Should salons introduce water injections? A comprehensive explanation of what they are, their effects, and precautions

Water injections are gaining attention as a treatment that can quickly improve skin's moisture, radiance, and firmness. In this article, we will cover everything from the salon owner's perspective, including the benefits of implementing the treatment, its effectiveness, risks and countermeasures, and operational know-how.

What is Water Injection? —The Definition and Mechanism You Need to Know First

Water injection is a procedure that uses a very thin needle to evenly inject beauty ingredients into the dermis layer.

A solution containing mainly hyaluronic acid, growth factors, vitamins, placenta, etc. is injected finely into the shallow dermis layer.

Why "Suiko"? The origin and purpose of the name

"Water" refers to moisture, and "light" refers to luster and radiance, and the name is meant to convey the goal of achieving "moisturized, radiant skin."

This name often comes from a treatment culture that originated in China or Korea, and is a technique that has become popular in Japan in recent years.

What are the main effects of water injections? —Physiological reactions that occur on the skin and clinical experience

The main effects of water injections are moisturizing, improving firmness, tightening pores, reducing dullness, and improving skin quality.

The injected hyaluronic acid and growth factors stimulate collagen and elastin production in the dermis layer, improving skin structure.

When will the effects start to appear and how long will they last?

You will immediately feel the moisture and radiance caused by the injection, and after 2-3 days you will begin to feel that your skin texture has improved.

The duration of the effect varies greatly from person to person, but is generally said to be about **1 to 3 months**.

Cases where the effect is not apparent or where it seems ineffective

If the condition within the dermis (for example, fibrosis or deterioration of the base due to aging) is severe, injections may not be enough to improve the condition.

Other factors include variations in injection depth, poor diffusion of the solution, and insufficient frequency of treatment.

Benefits and precautions of introducing water injections to salons

The benefits of introducing hydrophobic injections to a salon (or a salon with a cosmetic surgery department) are "high-priced menu," "increased repeat rate," and "differentiation."

However, there are some points to be aware of, such as the possibility that it may be regulated as a medical procedure, the responsibility for handling medications and needles, and how to deal with problems.

Five benefits of implementation

• High unit prices are possible (treatment prices are higher than regular facials)
• Regular treatments can be expected, making repeat revenues more stable
• This will be a differentiating factor from other salons (appealing to "moisturize from within the skin" and "needles x beauty ingredients")
• It is easy to achieve synergistic effects with combined treatments (laser, iontophoresis, etc.)
• By increasing customer satisfaction, word of mouth and referrals can be expected.

Risks to be aware of and countermeasures

• **Internal bleeding/petechia**: Even with very thin needles, this can occur to some extent. This can be reduced with prior explanation and postoperative care.
• **Infection/inflammation**: Sterilization management and quality control of disposable instruments and medications are essential.
• **Bumps and unevenness**: Depends on the injection depth and needle angle/speed management technique.
• **Allergic reactions**: Check for allergies to the ingredients used (hyaluronic acid, additives, growth factors, etc.).
• **Legal regulations/doctor involvement**: Check national and local medical laws and regulations regarding cosmetic medicine. In some cases, a medical license or having a medical institution on-site is required.

Comparison of water injection with other treatments: Why choose it?

Compared to other cosmetic procedures (dermapen, laser, iontophoresis, fillers, etc.), water injections have unique properties.

Comparison table with major treatments

Selection points based on strengths and weaknesses

Water injections are effective at moisturizing, improving skin tone and texture, but are not suitable for excessive swelling or reshaping.

When used in conjunction with a laser or dermapen, it is designed to effectively improve the overall skin.

Organizing the procedure for water injections from a salon's perspective

Below is a step-by-step guide to a standard water injection procedure.

