— Dr. Susan Tan, MD ABFPRS · Founder, Hawaii Facial Plastic Surgery
The Full-Day Collagen Protocol
Each layer of Collagen Day is sequenced to build on the one before it — addressing structure first, then density, then refinement, then hydration, then recovery. The order is deliberate. The synergy between layers is what makes the result greater than any single treatment could achieve.
Structure
Ultherapy Prime
Collagen Day begins at the deepest structural layer — the SMAS — using Ultherapy Prime’s micro-focused ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production at the same level a surgeon addresses during a facelift. This foundational lift is what makes every subsequent treatment more effective: when the structural layer is engaged, dermal treatments work in an environment of active collagen stimulation. Results from this layer build over 3–6 months.
Density
Radiofrequency Microneedling
Radiofrequency energy delivered through microneedles targets the dermis — stimulating collagen and elastin production, tightening lax skin, and improving texture and pore size. Performed after Ultherapy Prime, the dermis is already in an active repair state — the radiofrequency microneedling amplifies the collagen response rather than initiating it from a resting baseline. This is the difference between sequential treatment and protocol sequencing.
Refinement
CoolPeel CO₂
CoolPeel is a superficial, precision CO₂ laser treatment — addressing the outermost layer of the skin to smooth fine texture, reduce surface pigmentation, minimize pore appearance, and produce the characteristic glow that deep regenerative treatments cannot achieve on their own. The CoolPeel’s minimal thermal damage means minimal downtime — making it the ideal surface refinement step within a full-day protocol. It does not interfere with healing from the deeper layers performed earlier.
Glow
Skin Boosting Treatment
Following resurfacing, the skin’s permeability is optimized — active ingredients penetrate more effectively than at any other time. The Glow layer uses physician-directed micro-infused hydration to deliver concentrated hyaluronic acid, peptides, and skin-supporting actives directly into the skin at the moment of maximum receptivity. The result is the luminous, glass-skin quality that patients associate with Korean regenerative skincare — achieved through clinical science, not folklore.
Recovery
IV Infusion + Red Light
Collagen Day concludes with internal support — a physician-directed IV infusion to replenish hydration, deliver antioxidants, and support cellular repair from the inside out. Red light therapy follows: photobiomodulation that stimulates mitochondrial activity, reduces inflammation, and promotes tissue healing. Choose from Recovery IV, Myers’ Cocktail, NAD⁺, or Longevity IV based on your goals and Dr. Tan’s recommendation. This recovery layer is what allows Collagen Day to deliver results without the extended downtime of individual aggressive treatments.
Included With Every Collagen Day
In-clinic treatments can only perform as well as the skin they are working with. Every Collagen Day includes a physician-directed medical-grade skincare protocol to prepare the skin before treatment and protect the result after it. The skincare foundation is not optional — it is the reason the in-clinic results last.
Physician-directed medical-grade skincare — included as part of every Collagen Day visit. No brand names are listed here; the formulations are selected based on your skin’s specific clinical picture.
Optional Regenerative Add-Ons
Selected at consultation based on your specific clinical picture and regenerative goals.
Why This Works
Structure, density, surface, hydration, and internal recovery — addressed in one visit, in the right sequence, with treatments that amplify each other rather than operating independently.
The Result
The result is not the dramatic change of surgery — it is the quality of skin and the lift of structure that most patients associate with a much younger version of themselves. Visible on the day. Building over months.
The Experience
Collagen Day is not a spa experience. It is a clinical day designed by a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and executed by her aesthetic team — private, unhurried, and entirely focused on your face.
Who Collagen Day Is For
Collagen Day is designed for patients who understand that skin aging is multi-layered — and who want a single, comprehensive visit that addresses all of those layers rather than spacing individual treatments over months of appointments.
It is ideal for patients who have already tried individual treatments and want a more complete result. For patients preparing for a significant event or photo occasion. For out-of-town patients who want to make the most of a single visit to Honolulu. And for patients who simply want the most advanced, physician-directed regenerative experience available in Hawaii.
Collagen Day begins with a Facial Longevity Assessment. The protocol is customized — not every layer is appropriate for every patient, and some add-ons may be recommended while others are held. Dr. Tan’s clinical judgment governs every decision.
Rather than single treatments spaced across months, Collagen Day delivers the synergistic benefit of multiple modalities working together — in one day.
For patients traveling to Honolulu, Collagen Day is the most efficient use of a single clinical visit — combining treatments that would otherwise require four to five separate appointments.
Optimal Collagen Day timing is 4–6 weeks before a significant event — when the collagen stimulation from the deeper layers is fully expressed and residual surface effects have resolved.
Dr. Tan integrates surgical patients into the non-surgical continuum specifically to protect and extend surgical outcomes. Collagen Day is the most comprehensive way to do this in a single annual visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Collagen Day at Hawaii Facial Plastic Surgery.
How is Collagen Day different from booking individual treatments separately?
When individual treatments are booked separately, each one is performed on resting skin and must initiate its own healing response independently. Collagen Day sequences treatments so that each one amplifies the effect of the one before it — the deep ultrasound stimulation primes the structural layer, the radiofrequency microneedling builds on an already-active collagen response, and the CoolPeel refines a surface that has already been engaged at its deeper layers. The synergy between treatments — performed in the right order on the same day — produces a result greater than any single treatment, or any combination of individually-booked treatments, could achieve.
What is the downtime after Collagen Day?
Collagen Day is designed to minimize downtime by sequencing treatments that complement each other’s healing profiles. The CoolPeel’s superficial resurfacing produces mild redness that typically resolves within 24–48 hours. Some mild swelling and warmth from the radiofrequency microneedling is normal for 24–48 hours. Most patients are comfortable returning to normal activities within 2–3 days. The IV infusion and red light therapy at the end of the day actively support recovery. Dr. Tan’s team will give specific guidance based on your add-on selections.
Is Collagen Day appropriate if I have had surgery with Dr. Tan?
Yes — and for surgical patients, Collagen Day is one of the most effective ways to maintain and extend surgical outcomes over time. Dr. Tan recommends waiting until surgical healing is complete before scheduling Collagen Day — typically 3–6 months post-operatively, depending on the procedure. The timing is confirmed at your post-operative visit.
How do I prepare for Collagen Day?
A Facial Longevity Assessment is required before your first Collagen Day — this is where Dr. Tan’s clinical team evaluates your skin and confirms the appropriate protocol for your specific face. Before your Collagen Day appointment, you will receive detailed preparation instructions including skincare adjustments, sun protection requirements, and any supplements or medications to pause. Arrive with clean skin. Plan for a full day — the complete protocol is time-intensive and unhurried.
How often should I do Collagen Day?
Most patients benefit from Collagen Day once or twice a year — with individual Collagen Clinic treatments (SkinPen, PRF, injectables) in between. The optimal cadence depends on your skin’s specific concerns, your age, and whether you are a surgical patient maintaining a result or a non-surgical patient building toward one. Dr. Tan’s team will recommend a schedule at your assessment.
Every Collagen Day begins with a clinical assessment — so that the protocol is built around your specific face, not a template. Schedule your Facial Longevity Assessment and ask about Collagen Day at your visit.