DM DERMATOLOGY
MCT · Hyperbaric Oxygen
AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD
It starts with your own blood
An autologous blood solution delivered to your skin cells
Designed and performed by our medical staff in person
BEFORE MCT
Before the injection,
we check your current condition
MCT uses a solution prepared from your own blood, and the route differs from person to person. So before we begin, DM Dermatology first checks the three points below, then decides the route, volume, and schedule.
check 01
Skin thickness and sensitivity
Skin Injection places the solution in small portions in the facial dermis. The area, volume, and schedule depend on your skin thickness and sensitivity, and on any recent laser or skin booster treatments.
check 02
Scalp condition and type of hair loss
Whether Scalp Injection suits you, or whether it is better to start with oral or topical medication, depends on your type of hair loss. We examine your scalp in person and check any hair-loss treatment you are already having before we make a plan.
check 03
Your health and how you feel that day
MCT starts with a blood draw, and with IV Injection the solution travels throughout the body. So we check any conditions you are being treated for, the medications you take, and whether you have eaten and how you feel that day. If you have ever felt dizzy during a blood draw or an injection, please tell us beforehand.
4types
Skin · Scalp · IV ·
Package options30cc+~
Minimum volume for
Skin Injection · Scalp Injection90cc+~
Minimum volume for
the Skin + IV package3–4weeks
Typical interval for
Skin · Scalp Injection
MCT INJECTION
MCT Injection,
delivered by three routes:
skin · scalp · vein
MCT is DM Dermatology's autologous blood injection treatment: a solution prepared from your own blood is delivered by the route that suits you: the skin, the scalp, or a vein.
Skin · Scalp · IV
MCT · Skin Injection · Scalp Injection · IV Injection
DM Dermatology's MCT comes in four options: Skin Injection · Scalp Injection · IV Injection · MCT Package. They share a name, but the route and amount of the solution differ. So the treatment time, sensation, and recovery differ too.
Skin Injection and Scalp Injection place very small amounts of the solution into the skin with a fine needle. IV Injection goes into a vein in the arm. The MCT Package combines two of these in a single visit.
The doctor decides which route suits you after checking your skin and scalp condition, your health, and the medications you take. The doctor explains in person at your examination how much blood is drawn and how the solution is prepared.
- Skin Injection
- Scalp Injection
- IV Injection
- MCT Package
01 · SKIN
Skin Injection:
small portions in the facial dermis
An option that places the solution into the dermis of the facial skin in very small amounts at many points.
Once the tip of the fine needle passes through the epidermis, the skin's surface layer, and reaches the dermis, a very small amount is placed at one point, and the needle moves to the point right next to it. In this way, the whole treatment area is filled closely, at even intervals.
The area and volume to inject are decided at the examination after looking at your skin thickness and areas of concern. The volume starts at 30cc, and you can also choose 60cc or more.
Because the injections are given at many points, there is a stinging sensation. So we apply numbing cream and wait before we start. Right after the injections, the injection points may be slightly raised or red.
- Volume
30cc · 60cc+~ (amounts shown are minimum volumes)
- Where it is injected
Dermis of the facial skin — the layer just below the epidermis
- Numbing · time
Numbing cream for 20–30 min, then injection for 20–30 min
- Who it may suit
People who want to try injections for skin texture and the skin's foundation · People who want to plan it alongside other skin treatments such as laser
02 · SCALP
Scalp Injection:
into the scalp around the hair follicles
An option that places the solution in small portions in areas where hair is thinning or the scalp shows through.
Hair can thin for many reasons, such as genetics, hormonal changes, childbirth, stress, and scalp conditions. So before Scalp Injection, we first examine your scalp condition and type of hair loss. Depending on the cause, we may recommend oral or topical medication first.
For the injections, the hair is parted to expose the scalp. A fine needle places small amounts along the part line, and the part is moved to continue across the whole treatment area.
Scalp Injection does not replace hair-loss medication. If you use oral or topical medication, we plan the Scalp Injection schedule while you continue that treatment.
- Volume
30cc+~ (amounts shown are minimum volumes)
- Where it is injected
The scalp around the hair follicles in areas that show through, such as the part line or crown
- After treatment
Wash your hair from the next day; wait 3 days for hair coloring or perms
- Who it may suit
People concerned about the scalp at the part line or crown · People exploring injections alongside medication
03 · IV
IV Injection:
given slowly into a vein in the arm
Instead of many needle points on the face or scalp, this option delivers the solution through a single vein in the arm.
