Skin & Aesthetics · Face contouring
3D Contour Injections in Seoul: Sculpting the Face Without Surgery
A 3D contour injection is a series of small fat-reducing injections placed into mapped fat pockets around the jawline, chin and lower cheeks, so the outline of the face looks slimmer and more defined from the front and the side. At Hommage Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, injection points are planned from a three-dimensional facial assessment and reviewed by Dr. Kim Hyunbin.
Quick answer
A 3D contour injection(윤곽주사) is a Korean face-contouring plan in which small fat-reducing injections are placed only into mapped fat pockets along the jawline, chin and lower cheeks, after the face is assessed from the front, side and below. At Hommage Women's Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, plans are reviewed by Dr. Kim Hyunbin. Each session takes 15–30 minutes; most people need 2–4 sessions, with swelling for a few days.
Key takeaways
- “3D” describes the planning, not a special product. Ask which product will be injected.
- It reduces fat only; muscle, bone and loose skin need other treatments.
- Under the chin has the strongest evidence; the mid-cheek is usually avoided.
- Change is gradual, from about 2–4 weeks after each session.
Infographic
3D contour injections in numbers
Per session
Including numbing; back to normal activity the same day.
Usual sessions
Reviewed after each one; heavier pockets may need more.
Between sessions
Depends on the product; approved deoxycholic acid needs 4+ weeks.
Main zones
Under the chin, jawline/jowls and selected lower-cheek pockets.
Under-chin swelling
Jawline swelling usually settles within about a week.
Temporary nerve weakness
Uneven smile in deoxycholic acid trials; all cases resolved.
3D contour injections at a glance
| Key fact | Details |
|---|---|
| What it treats | Small, defined fat pockets: under the chin, along the jaw, jowls and lower cheeks |
| Treatment time | Usually 15–30 minutes, including numbing |
| Sessions | Typically 2–4 sessions, spaced about 2–4 weeks apart depending on the product |
| Downtime | Swelling and tenderness for a few days; under-chin swelling can last 1–2 weeks |
| Results visible | Gradually, from about 2–4 weeks after each session |
| How long results last | Treated fat cells do not return; weight gain can enlarge the remaining cells |
| Reviewed by | Dr. Kim Hyunbin, associate director for skin and aesthetic treatments |
3D contour injections may suit you if you have
- Soft fullness under the chin or along the jaw that does not shift with diet
- Small fat pockets that blur the jawline or make the lower face look round
- Good skin elasticity, so the skin can tighten as fat reduces
- A preference for a non-surgical option with short downtime
Wait or choose another option if you
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have loose skin as the main problem (fat loss can make sagging more visible)
- Have a lean face or hollow cheeks, where fat reduction can look aging
- Have an infection in the area, a bleeding disorder or difficulty swallowing
What is a 3D contour injection?
A 3D contour injection is a Korean approach to face contouring with fat-reducing injections, often called 윤곽주사 (contour injection). “3D” describes the planning rather than a special product: the face is assessed from the front, side and below, and small amounts of solution are placed only into the fat compartments that create a heavy or rounded outline. The goal is a cleaner jawline and a smoother transition from cheek to chin, not overall thinness.
This page focuses on sculpting the facial outline across several zones. For a broader explanation of how fat-dissolving products work and how they compare, see fat-dissolving injections . If your concern is only the area under the chin, our double chin reduction page compares all options for that area.
How do contour injections reduce fat?
Most fat-reducing injections work by breaking down the membranes of fat cells (adipocytes) at the injection site. The damaged cells release their contents, and the body clears the debris over several weeks through its normal inflammatory and lymphatic processes. Mild collagen remodeling during healing can also help the skin over the area firm up slightly.
Deoxycholic acid, a synthetic version of a bile acid, is the active ingredient approved in several countries, including the United States (as Kybella), for fat under the chin. Many contour injections used in Korea are blends whose ingredients, strength and regulatory approval vary. Because of this, ask which product will be used and what it is approved for. At your consultation, the doctor tells you which product is proposed and what evidence supports its use in that area.
Which areas can be treated, and which should be avoided?
Contour injections are most effective on small, pinchable pockets of fat with good skin quality around them.
- Under the chin: the most studied area, where fat-reducing injections have the strongest evidence.
- Jawline and jowls: small amounts can sharpen the jaw edge when fat, not sagging, is the cause.
- Lower cheeks: selected cases only, where a localized pocket makes the lower face look round.
Some areas need caution. Injecting fat-reducing solution into the mid-cheek or near the buccal fat pad can cause hollowing that looks older over time, and treatment near the jaw edge must avoid the nerve that controls the lower lip. If your width comes from muscle rather than fat, jawline Botox is the right tool, and our buccal fat reduction guide explains why inner-cheek fat is approached differently.
What happens during a session?
