Korean Ultherapy device: what it lifts and why we pair it with Thermage

Korean Ultherapy device: what visitors are really asking

Hello, I'm Dr. Won Woo Choi, a board-certified dermatologist and Chief Director at WELLS Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul. I trained and earned my Ph.D. in dermatology at Seoul National University, and I am an adjunct professor of dermatology at Seoul National University Hospital.

Many overseas patients search for a Korean Ultherapy device before they write to us. Usually they want to know two things: which machine a Seoul clinic actually uses, and what it does for their face. At WELLS, every Ultherapy session runs on the Ultherapy Prime system with genuine tips, and I explain what it does in one word: lifting.

Ultherapy sends focused ultrasound to the deep SMAS layer and pulls sagging tissue up. Thermage FLX, by contrast, sends radiofrequency into the dermis and tightens the skin by stimulating collagen. In Korea the two are often paired, and that pairing is what a November 2020 feature in Psychiatric News (정신의학신문) was about.

What the 2020 feature said: a good thing plus a good thing

The feature carried the headline "좋은 거에 좋은 걸 더하면? 리프팅에 타이트닝 더한 울써마지FLX" — what happens when you add a good thing to a good thing, lifting plus tightening. It described the Korean pairing nicknamed "Ulthermage": Ultherapy with Thermage FLX.

• Ultherapy delivers high-intensity focused ultrasound into the deep fascia layer and lifts the skin.
• Thermage concentrates radiofrequency energy in the dermis, activating the skin's own collagen production for a tightening effect.
• Together, they are a well-known non-surgical lifting approach that works on firmness and contour at once.
• The caveat: the degree of aging and the direction of wrinkles must be considered, so treatment by an experienced dermatologist matters.

I agree with every line of that, including the caveat. The Ultherapy device does the lifting and Thermage does the tightening, but the combination is not automatically better than either alone; it is better only when the face needs both.

What the Ultherapy device lifts, and what Thermage tightens

Rather than age, I look at where the looseness comes from. This table is how I explain the Korean Ultherapy device next to Thermage at consultation.

If your jawline has softened but the skin itself still looks firm, Ultherapy alone may be enough. If the contour is fine but the skin looks thinner and creased, Thermage alone may be enough. If you see both, that is when I consider combining them.

There is one more option for a specific area. If the concern is a drooping brow and heavy eyelid skin, our 3X Upper Face Lifting program already combines eye Thermage, EMFACE and eye Ultherapy in one session, listed at ₩2,500,000 (VAT excluded). It is a good example of the same logic on a smaller scale: skin, muscle and deeper tissue each get the energy that suits them.

Why winter is a common time to start

The 2020 feature opened with winter skin, and the advice is worth repeating. Cold air lowers sebum, the sweat glands shrink, and dry air weakens the skin barrier and pulls water from its outer layer. Heaters, especially blowing directly on the face, add to the dryness.

Sudden temperature changes are also hard on skin. Blood vessels contract in the cold and dilate in the warmth, so moving from outside into a heated room can bring a rush of redness and sensitivity. Cell renewal also slows in winter, so fine lines, laxity and enlarged pores can show faster.

• Avoid sudden temperature swings, ventilate heated rooms and use a humidifier.
• Wash and shower with lukewarm water, not hot water that strips oils.
• Apply moisturizer before the skin dries completely after washing.
• Skip harsh scrubs; let flakes come off naturally with good moisturizing.

When sagging and loss of firmness go beyond what home care can help, the feature suggested a dermatology treatment such as the Ultherapy and Thermage combination. For travelers, a cooler-season trip also makes it easier to protect treated skin from strong sun.

Ultherapy and Thermage at WELLS: versions and prices

At WELLS each half has its own protocol. Ultherapy Prime FIT pairs Ultherapy Prime with a Fitting laser for the jawline contour. Thermage MAX adds a skin microbiome test, an AQ MAX infusion and a collagen-peptide serum to Thermage FLX.

All prices are in Korean won and exclude 10% VAT, and the final plan is confirmed at consultation. Single Ultherapy Prime without the Fitting laser is priced at consultation.

What a combined visit looks like if you are flying in

Some visitors arrive having already chosen a Korean Ultherapy device session, and the plan can still change once a dermatologist sees the face in person. That is why we ask for photos first. A front and side photo without makeup tells us a lot about where the looseness sits, so the advice you get before booking is already close to the final plan.

• Before the trip: send photos, concerns and dates on WhatsApp, and we reply with a likely plan and listed prices.
• On the day: consultation, 3D analysis, then treatment with Air NOX and local anesthetic. No fasting is needed, and you can drive afterwards.
• After you fly home: Thermage changes typically begin to show about two weeks after treatment, and you can message us with questions.

WELLS is in Apgujeong, a five-minute walk from Apgujeong Station Exit 3 on Line 3. Weekday hours are 10:00 to 20:00 and Saturday hours 10:00 to 17:00, which makes it easier to fit a consultation and treatment around your flights.

How we keep a combined lift safe

At WELLS, consultation and treatment are done by board-certified dermatologists. Before treatment, the face is analyzed with a 3D imaging system, and an individualized treatment map sets the energy and shot distribution for each area.

We do not use deep sedation for Ultherapy or Thermage. Air NOX with local anesthetic keeps you awake, so you can give feedback and see the tip and shot count yourself. Most of our Ultherapy patients are satisfied with 300 to 400 shots; only about 2% need 600 or more.

If you have had lifting, fillers or threads recently, tell us before the visit. For a longer comparison of the two energies, see our guide to Thermage vs Ultherapy, and you can read about my background on my profile.

Results and recovery vary by individual. Every treatment carries possible side effects, which are explained at the consultation. Prices are in Korean won, excluding 10% VAT, and confirmed at your consultation. This article is general information from the clinic, not a diagnosis.

Written by

Dr. Won Woo Choi

Medical Director · M.D., Ph.D. · WELLS Clinic, Apgujeong

• Board-certified dermatologist in Korea; trained at Seoul National University Hospital
• Dermatology residency, Seoul National University Hospital; board certification in dermatology in Korea
• Ph.D. in Dermatology, Seoul National University
• Former clinical instructor, Seoul National University Hospital
• Adjunct professor, Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital

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