What it does
Ultherapy delivers focused ultrasound to the SMAS — the fibrous layer a surgeon repositions in a facelift — without touching the surface. The Prime generation adds upgraded imaging, so the physician sees the tissue layer before each line of energy is placed rather than working to a fixed pattern.
How it is planned here
Shot counts are not sold as a package and then spread over the face. The face is analysed first; the number of shots per area and the transducer depth are chosen to match skin thickness in that area. Topical anaesthetic cream is normally sufficient.
What to expect
Redness or mild swelling settles within hours; makeup and cleansing are possible the same day. Some tightening is often visible early, but the collagen remodelling that produces the result builds over two to three months. Ultherapy is commonly combined with Thermage FLX, which works in the dermis rather than the SMAS, for patients who need both lift and surface tightening.
Questions
Ultherapy or Thermage?
Ultherapy lifts by working on the SMAS with ultrasound; Thermage tightens by remodelling collagen in the dermis with radiofrequency. Many faces need one, some need both. The dermatologist decides at consultation, not the menu.
Does it hurt?
Topical numbing cream is standard. Deeper lines are felt as brief heat; the session is tolerable without sedation for most patients.
How long does it last?
The response is typically maintained for a year or more, then repeated as the face requires.
The information on this page is general and is not medical advice. It does not replace consultation with a dermatologist. Every procedure carries risk, suitability differs between individuals and an outcome cannot be guaranteed. Prices are the clinic’s list prices, exclude VAT where it applies, and are confirmed at consultation.
Yonsei Star DermatologySinchon · Seoul · since 2002
