“These lines used to appear only when I smiled or frowned, but now I can see them even when my face is at rest.”

“They are not very deep yet. Is this the point when I should start thinking about treatment?”

Wrinkles do not suddenly become deep overnight.

At first, the skin may crease only with facial expression and then smooth out again.

But as the same movements are repeated and skin elasticity gradually declines, the lines may begin to remain visible even when the face is relaxed.

At that point, it becomes important to distinguish whether the main issue is still repeated muscle movement,

whether surrounding tissue laxity or volume change is contributing, or whether structural changes have already developed within the dermis itself.

At Timeless Dermatology Mapo, when deeper wrinkles begin to become established in the skin,

JUVGEN autologous dermal regeneration treatment may be considered as one of the treatment options depending on the condition.

1. JUVGEN Is Not Only Considered After a Wrinkle Becomes Very Deep

Some patients think of JUVGEN as a treatment reserved only for long-standing nasolabial folds or deeply etched wrinkles.

But treatment does not necessarily need to wait until a line has become very deep.

If a wrinkle that used to appear only with facial expression now remains visible at rest and gradually becomes more defined over time,

it may be worth assessing whether structural changes have begun to develop within the skin.

In areas such as the glabella or forehead, where muscle movement plays a significant role,

reducing repetitive movement with botulinum toxin treatment may take priority.

However, if the line remains visible even after muscle movement has been reduced,

or if a visible depth is present even without facial expression, the established wrinkle itself may need to be addressed separately.

The same is true for nasolabial folds and lines around the mouth.

Not every wrinkle with the same name develops for the same reason.

Some become deeper because of reduced midface volume.

Others become more pronounced because surrounding tissue has descended.

And in some cases, a deeper crease has formed within the skin itself independently of those changes.

When a deeper dermal wrinkle has become established, autologous dermal regeneration treatment may be considered.

JUVGEN is not intended as a preventive procedure before wrinkles appear.

It is used to address wrinkles where actual dermal changes have already developed.

2. JUVGEN Works Differently From a Conventional Dermal Filler

JUVGEN and conventional hyaluronic acid fillers are both injectable treatments, but they create change in different ways.

With a filler, the injected hyaluronic acid gel itself provides volume and directly fills an area of deficiency.

This means a visible change in volume can often be seen immediately after treatment.

JUVGEN, by contrast, is an autologous dermal regeneration treatment.

It alternately delivers medical-grade carbon dioxide and an extremely small amount of hyaluronic acid into the same area,

stimulating the dermis and encouraging a subsequent tissue-repair response and collagen formation.

In other words, with filler, the injected material itself creates the volume.

With JUVGEN, newly formed collagen within the skin becomes part of the basis for the change.

JUVGEN is designed to control injection volume in increments as small as 0.001 cc.

This degree of precision makes it more suitable for treating localized areas with defined depth—such as nasolabial folds,

glabellar lines, and lines around the mouth—rather than creating broad facial volume.

This is why it is difficult to compare filler and JUVGEN as though one were simply the better treatment.

If there is significant volume loss in the anterior cheeks or midface, a treatment that directly restores volume may be more appropriate.

If surrounding tissue laxity is making the wrinkle appear deeper, lifting treatment may need to be considered first.

On the other hand, if a deep wrinkle remains even after volume and laxity have been addressed, or if the primary issue lies within the dermal crease itself, JUVGEN may become one of the treatment options.

3. Even With Deep Wrinkles, JUVGEN Is Not Needed in Every Case

JUVGEN is not applied to every wrinkle in the same way.

The first things to consider are where the wrinkle is, how deep it is, and why it continues to remain visible.

Autologous dermal regeneration may be considered for established lines that remain visible at rest, such as nasolabial folds,

glabellar lines, perioral lines, and marionette lines, particularly when repetitive folding has created a more defined dermal crease over time.

Localized depressed areas of the skin may also be approached from the perspective of dermal regeneration.

However, if a line appears only during facial expression and disappears completely at rest, treatment that reduces muscle movement may be more appropriate.

If the face appears generally hollow or there is broad volume loss,

it may be more natural to consider filler or another volume-restoring treatment rather than trying to address the entire concern with JUVGEN alone.

The same principle applies when surrounding tissue laxity is making a wrinkle appear deeper.

In that situation, it may be more appropriate to address the laxity before focusing on the wrinkle itself.

Ultimately, even two patients with similar nasolabial folds or glabellar lines may need different treatment plans.

JUVGEN is selected not simply because a wrinkle exists, but because the wrinkle appears to be in a state where dermal regeneration may be appropriate.

Timeless Answers.

Is it better to wait until a wrinkle becomes very deep before considering JUVGEN?

Not necessarily.

JUVGEN can be considered for already established deep wrinkles, but treatment does not need to wait until the line becomes extremely deep.

If a wrinkle that used to appear only with facial expression begins to remain visible at rest and becomes progressively more defined,

it may be worth assessing its current condition.

If muscle movement, tissue laxity, or volume loss is the main cause, those factors may need to be treated first.

If the wrinkle itself has already become established within the dermis, JUVGEN may be considered.

I had botulinum toxin treatment, but my glabellar line is still visible. Could JUVGEN be considered?

Yes, depending on the condition.

Botulinum toxin treatment reduces movement of the muscles that create repeated frowning.

This can help reduce repetitive folding of the skin, but it does not directly regenerate an already established deep crease.

If a glabellar line remains after muscle movement has been reduced,

the depth of the wrinkle and the condition of the skin can be assessed to determine whether

JUVGEN autologous dermal regeneration treatment may be appropriate as an additional option.

If I am uncomfortable with filler, can JUVGEN be used instead?

The two treatments should not be viewed as simple substitutes for one another.

If there is broad volume loss in the midface or cheeks, a treatment that directly restores volume, such as filler, may be more appropriate.

JUVGEN is less about creating broad volume and more about addressing deeply established wrinkles or localized depressions through dermal regeneration.

So rather than choosing JUVGEN simply because filler feels uncomfortable, it is important to first determine whether the main issue is volume loss or an established deep wrinkle.

If nasolabial folds are just beginning to appear, should I start with JUVGEN?

It is better to first identify the cause of the nasolabial fold.

A fold that becomes deeper because of reduced midface volume is different from one that becomes more pronounced because the cheeks and surrounding tissue have descended.

These are also different from a fold in which a deeper crease has already formed within the skin itself.

If volume loss or tissue laxity is the dominant issue, those concerns may need to be treated first.

If a deeper wrinkle remains afterward, JUVGEN may then be considered.

This is why treatment should not be decided based on the name “nasolabial fold” alone.

Wrinkle Treatment in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul: Treatment Timing Should Follow How the Wrinkle Is Changing

The appearance of a wrinkle does not automatically mean that treatment needs to begin immediately.

However, if a line that previously appeared only with facial expression is now visible at rest and is gradually becoming more defined,

it may be a reasonable time to assess what stage the wrinkle has reached.

At Timeless Dermatology Mapo, our board-certified dermatologists evaluate the location and depth of the wrinkle,

facial muscle movement, surrounding tissue laxity, and facial volume before determining the treatment direction.

If a deeper wrinkle has become established within the dermis and needs to be addressed separately,

JUVGEN autologous dermal regeneration treatment may be considered as one treatment option.

The important point in wrinkle treatment is not simply starting as early as possible.

It is accurately identifying why the wrinkle is becoming deeper and what stage it has reached before deciding how to treat it.