While you lie back in a comfortable chair, a fine needle is placed in a vein on the inner arm, and the solution is given slowly. You feel one sting when the needle goes in; after that, you can lie back and rest.
During the infusion, our medical staff checks the flow rate and how you are feeling. If you feel dizzy, have chest tightness, or the injection site swells or hurts, please tell us right away.
Because the solution spreads throughout the body, please be sure to tell us at the examination about any conditions you are being treated for and the medications you take. When it is finished, the needle is removed and the site is pressed to reduce bruising.
- Volume
60cc+~ (amounts shown are minimum volumes)
- Where it is injected
One vein on the inner arm
- Position · numbing
Lying back in a comfortable chair · usually no numbing cream
- Who it may suit
People who find many injections on the face or scalp uncomfortable · People who want a treatment they can receive while lying down and resting
04 · PACKAGE
MCT Package:
two options in one visit
An option that combines two of Skin Injection, Scalp Injection, and IV Injection, one after the other, in a single visit. There are three packages.
- PACKAGE 01 · Skin + Scalp
You receive facial Skin Injection and Scalp Injection together. Both place small amounts into the dermis with a fine needle. This suits people who want to care for their facial skin and scalp on the same day.
- PACKAGE 02 · Skin + IV
You receive facial Skin Injection and IV Injection together. The volume starts at 90cc. This suits people who want an injection into the facial dermis and an injection into an arm vein at the same visit.
- PACKAGE 03 · Scalp + IV
You receive Scalp Injection and IV Injection together. There are no injections on the face. This suits people who want to add IV Injection while focusing on scalp concerns.
The order of the two injections, the total time, and the volume are decided after the examination, and we tell you in advance. The doctor decides which package suits you after looking at your skin and scalp condition and your health.
HOW IT WORKS
Where does the
solution go?
The epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, is a barrier that keeps outside substances from easily getting in. So only a small amount of ingredients applied to the skin reaches deep inside. Skin Injection uses a fine needle to pass this barrier and place the solution directly into the dermis.
In the dermis, the solution is not placed in a large amount in one spot; very small amounts are spread across many points. This way of placing small portions in the dermis is also called mesotherapy. Scalp Injection uses the same method around the hair follicles in the scalp.
IV Injection goes into a vein in the arm. Solution that enters a vein spreads throughout the body with the blood. This delivery method differs from Skin Injection and Scalp Injection, which stay around the injection site.
- 1
Epidermis The outermost layer of the skin. It keeps outside substances from easily getting in.
- 2
Dermis The layer where Skin Injection places the solution in small portions. The small droplets in the illustration are the portions of solution.
- 3
Around the follicles The scalp layer around the hair follicles, where hair grows. This is where Scalp Injection reaches.
- 4
Subcutaneous fat The fat layer below the dermis. The veins of the arm also run through this layer.
- 5
Vein The blood vessel that IV Injection goes into. The solution spreads throughout the body with the blood.
COMPARE
Injections into the skin vs.
injections into a vein
Even with the same solution, a different route means a different treatment method and a different look after treatment.
This table summarizes the differences between the routes; it does not mean one is better than the other. The doctor decides which route suits you after an examination.
CHECK FIRST
What we check
before injections
If any of the following apply to you, please be sure to tell us at the examination. We may postpone treatment or change the method.
- Check01
You are pregnant or breastfeeding, or may be pregnant
- Check02
You have had an allergic reaction to a medication, injection, or anesthetic
- Check03
You take blood-thinning medication such as aspirin or anticoagulants
- Check04
You have inflammation, a wound, or an infection such as a cold sore in the area to be injected
- Check05
You are being treated for a condition such as diabetes, heart or kidney disease, or a blood disorder
- Check06
You have felt dizzy or fainted while getting an injection
- Check07
You have had a treatment such as laser, filler, or a skin booster in the last 2 weeks
PROCESS
MCT
Treatment steps
This is the general flow. The actual order and time depend on the option you receive.
01Condition check · examination
We check your skin and scalp condition, medications, allergies, chronic conditions, and recent treatments. We decide which route and how much to use.
02Blood draw
We draw as much blood from a vein in your arm as is needed to prepare the solution. If you feel dizzy or queasy during the draw, please tell us right away.
03Solution preparation · numbing cream
We prepare the solution from the blood drawn. Meanwhile, for Skin Injection, we remove your makeup, apply numbing cream, and wait 20–30 min. The scalp and arm are disinfected.
