Aqua Peel BasicGangnam, Seoul
Aqua Peel Basic is QD Clinic’s standard aqua peel: X-Lotion 1, 2 and 3 clear dead skin and pore debris, followed by 10 minutes of Omega LED and a sheet mask to finish. “Aqua peel” is not one company’s trademark but a general name for treatments that refine the skin surface with dedicated solutions and a suction device. Before starting, QD Clinic checks for inflamed acne and whether your skin barrier is sensitized. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea, consultation helps determine which options suit your concerns.
Who it’s for
- Skin that looks rough, as if the pore openings are clogged
- You want to clear sebum and built-up dead skin in one go
- Skin whose redness and warmth after treatment don’t last long
Aqua peel is not a treatment for acne or pigmentation. If inflammation is severe, medical treatment comes first.
How it works
Aqua Peel Basic follows three stages: “clear → LED → sheet mask”. First, X-Lotion 1, 2 and 3 are used in order while the device clears dead skin from the surface and debris from pore openings. Omega LED is then applied for 10 minutes, and a sheet mask finishes the treatment. It works differently from peels in which an acid is left on the skin to make it flake, so shedding dead skin is not the goal.
THE MECHANISM, STEP BY STEP
01Why three solutions
Rather than finishing with a single solution, solutions 1, 2 and 3 are used in turn. Before the treatment we show you the X-Lotion products QD Clinic uses and the ingredients of each step.
02What the suction device does
Instead of simply applying solutions, the device clears dead skin from the surface and debris from pore openings at the same time. This is a different process from extracting spots one by one.
03Omega LED, 10 minutes
Once clearing is done, the skin is treated with an LED device for 10 minutes. Basic and Premium both use the same 10 minutes.
04Finishing with a sheet mask
Basic ends with a sheet mask. In Premium, this is where 5 minutes of cryo and a mask come in.
Treatment areas
- Discuss at consultation
- If you have pus-filled acne, suction and friction can irritate it, so we first decide whether to avoid that area or postpone the treatment.
- Medical assessment
- Because three solutions are used in sequence, we check whether you have recently used exfoliants or retinoids.
- Before treatment
- If redness lingered after a previous treatment, we consider together whether Premium, which includes cryo, would suit you better.
What the procedure is like
- 1Cleansing
- 2Device treatment with X-Lotion 1 → 2 → 3
- 3Omega LED, 10 minutes
- 4Sheet mask
- 5Advice on moisturizing and sun protection
Omega LED takes 10 minutes. Total time depends on your skin and the area being cleared, and is explained at your visit.
Recovery & aftercare
- Most people can return to normal activities right after treatment.
- On the day, avoid places that heat up your face, such as saunas or hot rooms.
- For a few days, apply sunscreen carefully and pause exfoliating products.
What to expect over time
A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.
Right after Mild redness
Your skin may look red for a while from the suction and solutions. Let us know if the burning sensation does not settle.
That evening No rubbing
Cleanse with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, and take a break from products you rub on, such as scrubs and toner pads.
Before your next visit Note how your skin reacted
If small bumps appeared or dryness continued, tell us at your next visit. We will adjust the composition and interval accordingly.
Sessions & results
Our treatment menu has a single session and 5 sessions. Aqua peel tidies the skin surface, so how much it can change in one session is limited, and the next session is planned around how your skin responds. (Results vary from person to person.)
How it compares
All three involve little downtime, but they are made up differently. Compared exactly as listed on our treatment menu.
| Comparison | Aqua Peel Basic | Aqua Peel Premium | General care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | X-Lotion 1, 2, 3 + Omega LED 10 min + sheet mask | X-Lotion 1, 2, 3 + cryo 5 min + Omega LED 10 min + mask | Choice of moisturizing, brightening, scrubber or calming (cleansing → device care 5 min → mask) |
| Cooling and calming | None | Cryo, 5 min | Calming device care if you choose calming |
| Finish | Sheet mask | Mask | Mask |
| Best when | Clearing pores and dead skin is the main goal and your skin doesn’t heat up easily | Your skin reddens or heats up easily after clearing | You need a single device treatment that day rather than exfoliation |
Compositions are based on QD Clinic’s treatment menu. Which one suits you is decided by looking at your skin on the day.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Temporary redness or tightness
- Mild burning where suction was applied
- Occasionally small bumps or breakouts
Please tell us first if
- You have pus-filled acne or a skin infection
- You have recently had laser, peel or injection treatments
- You use medicines or cosmetics that make the skin sensitive, such as retinoids
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have cosmetic allergies
Aqua peel is skin care and does not replace treatment for acne or pigmentation conditions. Reactions and results vary from person to person.
Your care at QD Clinic
Skin check
We check for inflamed acne, recent procedures and use of exfoliants or retinoids.
Basic or Premium
We decide whether you need cryo based on whether your skin heats up or reddens easily after clearing.
Treatment and aftercare
After the three solution steps, LED and sheet mask, we tell you how to cleanse that day and what to avoid.
Frequently asked questions
Both include X-Lotion 1, 2 and 3 and 10 minutes of Omega LED. Premium adds 5 minutes of cryo and finishes with a mask instead of a sheet mask. If your skin doesn’t heat up or redden easily after treatment, Basic is often enough.
Aqua Peel Basic does not include manual extraction of individual spots. It goes as far as clearing pore openings with the device. If you have many comedones that need extracting, we look at other treatments that include extraction at your consultation.
They are three different solutions used in order. You can check the name and ingredient list of the products QD Clinic uses on the containers before your treatment. If you have ever reacted to a particular ingredient, be sure to point it out then.
On pus-filled spots, suction and friction can aggravate the inflammation. We may work around those areas, or recommend treatment to calm the inflammation first. Aqua peel is not a treatment for acne, so before starting we first look at where the inflamed spots are and how many there are, and decide how far to go.
It may look red for a while from the suction and solutions. Some skin settles quickly and some takes longer, so if you are being photographed, it is safer to leave about a day. Let us know in advance if redness lasted a long time before.
You don’t have to choose yourself. Tell us if there is one you want, and we will decide together based on the inflammation, sensitivity and oiliness of your skin that day. We may recommend a different type at each session, even for the same person.
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