Essential Precautions to Know Before Collagen Injections and Procedures

There are various procedures to supplement collagen or create an environment for collagen production. From skin boosters called collagen injections to lifting treatments that use thermal energy to stimulate the dermis, though methods differ, they share a common point: skin becomes temporarily sensitive immediately after treatment.

Without proper understanding of precautions during this period, redness and irritation can persist longer, or skin condition may feel unstable. Today, we'll outline what to watch for before and after collagen procedures and how to care for your skin at each recovery stage.

Why does skin become sensitive after the procedure? Understanding the changes

Collagen injections and lifting procedures work by using fine needle stimulation or thermal energy to trigger a response in the dermis. During this process, the skin's surface temporarily loses protective function, and its ability to retain moisture can also decrease.

That's why immediately after the procedure, your skin tends to react sensitively to cleansing or light friction that would normally cause no trouble. Redness, stinging, and tightness appearing together is due to this reaction. While this is a natural part of the procedure itself, how you care for your skin during this period can affect your skin's condition afterward, making proper management essential.

Post-procedure recovery varies by timeline

From the day of the procedure through about 3 days, redness and heat sensation are most pronounced. Light stinging or sensitivity may occur, so care that minimizes irritation is necessary.

From day 4 onward, visible redness subsides, but many people experience tightness and dryness beneath the skin's surface. This is also the period when fine flaking may appear or skin texture may feel rougher.

Over the following 1-2 weeks, skin gradually stabilizes, but if irritating ingredients or aggressive massage are applied during this recovery process, skin condition can become unstable again, so caution is needed.

Step-by-step home care: manage it this way

Days 1-3 immediately after the procedure, 'calming' is the top priority. Cleanse with lukewarm water briefly, and it's best to take a break from irritating exfoliation, high-concentration retinol, and acidic ingredients. Applying cream thinly without rubbing, as if layering it on, helps protect the skin.

From day 4 onward, you should gradually shift focus to 'deep hydration.' While surface irritation has subsided, moisture and the skin barrier are still recovering, so this is the time for hydrating care that seeps between skin layers rather than a lightweight formula that merely sits on the surface.

Sun protection is a habit you must maintain throughout the entire period, regardless of the procedure area. Irritated skin can react more sensitively to pigmentation.

Post-procedure care determines the results

Even with the same procedure, skin recovery speed and condition can vary depending on how you care for it afterward. That's why there's growing interest recently not just in the procedure itself, but in 'how you spend the days immediately following the procedure.'

The early stage when redness remains and the recovery phase when inner tightness begins require different things from your skin, so adjusting your care approach according to the timeline is a rational approach.

Post-procedure recovery: home care makes the difference

Considering these timeline-based differences, Abjue cream is structured in a 2-STEP system. For days 1-3 immediately after the procedure, use Ultra Sera-Rich Cream, which focuses on calming and barrier care; from day 4 onward when redness subsides and inner tightness begins, use Hydro Re-Boosting Cream, which emphasizes deep hydration and skin texture care. Clinical testing confirmed that Ultra Sera-Rich helps calm redness and restore barrier function immediately after a single use following physical irritation, while Hydro Re-Boosting helps with redness, barrier, hydration, and skin texture care after 2 weeks of use (individual results may vary).