Former AOA member Kwon Min-ah disclosed the damage caused by side effects during a skin treatment.
Kwon Min-ah began by saying on her social media on the 8th, "Suddenly, many good things were lined up from the end of January to February, and wanting to look pretty, I received 600 shots of sleep Shrink lifting on January 24, 2026."
However, she cried out in pain when she opened her eyes after the treatment, saying, "My skin was torn due to burns, rolled up layer by layer, and there was oozing and blisters."
Kwon Min-ah expressed, "It was despairing. The director said nothing happened during the procedure. It seems the only cause could be a defective Shrink tip, so I asked if they didn’t check the tip, and they said if the tip was defective, it wouldn’t work. Then what could the cause be?"
She also claimed, "I never received any Shrink guidance or side effect consent forms, and there was no skin examination or diagnosis before the treatment." She added, "Due to this incident, I experienced panic attacks, and when my mom eventually found out about my face condition, she cried," and lamented, "I still don’t know when the burn treatment and scar treatment will end, or if there will be scars. It’s really upsetting to think I have to miss out on so many opportunities."
Kwon Min-ah revealed her exact condition, stating, "The diagnosis is deep second-degree burns."
Shrink, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound... Burn Risk Depends on Practitioner Skill
Shrink is a treatment that enhances skin elasticity using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). It concentrates ultrasound energy deep into the skin layers without damaging the outer skin layer. It generates heat only in deep tissue layers like the dermis and fascia, causing tissue contraction and inducing collagen regeneration.
Typically, ultrasound equipment irradiates energy to the target depth (1.5mm, 3.0mm, 4.5mm, etc.). The treatment time is relatively short, around 15-30 minutes, and normal daily activities can be resumed immediately.
The main effects of Shrink include improving sagging skin, reducing fine wrinkles, and enhancing skin texture. It sharpens the jawline and alleviates double chin.
Possible side effects of Shrink include swelling and mild pain. Depending on the practitioner's skill, excessive heat damage can lead to burns and facial indentations.
As in Kwon Min-ah's case, there is a possibility of severe burns from Shrink. If excessive energy is irradiated, deep burns can occur. If the number of shots is high, the energy output is too high, or if energy is repeatedly irradiated to the same area, burns can occur in the epidermis and dermis.
The practitioner may have made errors in the angle and contact level while using the tip. High-intensity focused ultrasound requires the tip to be in complete contact with the skin and maintained close to vertical for accurate focusing on the target area. However, if the angle is off, there is insufficient gel, or the tip is lifted during irradiation, the ultrasound can scatter, spreading heat to the surface and increasing the risk of burns.
Possibility of Scarring from Deep Second-Degree Burns, Sometimes Requires Skin Grafting Surgery
Deep second-degree burns damage not only the entire epidermis but also the deep layers of the dermis. Although it is classified as second-degree like superficial second-degree burns, it is much deeper and more dangerous. Deep second-degree burns may partially damage or destroy hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous gland stem cells. While some may heal on their own, there is a high risk of scarring during the healing process.
Clinical symptoms of deep second-degree burns include blister formation or ruptured blisters, and severe pain. However, if nerve damage begins, the pain may actually decrease.
If you have suffered a deep second-degree burn, you should cool the area with running lukewarm water within 20 minutes. Small blisters should be left intact, and if there are large blisters or already ruptured blisters, they should be removed under medical supervision to avoid the risk of infection.
For 1-3 weeks after the burn, it is advisable to maintain a moist dressing to prevent the wound from drying out. If epithelialization progresses within 2-3 weeks, surgical treatment may not be necessary. However, if the wound remains for more than 3 weeks, the risk of scarring increases, and skin graft surgery should be considered.