04Injection · post-treatment check
We confirm the injection areas and place small amounts with a fine needle. IV Injection is given slowly while you lie down. After treatment, we soothe the injected areas, check that you do not feel dizzy, and then explain the precautions.
OUR STANDARD
Four standards
for MCT at DM Dermatology
At DM Dermatology, MCT is planned as one continuous process, from the examination and blood draw to the injection and the check after treatment. These are the four standards we follow along the way.
A solution prepared from your own blood
MCT is an autologous blood treatment: the solution is prepared from your own blood, drawn from your arm. It does not use anyone else's blood or stem cells.
A route matched to your condition
We choose among Skin Injection, Scalp Injection, and IV Injection based on your concerns and your health. If you need two of them, you can have both in one visit with the MCT Package.
Same-day planning with hyperbaric oxygen
DM Dermatology has a one-person hyperbaric oxygen chamber, so we can plan your schedule to have hyperbaric oxygen on the same day as MCT, one after the other. The order and interval are decided after the examination.
Designed and performed by our medical staff
The doctor decides the route and volume after the examination, and our medical staff handle everything in person, from the treatment plan to the injection.
INFORMATION
MCT
Treatment info
Here are answers to questions patients often ask.
- Procedure time
Skin · Scalp Injection 20–30 min
Plus 20–30 min for numbing cream - Numbing
Numbing cream for Skin · Scalp Injection
IV Injection usually without numbing - Recovery
Redness · swelling 1–3 days
1–2 weeks if bruising occurs - Daily life
Cleansing the same evening, makeup from the next day
Skip exercise, saunas, and alcohol for 2–3 days - After Scalp Injection
Hair washing from the next day
Coloring · perms after 3 days - IV Injection
Given slowly while you lie back
The needle site is pressed for a few minutes - Recommended interval
Every 3–4 weeks
Every 3–6 months after the first few sessions - Recommended sessions
First 3 sessions
After that, based on your progress - Volume
Skin 30cc·60cc+~ · Scalp 30cc+~
IV 60cc+~ · Package (Skin + IV) 90cc+~
Amounts shown are minimum volumes
The interval and number of sessions are general guidelines for Skin Injection and Scalp Injection and vary from person to person. We explain the IV Injection schedule and DM Dermatology's treatment schedule after an examination. The time needed for the blood draw and for preparing the solution is separate from the treatment time, and we explain it at your examination.
Caution
Precautions after treatment
and reactions to know
The injection sites may be sensitive on the day of treatment and the next day.
D-DAYDay of injection
- Don't touch the injection sites
On the day of treatment, do not rub or press the injected areas. Skip facial massage and massage devices for a few days.
- Press on the IV site
Press on the spot where the needle was removed for a few minutes to reduce bruising. That day, do not lift heavy objects with the injected arm.
- Don't touch the injection sites
D+1That evening and the next day
- Cleansing in the evening, makeup the next day
On the evening of treatment, wash gently with lukewarm water. If you had Scalp Injection, wash your hair from the next day, and wait 3 days for hair coloring or perms.
- Cleansing in the evening, makeup the next day
2–3 DAYSFor 2–3 days
- Avoid heat, sweat, and alcohol for 2–3 days
When your body heats up, redness and swelling may last longer. Skip saunas, hot packs, intense exercise, and alcohol for 2–3 days.
- Avoid heat, sweat, and alcohol for 2–3 days
ANYTIMEAnytime something feels wrong
- Contact us right away if something feels wrong
If pain, warmth, or swelling keeps increasing, pus comes out, or you develop a fever, contact the clinic right away. Also tell us right away if you become short of breath or get hives all over your body.
- Contact us right away if something feels wrong
- Redness, swelling, warmth, or itching may occur at the injection sites. These usually fade within 1–3 days.
- Right after Skin Injection and Scalp Injection, the injection points may be slightly raised, and bruising, if it occurs, may last 1–2 weeks. Rarely, a small lump may be felt for a long time.
- There is a stinging pain during injection. How much it hurts varies by area and person.
- Rarely, a bacterial infection may occur at an injection site. If a red lump or pus appears a few weeks later, tell the clinic right away.
- Rarely, an allergic reaction to the solution or the numbing agent may occur.
- At the IV site, bruising, pain along the vein, or phlebitis (the vein becomes red, swollen, and hard) may occur. If the solution leaks outside the vein, the injection site becomes swollen and painful.
- You may get a bruise on the arm used for the blood draw or feel dizzy during the draw.
