A skin botox before and after in Korea is only useful when you know what was injected, how much, and what else was done in the same visit. Intradermal toxin places tiny, diluted droplets in the upper skin, so honest photos show a subtle shift: a little less shine, slightly tighter-looking pores, and for some people with flushing, softer redness. It does not reshape the face. Many Gangnam treatment plans pair toxin with laser or a skin booster, which makes a single gallery image hard to attribute. Below: what the evidence supports, what to ask about any photo set, and how to keep your own record after flying home.
Guide
Why combined-treatment photos blur the picture
Treatment menus in Gangnam often bundle intradermal toxin with a toning laser, a skin booster or a hydrating facial on the same afternoon. That can make sense for a short stay, but it means an after photo reflects several interventions at once. Any glow or evenness in the image cannot be credited to the toxin alone.
Ask what each photo shows: the product, the zones, any laser or booster added, and how many days had passed. If the answer is vague, treat the image as an illustration of a treatment style, not as evidence of what toxin did.
- Toxin alone: expect a modest change in shine and surface fineness.
- Toxin with laser: tone and spots may change because of the laser, not the toxin.
- Toxin with a booster: plumpness and hydration may come from the booster.
Guide
Redness photos and the rosacea evidence
Some galleries show calmer cheeks after intradermal toxin. A 2025 scoping review and meta-analysis by Yeh and colleagues in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology pooled seven studies with 167 rosacea patients and found that objectively scored erythema improved at one, two and three months after injection. The authors called the toxin a possible treatment, stressed the small samples and mixed designs, and asked for more randomized trials.
The same review noted mild facial muscle weakness and injection bruising in some studies, and reported no unwanted weakness when each site received less than 0.02 ml. So redness can change, but less than a filtered image suggests, and an uneven smile in an after photo is a real side effect worth asking about.
Guide
Pores and shine: what a split-face study adds
Pore and oil photos are the other common category. In a 2020 split-face controlled study in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment, Sayed and colleagues injected toxin intradermally on one side of the face and compared it with the untreated side, reporting a reduction in visible pore size and sebum on the treated half. A split-face design is the fairest way to judge such images, because lighting and skin type are matched within one person.
Shine is very sensitive to timing. Skin photographed straight after cleansing looks matte whatever was injected, so a credible pore photo states the time of day and whether the face was cleansed or powdered.
Guide
Questions to ask when a clinic shows you a gallery
Consultations in Gangnam move quickly, and photo albums are often shown on a tablet. A few direct questions separate useful images from decoration.
- Which toxin brand and dilution were used, and in which zones?
- Was anything else done on the same day or in the weeks between photos?
- How many days or weeks after injection was the after photo taken?
- Were the camera, room light and distance the same in both shots?
- Has the image been retouched, filtered or color-corrected?
Guide
Keeping your own record when you leave Seoul early
Visitors searching skin botox korea before and after often fly out before the effect has settled, so the useful after photo is usually taken at home. Plan it before treatment day. Choose one spot near a window, note the time, remove makeup, and take front and both side views with the same phone held at arm's length.
Repeat the same set at about two weeks and again at about two months, without moisturizer for the shine shots. Note any new skincare product or sun exposure. If one side of the smile looks different, photograph a slow smile and contact the clinic with the images, since a small adjustment or simple waiting may be advised.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Intradermal injection of botulinum toxin for erythema in rosacea: A scoping review and meta-analysisIndian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology · 2025 · doi:10.25259/ijdvl_274_2024
Pooled seven studies of 167 rosacea patients; objective erythema scores improved for up to three months after intradermal toxin.
- The efficacy of intradermal injections of botulinum toxin in the management of enlarged facial pores and seborrhea: a split face-controlled studyJournal of Dermatological Treatment · 2020 · doi:10.1080/09546634.2019.1708241
A split-face controlled study in which the toxin-treated side showed smaller-looking pores and less sebum than the control side.
FAQ
Questions about Botox in Gangnam
How long should I wait before judging my own comparison photos?
Wait at least two weeks before taking the photo you will use for judgment, because the toxin needs time to act on oil and sweat glands. Pinpoint bumps fade within hours and small bruises within days, so very early images mostly show the injection itself. Studies on redness followed people for up to three months. Taking a second set at around two months gives a fairer picture of how long the change holds for you.
Can a clinic photo prove that a treatment will work for me?
No single photo can predict your own result, because skin type, oil level, dose and technique all differ from person to person. A gallery is more useful for seeing what kind of change a clinic aims for and how carefully it documents its work. Look for cases with a similar concern and skin type, consistent lighting and a stated time point. Results vary from person to person.
Is it normal to see no difference in photos after one session?
Yes, a small or barely visible change after one session is common with intradermal toxin, since the surface effect is modest. People with heavy oil or strong flushing tend to notice more than those with fairly calm skin. Compare photos taken under identical light rather than relying on memory, and if nothing changed after a month, ask whether dose or zones should differ next time.
Why does my skin look shinier again after a couple of months?
The effect of toxin on oil glands is temporary, so shine gradually returns as nerve signals recover. Both assigned studies measured results over weeks to months, not years. Many people repeat treatment at intervals if they liked the change. Match your photo time of day, since skin naturally looks oilier in the afternoon.
Should I avoid makeup or filters in my own comparison photos?
Yes, take every comparison photo bare-faced with beauty mode, portrait effect and filters switched off. Many phones smooth skin automatically, which hides pores and redness in both images. Save the original files rather than edited copies so the color stays true, and use the same phone each time.
What side effects can appear in after photos?
The most common visible effects are small bumps, pinpoint bruising and mild redness at injection points, usually settling within a few days. Less often, toxin spreads to nearby muscles and a smile or cheek movement looks uneven for some weeks, as reported in some rosacea studies. People who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a nerve-muscle disorder should not have the treatment. Report any asymmetry to the treating doctor with photos.