1. Counseling and skin diagnosis (checking medical history, allergies, etc.)
2. Cleansing → Disinfection → Anesthesia (topical or local anesthesia)
3. Injection (fine injection into the dermis using the machine, needle, and solution used)
4. Cooling or soothing treatments (cooling, soothing packs, etc.)
5. Aftercare guidance (moisturizing, UV protection, avoiding irritation)
6. Follow-up and next treatment plan design

Important points and precautions on the day of treatment

• When inserting a needle, it is important to stabilize the speed and angle.
• To ensure uniform injection volume and diffusion, the injection is carefully divided into segments.
• Pay attention to changes in the patient's facial expression during treatment (to prevent muscle contraction)
• Do not rub or massage strongly immediately after treatment.

How much downtime and side effects are there? What are the "severe" cases?

The downtime from water injections is usually mild, with the main symptoms being redness, swelling, and bruising.

"Severe downtime" is caused by injection accidents, over-injection, unevenness, and irregularities.

Typical downtime (approximate)

• 0-6 hours: Redness, heat, slight swelling
• That night to the next day: Internal bleeding appears (petechiae)
• 2-3 days: Swelling and redness will decrease, and you will begin to notice an improvement in skin texture.
• 5-7 days: Return to normal (internal bleeding may vary from person to person)

Serious side effects and prevention measures

• **Vascular embolism and necrosis**: Caused by overinjection or incorrect injection. Injection techniques that take into account the vascular structure are essential.
• **Infection/abscess**: Thorough sterilization and antibacterial measures.
• **Unevenness, irregularities, and bumps**: Inconsistent injection depth and insufficient diffusion. Uniformization technology and flexible injection design.
• **Allergic reactions/edema**: Check ingredients, administer a small amount as a test the first time, and understand allergy history.

How can you make before and after and case photos more convincing?

Before and after photos should be taken under the same lighting conditions and at the same angle to make them look natural, which will increase credibility.

Additionally, even in cases where the change is small, adding additional explanations such as "increased firmness" or "improved gloss" makes it easier to communicate the effects.

What is Rejuran Water Injection? Why is it such a hot topic?

Rejuran is a regenerative medicine solution whose main ingredient is Polaris (polynucleotide: PN), and is sometimes used in combination with hydrophobic injections.

Because it primarily works to activate fibroblasts and promote repair, an increasing number of clinics are introducing it in the hope of improving the skin's regenerative abilities.

Korean Water Injection: Latest Trends and Prices

Korea is a leading country in the field of cosmetic medicine, and K-water injections are popular and constantly evolving.

The price range in Korea depends on the treatment area and the contents of the medication, but considering the cost of introducing machines and purchasing materials in Japan, the price set in Japan is relatively high.

Regional circumstances of clinics and salons offering water injections (e.g., Tokyo, Osaka, etc.)

Many clinics in urban areas (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, etc.) have already introduced hydrophobic injections, so price competition and differentiation will be key.

There are few examples of implementation in rural areas, so if you can provide educational and advertising support, you may be able to gain an early lead.

Regional Considerations: Examples and Strategies

• Urban areas: Attract customers by combining price competition, coupons, and monitor measures
• Chubu region: Building trust by appealing to "rareness" and "authentic treatment"
• Regional cities: Consider providing transportation access and accommodation support for patients who come from far away

Pricing and profit model for water injections (from a salon perspective)

Pricing should be carefully designed taking into account drug costs, equipment depreciation, labor costs, and profit margins.

Pricing guidelines and factors to consider

• Material costs: Unit prices of hyaluronic acid, growth factors, Rejuran, etc.
• Equipment depreciation: Set a period to recover the cost of installing the machine
• Treatment time and staff man-hours: Balance with actual operating numbers
• Added value (beauty counseling, aftercare, etc.)
• Local competitive prices: Research and adjust price ranges in the same area

Profit Model Example

(Example) Fee per session: 25,000 yen, Material and drug costs: 5,000 yen, Labor costs and other expenses including fixed costs: 8,000 yen → Profit: 12,000 yen/session

If 100 treatments are performed per month, we can model sales of 2,500,000 yen and profits of 1,200,000 yen (tentative).

Operational know-how and customer acquisition strategies: Development possible only in salons

Simply "introducing" water injections will not differentiate your business. Branding and marketing strategies are crucial.

