ARTNER Injection vs PPC shots —
what is actually in the syringe in Cheongdam.
Most fat-dissolving injections sold in Korea are PPC-based, often with a steroid added to suppress the swelling the formula causes and hyaluronidase added to make it spread. ARTNER Cheongdam uses a patented formulation with none of the three. That is a deliberate trade: less dramatic swelling, lower hardening risk, and a defined six-session course rather than an open-ended number of shots.
Patients rarely ask what is in a fat-dissolving injection, and clinics rarely volunteer it. But the composition explains almost everything about how the treatment feels, what the risks are and why some people end up with firm lumps months later. Here is what ARTNER Cheongdam, Gangnam uses and why.
You want to know what is being injected, not just what it costs.
- You have had a fat-dissolving shot elsewhere that swelled dramatically.
- You developed a firm lump after an injection and were told it was normal.
- You have read about PPC and steroids and want a straight answer.
- You are comparing quotes and cannot tell what differs.
- You want a course with a defined end, not endless shots.
All fair. Ask any clinic what is in the syringe — a clinic that answers plainly is telling you something useful.
What is in the syringe — compared
PPC-based formulations vary widely between clinics, so treat the left column as typical rather than universal.
| Typical PPC-based shot | ARTNER Injection (Cheongdam) | |
|---|---|---|
| Core agent | Phosphatidylcholine / deoxycholate | Patented formulation without PPC |
| Steroids | Often added to suppress swelling | None |
| Hyaluronidase | Often added to spread the agent | None |
| Typical reaction | Marked swelling, heat, tenderness for days | Mild swelling, tenderness for 2–3 days |
| Hardening risk | Nodules and firm lumps reported | Reduced by formulation and placement |
| Course | Varies widely by clinic | Six sessions per area, defined |
| Price | Quoted per shot, varies | From ₩1,200,000 for six sessions |
Why ARTNER Cheongdam leaves PPC out
PPC and deoxycholate work by disrupting cell membranes, which is effective and also indiscriminate — the inflammatory reaction it produces is why the swelling is dramatic and why some patients develop firm nodules as tissue heals unevenly.
The ARTNER formulation is registered with the Korean Intellectual Property Office and is built to act on fat with a milder inflammatory response. The trade is honest: less spectacular swelling and a gentler course, delivered over six defined sessions rather than one heroic shot.
The treatment page: ARTNER Injection in Cheongdam, Gangnam.
Why no steroid in the formulation
Steroids are added by some clinics precisely to suppress the swelling the base formula causes. That is treating a side effect of your own injection with another drug, and repeated steroid exposure in soft tissue carries its own problems — including fat atrophy and skin thinning at the site.
If the formula does not cause an extreme reaction, the steroid is unnecessary. That is the reasoning at ARTNER Cheongdam, and it is worth asking any Gangnam clinic whether theirs contains one.
Why no hyaluronidase
Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid in the tissue so the injected agent spreads further from each entry point — fewer injections, wider coverage. It also means less control over exactly where the agent goes, and it can affect any hyaluronic-acid filler you have had in the area.
ARTNER Cheongdam prefers controlled placement across more entry points. It takes longer in the room and gives a more predictable result.
What this means for how it feels
Expect mild swelling and tenderness for two to three days rather than a week of heat and marked swelling. Most patients in Cheongdam return to normal activity immediately and fly the same day if they need to.
It also means the change is gradual across the course rather than a dramatic reaction after session one. If you are expecting a visible difference in a week, the honest answer is that this is not that treatment.
What the course looks like: completing a course from abroad.
What no injection can do — either formula
No fat-dissolving injection removes real volume the way liposuction does, and none reaches visceral fat. If the area is a defined bulge rather than a soft pocket, ARTNER Cheongdam recommends awake liposuction in Cheongdam instead of a longer injection course.
A clinic that offers to dissolve a full abdomen with shots is selling sessions, not results.
The full comparison: fat dissolving injection vs liposuction.
