Are plastic surgery procedures and operations really a “waste of money”? Let’s compare them with over-the-counter beauty products
Hello. This is Hyundai Aesthetic Surgery.
The hottest topic in the beauty market these days is undoubtedly “home care.” Turn on YouTube or social media, and you’ll see attention-grabbing phrases everywhere, such as “Eliminate melasma with this one ingredient” or “Complete your V-line with one device.” From cosmetic ingredients like niacinamide and retinol to galvanic and EMS devices costing hundreds of thousands of won, the options are endless. That may be why many people wonder, “Instead of spending a lot of money at a plastic surgery clinic every time, isn’t it more cost-effective to buy one device and manage my skin every day?” It’s the so-called “with that money, I’d rather use a device at home” mindset.
But is that really the case? Today, our plastic surgery clinic would like to do a fact check. We will take an in-depth look at the limits of home care, the differences between plastic surgery procedures and operations, and in which cases a “professional touch” can be the more economical choice.
Pore care: surface-level “cleaning” vs. “treatment” that works on the dermal layer
When pore concerns begin, the first things many people reach for are niacinamide cosmetics, charcoal masks, or retinol creams for home care. Of course, these ingredients can help control sebum production and refine surface dead skin cells, helping prevent pores from becoming even larger. However, pores that are already enlarged, meaning pores that have lost elasticity and sag vertically, are difficult to restore with cosmetics alone. This is because cosmetics remain on the skin surface, the epidermis, and have difficulty reaching the dermal layer, which supports the pores. What solutions does a plastic surgery clinic offer for those concerned about pores?
- Juvelook/Ultracol: These are skin boosters that induce your own collagen regeneration. They are injected directly around the pores with the aim of filling the loosened support structure from within.
- Thermage/Onda: Powerful radiofrequency energy is delivered to the dermal layer to encourage collagen contraction and regeneration.
If extracting sebum with a charcoal mask is “cleaning,” plastic surgery procedures work directly on the dermal layer, the pillar that supports the pores. Between home care, which has limits for pores that are already enlarged, and procedures that can be expected to improve pore elasticity, which is truly more cost-effective?
Melasma and pigmentation: lightly covering with “makeup” vs. “treatment” that looks at the cause
Vitamin C, tranexamic acid, and glutathione are well-known for melasma. People take them orally and apply them topically. Whitening ingredients help inhibit melanin production or block pigment transfer. However, their effects are minimal for deep dermal melasma or complex blemishes due to limits in penetration depth. No matter how good an ingredient is, applying it alone cannot reach the pigment roots inside the dermis. For those concerned about melasma and pigmentation, plastic surgery clinics offer the following solutions.
- Rejuran Healer: By directly injecting PN, an ingredient that supports skin regeneration, it aims to improve the damaged skin environment itself, which is the cause of pigmentation. Healthier skin can also help the complexion look clearer, and the degree varies from person to person.
- Customized lasers: High-powered lasers that selectively destroy only melanin pigment belong to the realm of “physical removal,” which is difficult to address with home care.
Skin tone and texture: a smooth-texture “illusion” vs. “radiance” cared for from within
AHA and arbutin are leading ingredients for improving skin tone. When you exfoliate at home and apply whitening cream, the skin may temporarily look smooth. But these treatments are only temporary refinement by removing dead skin cells. True inner glow depends on skin hydration and the rate of cellular regeneration.
At times like this, Hyundai Aesthetic Surgery recommends Rejuran and Juvelook Skin. Skin booster treatments directly fill the skin’s internal “moisture tank” and aim to support skin regeneration. Since ingredients that could not penetrate through cosmetics are delivered directly into the skin by injection, the depth the ingredients reach is different.
Line management: massage-level “care” vs. “correction” that addresses sagging directly
The area where the most people say “I’d rather spend that money elsewhere” is galvanic devices, EMS, and gua sha. Many believe that “if you massage with gua sha every day, you’ll get lifting,” and rub until their arms ache. To be precise, gua sha can help lymphatic circulation and reduce swelling. Galvanic devices can slightly help cosmetics absorb. However, “sagging flesh” is a problem of the SMAS, the fascial layer that surrounds the muscles. No matter how much you rub the surface of the skin, the fascial layer that has descended due to gravity will not lift back up.
- Ultherapy: Ultrasound energy is precisely delivered to the fascial layer, the SMAS, to directly contract the muscle layer. This is a depth that gua sha has difficulty reaching.
- Thread lifting: Sagging tissue is lifted and fixed with physical force.
- Liposuction/Onda: These destroy or extract unnecessary facial fat cells themselves. Stimulating muscles with an EMS device does not reduce the number of fat cells.
Why choose plastic surgery procedures and operations?
Of course, home-care devices and cosmetics are excellent means of “maintenance.” But once we move into the areas of “improvement” and “correction,” the story changes. In these areas, change can be expected from a procedure at a plastic surgery clinic. The number of sessions needed and the degree of change vary from person to person.
What we commonly call “cost-effectiveness” means the size of the result compared with the money invested. Calculate the opportunity cost of buying a device worth hundreds of thousands of won, purchasing hundreds of thousands of won worth of cosmetics every month, and waiting for results. With that cost, receiving the Ultherapy 300 shots or one vial of Juvelook that you truly need may be the more reasonable choice.
If the pores, melasma, and sagging lines you see in the mirror are causing stress, now is the time to consult a specialist. Hyundai Aesthetic Surgery precisely analyzes your skin condition and recommends the procedure you actually need now instead of excessive surgery.
If you are wondering, “Is it worth the money?”, consider a consultation.
Customer Consultation Center: 02-546-4545 / 02-546-4546 KakaoTalk: @Hyundai Aesthetic Surgery Hyundai Aesthetic Surgery Clinic, Suil Building 2F, 6F, 114 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Nonhyeon-dong) *Weekdays: 10:00 am ~ 07:00 pm *Saturday: 10:00 am ~ 04:00 pm *Closed on Sundays and public holidays.