Pores and Acne Scars in Korea: Nayeon's Glow-Up Visit, and How I'd Treat Them

Pores and acne scars arrive in my consultation room together more often than apart, and most people describe them as one problem: “my skin looks rough.” I'm Dr. Hyunji Kim, director of Delphic Clinic in Sinnonhyeon, Gangnam. I trained at Korea University Medical Center, and I consult and treat international patients myself. Nayeon (@ny_nayeonkim) came in with exactly this pair of concerns. Her post doesn't say which treatment she had, so this page explains how I separate pores from scars, which options I weigh, what they cost, and when I'd tell you to wait.

Medically reviewed · Dr. Hyunji Kim · October 8, 2026

Pores and scars look alike in a mirror, not under a light

Nayeon's caption names two things: her pores and her acne scars. It doesn't name the treatment, so I won't pretend to know her settings. What I can show is the first thing I do with anyone who arrives with this pair.

I look at the skin with side lighting. Enlarged pores are small, regular openings, mostly on the cheeks and nose. Acne scars are irregular dips with edges, and they come in different shapes. Treating them as one problem is the most common reason people feel a session “didn't work.”

Reading the scar before choosing a device

1. 1

   Shallow, rolling texture

   Soft, wide dips that make makeup sit unevenly. These usually respond to treatments that rebuild collagen in the dermis.

2. 2

   Box-like or narrow scars

   Sharper edges or deeper points. These usually need energy delivered precisely at depth, often over several sessions.

3. 3

   Tethered scars

   Dips that look pulled down from below. Fibrous bands anchor them, and no surface laser releases that pull on its own.

I've written more about why I plan Korean acne scar treatment by scar type rather than by machine.

The three options I weigh for this concern

• Potenza: fine needles deliver radiofrequency energy into the dermis, with needle depth adjustable from 0.5 to 4.0 mm. It suits pores and rolling or shallow scars together, which is why it's often my starting point for mixed texture.
• Pico Fraxel: a 755 nm picosecond laser that works on regeneration from the deeper dermis without wounding the surface. I consider it for fine texture, pores and milder scarring.
• Subcision: a specialised needle releases the fibrous tissue under a tethered scar so it can lift. It's a targeted procedure for specific scars, with about five days of recovery.

My guide to how I treat pores and acne scars with Potenza goes into the tips and depths in more detail.

What these options cost

These are example menu prices for this concern, not what Nayeon paid; her post doesn't say. We publish prices, and international patients pay the same as Korean patients.

Scars rarely finish in one session, so I'd rather you budget for a course than for one visit. I've laid out how to budget for acne scar treatment in Seoul by scar type.

The “instant glow” and the slower change

Nayeon called it an instant glow up, and many patients do see fresher skin within days. That early glow is mostly surface calm and hydration. The structural part, collagen filling in scars, builds over weeks, and Potenza sessions are usually spaced every 2–3 weeks.

Doing this on a short Seoul trip

1. 1

   Before you fly

   Message us on WhatsApp with a photo taken by a window, light coming from the side. Scars show their shape that way, and I can tell you whether one trip is enough to start.

2. 2

   On the day

   1:1 consultation with me, then same-day treatment if it suits you. English and Chinese interpreters are on site.

3. 3

   Aftercare

   Don't rub the area, keep it out of direct sun, and use sunscreen and a recovery cream. Skip alcohol and intense exercise that day.

4. 4

   Finding us

   A short walk from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam.