If Rejuran injections hurt a lot, can Rejuran HB or anesthesia reduce the pain?
Myongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic in Myeongji-dong, Busan explains, with study figures, why Rejuran feels painful, ways to reduce the pain (lidocaine in Rejuran HB, numbing cream), how Rejuran Healer and HB are used differently, recovery from bumps and bruising, and signs that you should be seen again.
Quick answer
Myongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic in Myeongji-dong, Busan injects Rejuran into the dermis after applying numbing cream, and considers Rejuran HB, which adds hyaluronic acid and lidocaine to PN, when injection pain is a major concern. However, lidocaine and numbing cream reduce pain rather than eliminate it, and no directly verified published figures exist on pain reduction with the Rejuran HB product itself. Some areas, such as around the eyes, have their own dedicated formulation, so rather than switching to HB for pain alone, the choice is made by looking at the area to be treated and your concern together.
Why it matters now
Pain from PN injections is a common concern, to the point that researchers name it a main drawback of PN treatment. Switching products to reduce pain also changes the ingredients and purpose of what is injected, so you need to decide first whether pain relief or your skin concern takes priority. The time it takes for bumps and bruising to settle after treatment also affects your schedule, so check it before treatment as well.
If you are worried about Rejuran pain, what should you consider first in each situation?
If pain is your biggest burden and you also have inner dryness and dullness, compare Rejuran HB, which contains lidocaine, first. If texture and firmness across the face come first, or the area has a dedicated formulation such as around the eyes, look first at choosing the product for your concern and managing pain with numbing cream.
| If this is your situation | Option to consider | Evidence and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Injection pain is the biggest worry, with inner dryness and dullness as well | Option to considerRejuran HB (PN + hyaluronic acid + lidocaine) | Evidence and limitsMyongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic considers HB when you want to reduce the burden of pain. In a study of hyaluronic acid filler mixed with lidocaine, pain reduction was greatest right after injection and gradually decreased over one hour. |
| Improving texture, firmness and fine lines across the face matters more than pain | Option to considerRejuran Healer + numbing cream | Evidence and limitsHealer is the basic line used for overall facial skin condition. In a study of facial Botox injections, topical anesthetic reduced pain by a small to moderate amount compared with placebo. |
| Fine lines under the eyes and thinned skin around the eyes | Option to considerRejuran I (eye-area formulation) | Evidence and limitsMyongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic uses Rejuran I, a dedicated formulation, around the eyes. In an eye-area PN study, bumps were common on the conventional PN side, at 56.7%. |
| Numbing cream alone seems hard to bear, or you want sedation | Option to considerFirst check the available anesthesia methods at consultation | Evidence and limitsThe anesthesia method in the clinic's published information is numbing cream, and the published information does not say whether sedation is available. |
| Bumps and bruising after previous treatment make scheduling a burden | Option to considerPlan the treatment date away from important events | Evidence and limitsAccording to the clinic, redness, swelling and bruising usually ease within a few days. No PN study measuring how long bumps alone last was found, but in hyaluronic acid skin booster studies, injection-site reactions mostly settled within 48 hours to a few days. |
Why does Rejuran feel painful?
Rejuran is a treatment that injects PN into the dermis of the skin, and pain from PN injections is frequently reported in studies as well. Korean researchers reported that injecting PN into the dermis with a conventional needle often causes pain, and another Korean study named injection pain as a main drawback of PN treatment.
Needle and injection method
In a study comparing a needle-free device that injects by pressure with a conventional needle on opposite sides of the face, pain scores were higher on the needle side. This means the stimulus of the needle entering the skin is itself one cause of pain.
Properties of the formulation
In a study testing a PN formulation with adjusted pH and ionic strength, pain scores were lower than with conventional PN. This means that not only the needle stimulus but also the properties of the injected formulation can affect pain.
Individual variation
Even with the same product and the same area, how much pain people feel differs from person to person. If any area was especially painful when you had Rejuran before, please mention it at consultation.
