Placenta InjectionGangnam, Seoul
Placenta injection is the common name for injections of Hominis Placenta extract or hydrolysate, obtained from human placenta. In Korea, depending on the product, it is approved for “improvement of liver function in chronic liver disease” or “improvement of menopausal symptoms”. Because it is derived from human placenta, the approved product information warns that the risk of transmitting infection cannot be completely ruled out — QD Clinic explains this first. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea, consultation helps determine which options suit your concerns.
Who it’s for
- You want to confirm the ingredient and approved indications of placenta injection
- You are concerned that it is human-derived and want to hear about the risks first
- You would like a consultation about menopausal symptoms
If you have menopausal symptoms or liver disease, the standard treatment for that condition comes before placenta injection. Please don’t change any treatment you are receiving on your own.
How it works
Placenta injection is derived from human placenta and has two approved indications. According to the MFDS drug database (nedrug), Hominis Placenta hydrolysate injection is approved for “improvement of liver function in chronic liver disease”, and Hominis Placenta extract injection for “improvement of menopausal symptoms”. For both, the source placenta is tested at collection and processed during manufacture, but because the risk of transmitting infection cannot be completely ruled out, the label says to use only the minimum amount necessary.
THE MECHANISM, STEP BY STEP
01Ingredient
Hominis Placenta extract or hydrolysate — that is, ingredients obtained from human placenta. A 2018 MFDS document refers to it as “a.k.a. placenta injection”.
02Approved use by product
Hydrolysate products: improving liver function in chronic liver disease. Extract products: improving menopausal symptoms.
03Approved routes
Hydrolysate products are approved for subcutaneous or intramuscular injection; extract products for subcutaneous injection (2mL per dose, 3 times a week for 2 weeks).
04Infection-transmission warning
Despite testing of the source material and processing during manufacture, the risk of transmitting infection cannot be completely ruled out, so only the minimum necessary amount is to be used.
Treatment areas
- Discuss at consultation
- We check which of the two approved indications your goal falls under, or whether it lies outside them.
- Medical assessment
- We explain the label warning that the risk of infection transmission from a human-placenta-derived ingredient cannot be completely ruled out.
- Before treatment
- The approved routes are subcutaneous and intramuscular injection, so we tell you in advance which product and route we use.
What the procedure is like
- 1Medical history — allergic tendency, existing conditions
- 2Explanation of the infection-transmission risk and approved indications
- 3Injection by the approved route
- 4Check of the injection site and whole-body reactions
The injection itself is quick, but time is needed afterwards to watch for any reaction.
Recovery & aftercare
- The injection site may swell or harden. Please don’t rub it.
- If you get chills or a fever, contact the clinic.
- If you notice a breast lump or pain, tell us before your next session.
What to expect over time
A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.
Right after Possibility of shock
The label states that, as a protein and amino-acid preparation derived from human tissue, the possibility of shock cannot be ruled out.
On the day Injection site
Pain, redness or hardening may occasionally occur.
Afterwards Uncommon reactions
Chills, fever and rash, and occasionally breast enlargement (gynecomastia), are listed. If you notice these changes, we stop and talk it through.
Sessions & results
Our treatment menu has a single session and 5 sessions. Because the label says to use “only the minimum amount necessary”, we recheck the need each time, even if you chose the 5-session option.
How it compares
Placenta injection sits with the other drips on our treatment menu, but its ingredient source and approved route are different.
| Comparison | Placenta Injection | Licorice Injection | Glutathione Injection (White Jade) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredient source | Human placenta | Licorice-derived glycyrrhizic acid + glycine + cysteine | Reduced glutathione |
| Approved route | Subcutaneous or intramuscular (by product) | IV injection or IV drip | Intramuscular or intravenous |
| Special warning in the label | Risk of infection transmission cannot be completely ruled out | Pseudoaldosteronism with higher doses or long-term use | Rare anaphylaxis-like symptoms |
Based on Korean-approved products with the same ingredient.
Safety & considerations
Contraindications and cautions in the label
- Hypersensitivity to the ingredient
- Use with caution in people prone to allergies
- Hominis Placenta extract products: newborns, premature infants, etc. (contains benzyl alcohol)
Adverse reactions in the label
- Possibility of shock
- Chills, fever, rash
- Pain, redness or hardening at the injection site
- Breast enlargement (gynecomastia)
Placenta injection is not a medicine approved for cosmetic use or fatigue relief, and the risk of infection transmission from its human-placenta-derived ingredient cannot be completely ruled out. Individual responses vary.
Your care at QD Clinic
Goal vs approved use
We check whether your goal falls under improving liver function or menopausal symptoms.
Explaining the risks
We first explain the possibility of infection transmission from a human-derived ingredient, and the possibility of shock or hypersensitivity.
Product and route
We explain the approved method (subcutaneous or intramuscular) for the product we actually use, and check your reaction afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The active ingredient is Hominis Placenta extract or hydrolysate, and Hominis Placenta means human placenta. The product information also states that it “uses human placenta as its raw material”.
The label states that the source material is tested at collection and processed during manufacture, but the risk of transmitting infection cannot be completely ruled out. That is why only the minimum necessary amount is to be used. QD Clinic explains this risk before any injection, and you decide whether to go ahead once you have heard it.
Both are called placenta injections, but their approvals differ. Laennec (Hominis Placenta hydrolysate) is approved for improving liver function in chronic liver disease, and Melsmon (Hominis Placenta extract) for improving menopausal symptoms. Their routes and dosing schedules also differ.
The approved method for Korean-approved products is subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. Intravenous use is not part of the approved method. We will confirm the product we use and how it is given at your consultation.
Breast enlargement (gynecomastia) and breast pain are listed as adverse reactions in the product information. If you feel a lump in the breast or notice pain, be sure to tell us before your next injection. When such changes appear, the injections should be stopped and discussed with the medical team.
For international patients
Consultation in English / 中文 / 日本語 · WhatsApp · WeChat · KakaoTalk · a 4-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon / Nonhyeon Station (hours in KST).
How many days should I stay?
Surgery and course-based treatments need a check-up. We tell you before you book whether that means staying longer or coming back another time.
For International Patients