A session usually takes 15–30 minutes, including numbing. Most people return to normal activities the same day.
- Mapping: the doctor marks the treatment zones while you sit upright and checks fat thickness by pinching each area.
- Numbing: numbing cream or ice is applied. Some products already contain a local anesthetic.
- Injections: very small amounts are injected into the fat layer using a fine needle or cannula. A stinging or burning feeling for a few minutes is common.
- Cooling: ice packs help limit swelling, and you receive written aftercare instructions.
How long do 3D contour injection results last?
Fat cells destroyed by the injection do not grow back, so the result is long-lasting as long as your weight stays stable. The remaining fat cells can still enlarge if you gain weight, which can bring back some fullness.
Change builds gradually. Swelling hides the early result, and most people see a difference from about 2–4 weeks after each session. A typical course is 2–4 sessions spaced about 2–4 weeks apart, depending on the product and the area; heavier pockets may need more. Final results are usually judged about one month after the last session.
Aftercare: apply cold packs for the first day, sleep with your head slightly raised, avoid alcohol, saunas and strenuous exercise for 2–3 days, and avoid massaging the area unless the doctor advises it. Combining injections with skin tightening such as HIFU can help the skin adapt as fat reduces.
Risks and possible side effects
Swelling, redness, bruising, tenderness and a burning or itching feeling are expected after contour injections. Swelling under the chin can be marked for several days and may last 1–2 weeks. Temporary numbness and small, firm areas under the skin are also common and usually settle within weeks.
Less common risks include lumps or uneven contour, skin irritation or, rarely, skin injury if solution is placed too shallow or into a blood vessel, infection, and hair loss in the treated area. Injection near the jawline can irritate the marginal mandibular nerve, causing a temporarily uneven smile that usually recovers over weeks. Treatment under the chin can briefly make swallowing feel uncomfortable.
Contact the clinic straight away if you notice skin color changes, blistering or open sores, increasing pain or redness after the third day, fever, difficulty swallowing, or a change in your smile.
3D contour injections at Hommage Clinic
Hommage Clinic is a women's health and skin clinic in Gangnam, a short walk from Sinnonhyeon Station, and welcomes walk-ins during opening hours. Contour injection plans start with an assessment of bone structure, skin thickness and muscle movement, so fat-reducing injections are used only where fat is the real cause. They are often combined with masseter Botox, Ulthera Prime or Tune Face as part of asmall face plan. See allskin and aesthetic treatments.
Cost depends on the product, the number of areas and the number of sessions. Cosmetic procedures are not covered by Korea's National Health Insurance. You receive a written quote before treatment, and you canbook a consultationto get one.
Planning
What does “3D” mean? Front, side and under-chin mapping
A face can look round from the front because of a jowl pocket, yet look fine in profile; another face can look slim from the front but heavy under the chin from the side. 3D planning simply means the doctor checks all three views before choosing where to inject. Only zones where a pinch test confirms soft fat are marked, and the amount is matched to the thickness of each pocket.
This approach also shows what injections should not do. If the width comes from the masseter muscle, the bone or loose skin, fat reduction would add little and might make the face look tired.
Compare
Contour injection vs jaw Botox vs lifting vs liposuction
Contour injections are one tool among several for a sharper jawline. The right choice depends on whether fat, muscle or loose skin is the main cause, and on how much fat there is. Many plans combine two tools in small amounts rather than relying on one.
Contour injection
- Mapped, small-volume fat reduction
- 2–4 sessions; swelling for days
- No incision
Jaw Botox
- Slims a bulky masseter
- Result over 2–6 weeks
- Lasts about 3–6 months
HIFU or RF lifting
- Tightens rather than removes
- Often added after fat reduction
- Builds over weeks to months
Liposuction
- Surgical removal of more fat
- Longer recovery
- Not performed at Hommage Clinic
Learn more: jawline Botox, HIFU facial lifting, jawline tightening RF and V-line thread lift.
Hommage · Gangnam
Hommage Women's Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
Zones are mapped before any injection, so only true fat pockets are treated. Illustrative photo.
Results
3D contour injection results timeline and sessions
Contour injections work slowly. Swelling hides the early change, so photos taken in the first week often look fuller rather than slimmer. A typical course looks like the timeline below. The spacing depends on the product: approved deoxycholic acid needs at least 4 weeks between sessions, while some milder blends are repeated sooner.
Hommage · Gangnam
Hommage Women's Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
The profile view often shows fat pockets the front view hides. Illustrative photo.
Candidates
Who is a good candidate for 3D contour injections?
The best results come when the problem is genuinely small pockets of fat and the skin is firm enough to shrink back. Age itself is not the deciding factor, but skin firmness and facial volume usually change after the mid-30s, so the plan becomes more conservative.