Apart from pain, how do Rejuran HB and Rejuran Healer differ?
Rejuran HB contains hyaluronic acid and lidocaine together with PN, and is the formulation considered when you want to manage inner dryness, dullness and fine lines while reducing the burden of pain. Rejuran Healer is the basic line used when loss of oil-moisture balance, fine lines, poor texture and loss of firmness appear together.
So choosing HB is not only a choice to reduce pain but also a choice of a formulation with added hyaluronic acid. Choosing a product is easier if you first decide whether inner dryness is your main concern along with the burden of pain, or whether overall firmness and texture come first.
When to look at Rejuran HB first
When injection pain is your biggest worry and you also want improvement in inner dryness, dullness and fine lines
When to look at Rejuran Healer first
When loss of oil-moisture balance, texture and firmness and fine lines appear together across the face, and you can tolerate the pain with numbing cream
When you are looking for Rejuran HB Plus
The clinic's published information lists only Rejuran Healer, HB, I and S, not HB Plus, so first check at consultation whether it is offered.
What to tell the clinic before consultation
If you have ever had an adverse reaction to a local anesthetic such as lidocaine, you should say so before choosing HB.
How does Myongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic manage Rejuran pain, and what does it cost?
Myongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic in Myeongji-dong, Gangseo-gu, Busan performs Rejuran in the order of consultation and assessment, cleansing, numbing cream application, dermal injection and soothing care. The anesthesia method in the published information is numbing cream, and when pain is a major concern, Rejuran HB, which contains lidocaine, is also reviewed at the product selection stage.
The published non-covered fee information lists Rejuran HB 2cc at KRW 450,000 and Rejuran I 1cc at KRW 159,000 (checked November 2, 2026). Rejuran Healer and Rejuran S have no separate published fees and are confirmed at consultation, and the total cost is confirmed including volume, treatment area, and whether numbing cream and soothing care are included. Non-covered fees may change.
- STEP 01
Consultation and assessment
The skin condition and areas of concern are checked, and the product is chosen among Healer, HB, I and S.
- STEP 02
Cleansing
The skin is cleansed before treatment.
- STEP 03
Numbing cream application
Numbing cream is applied to prepare for treatment.
- STEP 04
Dermal injection
The selected product is injected into the dermis.
- STEP 05
Soothing care
Soothing care for the skin follows the injections.
How long numbing cream is left on before treatment and the recommended Rejuran cycle are not in the clinic's published information. In general, the waiting time differs by numbing product: according to its product label, lidocaine-prilocaine cream gives adequate effect 1 hour after application, and in a study, 4% lidocaine gel took effect after about 25-30 minutes and worked best at 35-40 minutes.
PN studies used three injections at 2- or 4-week intervals; in a study of three sessions at 4-week intervals (30 people), improvement was maintained up to the 6-month follow-up. In a study of three sessions at 2-week intervals (27 people), improvements in firmness and hydration decreased over time, so how long results last differs by person and product.
By how much do lidocaine and numbing cream reduce pain in numbers?
Myongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic has no published data on Rejuran pain, bumps or bruising, and no study comparing pain with the Rejuran HB product itself could be directly verified. In the external studies reviewed, an adjusted formulation, lidocaine within the product and topical anesthetic all lowered pain scores, but pain remained even in the studies that reported average scores, and the study products and areas differ from the clinic's treatment.
Myongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic data
Rejuran pain scores and statistics on bumps and bruising: no published data
Rejuran HB data
Figures directly comparing pain between Rejuran HB and Rejuran Healer: no directly verified published data
Jeon et al., 2026 (randomized, patient-blinded, split-face, 15 people)
For crow's feet, 1mL of conventional PN and 1mL of PN with adjusted pH and ionic strength were injected on opposite sides of the face. Pain scores on a 10-point scale were 3.39 for the adjusted PN and 5.04 for the conventional PN; bumps occurred in 13.3% and 56.7%, and redness in 40% and 60%. There was no difference in wrinkle improvement. Because the product changed the formulation's properties rather than adding lidocaine, the results cannot be taken as Rejuran HB results.
