Rejuran Healer: What's the difference and effect? - Dr. Oh Seung-min | Gangnam Seoul, Korea Dermatology Clinic Guide

Key summary: "Salmon injection" is not the name of a single ingredient. It is a nickname for ingredients derived from salmon-family DNA, such as PN and PDRN, so it is hard to treat it as exactly the same procedure as Rejuran Healer. Rejuran Healer is an injectable medical device whose main ingredient is PN, and it is closer to managing skin condition than to filling volume like a filler. That is why it makes sense to check the product's ingredient, its approved purpose and the cause of your own skin concern before the procedure name.

In consultations we often hear questions like "Isn't a salmon injection just Rejuran?" or "If both come from salmon, shouldn't the effect be the same?" Some search results call Rejuran a salmon injection while others introduce PDRN injections under the same name, so the confusion is understandable.

This article walks through which ingredients the term salmon injection actually refers to, what purpose Rejuran Healer is designed for, and why the treatment plan can differ from person to person even with the same Rejuran Healer. It is worth checking before you conclude that two procedures are the same simply because both are salmon-derived.

PN and PDRN, both grouped under the name salmon injection

Salmon injection is closer to an everyday nickname than an official ingredient name. In aesthetic practice, products using ingredients obtained from the DNA of salmon or salmonid fish are often called salmon injections as a group, and that group includes both PN-based and PDRN-based products.

The point to remember is that PN and PDRN are not the same substance. Both start from DNA, but they can differ in molecular structure and intended use, so a similar name does not mean you can expect the same effect.

PN belongs to the polynucleotide family and is described as being made of relatively long DNA chains. PDRN, on the other hand, is often introduced as shorter DNA fragments.

However, the molecular weight standard that separates the two is not fully standardized, and the terms PN and PDRN are sometimes used interchangeably depending on the literature or product. Rather than judging by name alone, it is more accurate to check the actual product's ingredient labeling and approval details.

The main ingredient in Rejuran Healer is PN. In Korea it is a medical device approved for temporarily improving facial wrinkles in adults, while PDRN is a DNA-derived ingredient that has been the subject of various medical studies.

For this reason, simply saying "I got a salmon injection" does not tell you which ingredient was used. If you decide on a procedure based only on the term salmon injection without confirming the product name, the product you expected and the one actually used may differ.

So if you are looking into salmon injections, we recommend asking three things first: which product is used, whether it is PN or PDRN, and what its approved purpose is. A similar name does not mean the expected effect is the same.

Rejuran Healer is a skin booster with a different purpose from volume fillers

Some people new to Rejuran Healer assume it will add volume like a filler because it is injected into the skin. However, Rejuran Healer differs from hyaluronic acid fillers used for volume in both product characteristics and intended use.

Rejuran Healer is a skin booster type product with PN as its main ingredient, and its approved purpose is the temporary improvement of facial wrinkles in adults mentioned above. Several studies on PN and skin changes have been reported, but because subjects, techniques and the number of injections vary between studies, the results cannot be applied equally to everyone.

Put simply, Rejuran Healer is less a material for filling hollow areas and more an approach to caring for the condition of the skin itself. If your goal is to fill a sunken area directly, Rejuran Healer may not be the right choice, and when facial wrinkles are the main concern, it is natural to review your skin condition and then discuss with the medical team whether a PN-based product fits.

How we first judge whether your skin needs Rejuran Healer

We do not recommend choosing Rejuran Healer right away just because the skin feels dull. Concerns that look the same on the surface call for different approaches depending on whether the cause is dryness, fine wrinkles, reduced elasticity, or a mix of volume loss and sagging.

In particular, for patients whose main issue is lost volume or sagging, we do not try to solve everything with Rejuran Healer alone. Separating what Rejuran Healer can and cannot do is, in our view, the starting point of a treatment plan.