Likely to benefit
- Pinchable fullness under the chin or at the jowls
- Stable weight for several months
- Firm skin that springs back
- Happy with gradual change over 2–3 months
Likely to benefit less
- Width mainly from the jaw muscle or bone
- Loose skin or deep folds as the main issue
- Already lean face or hollow cheeks
- Needs a big change before a near event
Aftercare
Contour injection aftercare: do's and don'ts
Most of what you feel afterward is the expected inflammation that clears the treated fat. These steps keep you comfortable and help you spot the uncommon problems early. You receive them in writing at the clinic.
Do
- Use wrapped cold packs on the first day
- Sleep with your head slightly raised for a few nights
- Drink water and keep meals light and soft if chewing is tender
- Take same-angle photos before each session
Don't
- Drink alcohol or use saunas for 2–3 days
- Do strenuous exercise for 2–3 days
- Massage lumps unless the doctor advises it
- Ignore blisters, dark skin, fever or a changed smile
Hommage · Gangnam
Hommage Women's Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
Judge the outline after swelling settles, not in the first days. Illustrative photo.
Evidence
Do contour injections work? What the research says
The honest answer depends on the product and the area. Approved deoxycholic acid has strong trial evidence for fat under the chin. Using it along the jawline is off-label, and the multi-ingredient contour blends sold under many brand names in Korea have little published research. That is why Dr. Kim names the product and explains its evidence before any treatment.
Under-chin improvement
Deoxycholic acid vs placebo in two phase 3 trials.
US prescribing information, Kybella, 2015MRI-measured fat loss
At least 10% less under-chin fat in a trial subgroup.
US prescribing information, Kybella, 2015Temporary swallowing difficulty
All cases resolved; median about 3 days.
Allergan clinical informationEvidence for blends
Most injection lipolysis uses outside under-chin fat have low-level evidence.
ASPS position statement, 2019Traveling to Seoul
3D contour injections in Seoul for international patients
A single session fits easily into a trip, but a full course usually needs 2–4 visits weeks apart. If you live in Korea for a few weeks, for work or study, you can complete the course; shorter visitors often have one session and pair it with jaw Botox or lifting, which need only one visit.
- Send front and side photos and your travel dates by WhatsApp, KakaoTalk or the contact form.
- Book early in your stay and keep the next 2–3 days light.
- Bring your passport and a list of medicines; mention blood thinners.
- Ask for the product name in writing for any doctor who continues care at home.
Hommage · Seoul
Hommage Women's Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
The clinic is a short walk from Sinnonhyeon Station on Line 9 and the Shinbundang Line. Illustrative photo.
Hommage · Gangnam
Hommage Women's Clinic · Gangnam, Seoul
Ask to see the plan, product and sessions in writing. Illustrative photo.
Choosing well
How to choose a clinic for contour injections in Seoul
Contour injections are among the most heavily advertised treatments in Gangnam. Use these questions to compare clinics, including ours:
- What is the product, and what is in it? A brand name alone is not enough; ask for ingredients and approval status.
- Which zones will be treated, and why? The doctor should show you the mapped pockets in front, side and under-chin views.
- Is a doctor injecting? Placement depth near the jaw nerve matters.
- How many sessions, how far apart? You should know the expected course and when it will stop.
- Will they say no? If muscle, bone or loose skin is the issue, a good clinic suggests something else.
What affects the cost of contour injections?
The cost depends on the product, the number of zones treated, the amount used and the number of sessions. Adding jaw Botox or lifting in the same plan changes the total. Contour injections are cosmetic and not covered by Korea's National Health Insurance; you receive a written quote before treatment.
Your visit
What to expect at your contour injection appointment
01
Assessment
The doctor checks whether fat, muscle, skin laxity or bone shapes your outline, and names the product proposed.
02
Mapping and numbing
Treatment zones are marked while you sit upright, then numbing cream or ice is applied.
03
Injections
Small amounts are placed into the mapped fat pockets, typically in 15–30 minutes.
04
Follow-up
Swelling settles over days; the next session is planned about 2–4 weeks later if needed.
Your doctor
Dr. Kim Hyunbin
Associate Director · Skin & Aesthetic Treatments
Dr. Kim uses contour injections only where a pinch test confirms that fat is shaping the outline, and keeps away from areas such as the mid-cheek where fat loss can look aging. The product, its approval status and the expected number of sessions are explained before the first injection.
Associate director dedicated to skin and aesthetic procedures, with extensive experience in lifting, botulinum toxin, fillers and laser treatments.
3D contour injections: frequently asked questions
Do contour injections hurt?
Most people feel a sting or burning sensation for a few minutes after each injection, followed by tenderness for a few days. Numbing cream or ice is used beforehand, and some products contain a local anesthetic. The under-chin area tends to feel more sensitive than the jawline.
How many contour injection sessions will I need?