Questions to ask any clinic in Gangnam
1. What is the active agent? 2. Does it contain a steroid? 3. Does it contain hyaluronidase? 4. How many sessions is a full course, and is the price for the course or per shot? 5. What is the hardening rate and what do you do if it happens?
A clinic that answers all five without hesitation is a clinic that has thought about its formulation. ARTNER Cheongdam answers them in writing before you book.
In short — Most Korean fat-dissolving shots are PPC-based, often with a steroid to suppress swelling and hyaluronidase to spread the agent. ARTNER Cheongdam, Gangnam uses a patented formulation with none of the three — milder swelling, lower hardening risk, controlled placement, and a defined six-session course from ₩1,200,000.
Treated at ARTNER Cheongdam, Gangnam — Fat dissolving injection in Cheongdam, Gangnam runs as a six-session course from ₩1,200,000, with ART-TUNE adding skin tightening on the same area from ₩3,990,000. ARTNER Cheongdam is an internal-medicine-led body contouring clinic in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, at 2F–3F, 38 Apgujeong-ro 80-gil — a flat five-minute walk from Apgujeong Rodeo Station Exit 4 and 60–90 minutes from Incheon Airport. Consultations for international patients are held in English, with Chinese and Japanese support, and the KRW price list in Gangnam is identical for Korean and foreign patients. Explore liposuction in Cheongdam, Gangnam, body contouring by area in Cheongdam, the Cheongdam price list or all ARTNER Cheongdam guides.
The internal-medicine specialist who makes this call in Cheongdam.
If a formula needs a steroid to make it tolerable, the formula is the problem. I would rather inject something milder six times than something aggressive twice and manage the consequences.
- Dr. Hye-woo Pyeon — Internal Medicine Specialist, Director of ARTNER Cheongdam, Gangnam
- Yeungnam University College of Medicine · Sungkyunkwan University Bioengineering
- Former Internal Medicine Specialist, Gachon University Gil Medical Center
- Member, Korean Society for the Study of Obesity & Korean Association of Internal Medicine
- Developer of the ARTNER signature protocols — ARTNER Injection · ART-FAT · ART-TUNE · ART-CELL
Compared honestly at ARTNER Cheongdam, Gangnam.
Phosphatidylcholine, usually with deoxycholate — the most common active agent in Korean fat-dissolving shots. It works by disrupting fat-cell membranes and produces a strong inflammatory reaction.
Because the inflammatory reaction it causes drives the dramatic swelling and the firm nodules some patients develop. The ARTNER formulation is patented and built for a milder response across six defined sessions.
Some clinics add one to suppress the swelling their base formula causes. ARTNER Cheongdam does not — repeated steroid exposure in soft tissue can cause fat atrophy and skin thinning at the site.
It helps the agent spread further from each entry point, meaning fewer injections but less control over placement — and it can affect hyaluronic-acid filler in the area. ARTNER Cheongdam uses controlled placement instead.
The risk is reduced by the formulation and by controlled placement, but no injection is risk-free. If firmness develops, tell ARTNER Cheongdam — it is managed rather than ignored.
Mild swelling and tenderness for two to three days rather than a week of heat and marked swelling. Most patients in Cheongdam carry on normally and can fly the same day.
Six sessions per area, from ₩1,200,000 for one area or ₩1,600,000 for two — priced as a course rather than per shot. KRW, ex-VAT, identical to the Korean price list.
No. No injection removes real volume the way liposuction does, and none reaches visceral fat. For a defined bulge, ARTNER Cheongdam recommends awake liposuction instead.
Ask what is in the syringe
before you book anywhere.
Message ARTNER Cheongdam, Gangnam on WhatsApp. We answer what the formulation contains, how many sessions your area needs and what it costs in KRW — in English, in writing, before you fly.
This guide is general medical information and does not replace an individual consultation. Individual results vary, and whether a treatment is appropriate is decided by an internal-medicine specialist after examination. Prices are in KRW, exclude VAT and follow the published price list. ARTNER Cheongdam · 2F–3F, 38 Apgujeong-ro 80-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul · 5 min from Apgujeong Rodeo Station Exit 4 · Contact & directions · All Cheongdam guides