[Dr. Bellevue Column 103.] “Retigen,” More Expensive Than Rejuran and Juvelook—Is It Really Worth the Price?

Hello,

Bellevue Clinic, where everyone’s beauty comes first,

Dr. Bellevue is pleased to greet you again today.

Hello, this is Dr. Bellevue. The weather is very hot and humid. Chobok, the first of the three hottest days of summer, has passed, but as the summer monsoon season and heat get fully underway, please take special care of your health during the summer. When speaking with patients who have recently been interested in skin booster treatments, there is one question I hear frequently.

“Doctor, I’ve heard that Retigen is good these days, so I’d like to try it. Why is it so much more expensive than other skin boosters such as Rejuran or Juvelook? Is there really that much of a difference?”

To give you the conclusion first: yes, there is. Retigen is a “premium ingredient” because its grade and the mechanism by which it acts on the skin are fundamentally different from those of existing skin boosters. Today, I will take an honest look at why Retigen is inevitably expensive and for whom the cost may be worthwhile.

1. The Difference Between Applying “Fertilizer” and Planting a “Fully Grown Tree”

The popular skin boosters we are familiar with are, strictly speaking, not treatments that directly place collagen into the skin. Juvelook is closer to a “stimulant” that induces the production of the patient’s own collagen, while Rejuran functions as a “promoter” that encourages cellular regeneration. Both treatments are excellent, but ultimately they require “time” for the skin to produce collagen on its own.

Retigen, on the other hand, directly introduces the finished product itself: “Type 1 pure collagen” with 99.9% purity, identical to the structure that accounts for more than 80% of the dermal layer of our skin. Rather than spreading fertilizer on already barren soil and waiting anxiously for sprouts to appear, it is like directly planting a tree that has already grown green in the places where it is needed.

This is the first reason the inherent cost and value of the raw material itself must be different. The injected collagen immediately improves the environment of the dermal layer, and as it gradually breaks down and is absorbed over time, it also serves as a medium that additionally stimulates—or induces—the production of the patient’s own collagen. (However, please do not misunderstand this to mean that the injected collagen lasts forever.)

2. Nearly Complete Removal of Potential Problem Factors: the “99.9% High-Purity Process”

When injecting a foreign substance into the skin, the issues of greatest concern are inevitably side effects such as an “immune rejection response” or “nodules” caused by the ingredients clumping together. Retigen is produced through an exceptionally demanding and precise freeze-drying and multi-filter sterilization process. High-tech technology is applied to prevent denaturation of collagen protein, which is extremely vulnerable to heat and environmental conditions, while nearly eliminating—through decellularization—factors that could cause problems when introduced into the human body.

Retigen is made through a high-purity purification process that dramatically lowers the possibility of side effects such as immune rejection responses and nodules compared with existing collagen products. The cost of the purification process required to ensure a high level of safety is naturally reflected in the product price as well. It serves as a safety measure designed to allow you to receive premium treatments with greater peace of mind. The choice is yours.

3. The “Immediacy” Aging Skin Needs

As skin ages, its own ability—or “strength for regeneration”—to produce collagen declines. If only an inducing agent is injected into skin with reduced regenerative capacity, it may be difficult to achieve the desired results.

Immediately after injection, Retigen physically fills in the density by tightly connecting the collapsed mesh-like structure of the dermal layer. This is why the skin feels firmer after treatment and the perceived improvement in fine lines appears much more intuitive and faster than with other boosters.

An immediate effect that is like buying time with money—this is Retigen’s greatest appeal.

💡 Synergy Tip Recommended by Dr. Bellevue

If you are planning a high-priced lifting treatment such as Ulthera or Thermage, we strongly recommend combining it with Retigen. If Ulthera and Thermage apply powerful heat to the skin to contract aged tissue and begin the “construction”—or remodeling—process for regeneration, Retigen directly supplies that construction site with the highest-grade, premium “bricks” (collagen). Since this is like thoroughly turning over a field and then applying the highest-quality fertilizer, the synergistic effect of the treatments can only be multiplied.

“What order should these two treatments be performed in for the greatest effect?”

To give you the conclusion first, if both treatments are performed on the same day, the standard approach is to “perform the lifting treatment (Ulthera or Thermage) first, then inject Retigen as the final step.”

=> When performed together on the same day

The powerful thermal energy stimulation from Ulthera and Thermage (HIFU and radiofrequency) is carefully delivered from the deeper layers to the more superficial layers, remodeling and firming the skin structure first. Immediately afterward, pure collagen Retigen is injected directly into the stimulated dermal layer to immediately fill spaces left by the heat and soothe the skin.

(※ Since Retigen, a pure collagen protein, is vulnerable to high temperatures, it must be injected as the final step after treatment with the energy-based device has been completed completely. This is necessary for the ingredient to deliver its full effect without denaturation.)

=> When performed with an interval between treatments (stable cumulative care)

If your skin is particularly sensitive or you would prefer a more comfortable recovery, we recommend beginning Retigen treatment after allowing approximately 2–4 weeks following Ulthera and Thermage treatment, once the skin has calmed down. When the premium collagen ingredient is introduced after the lifting stimulation has actively switched on the skin’s own regenerative signals, the synergistic effect is maximized.

=> Recommended treatment intervals

▶Ulthera·Thermage: Regular elasticity care, usually once a year

▶Retigen: For an initial intensive boost to skin elasticity, we recommend three treatments at 3–4-week intervals, followed by maintenance treatment every 6 months to 1 year.

High-priced treatments are supported by appropriate technology and safety measures, so you may feel confident in their value. Whether Retigen is truly necessary for your skin condition, or whether another alternative would be more suitable, please visit us and discuss it with Dr. Bellevue following a thorough skin assessment.

All treatments may cause side effects such as swelling, bruising, or erythema depending on the individual, so thorough consultation with a physician is necessary.

For office workers who find it difficult to make time on weekdays due to their busy daily routines, Bellevue Clinic at Gangnam Station provides regular medical services on Sundays and public holidays as well, helping you receive care comfortably on weekends. However, please note that the clinic is closed every Wednesday for its regular day off when arranging your schedule. Even in July, one of the most exhausting months of the four seasons, we hope you will care for clear and healthy-looking skin. Thank you~!

“Focused on Specialized Skin Assessment”

Bellevue Clinic

Mark-Vu skin diagnostic testing can identify various skin concerns at once that are difficult to confirm with the naked eye, including skin texture, pigmentation, pores, wrinkles, skin tone, dark circles, radiance, redness, melanin, sebum, and acne bacteria.

Bellevue Clinic scientifically analyzes the skin, determines the treatments needed, and strives to provide the most effective and beneficial treatments for each patient through kind and detailed consultations.

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