IV Injection Guide: Skin Whitening, Antioxidants, Placenta, Vitamins

First published: 2026-05-17 / Last reviewed: 2026-05-17

This is a guide to nutritional and regenerative injections, compiled by Dr. Choi Byeong-geun of SHINE U Clinic Konkuk (3 minutes' walk from Konkuk Univ. Station, Exit 1).

When we receive a request in the consultation room like, "I'd like to try a nutritional injection," we always ask for more details. The medications grouped under the "nutritional injection" category actually perform different functions. The recommended injection varies depending on your goal, whether it's for whitening, antioxidant effects, fatigue recovery, regeneration, immunity, or diet support. Here's how we differentiate them in the clinic.

Here is the main lineup offered at SHINE U Clinic Konkuk.

Since each medication works through a different mechanism, the clearer your goal, the more effective the treatment will be.

If tone, melasma, and blemishes are your primary concerns when looking in the mirror, the antioxidant whitening line is a priority.

Glutathione Injection

Glutathione Injection is a procedure that supplies powerful antioxidant ingredients (such as glutathione) intravenously. It is a representative injection in the areas of whitening and anti-aging.

Recommended frequency: Once a week, with a cumulative course of 10 sessions being typical.

Cinderella Injection

Cinderella Injection, based on alpha-lipoic acid, comprehensively covers antioxidant, whitening, elasticity, body fat reduction, and fatigue recovery.

Recommended patterns in the clinic:

• Those who want to address not only whitening but also fatigue recovery and elasticity.
• Those who wish to alternate with Glutathione Injection.
• Those with accumulated fatigue and noticeable dullness in the mirror.

Vitamin C Injection

Vitamin C Injection supplies high-dose Vitamin C intravenously, acting on antioxidant, melasma, immunity, and wound regeneration. It is often received in combination with Glutathione and Cinderella injections.

Vitamin D Injection can provide sufficient supplementation with just one injection every 3 months. It is often recommended in the clinic for those who find it difficult to take oral Vitamin D daily.

Recommended patterns in the clinic:

• Those who work in environments with limited sun exposure.
• Those who need osteoporosis prevention and immune system strengthening.
• Those experiencing hair loss and needing nutritional supplementation.
• Those experiencing feelings of depression or seasonal mood changes.

A characteristic of Vitamin D injections is the ability to maintain stable blood levels with supplementation once every 3 months.

These are representative injections for fatigue recovery.

Garlic Injection

Garlic Injection, based on Vitamin B1 (fursultiamine), acts on neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, and fatigue recovery. It is named "Garlic Injection" due to the perception of a "garlic-like smell," but the actual ingredient is a B vitamin.

ABC Cocktail

ABC Cocktail Injection is a combo that combines Garlic + Vitamin B + Cinderella. It is recommended for those who want to achieve energy metabolism, cell regeneration, and antioxidant effects all at once.

Consult about nutritional injections via chat now

Placenta Injection contains amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and growth factors. It broadly acts on menopausal symptoms, anti-aging, whitening, wrinkle improvement, and fatigue recovery.

Recommended patterns in the clinic:

• Those experiencing menopausal signs (hot flashes, changes in sleep patterns, accumulated fatigue).
• Those who wish to receive regular nutritional supplementation for anti-aging care.
• Those who desire more comprehensive care than Glutathione or Cinderella injections.

Recommended frequency: 1-2 times a week, cumulative 10 sessions.

PDRN Injection is an injection that stimulates dermal tissue regeneration with salmon DNA fragments. It can be administered intravenously or as a local injection.

Recommended patterns in the clinic:

• Those whose recovery is slow and skin is dull after a procedure.
• Those who need recovery from trauma or wounds.
• Those who want to restore regenerative power as an adjunct after other procedures.

This is the diet support area.

• Arginine Injection: Body fat breakdown, blood circulation.
• SHINE U Diet IV Drip: Arginine-based IV drip.

Q1. "Which is better, Glutathione or Cinderella?" They are injections with different purposes. If whitening is the main goal, Glutathione is preferred. If you want to comprehensively address whitening + elasticity + fatigue recovery, Cinderella is the priority. Alternating between the two is also a common approach.

Q2. "I want to see results after just one session." It can be difficult to see clear changes after just one session. Since cumulative progress is how nutritional injections work, we recommend evaluating the results after completing the recommended number of sessions.

Q3. "Can I receive multiple injections on the same day?" It is possible to receive multiple injections on the same day in some cases. However, to avoid drug interactions and over-administration, it is adjusted together in the clinic before proceeding.

Q4. "Can I receive them during pregnancy?" Most nutritional injections are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Please inform the clinic of your condition so we can determine a safe course of action together.

Nutritional injections can be received alone, but they are also often used as a combo to enhance the stability of procedure results.

• PicoSure toning + Glutathione/Vitamin C: Whitening synergy.
• SHINE U Scalp Hair Loss Intensive Treatment + Vitamin D: Hair loss and nutritional support.
• PDRN Injection after laser: Regeneration recovery.
• Filler / Botox + Placenta/Garlic: Procedure recovery support.

It is common in the clinic to combine procedures and nutritional injections within the same treatment time.

Common for all nutritional injections:

• Avoid strong massage or rubbing of the injection site on the day of the procedure.
• Drink plenty of water after the procedure.
• Avoid saunas, strenuous exercise, and alcohol on the day of the procedure.
• Minor bruising usually improves within 3-7 days.

Placenta injections may cause temporary stinging at the injection site, but this gradually improves.

Q. If I'm new to this, which injection should I start with? It depends on your goal. If it's for whitening, start with Glutathione/Cinderella. If it's for fatigue recovery, Garlic/ABC. If it's for anti-aging, Placenta. If it's for immunity, Vitamin D/C.

Q. Is it better to receive them regularly or occasionally? Nutritional injections stabilize their effects cumulatively, so receiving them regularly according to the recommended frequency tends to yield better results. Occasional sessions should be understood as a one-time boost for fatigue recovery or whitening.

Q. Do nutritional injections conflict with medications or other procedures? Most do not conflict, but depending on the medications you are taking or the type of procedure, adjustments may be necessary in the clinic. Please inform us of any medications you are taking or underlying conditions before the procedure.

Nutritional injections are most effective when your goal is clear. By first identifying what changes concern you most when you look in the mirror, or what signs in your daily life are most bothersome, you can naturally narrow down which injection is a priority. You can inquire directly via chat for non-face-to-face consultation.

Authored by: Dr. Choi Byeong-geun (Chief Director of SHINE U Clinic Konkuk / Member of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity and Aesthetic Treatment, Korean Society of Obesity and Body Contouring, Korean Society for Laser Dermatology and Hair) Last reviewed: 2026-05-17

This article provides general information about procedures and does not replace diagnosis or treatment. Suitability and results of procedures may vary by individual.