may leave temporary swelling, redness, or small marks at the injection site that tend to settle within a few days, with individual differences. Botulinum toxin generally has little downtime, though a tingling sensation or a temporary change in expression may appear right after. Monopolar RF such as Thermage FLX or Oligio X delivers heat energy, so a sensation of heat, redness, and mild swelling may appear at the treated area and usually eases within a few days. The pace of recovery and the degree of reaction can vary with the area, intensity, and individual skin condition, so it is best to confirm the expected course during a consultation.

The cost of a wrinkle procedure is not a single fixed figure; it depends on what is done and how. For Rejuran the injected volume and the range of areas, for botulinum toxin the area and dose (units), and for monopolar RF the type of device and the treatment range (number of shots) are the main factors that make the difference. When the three procedures are designed together, the combination, the order, and whether aftercare is included also change the makeup. The exact cost is guided through a consultation after your wrinkle type and areas are checked.

On Clinic is located near Sinnonhyeon Station, within walking distance from Sinnonhyeon and Gangnam stations, which is convenient for visitors. Multilingual consultation is available to help you understand the procedure and the options. If you would like to first check which type your wrinkles are closest to and in what order to approach them, let us know your area and condition through Get a consultation via chat, and we will help with your reservation and 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 for Laser Dermatology and Hair). You can find his detailed background at Meet the medical team. First published 2026-07-08 / Last reviewed 2026-07-09

This article is intended for general informational purposes, and the appropriate treatment and results may vary depending on individual condition.