Choi et al., 2020 (multicenter, randomized, double-blind, split-face, 62 people)
Hyaluronic acid filler pre-mixed with 0.3% lidocaine and filler without it were injected into the nasolabial folds on opposite sides. Right after injection, 95.2% said the lidocaine side hurt less and the mean pain score (VAS) difference was 38.6mm, but the proportion reporting less pain fell to 67.7%, 41.9%, 32.3% and 21.0% after 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes. This is a filler study rather than a dermal skin booster study, and the injection area and depth differ.
de Carvalho et al., 2026 (randomized, double-blind, split-face, 100 women)
In Botox injections of the upper face, the mean pain score was 4.69 on the side with topical anesthetic and 5.50 on the placebo side. The researchers judged that topical anesthesia and vibration both gave a small to moderate pain reduction compared with placebo. This is a Botox injection study, and it is not known whether the anesthetic used is the same as the clinic's numbing cream.
Hong et al., 2025 (split-face, 10 people)
PN was injected with a needle on one side of the face and with a needle-free pressure injector on the other, and pain scores were lower on the injector side. The abstract gives no specific scores, and this injection method is not in the clinic's published information.
Points to note when reading the figures
All studies involved 10-100 people, pain was a short-term assessment measured during or right after injection, and the products, areas and anesthesia methods are not the same as the clinic's treatment, so the results cannot be applied directly.
How should bumps and bruising after Rejuran be managed, and when should you come back to the clinic?
According to the clinic, redness, swelling and bruising may appear temporarily after Rejuran and usually ease within a few days. Bumps, where the injection sites rise up unevenly, are also a reaction commonly reported after PN injections. No PN study measuring how long bumps alone last was found, and in hyaluronic acid skin booster studies, injection-site reactions mostly settled within 48 hours to a few days, so if you have an important event, schedule the treatment date with more time to spare than that.
On the day of treatment
Keep face washing and makeup to a minimum.
Avoid for about 7 days
Saunas and strenuous exercise
Keep doing
Use thorough sun protection.
Signs to be seen again
When redness and pain get steadily worse, when warmth or pus develops, or when swelling and bruising have not settled after a few days
How much pain you feel and how quickly bumps and bruising settle vary with the product, area and skin condition, so prioritize your medical team's diagnosis and guidance over general information online. The general cycles, durations and doses in this article are reference values based on published studies and product information, and the exact values for you are confirmed at consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Rejuran HB and Healer
Rejuran HB is a formulation that contains hyaluronic acid and lidocaine together with PN, considered when you want to manage inner dryness, dullness and fine lines while reducing the burden of pain. Rejuran Healer is the basic line used when loss of oil-moisture balance, texture and firmness and fine lines appear together across the face.
Is sedation available for Rejuran
The published Rejuran information of Myongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic in Myeongji-dong, Busan lists numbing cream as the anesthesia method and does not mention sedation. If numbing cream alone feels like too much of a burden, first check which anesthesia methods are available at consultation.
Is there a way to get Rejuran without pain
There is no way to eliminate the pain completely. In the studies reviewed, average pain scores on the side with an adjusted formulation or topical anesthetic were lower but did not disappear. Myongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic injects after applying numbing cream and, when pain is a major concern, also reviews Rejuran HB, which contains lidocaine.
About the clinic behind this article
Myongji Best Plastic Surgery Clinic is a board-certified plastic surgery clinic in Myeongji-dong, Gangseo-gu, Busan. Dr. Hyungseok Noh, board-certified plastic surgeon and medical director, provides care.
