Key summary: Potenza is not a treatment that plugs the opening of enlarged pores but one that rebuilds the dermal collagen wall around them, so results usually tend to appear gradually from around 4 to 6 weeks. After several accumulated sessions, results are known to last about 6 to 12 months, but timing and duration vary from person to person depending on skin thickness, UV exposure and sebum production.
The two questions most asked about Potenza
Pores did not widen overnight, so it is also hard for them to shrink at once with a single treatment. When I gather the questions from Potenza consultations, they come down to two: when will the effect show on my pores, and how long will it last.
The answers differ slightly for people with thick skin and people with thin skin. This article focuses only on those two questions, covering how Potenza works, when the effect appears, and what determines how long it lasts.
How Potenza works on pores
Potenza is a device in which very fine needles enter the dermis to the desired depth and then release radiofrequency (RF) energy at that spot. Needle depth is adjusted roughly between 0.5 and 3.5mm, and monopolar and bipolar modes are known to be selectable according to the area.
Even within one face, the sides of the nose, the cheeks and the forehead differ in skin thickness, so Potenza is designed by changing depth and tip for each area.
Imagine a pore as a round doorway. The doorway widens mostly because the wall surrounding it, the collagen of the dermis, has loosened, and Potenza can be compared to construction work that sends heat inside this wall to rebuild the collagen.
Because the needle passes the surface and generates heat directly in the dermis, Potenza can focus on the inside while touching the surface less. But any construction takes time to complete, and pore construction is no exception.
When the effect appears, from around 4 to 6 weeks
So the effect of Potenza usually tends to show gradually in texture and pores from around 4 to 6 weeks rather than right after treatment. Many people expect pores to shrink immediately after one session, but it is more accurate to see the first session as the start of construction.
Skin looking smooth right after treatment can sometimes be due to temporary swelling. I recommend not judging the effect of Potenza by how it looks at that moment.
Timing that changes with skin thickness and pore shape
The timing of the effect also differs by skin thickness. Thick, oily skin often has round, open pores, so the needles are designed slightly deeper and we need to watch as sebum production settles as well.
Since the wall is thick, rebuilding it takes more time, so if your skin is thick, it helps to expect that you may feel the change a little later. Thin skin, on the other hand, often has teardrop-shaped pores stretched downward.
Teardrop pores are closer to a sign of reduced elasticity than of sebum, so Potenza is performed in the direction of densely firming from the shallow layers. Checking in the mirror whether your pores are round or droop like teardrops gives you a hint about which type your skin is closer to.
Duration, judged by accumulation rather than one session
I do not discuss effect and duration based on a single Potenza session. The collagen wall tends to become firm as it builds up over several sessions rather than being completed at once, so it is often done 3 to 5 times at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks.
After several sessions like this, results are known to last about 6 to 12 months. Redness for a few hours and fine scabs for a few days may appear after treatment, so if you have an important event, it is good to schedule with some room.
However, duration is only close to an average. How fast pores widen again varies considerably from person to person depending on UV exposure, sebum production and the pace of aging, and UV in particular works to break down the collagen wall that was carefully rebuilt, so sunscreen after Potenza is not optional but essential.
That is why I do not set the number of sessions from the start. After about 2 or 3 sessions, we look at the change together and then decide whether more is needed or whether it is fine to finish.
Not adding sessions beyond what is needed and not cutting sessions that are needed come from the same reason. Pores tend to respond more honestly to consistency than to the number of sessions.
Checking results and the next timing with a pore calendar
There is a method I recommend separately to people receiving Potenza, which I call a pore calendar. It means taking one bare-face photo every 4 weeks in the same place, under the same lighting and at the same angle.
Pore changes come slowly, so they are hard to notice in the mirror you see every day, but placing photos side by side often reveals the difference. The calendar also shows when the skin starts to loosen again, which helps in timing your next care.
In the clinic, we record pores and skin texture as numbers using several methods including the AI skin analyzer Muse, and adjust the Potenza plan by comparing them at the next visit.
In short, Potenza does not plug the pore opening but rebuilds the surrounding wall, so the effect appears slowly and tends to last longer as it accumulates. Rather than measuring results impatiently, I recommend checking your pore changes with steady records.
Frequently asked questions
I had one pore treatment, but nothing seems to have changed
It takes time for new collagen to form, so changes tend to show gradually over several weeks rather than right after the first session. It is good to decide the number of sessions while watching the progress.
Only the pores beside my nose are large. Can I treat just that area?
It is possible to focus on the area where pores are concentrated, but skin thickness differs by area, so depth and intensity must be set separately. We recommend checking the condition of the surrounding areas as well before deciding the range.
Can I remove the scabs that formed after treatment?
Fine scabs often fall off on their own within a few days, so it is better not to pick them off. Please reduce irritation and take good care of moisturizing and sun protection.
Visiting and consultation
O.N Clinic is located near Gangnam Station, so it is easy to reach by subway.
If you are considering Potenza, check in the mirror whether your pores are round or teardrop-shaped before you come. Letting us know the area that bothers you most and any upcoming events also makes the consultation on depth and number of sessions easier. If you have any questions, feel free to ask via Chat with us now.
Written by Dr. Oh Seung-min (Chief Director of O.N Clinic, graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine, Academic Committee Chair of the Korean Society for Laser, Skin and Hair). His full background is available on the Medical Team page. First published 2026-10-24, last reviewed 2026-11-10
This article is for general information only. Suitable treatment and results may vary depending on each person's condition.