Acne Scars in Korea: The Potenza + Juvelook Protocol Explained

By Dr. Son Hoon-Sung · April 2026 · 9 min read

Acne scars are arguably the hardest skin concern to treat. Unlike wrinkles or pigmentation, scars involve actual structural damage to the dermis — lost collagen, distorted tissue architecture, and fibrotic bands pulling the skin downward. No single treatment can fix all of this in one session. That is why Korean clinics have developed combination protocols that attack scars from multiple angles simultaneously.

The Potenza + Juvelook protocol is one of the most effective acne scar treatments available in Korea today. At RE:BERRY Clinic Myeongdong, it forms the core of our scar treatment program. Here is exactly how it works, what it costs, and what results to realistically expect.

Understanding Acne Scar Types

Before explaining the treatment, you need to understand what you are dealing with. Acne scars come in several distinct types, and each responds differently to treatment:

Most patients have a mix of types. The Potenza + Juvelook protocol addresses boxcar and rolling scars most effectively, with meaningful improvement in ice pick scars when combined with subcision.

What Is Potenza?

Potenza is a radiofrequency (RF) microneedling device manufactured by Cynosure. It is not just another microneedling device — it represents the current state of the art in RF microneedling technology.

The device creates micro-channels in the skin using ultrafine needles (25-49 per tip), then delivers controlled RF energy at the precise depth where collagen remodeling is needed. The heat from the RF energy denatures existing collagen fibers and triggers a wound-healing cascade that produces new, organized collagen.

What Makes Potenza Different from Other RF Microneedling

• 4 tip configurations — Insulated tips target deep dermis without surface damage. Non-insulated tips treat both surface and depth. Tiger Tips deliver product into channels.
• Monopolar + Bipolar modes — Monopolar reaches deeper tissue (up to 8mm effective depth), bipolar is more precise for superficial work.
• Drug delivery — The EZ Tip (Tiger Tip) creates micro-channels and simultaneously pumps active ingredients directly into the dermis. When combined with Juvelook, this means the skin booster goes exactly where it is needed most.

What Is Juvelook?

Juvelook is a poly-D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) hybrid injectable. Think of it as a dual-action skin booster: the HA provides immediate hydration and volume, while the PDLLA acts as a long-term collagen stimulator.

When injected into acne scar tissue, Juvelook does two things:

1. Immediate mechanical lift — The HA gel physically fills the depressed scar, making it level with surrounding skin.
2. Progressive collagen stimulation — PDLLA microparticles trigger fibroblasts to produce new collagen over 6-12 months. This means results actually improve over time, long after the treatment.

The Combined Protocol: How Potenza + Juvelook Work Together

Here is why the combination is more effective than either treatment alone:

1. Potenza creates the channels — RF microneedling breaks up fibrotic scar tissue and creates thousands of micro-wounds that trigger collagen remodeling.
2. Juvelook fills and stimulates — Delivered through Potenza’s drug delivery system (or injected immediately after), Juvelook penetrates deep into the newly created channels where it can reach the scarred dermis directly.
3. Synergistic collagen response — The wound-healing signal from Potenza PLUS the PDLLA stimulation from Juvelook creates a more robust collagen response than either alone.

Studies show that combination RF microneedling + collagen stimulator treatments improve acne scar grade by 2-3 levels (on the Goodman-Baron scale) over 3 sessions, compared to 1-2 levels with RF microneedling alone.

RE:BERRY Myeongdong Acne Scar Packages

For most acne scar patients, we recommend the Pore All-Kill Package at ₩490,000 as the starting point. It combines Potenza + Juvelook in a single session with Aqua Peel preparation and regenerative laser finishing.

What Happens During the Treatment

Before (15-20 minutes)

Topical numbing cream is applied to the treatment area. This is essential — while the treatment is tolerable, proper numbing makes it comfortable. During this waiting time, we perform Aqua Peel to prepare the skin surface.

During (20-30 minutes)

Dr. Baek or Dr. Son maps the scar areas and selects the appropriate Potenza tip and settings. Deeper ice-pick scars get focused monopolar RF at maximum depth. Broader boxcar scars get bipolar RF across a wider area. The Tiger Tip delivers Juvelook directly into the micro-channels as the treatment progresses.

Pain level with numbing: 3-4 out of 10. You feel pressure and warmth, not sharp pain.

After (15 minutes)

LDM ultrasound and Dermio Care calming mask to reduce immediate redness and inflammation. You leave the clinic with pink, slightly swollen skin — similar to a moderate sunburn appearance.

Recovery and Downtime

• Day 1-2: Redness and mild swelling. Tiny pinpoint scabs at needle entry points. Do not apply makeup.
• Day 3-4: Redness fading. Scabs naturally sloughing. Light makeup OK.
• Day 5-7: Fully recovered. Skin may feel slightly tighter than usual (this is the collagen remodeling beginning).
• Week 4-8: Progressive improvement as new collagen fills in scarred areas.
• Month 3-6: Full results visible. Juvelook PDLLA continues stimulating collagen.

How Many Sessions Do You Need?

This depends on scar severity:

Sessions are spaced 4-6 weeks apart. Many international patients schedule 1-2 sessions per Korea trip and complete their protocol over multiple visits.

Why Subcision Matters for Deep Scars

For ice pick and tethered rolling scars, adding subcision to the protocol dramatically improves results. Subcision uses a small needle inserted beneath the scar to physically release the fibrous bands pulling the skin downward. Once released, the scar can be lifted and filled with Juvelook.

Our Subcision + Juvelook Hand Injection 4cc + Pico Fraxel + Cryotherapy package at ₩1,090,000 is designed specifically for severe scar cases. The combination of mechanical release (subcision), volumizing (Juvelook), resurfacing (Pico Fraxel laser), and calming (cryotherapy) attacks the scar from every possible angle.

Potenza + Juvelook vs. Other Acne Scar Treatments

Start Your Acne Scar Treatment

Send clear photos of your scarring via WhatsApp to +82-2-2088-7070 for a preliminary assessment. Our doctors will recommend the right protocol for your scar type and severity, and provide a cost estimate before your visit.

RE:BERRY Clinic Myeongdong
5, Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
2 min from Myeongdong Station Exit 8
Dr. Baek Seung-Jae (Medical Director) · Dr. Son Hoon-Sung