- Address
- Units 302–305, Building 1, 3 Myeongji-gukje 2-ro 28beon-gil, Gangseo-gu, Busan
- Main Line
- 051-711-7991
- Clinic Hours
- Weekdays AM 10:00 ~ PM 07:30Saturday AM 10:00 ~ PM 03:00Sundays & Public Holidays Closed
- Treatment guide
- View the Rejuran page
- Booking
- Naver Booking
REFERENCES
References
This article uses the clinic’s published information together with authoritative medical sources.
- Myongji Best Plastic Surgery ClinicRejuran guide
Supports: Published product line (Healer, HB, I, S), ingredients and uses of Rejuran Healer, HB and I, treatment sequence including numbing cream application, post-treatment reactions and daily care
Chosen among Healer, HB, I and S according to skin concern and treatment area / Rejuran Healer is the basic line used to improve overall facial skin condition, considered when loss of oil-moisture balance, fine lines, poor texture and loss of firmness appear in combination. / Rejuran HB is a formulation that contains hyaluronic acid and lidocaine together with PN, considered when you want to improve inner dryness, dullness and fine lines while reducing the burden of pain. / Rejuran I is an eye-area formulation used to care for delicate areas, such as fine lines under the eyes, thinned skin around the eyes and loss of firmness around the eyes. / Treatment proceeds in the order of consultation and assessment, cleansing, numbing cream application, dermal injection and soothing care. / Redness, swelling and bruising may appear temporarily and usually ease within a few days / Please keep face washing and makeup to a minimum on the day / Please avoid saunas and strenuous exercise for about 7 days / Please use thorough sun protection
- Myongji Best Plastic Surgery ClinicNon-covered fee information
Supports: Published fees for Rejuran HB 2cc and Rejuran I 1cc
Rejuran HB 2cc KRW 450,000, Rejuran I 1cc KRW 159,000
- PubMedEfficacy of Ionization-Adjusted PN Filler in Minimizing Injection Pain: A Randomized, Patient-Blinded, Split-Face Study
Jeon W, Park M, Kim SW, Kim J. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026;50(7):2723-2730. doi:10.1007/s00266-025-05320-x. PMID: 41361144
Supports: Comparison of pain, redness and bumps between conventional PN and PN with adjusted pH and ionic strength in 15 people, and the statement that PN injection pain is a main drawback
The ionized PN filler demonstrated significantly lower pain scores (VAS 3.39 ± 1.81) compared to the conventional filler (VAS 5.04 ± 2.19, p < 0.005), with fewer cases of erythema (40% vs. 60%) and embossing (13.3% vs. 56.7%).
- PubMedReduced pain with injection of hyaluronic acid with pre-incorporated lidocaine for nasolabial fold correction: A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, active-controlled, split-face designed, clinical study
Choi SY, Han HS, Yoo KH, Lee JS, Kim BJ, Lee YW. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19(12):3229-3233. doi:10.1111/jocd.13421. PMID: 32416026
Supports: Pain reduction right after injection and over time with hyaluronic acid filler with and without 0.3% lidocaine in 62 people
Immediately after treatment, 95.2% of subjects who were treated with HAF-Lidocaine reported reduced pain when compared with those who were treated with HAF and the mean VAS score difference was 38.6 mm. At 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after treatment, respectively, 67.7%, 41.9%, 32.3%, and 21.0% of subjects experienced reduced pain.
- PubMedComparing patient satisfaction and pain control between vibration and topical anesthesia during botulinum toxin A injections: a randomized, double-blind, split-face clinical trial
de Carvalho DC, Rodrigues V, da Fonseca Josino FB, Soares Diniz R, Machado Gonçalves L. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2026;28(1-5):21-28. doi:10.1080/14764172.2026.2652488. PMID: 41930421
Supports: Comparison of pain scores between topical anesthetic and placebo during Botox injections in 100 women
This study suggests that topical anesthesia and vibratory stimulation both offer small-to-medium analgesic benefits over placebo during BoNT-A injections.
