What is each treatment?
- Re2O (Elravie Re2O, 리투오, ECM skin booster, hADM skin booster) is a skin booster that injects human dermis-derived extracellular matrix (ECM, the mesh of collagen and elastin that gives skin its structure) into the dermis to replenish the skin's own material.
- Rejuran (Rejuran Healer, 리쥬란, リジュラン, 丽珠兰, PN injection, salmon DNA injection) is a skin booster that injects PN (polynucleotide, polymer fragments derived from salmon DNA) into the dermis to help fibroblasts (the cells that make collagen) work in a healthier environment.
- Potenza (포텐자, ポテンザ, RF microneedling, microneedle RF) delivers radiofrequency energy from the tips of fine needles to create small zones of heat stimulation in the dermis.
- Thermage (Thermage FLX, 써마지, サーマジ, 热玛吉, monopolar RF) is a needle-free tightening treatment that delivers 6.78 MHz radiofrequency heat across the dermis.
| Treatment | Method | What it does in the skin | In farming terms | Leads for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potenza | RF microneedling | Micro heat stimulation in the dermis, triggers repair | Tilling the soil | Pores, shallow scars, rough texture |
| Rejuran | PN injection | Builds a better environment for fibroblasts | Fertilizer | Thin, sensitive skin, slow recovery |
| Re2O | ECM injection | Directly replenishes collagen and elastin structure | Seed and trellis | Loss of density, fine lines, pores |
| Thermage | Monopolar RF | Heats the dermis broadly, collagen remodeling | Sunlight | Loss of firmness, lax skin |
How are Rejuran and Re2O different?
Neither is the better treatment. Rejuran builds the environment, and Re2O supplies the material. Fertilizer does not become the crop. It enriches the soil so the crop grows well. In the same way, the PN in Rejuran does not stay as a structure. It supports fibroblast activity. Re2O is like setting up a trellis for a climbing plant: it places the ECM structure itself, where cells can move in and settle.
- If your skin is thin and sensitive and needs its recovery capacity raised first, Rejuran comes first.
- If density and firmness have dropped and the material itself is lacking, Re2O is the fit.
- The two do not compete. Their roles differ, so they can be planned together.
What does the evidence say?
Re2O. In a double-blinded clinical trial by Lee et al. (2026, International Journal of Molecular Sciences), 20 adults received Re2O with hyaluronic acid on one side of the face and hyaluronic acid alone on the other, and were followed for 20 weeks. The Re2O side showed greater improvement in skin density, elasticity, wrinkle depth and pore area, with no serious adverse events. Source: DOI 10.3390/ijms27052193
Potenza (RF microneedling). Hantash et al. (2009, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine) followed the skin of 22 people treated with microneedle RF using biopsies. The zones of thermal coagulation were completely replaced by new dermal tissue by week 10, with new collagen and new elastin both forming.
Thermage (monopolar RF). Zelickson et al. (2004, Archives of Dermatology) confirmed histologically that monopolar RF causes collagen fibril contraction and increased type I collagen gene expression. This is why firmness continues to change for months after treatment.
Rejuran (PN). An expert consensus report by Cavallini et al. (2021, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology) summarized that PN supports fibroblast viability and matrix production and improves dermal hydration.
No clinical study has yet directly compared the combination of these four treatments against each one alone. The explanation of combinations here is based on each treatment's mechanism of action.
What is the order on the same day?
The principle is to do devices that do not break the skin first, and treatments involving needles last.
- Thermage (RF with no surface injury)
- Potenza (RF microneedling)
- Injections (Rejuran, Re2O)
In this order, the injected material is never exposed to device heat. On a farm, sunlight comes after planting. Thermage is done first, but its collagen remodeling continues for months afterward, so it keeps acting as the sunlight.
How does this fit a trip to Korea?
None of the four requires a hospital stay or a long recovery, so they fit a short trip. Done together on the same day, they take about half a day including numbing cream time.
- If you have them early in your trip, swelling settles during the rest of your stay and you can check your progress before you fly home.
