Korean Pore Treatment: What Shrinks Pores and What It Costs

My name is Dr. Hongseok Kim, and I am a board-certified dermatologist with 21 years in practice. At VOS Dermatology Clinic in Gangnam I see each patient myself, from the first conversation at my desk to the treatment itself, one person at a time. Enlarged pores are something visitors often mention almost as an afterthought, yet it is the concern many of them notice most in the mirror, so I want to give it a proper answer.

The short answer: Korean pore treatment works well when it matches the reason your pores look large. Pores enlarged by oil respond to treatments that calm the oil glands, while pores stretched by lost collagen respond to treatments that rebuild support around them. At VOS the combination for both is the Pore Refinement Program. This guide is for adults abroad who want to know which approach fits their skin, what it costs, and what one trip can realistically change.

Why pores look large in the first place

A pore is the opening of a hair follicle, and each one has an oil gland attached. Pores look larger for three main reasons, and most faces have more than one.

Oil. An active oil gland fills and stretches the opening. This is common in the T-zone and in younger skin, and it is often why pores look larger by mid-afternoon.

Lost support. Collagen around each opening holds it in shape. As collagen thins with age and sun, the pore wall slackens and the opening looks wider, often as a teardrop shape on the cheeks.

Texture and old acne. Past breakouts can leave the surface uneven, and shallow scars around pores make them look larger in side light.

Pores cannot be removed, because they are a normal part of skin. What treatment can change is how full, stretched and visible they look. How much it changes varies from person to person.

What each part of a pore treatment does

The treatments used for pores work on different causes, which is why pore treatment Korea clinics offer is usually a combination rather than one device.

Skin Quality Botox uses the same botulinum toxin as wrinkle treatment, but placed shallowly across the skin rather than deep in a muscle. You can read how that differs from standard use on our botulinum toxin page and in my guide to Korean botox. Radiofrequency microneedling is the collagen side of the plan, and I explain the device in detail in my guide to Potenza in Korea.

The Pore Refinement Program and listed prices

The Pore Refinement Program is VOS's signature combination for enlarged pores, texture and overall skin quality. It uses Skin Quality Botox, Juveàcell and Potenza RF together, and multiple sessions are recommended.

These are the relevant items from our official English price list, copied exactly. Prices are in KRW before 10% VAT, which is added where applicable, and they may change without notice. The current list is on our pricing page.

Not every face needs the full program. If your pores are mainly oil-driven and your skin is otherwise firm, skin botox alone may be a reasonable first step. If slackness and texture are the bigger issue, the collagen side matters more. HILO WAVE is an option for people who want hydration and pores improved together with little downtime.

Who pore treatment suits, and who should wait

Pore treatment tends to suit adults whose main complaint is visible, enlarged pores on the cheeks, nose or forehead, with or without oily skin.

It is worth waiting, or choosing a different plan, if:

• You have active, inflamed acne that needs settling first
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding
• You have a skin infection or cold sore in the area
• You have a muscular or neurological condition, which matters for botulinum toxin
• You tend to form keloids or thick scars
• You need camera-ready skin within a couple of days

If what bothers you is mostly congestion and blackheads rather than pore size, a deep-cleansing facial may be the simpler first step. My guide to the Korean HydraFacial explains what that treatment can and cannot do for pores.

What a visit looks like on a short trip

The visit starts with a consultation with me. I look at the pores up close, check oiliness, texture and firmness, and use 3D skin analysis to see what sits beneath the surface. Then we agree which causes to treat on this trip.

On the treatment day, numbing cream goes on first. Nitrous-oxide sedation is available if you are nervous about needles. The botulinum toxin injection itself takes about 10–15 minutes, and its effect begins 2–3 days afterwards, with the full effect at about two weeks.

In general, radiofrequency microneedling leaves redness and faint grid marks for a few days, and booster injections can leave small bumps or bruises. Collagen-based change builds gradually over the following months. Recovery and results vary from person to person.

For a short trip, I usually place the needling steps early, so any redness has time to settle before you fly. Skin botox can be done on any day, since its visible signs are small, but its effect takes around two weeks to show fully. That means the result often becomes clear after you are home, which is worth knowing if you are planning photos or an event. If you have a series in mind, we agree the interval and what to watch for between visits before you leave.

Worth knowing: Pore treatments reduce how visible pores look; they do not erase them. The oil-calming effect of skin botox fades over months, and collagen changes are gradual. If you expect a poreless finish after one visit, I would rather tell you now than disappoint you later.

How I approach enlarged pores

I start by asking why your pores look large. Oil-driven pores, pores stretched by thinning collagen and pores sitting inside old acne texture look similar in a photo, but they need different plans.

If oil is the main driver, I lead with Skin Quality Botox, because it acts on the cause directly. If support is the problem, I lean on Potenza RF and regenerative injectables. When both are present, which is common, the Pore Refinement Program brings them together in one plan.

I also look at what sits next to the pores. Shallow acne scars often surround enlarged pores on the cheeks, and treating one without the other can leave you unsatisfied. If scars are part of your picture, my guide to Korean acne scar treatment explains how I combine the two.

Finally, I keep the plan honest about your trip. If one visit is all you have, I focus on the step that will make the most visible difference and explain what a later session would add.

Looking after pores between sessions

Treatment works better on skin that is looked after at home. In general, a gentle cleanser, a non-comedogenic moisturizer and daily sunscreen help keep pores from stretching again. Sun damage breaks down collagen, so sunscreen matters as much for pores as it does for wrinkles.

Avoid squeezing or harsh scrubbing, which inflames the pore wall and can leave marks. If you use retinoids or acids, tell us before treatment, as they may need a short pause around needling.

Before you message us

Send us a clear, well-lit photo of the areas that bother you, taken straight on and in profile, on WhatsApp. Please add your travel dates, whether your skin is oily, and any past treatments. We will reply with the options that fit, the current listed figures, and an honest view of what one trip can change.

Results, timing and recovery vary from person to person. Nothing here replaces an in-person consultation with a dermatologist.

Results, timing and recovery vary from person to person. This article is general information from VOS Dermatology Clinic and does not replace an in-person consultation. Any prices mentioned are from the clinic’s official price list (KRW, before VAT) and may change.