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Laetigen vs Rejuran vs Juvelook is a choice between three injectable skin boosters that work differently: Laetigen supplies type I collagen directly, Rejuran uses salmon-derived polynucleotides to support skin-cell repair, and Juvelook combines PDLLA with hyaluronic acid to prompt your own collagen over several weeks.
“Which one should I get?” is one of the questions I hear most often in consultation, usually from patients who have already read about all three.
I’m Dr. Lee Sung-wook, a board-certified plastic surgeon at MINE Plastic Surgery & Dermatology in Seoul. This article is a decision guide, not a side-effects overview. It sets out the Laetigen vs Rejuran vs Juvelook comparison: what each booster does, which skin goal and schedule it fits, how the bumps differ, where pigmentation comes in, and how far apart sessions should be.
Dr. Lee’s key point: Start with your goal and your calendar, not the product name. Those two answers narrow the choice faster than any ingredient list.
Laetigen vs Rejuran vs Juvelook at a Glance
Here is the whole comparison in one table. The sections below explain what sits behind each row.
| Laetigen | Rejuran | Juvelook | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main ingredient | Type I atelocollagen, stated as 99.9% pure by the manufacturer; porcine (young-pig) origin | Polynucleotides (PN) purified from salmon DNA | PDLLA (poly-D,L-lactic acid, a synthetic polymer) plus hyaluronic acid |
| How it works | Supplies collagen directly | Supports skin-cell repair and hydration | Prompts your own collagen gradually |
| First noticed | Soon after treatment (the early plumpness is partly injected fluid); firmer skin is usually easier to notice at 2 to 4 weeks | Hydration at 1 to 2 weeks; visible change at 2 to 4 weeks | Slight hydration right away; real change from 4 to 6 weeks, peaking at 2 to 3 months |
| Typical duration | About 4 to 6 months after one session and 12+ months after 3 or more (clinical experience); the manufacturer reports 6+ months; long-term data are limited | About 4 to 6 months after a course | About 8 to 12 months after a full course |
| Initial course | 3 sessions about 4 weeks apart; some protocols use a 2-week then a 6-week gap | 3 sessions at 2- to 4-week intervals | 3 sessions at 2- to 4-week intervals |
| Maintenance | Every 6 to 12 months | Every 3 to 6 months | Every 6 to 12 months |
| Goal it fits | Lost firmness; dry, rough-feeling skin | Dry, sensitive, tired-looking skin that needs repair | Pores, scars, and gradual structural change |
Ranges vary by person and reflect clinical experience, not head-to-head trials.
Some background explains why this question exists at all. According to dermatology textbooks, type I collagen makes up about 80 to 85% of the dermal matrix, the supportive mesh in the skin’s middle layer. Overall skin collagen also falls about 1% a year. Each of these boosters answers that slow change in its own way.
Laetigen: collagen supplied directly
Laetigen places pork-derived type I atelocollagen into the dermis. “Atelo” means the telopeptides, the end segments of the collagen molecule, have been removed, leaving a structure similar to human collagen. It is approved as a medical device by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). For the fuller background, see what Laetigen is and how it is made.
There is one caveat. Injected collagen is broken down by the body over time. Textbooks describe older injectable collagens as lasting 2 to 4 months; those figures come from older products, not from Laetigen, and independent long-term data on Laetigen itself are limited.
Rejuran: polynucleotides that support repair
Rejuran contains polynucleotides, or PN: long chains of DNA fragments purified from salmon. Its role is to support skin-cell repair and hydration.
The mechanism usually cited comes from a related family of ingredients called PDRN. A 2023 laboratory study of PDRN, which used a plant-derived version on skin cells and skin models, describes signaling through the A2A receptor, a switch on cell surfaces involved in tissue repair. This is lab work, not clinical proof for Rejuran.
Juvelook: PDLLA that prompts new collagen
Juvelook pairs PDLLA with hyaluronic acid. Textbooks describe the related ingredient PLLA as working through a slow response from fibroblasts (the cells that make collagen) rather than by filling the skin directly. Any early plumpness from the injected fluid fades within days. PDLLA is related to PLLA but is not the same ingredient, so that description explains the general idea and nothing more. After a full course, Juvelook’s effects often last about 8 to 12 months, compared with about 4 to 6 months for Rejuran, in my clinical experience.
Which Skin Booster Should You Choose? 4 Deciding Questions
The decision usually comes down to four questions. Answer them in this order.