Most people need 2–4 sessions, spaced about 2–4 weeks apart depending on the product. Larger pockets may need more. The doctor reviews your progress after each session and stops when the contour goal is reached, rather than following a fixed number.
Are contour injection results permanent?
Fat cells destroyed by the injection do not return, so results last as long as your weight stays stable. If you gain weight, the remaining fat cells can enlarge and bring back some fullness. Aging and skin laxity also continue to change the face over time.
How long will the swelling last?
Swelling is usually most noticeable for 2–3 days and settles within about a week on the jawline. Under the chin, swelling can last 1–2 weeks. Ice, sleeping with your head raised and avoiding alcohol help. Plan important events at least a week after treatment.
What is the difference between contour injections and jaw Botox?
Contour injections reduce fat, while jaw Botox relaxes and slims the masseter muscle. A square jaw from muscle needs Botox; a soft, rounded jawline from fat needs fat reduction. Many people have both, so the two are often combined.
Can foreigners get contour injections in Seoul?
Yes. International patients can have contour injections at Hommage Clinic; bring your passport for registration. Because several sessions are usually needed 2–4 weeks apart, tell us your travel dates so the plan can fit your stay. Contact us before your visit to arrange language support.
What does 3D mean in 3D contour injection?
It describes the planning, not a special product. The face is assessed from the front, the side and below, and only the fat pockets that create a heavy or round outline in those views are marked for treatment. The injected product itself is a fat-reducing solution, so ask which one will be used.
What is in a Korean contour injection (윤곽주사)?
It varies. Some clinics use approved deoxycholic acid, others use phosphatidylcholine mixtures or multi-ingredient blends whose formulas and approval status differ. Evidence is strongest for deoxycholic acid under the chin. At Hommage Clinic you are told the product, what it contains and what it is approved for before treatment.
Can contour injections be used on the cheeks?
Only in selected cases with a clearly localized lower-cheek pocket. The mid-cheek and the area over the buccal fat pad are usually avoided, because losing fat there can look hollow and older over time. If your cheeks look full because of the jaw muscle, jaw Botox is the better option.
Will contour injections make my skin sag?
In faces with good skin elasticity, the skin usually adapts as fat reduces. If your skin is already loose, removing fat can make sagging more visible, so the doctor may suggest lifting such as HIFU first or alongside a lighter injection plan.
Can I combine contour injections with HIFU or Botox on the same day?
Often yes, but the order and timing depend on the products. Many plans start with jaw Botox and fat reduction, then add lifting once swelling has settled, so the doctor can judge each effect. Your plan explains what can safely be combined in one visit.
Who should not have contour injections?
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an infection or inflamed skin in the area, a bleeding disorder or difficulty swallowing should not be treated. Those with a very lean face, hollow cheeks or mainly loose skin are usually better served by another option.
When will I see results from 3D contour injections?
Most people notice a cleaner outline from about 2–4 weeks after each session, once swelling settles. The final result is judged about one month after the last session. Taking photos from the same angles before each visit makes gradual change easier to see.
References
Sources used for this page, reviewed by Dr. Kim Hyunbin. Read our editorial and medical review policy.
- US Food and Drug Administration. KYBELLA (deoxycholic acid) injection: prescribing information. 2015. FDA label
- Allergan Aesthetics. KYBELLA clinical results and dosing (healthcare professional information). Manufacturer page
- Kamalpour S, LeBlanc K Jr. Injection adipolysis: mechanisms, agents, and future directions. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2016;9(12):44–50. JCAD
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Mesotherapy and injection lipolysis: position statement (updated 2019). ASPS
- Korea Biomedical Review. Allergan Korea receives MFDS approval for double-chin injection Belkyra. August 2017. Article
This page is general information and does not replace a personal consultation. Illustrations are original works of Hommage Women's Clinic, Gangnam, Seoul; photos marked illustrative are not of patients.
Related contouring treatments
Fat Dissolving Injections
How fat-dissolving products work on the face and chin, and how they compare.
Double Chin Reduction
Options for fat and loose skin under the chin, from injections to lifting.
Jawline Botox
Slims a bulky masseter muscle when jaw width comes from muscle, not fat.
Korean Small Face Treatment
How contour injections, Botox and lifting combine in one slimming plan.
Face Slimming Injections
Injectable options for a slimmer face, compared side by side.
HIFU Facial Lifting
Ulthera lifting that helps skin tighten as facial fat is reduced.
Find out where contouring will help your face
Book a facial assessment in Gangnam. We check whether fat, muscle or skin shapes your outline before planning contour injections.
Hommage Clinic · 4F, Building A, 509 Gangnam-daero, Seoul (near Sinnonhyeon Station) · Mon & Fri 10:00–20:00 · Tue–Thu 10:00–19:00 · Sat 10:00–15:00