The quick answer
Rejuran injections can hurt, even when numbing is used. There is no single honest pain score for every person or protocol. Small PN studies found differences between delivery methods, and HB Plus contains lidocaine, but none of that guarantees a painless appointment. Ask what product and technique are planned, how discomfort is managed and whether you can pause. You do not have to treat pain as the price of wanting better skin.
At a glance
| The claim | What we can say | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Numbing means no pain | Pain was still reported in a pilot using topical anaesthesia | A guaranteed comfortable visit |
| Needle-free means painless | A ten-person pilot found lower mean pain with a specific jet system | Zero pain or equivalence of every needle-free device |
| Depth changes comfort | A split-face study found different pain scores by injection plane | One technique is appropriate for every patient and area |
| HB Plus has lidocaine | The manufacturer lists PN, HA and lidocaine | The same formulation as standard Healer, or no discomfort |
Sources for the comparison: Hong et al.: needle versus needle-free PN pilot study · Bae et al., 2026: intradermal versus subdermal PN injection · PharmaResearch: Rejuran HB Plus formulation
A useful pain answer names the protocol
A review saying 'easy' and a Reddit story saying 'unbearable' can describe different products, treatment areas and delivery methods. They may also describe different expectations. Personal accounts can help you prepare questions, but they are not a pain forecast for your appointment.
Our editorial take: get the comfort discussion before paying a deposit. Ask whether the plan involves manual injections, an injector or a named jet device; ask which Rejuran variant is used. If avoiding discomfort is your priority, say so plainly and ask whether deferring treatment is a reasonable option.
Read the evidence: Hong et al.: needle versus needle-free PN pilot study · Bae et al., 2026: intradermal versus subdermal PN injection
The needle-free pilot: less pain, not no pain
Hong and colleagues studied ten Korean participants in a split-face comparison of conventional PN needle injection and CureJet. Both sides received topical anaesthesia before treatment. Mean reported pain was 5.4 out of 10 for the needle side and 2.9 for the jet side.
The study had a small sample and two-week follow-up. Its result concerns that device and protocol, not every service advertised as 'needle-free Rejuran'. Confirm how the product is delivered and what evidence supports the clinic's version. Needle-free should not be read as risk-free or painless.
Read the evidence: Hong et al.: needle versus needle-free PN pilot study
The injection-plane study: a real difference with limits
A 2026 split-face PN study treated 40 participants, with 37 contributing imaging-based efficacy data. It compared intradermal treatment on the left cheek with subdermal treatment on the right, over three sessions and follow-up to week 12. Reported pain was lower on the subdermal side at each session.
The first-session averages were about 60 versus 48 on a 0–100 scale. These are group averages under a specific protocol, and the sides were assigned in a fixed pattern. The result supports a conversation about technique; it is not an instruction to request a particular depth or a promise about your pain.
Read the evidence: Bae et al., 2026: intradermal versus subdermal PN injection
HB Plus is a formulation to identify, not a magic word
PharmaResearch lists Rejuran HB Plus as containing polynucleotide, hyaluronic acid and lidocaine. That is a different formulation to clarify on the quote. A menu that says only 'Rejuran' does not tell you which variant or quantity you will receive.
Ask the clinician whether HB Plus or another product is appropriate for your goal and medical history, and what comfort difference they expect. The presence of lidocaine does not establish that all discomfort disappears. Discuss allergies and any previous reaction; let the clinician select and manage anaesthesia rather than adding your own medication or cream.
Read the evidence: PharmaResearch: Rejuran HB Plus formulation
Plan for the appointment and the hours after it
The needle-versus-jet pilot reported transient redness, with focal bruising at manual injection sites in two participants. The injection-plane study also assessed visible injection-site bumps. These observations do not establish a guaranteed recovery schedule for a different protocol or a different person.
Ask for realistic recovery expectations, written aftercare and a contact for unexpected symptoms. Do not let an important photo, dinner or imminent flight depend on a guaranteed clear face. If pain is severe, worsening or accompanied by other concerning symptoms after treatment, seek prompt clinical assessment rather than assuming every reaction is routine.
Read the evidence: Hong et al.: needle versus needle-free PN pilot study · Bae et al., 2026: intradermal versus subdermal PN injection
Questions to take to the clinic
- Which Rejuran variant, quantity and delivery method are planned?
- What discomfort should I expect with this exact protocol?
- What clinician-managed comfort options are appropriate for me?
- Can we pause or stop if I am uncomfortable, and how does that affect the charge?
- What recovery, written aftercare and in-person review should I arrange before departure?
Common questions
Does Rejuran hurt even with numbing cream?
It can. In the ten-person needle-versus-CureJet pilot, both sides received topical anaesthesia and participants still reported pain. This is not a prediction of your score, but numbing should not be presented as a guarantee of no sensation.
Is needle-free Rejuran painless?
A small study of CureJet reported lower average pain than conventional needle injection, not zero pain. The result does not apply automatically to every device or protocol sold as needle-free.
Is Rejuran HB Plus pain-free?
The manufacturer lists lidocaine in HB Plus, but that does not guarantee a pain-free treatment. Confirm the formulation, quantity, technique and comfort plan with the treating clinician.
Do I have to tolerate the whole treatment if it hurts?
Discuss how to request a pause or stop before treatment starts, including any charging implications. Tell the clinician about discomfort as it occurs; do not treat an elective procedure as an endurance test.
Sources and scope
This is sourced editorial research, not a hands-on treatment review or an independent clinical trial. Device specifications and manufacturer claims are distinguished from human study findings. Study size, protocol and comparison groups limit what can be concluded. The practical trade-offs labelled as our editorial take are interpretations, not proven superiority. Medical suitability and travel clearance require the treating clinician's assessment.
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