When reviewing Rejuran Healer in the clinic, we look at skin thickness, where fine wrinkles have formed, dryness, elasticity, and whether volume loss or sagging is present. If this check shows the skin really needs Rejuran Healer, we plan around specific areas, and if the cause seems to lie elsewhere, we may also suggest other options.

Why injection plans differ even with the same Rejuran Healer

We are also often asked, "If everyone gets the same Rejuran Healer, isn't the procedure the same for everyone?" Even with the same product, injection procedures can be carried out differently from person to person.

It is necessary to decide where to inject, adjust injection depth and spacing to the skin condition, and judge the amount to use. Even within one face, the skin around the eyes, the cheeks and the mouth differs, so injecting every area the same way is not always appropriate.

For example, if a large amount is concentrated at once in an area with thin skin, or if the injection method does not suit the skin condition, embossing or swelling right after the procedure may be more noticeable. Studies on PN procedures also differ in injection sites and methods, so it is still too early to say that a single standard technique has been established.

That is why, in Rejuran Healer consultations, we spend as much time checking the skin condition before the procedure as we do on the product name. Rather than injecting evenly at the same spacing over the whole face, we tend to look separately at the skin condition and the spots where wrinkles bother you.

When you come for a consultation, asking "Which areas of my skin should be checked?" is more helpful for planning than "How many cc do I need?" Even if it looks like the same Rejuran Healer procedure, the actual process differs from skin to skin.

Recovery and precautions after Rejuran Healer

Procedures like Rejuran Healer that place a product directly into the skin may cause injection marks, redness, swelling and small embossing right afterward. The degree of reaction and the speed of recovery vary with skin condition and injection site.

After the procedure, observing the current condition comes before rubbing or irritating the skin. If your skin is usually sensitive or prone to inflammation, please let the medical team know before the procedure.

If swelling lasts unusually long, pain keeps getting worse, or you notice any reaction that is different from usual, it is better to have your condition checked at the clinic where you were treated rather than simply waiting. We see injection procedures not as ending with choosing a product, but as including judging whether the procedure suits your skin and following your reaction afterward.

In short, the key is to check the actual ingredient, the product and its approved purpose rather than the name salmon injection. If your concern stems from volume loss or sagging, insisting on Rejuran Healer alone may not be the right fit, so please check your skin condition first before deciding on a procedure.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get Rejuran Healer if my skin is thin and has many fine wrinkles?

Skin thickness alone does not decide whether you can have the procedure. The thinner the skin, the more important it becomes to check thickness and wrinkle locations first and fine-tune injection depth and amount.

My face looks hollow. Will Rejuran Healer fill it in?

If volume loss is the main cause, it may be difficult to get the change you want with a PN-based procedure such as Rejuran Healer. It is better to first look at whether the hollowness comes from skin condition or whether changes in fat, bone structure or volume are also involved.

Is it normal to see embossing after Rejuran Healer?

Right after injection, the injection sites may look slightly raised for a while, with redness and swelling. However, if pain or swelling gets worse or an unusual reaction continues, it is best to have it checked by the medical team.

Can I skip moisturizing if I get Rejuran Healer?

Injection procedures do not replace everyday skin care. If your skin is dry, keep up basic care such as moisturizing and sun protection separately from the procedure.

Note: PN-based injection procedures, including Rejuran Healer, may be applied differently depending on skin condition and treatment area. Redness, swelling, bruising, injection marks and temporary bumps may appear after the procedure, and their degree and recovery differ from person to person.

Visit and consultation

O.N Clinic is located near Gangnam Station, making it relatively easy to reach by subway.

If you are looking into salmon injections or Rejuran Healer, we recommend confirming in consultation the exact name and ingredient of the product used and whether the procedure suits your skin concern. Feel free to leave your questions via Chat with us now.

Written by Dr. Oh Seung-min (Representative Director of O.N Clinic, graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine, Academic Committee Chair of the Korean Society for Laser, Skin and Hair). See the medical team page for his full profile. First published 2026-09-16, last reviewed 2026-11-03

This article is for general information only. Suitable treatment and results may vary depending on each person's condition.