- Visible recovery is mostly injection marks and swelling, which settle within a few days. Thermage does not break the skin surface, and adding Potenza can extend redness by a few days.
- For 2 to 3 days afterward, avoid saunas, Korean bathhouses (jjimjilbang), strenuous exercise and alcohol, and keep up with sun protection.
- The Re2O trial used three sessions one month apart, but for a single visit we plan one session. In our head doctor's clinical experience many patients see a change after one session, though results vary by individual.
Which treatment comes first for my skin?
| Skin concern | Lead treatment | Can be added |
|---|---|---|
| Uneven texture from pores and shallow scars | Potenza | Rejuran or Re2O |
| Thin, sensitive, slow to recover | Rejuran | Re2O once the base is stable |
| Lower skin density, more fine lines | Re2O | Thermage if firmness is also a concern |
| Overall loss of firmness | Thermage | Re2O if the skin base is also a concern |
"Lead treatment" does not mean the better treatment. It means the function that matches that concern. Receiving all four is not the answer either. The Re2O trial was run without any other procedures, and the results were confirmed with Re2O alone.
At DIORE
At DIORE, Re2O is often combined on the same day with device treatments such as Thermage and Potenza. They act on different layers in different ways, so the skin is not overloaded, and the approach suits international patients who need results from a single visit. Which treatment takes the lead is decided by the condition of the skin.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Which is best: Rejuran, Re2O, Thermage or Potenza?
There is no ranking. The four have different functions and cannot be compared on one scale. Potenza is strong for texture and pores, Rejuran for the recovery environment, Re2O for skin density, and Thermage for firmness. The deciding factor is which function your skin needs now.
Q2. Can I have Potenza, Rejuran, Re2O and Thermage all on the same day?
It is possible, but we do not recommend it for everyone. If done on the same day, the order is Thermage, Potenza, then injections. Adding Potenza can extend redness by a few days, so we decide the combination based on your schedule and skin condition.
Q3. Does Thermage heat reduce the effect of Re2O or Rejuran?
On the same day, Thermage is done first and injections last, so the injected material is not exposed to heat. If you are having them on different days, we will advise on spacing during consultation.
Q4. Is Re2O less effective on its own?
No. The 2026 trial was conducted without any other procedures, and improvements in skin density and elasticity were confirmed under those conditions. Other treatments are added when there are concerns outside Re2O's role, such as sagging or scars.
Q5. I am in Korea for only a week. Can I fit these treatments in?
Yes. The treatments you need can be done together in one day. If you have them within the first two days of your trip, swelling settles during the rest of your stay and you can see your progress before leaving.
Summary
Potenza tills the soil, Rejuran adds fertilizer, Re2O sets the seed and trellis, and Thermage gives sunlight. Just as you cannot say whether tilling or sunlight matters more, these four treatments are not ranked. Their strengths differ. Once you know which stage your skin needs, the choice becomes simple.
ℹ️ This content is for general medical information and does not replace an individual consultation. Results vary with each person's skin condition. For an accurate assessment, please consult our aesthetic medicine team.
References
- Lee YI, Chau NH, Nguyen NH, Ham S, Baek Y, Kim J, Lee JH. Injectable Particulated Human Acellular Dermal Matrix Booster for Skin Restoration: An Integrated Randomized, Split-Face, Double-Blinded Clinical Trial and Preclinical Study. Int J Mol Sci. 2026;27(5):2193.
- Hantash BM, Ubeid AA, Chang H, Kafi R, Renton B. Bipolar fractional radiofrequency treatment induces neoelastogenesis and neocollagenesis. Lasers Surg Med. 2009;41(1):1-9.
- Zelickson BD, Kist D, Bernstein E, et al. Histological and ultrastructural evaluation of the effects of a radiofrequency-based nonablative dermal remodeling device. Arch Dermatol. 2004;140(2):204-209.
- Cavallini M, Bartoletti E, Maioli L, et al. Consensus report on the use of PN-HPT (polynucleotides highly purified technology) in aesthetic medicine. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(3):922-928.