Acne scars treatment in Korea aims to make pitted scars shallower by wounding the skin in a controlled way so it lays down fresh collagen, using fractional CO2 laser, RF microneedling, subcision or a mix picked for each scar shape. A visit runs about an hour, much of it spent waiting for numbing cream to work. Redness lasts a few days, and after CO2 laser fine scabs can stay for around a week, so flying home soon after is usually possible with careful skin care. Change appears slowly over the following months, and a series of sessions is the norm. Clinics charge per session, per area or per combined package, and the clinic list and price table here let you compare both.
Is it for you?
Who Acne treatment in Hongdae suits, and who should wait
Depressed scars come in three shapes, and the shape decides the tool. Wide, soft-edged dips that look shadowed under side light are rolling scars, often tied down by fibrous bands beneath the skin. Boxcar scars have flat floors and steep walls. Icepick scars are narrow and deep, like an enlarged pore. Treatment suits people whose breakouts have been quiet for a while and who can come back for more than one session.
It is the wrong step while new inflamed spots keep appearing, since heat and needles on active acne can spread inflammation. Flat red or brown marks are not scars and respond to vascular or pigment lasers. Thick raised scars follow a different plan. Even after a full series, the goal is smoother, shallower skin, not skin that looks untouched.
Usually a good fit
- Rolling or boxcar scars on cheeks or temples
- Breakouts quiet for several months
- Able to return for repeat sessions
- Accepts gradual, partial change in depth
May be better to wait
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Active acne, cold sores or infection on the face
- Implants or permanent filler in the treated zone
- Raised or keloid scars needing another approach
Clinics in Hongdae
10 clinics for Acne treatment in Hongdae
Every clinic below lists Acne treatment among its treatments. Message a clinic directly.
1Springday Clinic Sinchon
2
3Doctor Petit Clinic Hongdae
4Toxnfill Clinic Hongdae
5Selena Skin Clinic Hongdae
6iD Clinic Hongdae
7NAIN Clinic Hongdae
8VandS Clinic Hongdae
9
10How it works
How a Acne treatment session runs
Fractional CO2 laser works at 10,600 nm and vaporizes microscopic columns through the surface; the untouched skin between the columns speeds healing while the wounded areas rebuild collagen. RF microneedling, for example on Potenza by Jeisys, inserts insulated needles to a chosen depth of roughly 0.5 to 3.5 mm and releases radiofrequency heat in the dermis, leaving most of the surface intact. Subcision uses a fine needle under local anesthetic to cut the bands that pull rolling scars downward. PicoSure FOCUS by Cynosure, a 755 nm picosecond laser fitted with a lens array, is a gentler choice for shallow texture.
The trade-offs are now well described. A 2026 meta-analysis of eight randomized trials with 249 patients by Argobi and colleagues in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found fractional CO2 laser gave more scar improvement and higher satisfaction than RF microneedling, but with more pain, redness lasting about 1.7 days longer and a roughly fourfold higher risk of dark marks after inflammation. Settings matter as well: in a 2014 split-face trial in Asian patients published in Dermatologic Surgery, Yuan and colleagues saw no significant gap in improvement between lower and higher fluence or density, while side effects were more evident at the higher settings.
Clinics in Korea adjust the dose to scar depth and skin type and usually price per session, per area such as both cheeks, or as a package pairing two methods in one visit.
Scar mapping
The doctor sorts the scars by shape under angled light, takes photos for later comparison and agrees on which methods to combine and how far apart to space them. Around 15 minutes.
Numbing
After cleansing, numbing cream stays on for about 30 minutes, a little longer before deep needle or CO2 passes. Spots planned for subcision receive a small local anesthetic injection.
Release and resurfacing
Subcision, when planned, comes first, followed by the laser or needle device passed over each scarred zone. Cheeks alone or the full face take roughly 15 to 30 minutes.
Cooling and aftercare
A calming mask, a barrier cream and sunscreen go on, and the week's care routine is explained. About 10 to 20 minutes.
Acne treatment compared with other options
| Point | Fractional CO2 laser | RF microneedling | Subcision |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it acts | Ablative laser columns through the surface | Radiofrequency heat at the needle tips | Mechanical release with a fine needle |
| What it reaches | Surface and upper dermis | Dermis at a set depth | Bands below the scar |
| Commonly used for | Boxcar scars and rough texture | Rolling and boxcar scars, tan-prone skin | Tethered rolling scars |
| Sensation | Hot stinging under numbing | Pricking and warmth under numbing | Pressure after a local injection |
| Typical downtime | Scabs for up to a week | Redness and dots for a few days | Bruising that can last one to two weeks |
At a glance
Acne treatment facts
| Common methods | Fractional CO2 laser, RF microneedling, subcision, picosecond laser with lens array |
|---|---|
| Devices seen in Korea | Potenza by Jeisys for RF microneedling; PicoSure FOCUS by Cynosure |
| Energy type | Ablative laser at 10,600 nm, or radiofrequency delivered through needles |
| Needle depth | Adjustable, about 0.5 to 3.5 mm |
| Numbing | Topical cream for about 30 minutes; local injection for subcision |
| Visit length | About an hour including numbing and cooling |
| Downtime | Several days of redness; fine scabs for up to a week after CO2 |
| Usual course | Several sessions spaced weeks apart |
| Earliest flight home | Usually the same or the next day |
Recovery
What the days after look like
Skin feels hot and tight, like a strong sunburn, with pinpoint dots after needling. Rinse with water only and apply the barrier cream provided.