- If you are nervous about needles, you may feel dizzy or break out in a cold sweat, and rarely you may faint briefly. Do not skip meals before treatment.
- Treatment is not given during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or if there is inflammation or infection in the treatment area. Do not stop blood-thinning medication on your own; talk to the doctor who prescribed it first.
Even with the same treatment, sensation, results, and recovery time vary from person to person, depending on skin and scalp condition, health, and lifestyle habits.
HYPERBARIC OXYGEN
Breathing oxygen under raised pressure:
the hyperbaric oxygen chamber
Hyperbaric oxygen means breathing high-concentration oxygen while the pressure inside the chamber is raised above normal. Under higher pressure, more of the oxygen taken in by the lungs dissolves in the blood and is carried around the body. DM Dermatology uses a one-person hyperbaric oxygen chamber.
- Inside the chamber
You lie comfortably inside the chamber. Your ears may feel blocked as the pressure rises and falls, so swallow or yawn to even out the pressure in your ears.
- With MCT
Many patients have hyperbaric oxygen on the same day as MCT. Which comes first, and the interval between them, is decided after a consultation.
- Please tell us beforehand
Please let us know before the session if you have a cold, a middle-ear infection or sinusitis, have ever had a lung disease or a collapsed lung (pneumothorax), feel short of breath in small spaces (claustrophobia), or are pregnant.
How it feels and how you respond vary with your health. At your consultation, we first check whether hyperbaric oxygen is right for you.
DEVICES
Equipment for hyperbaric oxygen
Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber
One-Person Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber
High-concentration oxygen breathed in a pressurized chamber
A one-person hyperbaric oxygen device in which you breathe high-concentration oxygen while the chamber pressure is raised above normal.
- One-person chamber
- High-concentration oxygen
- Pressure control
The one-person hyperbaric oxygen chamber at DM Dermatology.
With MCT
MCT, what goes well
with it?
MCT delivers the injection through the route that suits your concern: skin, scalp or vein. That makes it easy to combine two routes in one visit, or to plan it on the same day as another treatment such as hyperbaric oxygen.
TOGETHER
Treatments that go well with MCT
Hyperbaric Oxygen
Hyperbaric Oxygen
On your MCT day, you rest in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber while breathing high-concentration oxygen. Many patients have both on the same day.
MCT Package
MCT Package
Two of the skin, scalp and IV injections in one visit. There are three combinations: skin + scalp, skin + IV, and scalp + IV.
Laser · Skin Booster
Laser · Skin Booster
When laser or a skin booster is planned as well, we decide from your skin condition whether to do them on the same day or leave an interval.
Combining treatments does not guarantee added effects. Which combination suits you, and the order and interval, are decided after a consultation.
DM DOCTOR
A board-certified dermatologist as medical director
Personal diagnosis · Accountable care
Thorough care from a board-certified dermatologist with over 20 years of treating skin
At DM Dermatology, our medical director, a board-certified dermatologist, examines your skin in person and plans treatment around your concerns and daily life.
Dr. Shin Young-ik Medical Director · Board-Certified Dermatologist
- M.S., Hanyang University College of Medicine
- Adjunct Professor, Hanyang University
- Full Member, Korean Dermatological Association
- Clinical Fellowship in Dermatology, Jefferson Medical College (Thomas Jefferson University), USA
Care by a board-certified dermatologistPatients here are seen by a dermatologist certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
FAQ
01What is MCT Injection?
It is an autologous blood injection treatment that delivers a solution prepared from your own blood by the route that suits you: the skin, the scalp, or a vein. DM Dermatology offers four options: Skin Injection, Scalp Injection, IV Injection, and MCT Package. The doctor explains in person at your examination which option suits you.
02Does MCT Injection involve a blood draw?
Yes. At DM Dermatology, the MCT solution is prepared from your own blood, drawn from your arm. The amount drawn depends on the option, and we explain it at your examination. If you feel dizzy during the draw, please tell us right away.
03Is MCT a stem cell treatment?
No. MCT is not a stem cell treatment. It is an autologous blood treatment based on your own blood.
04How is MCT Skin Injection different from IV Injection?
Skin Injection places small portions of the solution in the dermis of the facial skin, so it stays around the injection points. IV Injection goes into an arm vein, so it spreads throughout the body with the blood. That is why numbing, the method, and how you look after treatment differ.
05Is MCT IV Injection the same as IV therapy?
They are the same in that both go into a vein. However, at DM Dermatology, MCT IV Injection is a treatment offered separately from the IV Therapy menu. The solution, volume, and time differ, so we explain the differences at your examination.