What is your main skin goal?
| If your main concern is… | Start the conversation with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lost firmness, or dry, rough-feeling skin | Laetigen | Supplies collagen directly |
| Dry, sensitive, tired-looking skin that needs repair | Rejuran | Supports skin-cell repair and hydration |
| Pores, scars, or gradual structural change | Juvelook | Prompts your own collagen gradually |
If two rows describe you, pick the concern that bothers you most when you look in the mirror.
How soon do you need to see a change?
Compare two patients with the same skin:
- An event in 2 weeks: Juvelook will not have had time to show real results. Laetigen’s effect usually shows up soonest, and Rejuran’s hydrating effect may be just beginning. Either way, leave at least a week before the event for bumps and bruising to settle.
- A plan 3 months ahead: all three are realistic. This is where Juvelook makes sense, because it has time to reach its peak at around 2 to 3 months.
Does the source material matter to you?
- Laetigen: pork-derived. Tell your doctor about any animal-collagen allergy. Dermatology textbooks note that some Jewish and Muslim patients may decline porcine products, so raise any religious preference before treatment.
- Rejuran: salmon-derived. Tell your doctor about any salmon or fish allergy.
- Juvelook: a synthetic polymer plus hyaluronic acid. Ask to go through the full ingredient list if you have allergies or dietary rules.
How often can you come back?
This question matters most for patients who fly in. With maintenance every 3 to 6 months, Rejuran means roughly two to four visits a year. Laetigen and Juvelook, maintained every 6 to 12 months, mean roughly one or two. If you visit Seoul once a year, the longer interval is easier to keep up.
Dr. Lee’s key point: There is no universal winner. The useful question is not which booster is strongest, but which one matches your skin and your schedule.
Laetigen vs Rejuran: When the Choice Is Closest
These two overlap the most, because both can be chosen for dry, tired-looking skin.
Choosing between them for dry, tired skin
I look at which complaint comes first. When loss of firmness leads, and the skin feels slack as well as dry, I lean toward Laetigen. When sensitivity and barrier-type dryness lead (the skin stings easily, or feels tight even after moisturizer), I lean toward Rejuran.
Where Juvelook changes the decision
A two-way choice becomes a full Laetigen vs Rejuran vs Juvelook decision when pores, scars, or longer maintenance intervals matter more to you than speed. If you have already ruled out Laetigen, our detailed two-way comparison of Juvelook and Rejuran goes deeper into those two.
Laetigen Bumps After Injection: How They Differ From the Other Two
Bumps are the first thing patients notice in the mirror, and they are where the Laetigen vs Rejuran vs Juvelook comparison gets practical. All three can leave them, on different timelines.
Why bumps appear at all
Clinics in Korea often call these small bumps “embossing”: raised dots at each injection point, where the injected material sits in the dermis. They are normal and expected to flatten.
Bump timelines side by side
In my clinical experience, Laetigen bumps usually last 1 to 2 days.
| Booster | Visible bumps |
|---|---|
| Laetigen | About 1 to 2 days |
| Rejuran | Usually a few days; no fixed day count |
| Juvelook | Should visibly shrink within days; a lump unchanged at 2 to 3 weeks needs checking |
Do not press or massage bumps yourself. For product-specific detail, read how Rejuran bumps behave and our guide to Juvelook nodules and their causes.
Early bumps vs lumps that appear later
The rule I give patients is simple: when a bump appears is what separates a normal one from a problem. A bump that is there from the first hour and keeps shrinking is expected. A lump that appears weeks later, or keeps growing, should be examined.
Textbooks support this distinction, using other products as examples. An older cross-linked porcine collagen filler was linked to infrequent lumps lasting several months, and PLLA nodules typically arise several weeks after injection. Neither of these is a Laetigen or Juvelook figure. They show why a late lump needs a clinic visit rather than more waiting.
Can Skin Boosters Cause Pigmentation? Sun Exposure After Injection
Yes, it can happen. Pigmentation can follow sun exposure after a Laetigen injection, though it is uncommon and usually fades. I can’t give you a percentage, because I know of no reliable figure.
Why sun matters in the days after treatment
Each needle point leaves a tiny area of irritation. Dermatology textbooks describe post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, meaning darkening that follows skin irritation, as a change that is more common in darker skin tones. The same sun-care logic applies to any needle treatment, so I give this advice whichever booster you choose; it is not a product-specific claim about Rejuran or Juvelook.
