I Got Juvederm Volite, Chanel Injections, Skin Botox for Glass Skin — Review

In February, a month before New York City was put on pause, my life was alive in technicolor in Seoul, South Korea. I traveled there for 10 days to not only interview our May cover stars but also to chat with some dermatologists and try out some of the most popular injectables that one of my favorite cities has to offer.

During my first trip to Seoul in April 2019, dermatologists told me about skin booster shots, noting they were the future of dermatology. “These days, it’s not about fixing a problem but preventing it,” dermatologist Lim Ee Seok at Thema Dermatologic Clinic told me. I became obsessed with the idea of being able to inject my skin with basically a superpowered serum to heal, moisturize, and brighten it, but unfortunately, skin booster shots aren’t offered in the United States yet. So the second I found out I was going to Korea again, the lovely ladies at Eunogo helped me book an appointment at ID Hospital with board-certified dermatologist Hwang Jong Ik to finally try them out. (They also made sure I had a translator and was treated like one of the skin clinic’s celebrity patients.)

Upon arriving at the clinic, I embarked on a multi-step process before I even got to the injection room, starting with sitting down with Hwang to decide which skin booster shots were best for my complexion.

The Consultation

Several booster shots exist — Rejuran, Jalupro, Chanel, Hermes, and Volite are on the short list. Some patients pick based on what’s trendiest or dermatologists determine what’s best for their skin concerns. I went with the latter. I told Hwang I have acne and want to smooth and brighten my oily skin. From there, he selected a combo meal of sorts:

• Chanel, aka Filorga: Why does this one share a name with a designer? I have no clue, but it’s the most popular skin booster shot. Many dermatologists even get it themselves because they believe it works better than any skin-care product to improve skin. An infusion of hyaluronic acid and amino acids, as well as vitamins A, B, C, and E is injected all over the face just below the surface of the skin. After two weeks, skin starts looking plumper, more luminous, and less textured as the formula helps stimulate collagen production for about three to four months.

• Volite: For my cheeks and undereye area, Hwang went with Volite, which is basically like getting a heavy-duty hyaluronic acid serum shot into your skin. Even though it’s not available in America, a familiar brand makes it: Juvéderm. Hwang said it would volumize and add radiance to my cheeks and make me look less tired. (Seoul is 13 hours ahead, so I needed all the help I could get.) It lasts for up to nine months.

• Skin Botox: Another procedure Koreans swear by for smooth, glowing skin is called Skin Botox (and it’s been on my wish list). The same neurotoxic protein (aka Botulinum toxin) we know and love for smoothing wrinkles is administered. Instead of plunging the needle into the muscle, it only goes just below the surface of the skin to help tighten pores for a smoother, less oily complexion. It can also iron out fine lines. The effects last about three to six months. Like all of these treatments, Skin Botox costs about $300 to $500, depending on which clinic you go to.

The Facial

Next, I was ushered to a treatment room to get a special medical facial. For the first time since getting to Seoul two days earlier, I was sitting still. I tried to mentally jot down all of the steps, but I forgot the order by the time the first needle entered my face.

Here’s a rough rundown, though: A nurse started off by washing my face. Extractions happened at some point. Then, she brushed on an acid peel and let it sit for five minutes or so before adding a neutralizer. (Other Korean facials I’ve gotten haven’t included these steps.) A rubber mask and several moisturizing ampoules and creams followed to nourish and degunk my dehydrated, congested, post-13-hour-flight skin.