06How does the MCT Package work?
It combines two of Skin Injection, Scalp Injection, and IV Injection in a single visit. There are three combinations: Skin + Scalp, Skin + IV, and Scalp + IV. The Skin + IV volume starts at 90cc. The order of the two injections and the total time are decided after the examination, and we tell you in advance.
07Does MCT Injection hurt?
Skin Injection and Scalp Injection are given at many points, so there is a stinging sensation. That is why we usually apply numbing cream and wait 20–30 min before starting. IV Injection stings once when the needle goes in. How much it hurts varies by person and area.
08How long does MCT take in total?
It goes in this order: examination, blood draw, solution preparation, injection, and soothing. For Skin Injection and Scalp Injection, you wait 20–30 min after numbing cream is applied, and the injection itself takes 20–30 min. The time for the blood draw and solution preparation depends on the option, and we explain it at your examination. If you also have hyperbaric oxygen, it takes that much longer.
09Can I wash my face and wear makeup right after MCT Injection?
Wash gently with lukewarm water on the evening of treatment. Light makeup usually starts from the next day. If you had Scalp Injection, wash your hair from the next day. Skip saunas, intense exercise, and alcohol for 2–3 days.
10Can I have MCT just once?
Yes, a single session is possible. However, Skin Injection and Scalp Injection are often planned over several sessions, so at your first examination we look at your skin and scalp condition and discuss the number of sessions and the interval with you. How it feels and how you progress vary from person to person.
11How many MCT sessions do I need, and how often?
Skin Injection and Scalp Injection usually start with 3 sessions at 3–4-week intervals. After that, they continue every 3–6 months based on your progress. The interval for IV Injection is set separately after an examination.
12If I get MCT Scalp Injection, can I stop my hair-loss medication?
Do not stop hair-loss medication on your own. There are approved medications for hair loss, such as oral and topical treatments, and Scalp Injection can be planned together with them. Talk to the doctor who prescribed your medication before changing or stopping it.
13What are the side effects of MCT Injection?
Redness, swelling, bruising, and small bumps at the injection sites are common and usually fade within a few days. Rarely, infection or an allergic reaction may occur. IV Injection may cause phlebitis, leakage of the solution outside the vein, or dizziness.
14How does a hyperbaric oxygen chamber session work?
You lie comfortably in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber and breathe high-concentration oxygen while the pressure inside is raised slowly. Your ears may feel blocked as the pressure rises and falls, so swallow or yawn to even out the pressure. If you feel stuffy or your ears hurt, tell us right away.
15What changes when I have MCT together with another treatment?
MCT delivers the injection through the route that suits your concern: skin, scalp or vein. So it is easy to plan two routes in one visit (MCT Package) or to follow it on the same day with another treatment such as hyperbaric oxygen. However, combining treatments does not guarantee added effects. Which combination suits you, and the order and interval, are decided after a consultation based on your skin and health.
16Can I have MCT and hyperbaric oxygen on the same day?
Many patients have both on the same day. Which comes first, and the interval between them, is decided after a consultation based on your skin and health. If you have a cold or a middle-ear infection, or have had a lung disease, hyperbaric oxygen may be postponed.
17How can I get MCT near Apgujeong or Sinsa?
DM Dermatology is at 4F, 158 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is a 2-minute walk from Apgujeong Station (Line 3) Exit 5. When you book, we first check your skin and scalp condition, your health, and your medications, then guide you to the option that suits you.
CONSULTATION
Consultation comes first
Before any treatment is chosen, a board-certified dermatologist checks your skin in person.
DM Dermatology, 4F, 579-1 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
From Apgujeong Station (Line 3) Exit 5, walk straight for 50 m. 4th floor of the A Twosome Place building
- Weekdays
- am 10:00 - pm 07:00
- Saturday
- am 10:00 - pm 04:30
- Lunch break
- pm 01:00 - pm 02:00
- Sun & holidays
- By appointment only
- Subway
3Apgujeong StationExit 5
Walk straight for 50 m · 2 min on foot · 4th floor of the A Twosome Place building
- Bus
Apgujeong Station Exit 4 · Exit 32310523429
Blue bus147 · 148 · 240 · 463 · 343Green bus4211
Kwanglim Church · Hyundai High School2310323104
Blue bus143 · 240 · 345 · 472Green bus3011 · 4312 · 4318
- By car
Search in your navigation app158 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu디엠피부과의원
Use the building’s underground parking · Parking available in the building