Sun makes this worse: textbooks warn that UV light darkens this kind of pigmentation and slows its fading, and they advise sunscreen of at least SPF 30 plus hats or shade. In practice, avoid direct sun in the first days and use sunscreen daily once your skin has settled.
Pigmentation vs a color change that needs urgent care
Not every color change is pigmentation, and this is the most important distinction in this article.
- Pigmentation: a flat brown tone that appears later, after sun exposure, and slowly fades.
- A bruise: a blue-purple mark from a small bleed under the skin. It is not pigmentation, and it fades on its own.
- A blood-vessel warning: skin that blanches white, or turns mottled or dark red, during or soon after injection. Textbooks treat this as a possible sign that blood flow is compromised. Get same-day care.
How Far Apart Are Sessions? Spacing for All 3 Boosters
All three begin with a course rather than a single visit. The spacing is what makes a booster plan work in real life, especially from abroad.
Initial course and maintenance compared
| Booster | Initial course | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Laetigen | 3 sessions about 4 weeks apart; some protocols use a 2-week then a 6-week gap | Every 6 to 12 months |
| Rejuran | 3 sessions at 2- to 4-week intervals | Every 3 to 6 months |
| Juvelook | 3 sessions at 2- to 4-week intervals | Every 6 to 12 months |
Three Laetigen sessions about 4 weeks apart span about 8 weeks. Rejuran and Juvelook, at 2- to 4-week intervals, span roughly 4 to 8 weeks. Numbing cream goes on for about 30 minutes before the injections, so allow for that at each visit.
Planning sessions around a trip to Seoul
A full course rarely fits into one short trip, whichever booster you pick. If you are traveling to Korea, ask during your consultation how many sessions are realistic for your stay and what a shorter plan can and cannot achieve.
Combining boosters in one plan
Boosters can often be combined, and the timing is decided at your consultation. There is no single fixed gap that fits everyone, so bring the product name and the date of your last session.
Recovery and Safety: How the Three Differ
Recovery is where the three differ least. In my clinical experience, swelling lasts about 1 to 3 days with Laetigen and Juvelook. With Rejuran it lasts a day at most, and patients often look back to normal the same day.
For the complete picture, including every reaction, the day-by-day timeline, and aftercare, see our full guide to Laetigen side effects and recovery.
Two rules apply to all three. A lump that appears late or keeps getting worse needs a clinic visit, and redness, heat, or itching that gets worse should not wait. Laetigen is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and if either applies to you, ask your doctor before having any booster.
Laetigen vs Rejuran vs Juvelook: Frequently Asked Questions
Which lasts longest: Laetigen, Rejuran, or Juvelook?
It depends on how you count. In my clinical experience, Laetigen can last 12 months or more after three or more sessions, though a single session lasts about 4 to 6 months. Juvelook lasts about 8 to 12 months after a full course, and Rejuran about 4 to 6 months. These ranges vary by person, and long-term Laetigen data are limited.
Which skin booster works fastest?
Laetigen’s effect usually shows up first, although part of that early plumpness is injected fluid, and firmer skin is easier to notice at 2 to 4 weeks. Rejuran shows hydration in 1 to 2 weeks. Juvelook is the slowest, with real change beginning at 4 to 6 weeks.
How do I choose between Laetigen and Rejuran for sensitive skin?
Sensitivity and barrier-type dryness point toward Rejuran, while loss of firmness points toward Laetigen. Tell your doctor about any fish or animal-collagen allergy, since Rejuran comes from salmon and Laetigen from pigs. The final decision is best made after a skin check.
Is Laetigen made from pork?
Yes. Laetigen is made from collagen taken from young pigs, with the telopeptides (the end segments of the molecule) removed. Before treatment, tell your doctor about any animal-collagen allergy or any religious preference, so that together you can decide whether another booster would suit you better.
Can I switch from Rejuran or Juvelook to Laetigen?
Yes, switching or combining is often possible. There is no single fixed gap that fits everyone. Your doctor will decide the timing at your consultation, based on when you had your last session and how your skin looks now, so bring the date and product name with you.
Not Sure Which Booster Fits Your Skin? Ask Dr. Lee
A table can frame the Laetigen vs Rejuran vs Juvelook question, but it can’t see your skin. A photo review or an in-person skin check settles this far better.
If you would like my view on your skin, send your photos through our online consultation, or book a visit through our online reservation page. You can also call us at +82-2-516-1175.
※ This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual results may vary, and side effects may occur. Please consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon for personalized advice.