- PubMedTherapeutic Performance of Needle Injection Versus Needle-Free Jet Injector System for Polynucleotide Filler in Skin Rejuvenation
Hong JY, Lee YH, Kim HJ, Park KY. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(1):e16595. doi:10.1111/jocd.16595. PMID: 39370844
Supports: Comparison of PN pain between needle injection and a needle-free injector in 10 people, and pain from intradermal PN injection with a needle
Polynucleotide (PN) filler often causes pain and can lead to delivery inaccuracies when applied via intradermal injection using a traditional needle.
- PubMedPolynucleotides HPT for Asian Skin Regeneration and Rejuvenation
Lim TS, Liew S, Tee XJ, et al. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2024;17:417-431. doi:10.2147/CCID.S437942. PMID: 38371328
Supports: Single-arm study of 30 Asian participants: three intradermal PN injections at 4-week intervals, with improvement maintained up to the 6-month follow-up
Study protocol: three intradermal injections of a PN HPT-based Class III CE-marked medical device at T0 (baseline assessment and first treatment session), T1 (four weeks after baseline), and T2 (eight weeks after baseline), with efficacy and safety evaluations at T1, T2, T3 (four months after baseline) and T4 (six months after baseline). … The aesthetic benefits persisted up to the sixth-month visit in all subjects.
- PubMedComparison of the effects of polynucleotide and hyaluronic acid fillers on periocular rejuvenation: a randomized, double-blind, split-face trial
Lee YJ, Kim HT, Lee YJ, et al. J Dermatolog Treat. 2022;33(1):254-260. doi:10.1080/09546634.2020.1748857. PMID: 32248707
Supports: Randomized split-face study of 27 people: three eye-area PN injections at 2-week intervals, with improvements in firmness and hydration decreasing over time
Each subject received filler injections thrice with two-week intervals, with a PN filler injection on one side and a non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) filler injection on the contralateral side of the periorbital area. … The improvement rates of skin elasticity and hydration decreased over time in both groups, with the PN group showing a higher improvement rate.
- PubMedA hyaluronic acid-based micro-filler improves superficial wrinkles and skin quality: a randomized prospective controlled multicenter study
Fanian F, Deutsch JJ, Bousquet MT, et al. J Dermatolog Treat. 2023;34(1):2216323. doi:10.1080/09546634.2023.2216323. PMID: 37577796
Supports: Randomized multicenter study of 146 people: injection-site reactions to a hyaluronic acid skin booster mostly settled within 48 hours
Most adverse events were mild, resolved within 48 h, and were related to the injection procedure.
- PubMedClinical and Biometric Assessment of a Hyaluronic Acid-Based Skin Booster for Face, Neck and Décolleté Rejuvenation: A Prospective Study
Pino A, Torrecilla J, Alonso JM, Tovito L, Pérez R. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(11):e70547. doi:10.1111/jocd.70547. PMID: 41243364
Supports: Single-center prospective study of 81 people: adverse events with a hyaluronic acid skin booster settled within a few days
Adverse events were slight and considered as usual among skinboosters and were resolved within a few days.
- PubMedSafety and efficacy of a rapid-acting topical 4% lidocaine gel in a unique drug delivery system
Baumann LS, Grunebaum L, Elsaie ML, et al. J Drugs Dermatol. 2010;9(12):1500-1504. PMID: 21120257
Supports: Eye-area Botox injection study: time for 4% lidocaine gel to take effect (about 25-30 minutes, optimal at 35-40 minutes)
Topical 4% lidocaine gel with a unique drug delivery system produces significant anesthesia without occlusion in approximately 25-30 minutes with optimal effects observed between 35-40 minutes after application.
- DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)Lidocaine and Prilocaine Cream, 2.5%/2.5% product label
Supports: Time for lidocaine-prilocaine cream to give adequate effect after application (1 hour under an occlusive dressing)
Satisfactory dermal analgesia is achieved 1 hour after application, reaches maximum at 2 to 3 hours, and persists for 1 to 2 hours after removal.
Published 2026.11.03Last updated 2026.11.03