Swelling eases. After CO2 laser a fine bronze crust forms; let it come away without picking or scrubbing.
Crusts shed to reveal pink skin. Sunscreen and a hat matter most now, because fresh skin darkens easily.
Pinkness fades and texture begins to look finer; the next session is usually planned in this window.
Collagen keeps remodeling, and scar depth settles at the change reached by that series.
Safety
Acne treatment risks and limits
- Redness, heat and swelling for several days
- Crusting and temporary rough texture after fractional CO2
- Dark marks after inflammation, more frequent with CO2 and in tan-prone skin
- A breakout flare or reactivated cold sores
- Rarely infection, lasting redness, lighter patches or new scarring
- Deep icepick scars often improve only in part
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Fractional CO2 Laser Versus Micro Needling Radiofrequency for Post Acne Scarring: A Meta‐Analysis of RCTsJournal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2026 · Argobi Y, Tobeigei F, Alasiri F · doi:10.1111/jocd.70765
A meta-analysis of eight randomized trials with 249 patients in which fractional CO2 laser improved acne scars more than RF microneedling but caused more pain, longer redness and more post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
- Comparison Study of Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing Using Different Fluences and Densities for Acne Scars in Asians: A Randomized Split-Face TrialDermatologic Surgery · 2014 · Yuan X, Zhong S, Li S · doi:10.1111/dsu.12467
A split-face trial in 20 Asian patients that found similar scar improvement at lower and higher CO2 laser fluence and density, with more side effects at the higher settings.
- Selective sebaceous gland electrothermolysis as a treatment for acne: a prospective pilot studyInternational Journal of Dermatology · 2012 · Lee J, Kim B, Kim M, Ahn G, Aso H · doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05255.x
A pilot study of 12 patients in which three sessions of insulated-needle electrothermolysis of the oil glands reduced acne lesions, with relapse in 2 patients after one year.
FAQ
Questions about Acne treatment in Hongdae
Which method suits rolling scars, and which suits icepick scars?
Rolling scars often respond to subcision combined with RF microneedling, while icepick scars usually need a technique aimed at each scar. Rolling scars are pulled down by bands under the skin, so releasing those bands lets the surface rise before new collagen fills in. Icepick scars sit too deep and narrow for surface passes alone. Most faces show more than one shape, which is why combined plans are common.
How does fractional CO2 compare with RF microneedling for scars?
Fractional CO2 tends to change scars more per session, while RF microneedling is gentler on the surface. Argobi and colleagues, pooling eight randomized trials in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2026, found CO2 scored higher for improvement and satisfaction but brought more pain, longer redness and more dark marks. People who tan easily or have little time off often start with needling.
Do lower laser settings still improve acne scars?
They can, and gentler settings may lower the chance of side effects in Asian skin. In a 2014 split-face trial in Dermatologic Surgery, Yuan and colleagues compared lower and higher fluence and density of fractional CO2 in 20 patients and found no significant difference in improvement, while adverse effects were more evident at the higher energies. Ask the doctor how settings are chosen for your skin type.
What happens at a first consultation for acne scars in Korea?
A typical first consultation sorts each scar by shape and depth under side lighting and checks for active acne before any plan is proposed. Expect photos for later comparison, questions about recent medicines such as isotretinoin, and an estimate of sessions and spacing. A careful consultation also states what the scars will not do, such as disappear fully. Ask for the plan in writing.
Can acne scars treatment in South Korea be split across two trips?
Yes, many visitors complete a series over two or more trips, since sessions are spaced weeks apart anyway. The first trip covers assessment and an initial session, and the second continues once the skin has fully healed and early collagen has formed. Keep the photos and the written settings from each visit, so the next session, at the same or another clinic, can build on them.
How many days should I plan for Korea acne scar removal?
A stay of about a week allows one session, the visible healing phase and a check before leaving. Needling leaves redness and dots for a few days, while CO2 laser can leave fine scabs for up to a week. If photos or meetings are scheduled right after the trip, leave extra margin. A single visit softens scars only partly, so plan future sessions as well.
What if new breakouts appear during a scar course?
Active breakouts are usually brought under control first, because new inflamed spots can leave fresh scars and react badly to heat. Some doctors treat the oil glands with insulated-needle RF. In a 2012 pilot study in the International Journal of Dermatology, Lee and colleagues reported fewer lesions in 12 patients after three sessions of this method, with relapse in two of them after a year. Medicine may also be needed.
When can I go out in the sun after acne scar laser treatment in Korea?
Short trips outdoors are fine from the next day with sunscreen, a hat and shade, but long sun exposure is wiser to avoid for a few weeks. Healing skin produces pigment readily, and sunburn on treated areas raises the chance of dark marks that can last months. Reapply sunscreen every few hours outside, and avoid tanning beds completely between sessions.
Does subcision leave bruising?
Yes, bruising is common after subcision and usually fades within one to two weeks. The needle cuts small fibrous bands under each rolling scar, causing some bleeding beneath the skin. It is a minor procedure under local anesthetic, not surgery. Plan it early in a trip, and mention any blood-thinning medicines or supplements beforehand.