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Before you book
Does It Hurt? Numbing Options for Skin Treatments in Korea (2026)
By Dr. IM JUNHYUNG · Updated
- Our discomfort ratings are given after numbing, out of 5: Botox and pico toning 1; filler 2; Ultherapy, Thermage and Potenza 3.
- Deep lifting is felt most along the jawline and over bone.
- Tell us about any reaction to local anesthetics, and about medicines you take.
- Stronger options change your day — sedation needs a health check first and rest afterwards.
At a glance
| Option | What it does | When it works | Often used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling and vibration | Dulls each pulse at the surface | Immediately | Thermage FLX; Botox, if needed |
| Numbing cream | Topical anesthetic on the skin | About 30 min | Most lifting, lasers, boosters and filler |
| Lidocaine in the product | Local anesthetic mixed into the injectable | As it is injected | Many HA fillers; Rejuran HB |
| Painkillers | Taken before treatment to take the edge off | Planned beforehand | Deep lifting, longer sessions |
| Anesthetic injections | Local anesthetic injected near the area | Within minutes | Selected treatments and areas |
| Sedation | Medication that makes you drowsy and relaxed | Planned in advance, after a health check | Selected longer treatments |
What it feels like, by treatment
Different treatments hurt in different ways. Focused ultrasound such as Ultherapy or Duotite is felt as brief, deep aches, sharpest along the jawline and over bone. Thermage FLX is felt as quick bursts of heat. Radiofrequency microneedling such as Potenza is a prickling heat. Injections are a pinch and a feeling of pressure.
Thin skin over bone and around the mouth is usually more sensitive than the cheeks — which is why the same treatment can feel easy on one area and sharper on another.
Numbing cream: the default
Most treatments start with a topical anesthetic cream. It needs about 30 minutes on the skin, and that time is part of your visit. Cream numbs the surface well, but it doesn’t fully reach deep layers, so deep lifting can still be felt. That’s where the other options come in.
Some treatments usually need no numbing at all: pico toning, XERF, Alltite, ONDA and InMode.
Lidocaine in the product
Many hyaluronic acid fillers have lidocaine, a local anesthetic, mixed in, so the area numbs as it is injected. Some skin boosters do too: Rejuran HB adds lidocaine and HA for comfort. Cream is still applied first.
If you have ever reacted to a local anesthetic, tell us — it changes which product we choose.
Cooling and vibration
Some devices build comfort in. Thermage FLX cools the skin and vibrates with each pulse, which keeps the heat tolerable. For Botox, a cold pack or cream is used if needed; the injections are quick enough that most people need little else.
Painkillers and anesthetic injections
If you know you are sensitive, or your plan includes deep lines along the jawline, a painkiller taken beforehand can take the edge off.
Anesthetic injections — local anesthetic placed near the treatment area — numb deeper than any cream. They add a few small pinches at the start, then the area goes numb within minutes. Whether they suit depends on the treatment and the area; we decide together at consultation.
Sedation
For selected longer treatments, sedation is an option: medication that makes you drowsy and relaxed during the treatment. It needs a check of your health and medicines first, and it changes how you plan the day — you rest until it wears off, and the rest of the day should stay quiet, with no important decisions.
It isn’t used for every treatment, and it is never a reason to treat more than you need. Tell us before booking if you’d like it, because it affects timing.
Discomfort, treatment by treatment
| Treatment | Usual numbing | After numbing |
|---|---|---|
| Botox · jaw Botox | Cooling or cream if needed | 1 / 5 |
| Pico toning · ONDA | Usually not needed | 1 / 5 |
| HA filler | Topical cream | 2 / 5 |
| Juvelook · Skinvive · skin Botox | Topical cream | 2 / 5 |
| XERF · Alltite · InMode | Usually not needed | 2 / 5 |
| Eye Thermage | Cream and eye shields | 2 / 5 |
| Rejuran · Potenza | Topical cream | 3 / 5 |
| Duotite | Numbing cream, about 30 min | 3 / 5 |
| Ultherapy Prime · Sofwave | Topical cream | 3 / 5 |
| Thermage FLX | Topical cream, with cooling and vibration | 3 / 5 |
From our treatment pages. Ratings are given after numbing and vary by person and area.
Making it easier on the day
- Arrive on time, so the cream has its full 30 minutes.
- Be specific. If a past treatment was hard, tell us which one and where it hurt.
- Ask for a pause. We check how you are doing as we go and can adjust the energy.
- Eat normally beforehand, unless we have asked you to fast for sedation.
- Skip alcohol the night before — it can make bruising worse.
FAQ
Which skin treatments hurt the most?
On our pages, focused-ultrasound lifting (Ultherapy Prime, Duotite), Thermage FLX, Sofwave, Potenza and Rejuran are rated 3 out of 5 after numbing; Botox and pico toning 1. Deep lines along the jawline and over bone are usually the sharpest.
How long does numbing cream take to work?
About 30 minutes on the skin. That time is part of your visit.
Can I have sedation for Ultherapy?
Depending on the treatment, sedation is one of the options, along with painkillers and anesthetic injections. It needs a health check first, so ask at consultation.
Does filler hurt?
Usually less than people expect: it is rated 2 out of 5 after numbing. Cream is applied first, and many fillers contain lidocaine.
Does Botox need numbing?
Usually not. Cooling or cream is used if needed; it is rated 1 out of 5.
I once fainted during an injection. Should I tell you?
Yes, please. Tell us beforehand so we can plan for it — your position, the pace and the numbing.
Will it hurt afterwards?
Tenderness for a few days is common after lifting, and mild soreness or bruising after injections. Contact us if pain increases instead of settling.
General information, not medical advice. Your plan is set at an in-person consultation; results vary by individual.
Representative Director of Taut Clinic, Gangnam. Full member of the Korean Aesthetic Surgery & Laser Society (ASLS), the Korean Association for Laser Dermatology and Trichology (KALDAT) and the Korean Society of Filler Medicine. Commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare.
Treatments in this article
See how each treatment mentioned here is done at Taut Clinic.
Tell the doctor before you book. We plan the numbing first.
Related reading
Ask the doctor directly.
If something isn’t right for you, we’ll say so. No same-day decision required.