Customer acquisition channels and selling points

• Posting before and after photos on social media such as Instagram and TikTok
• Create video content such as "Water Injection Experience Report" and "Treatment Video" on YouTube etc.
• Monitor introduction measures (collect at monitor prices and accumulate results)
• SEO measures for area searches (e.g., "water injection Tokyo," "water injection Osaka," etc.)
• Word of mouth/referral system (referral discounts from existing customers, etc.)

Key points for improving customer retention and repeat rates

• Regular visit promotion system, including discounts on next appointment
• Designing treatment intervals and plans to make it easier to attend
• Follow-up emails after treatment / Aftercare and precautions sent via LINE
• Record skin history in customer charts and provide personalized suggestions

Risk management techniques learned from failure and trouble cases

Let's take a look at actual failure cases and incorporate designs to prevent them from happening.

Failure cases, causes, and lessons learned

• Uneven injection results in a "bumpy" finish → Inadequate injection technique and diffusion design
• Swelling persists for a long time → Amount of anesthesia, strength of needle stimulation, insufficient cooling
• Prolonged internal bleeding → Insufficient confirmation of blood vessel flow, oversight by anticoagulant users
• Allergic reaction → history of allergies/lack of patch testing

Safety measures that should be incorporated at the design stage

• Pre-treatment checkup and preparation of medical questionnaire
• Patch test operation (initial small dose check)
• Strengthening the injection technique manual and training system
• Complaint handling and guarantee system (correction and refund policy)

What are the cases and contraindications for hydrophobic injection?

It cannot be said to be safe for all skin types, so it is essential to understand the contraindications and cautions.

Major contraindications and precautions

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women
• Serious skin diseases (dermatitis, infectious lesions, severe atopy, etc.)
• Those with a history of malignant tumors or those currently undergoing treatment for malignant diseases
• Bleeding tendency/anticoagulant users
• Severe allergies/history
• Areas that have recently undergone other invasive procedures (laser, strong peeling, etc.)

Pre-implementation checklist (for salon operators)

• Check legal regulations (Medical Care Act, Cosmetic Medical Regulations, etc.)
• Establishment of a doctor/medical supervision system (affiliated/advisory doctor setting)
• Sterilization system and hygiene management manual development
• Clarification of suppliers and quality assurance parties for equipment and medicines
• Staff development plan and training system design
• Develop risk response contract and consent form templates

Frequently Asked Questions: Clear your doubts with Q&A format

Q. Does the water injection hurt? How much?

If topical anesthesia is used, the pain is generally mild to moderate.

The pain you feel will vary depending on the needle size, injection speed, and location.

Q. What is the appropriate interval and frequency for treatment?

Generally, treatment is performed once or several times at intervals of 2 to 4 weeks, and then maintenance is often performed every 3 to 4 months.

Q. How many cc should be injected? What is the approximate amount of solution?

Although it depends on the area and skin type, a general guideline is about 2-6cc for the entire face.

Q. Can it be used in combination with Botox? How do they differ?

The main purpose of water injections is to improve skin quality, while the main purpose of Botox is to suppress muscle contractions and combat facial wrinkles.

Q. Why were you told that the effects don't last or that it's ineffective?

Possible causes include insufficient injection, poor diffusion, deterioration of the underlying skin quality, and insufficient continuity.

We can take measures by focusing on technical improvements, combined treatments, and regularity.

Q. What are the average prices by region, such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya?

In urban areas, the price is usually around 20,000 to 40,000 yen per trip, but in rural areas, the price can be slightly lower, reflecting local conditions.

However, this is an area where prices tend to vary depending on the quality of the medications and equipment and the level of treatment techniques.

Summary: Key points for successful salon implementation

If the right techniques, management system, and customer attraction strategy are established, hydroinjection can be a powerful differentiating factor in your salon business.

However, risk management, treatment education, and legal compliance are essential. The key to success is to build a system that provides reliable and effective treatment while maintaining the quality of the treatment.