Ultherapy Thermage Seoul: Planning Both Lifts in One Visit

Can you have Ultherapy and Thermage on the same Seoul trip?

Hello, I'm Dr. Won Sin Lee, a board-certified dermatologist and Chief Director at WELLS Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul. I trained at Asan Medical Center, where I am an adjunct professor of dermatology, and I lectured at Thermage's headquarters in 2016.

Searches for Ultherapy Thermage Seoul usually come from people who want both treatments on one trip and are not sure that is wise. Often it is: the two work at different depths, so one lifts from below while the other tightens the surface.

Whether both suit your face, in which order and whether on the same day is decided at consultation after a 3D analysis. WELLS does not apply a fixed sequence, because the right answer depends on where your face is loosening.

What I wrote in December 2020 about winter, alcohol and skin age

In December 2020 I wrote a health column for Tax & Finance News (조세금융신문) titled "나이를 먹어도 피부 나이는 들지 않는 비결 '울써마지FLX'" — the secret to skin that doesn't age with you. It was written during the pandemic year-end, when gatherings had moved home and drinking at home had become more common.

The first half was about drinking and skin. Alcohol increases water loss from the skin, lowers sebum and raises the skin's pH. The face flushes and feels warm, but the body is actually losing water and heat.

Regular heavy drinking keeps the skin dry, which can lead to dry-skin problems and even inflammation. Immunity tends to drop after drinking, skin included, so breakouts and inflammatory conditions can flare. In dry winter air this speeds up loss of firmness and fine lines.

• Drink plenty of water alongside alcohol.
• Avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee and green tea while drinking.
• Choose fresh vegetables and fruit as snacks, because vitamin C helps break down alcohol and supports skin repair.

The second half was about what a dermatologist can add. There I described the combination Koreans nickname "Ulthermage": Ultherapy and Thermage FLX in one plan.

Why Ultherapy and Thermage are paired

Ultherapy delivers focused ultrasound to the SMAS layer, the same layer a surgical facelift tightens, and pulls sagging tissue up. Thermage FLX uses monopolar radiofrequency to heat the dermis, which tightens the surface and stimulates collagen remodeling.

Put together, one improves the contour and the other strengthens firmness. That is why the combination is popular, and also why it needs careful planning: it means more energy in one visit.

On its own, Thermage FLX suits early, mild laxity and crepey texture. Heavy jowls and deep folds usually need a different tool or a combination, and that is the gap Ultherapy fills. The reverse is also true: a deep lift can leave fine surface lines and loose texture untouched, which is where Thermage earns its place.

In the column I stressed that skin condition, the degree of aging and the direction of wrinkles all have to be considered before treatment. That has not changed. A heavy jowl, crepey skin on the cheeks and a drooping brow need different energy in different places.

What each half costs at WELLS

Each treatment is priced separately, so a combined plan is simply the two options your dermatologist recommends. All prices are in Korean won and exclude 10% VAT.

Ultherapy Prime FIT adds 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. If your concern is the brow and eyelids, 3X Upper Face Lifting already combines eye Thermage and eye Ultherapy in one session.

Ultherapy Thermage Seoul: how a combined visit works

Here is the usual path for an Ultherapy Thermage Seoul visit at our Apgujeong clinic. Every step is done or supervised by a board-certified dermatologist.

• Before you fly: send photos, concerns and dates on WhatsApp; we reply with a likely plan and listed prices.
• Consultation: a dermatologist examines your face, and a 3D imaging system maps energy and shot distribution for each area.
• Order and timing: the dermatologist decides which goes first and whether both are done the same day.
• Treatment: local anesthetic with Air NOX, so you stay awake, need no fasting and can see the genuine tip and shot count.
• Aftercare: Thermage changes typically begin to show about two weeks after treatment; results vary from person to person.

We use genuine Ultherapy and Thermage tips only and refund ten times the treatment price if a tip is ever found not to be genuine. I have also taken part in a Thermage genuine-tip campaign, because it is a question patients often ask about combined lifting.

Most of our Ultherapy patients are satisfied with 300 to 400 shots; only about 2% need 600 or more. For Thermage MAX, the choice between 600 and 900 shots depends on the area to be treated. Because both are counted in shots, you can see exactly what your plan includes before treatment starts.

Who should plan differently

Combining means more energy in one visit, so tell us about any recent lifting, fillers or threads. On thin faces, strong ultrasound that reaches the fat layer can hollow the cheeks, which is why energy is planned carefully and sometimes a different lift is suggested.

Air NOX is not suitable in early pregnancy, with respiratory conditions, panic disorder or vitamin B12 deficiency. In those cases we discuss another way to keep you comfortable.

Timing matters too if you are flying. Thermage results may begin to appear after about two weeks and can last six to fourteen months, so I suggest thinking of the combination as a routine you repeat when needed, rather than a quick fix the week before an event.

Looking after your skin on a winter trip

The advice from my 2020 column still applies if you visit in the cold months. Keep up your water, go easy on alcohol in the days around treatment, and pick fresh fruit and vegetables over salty snacks.

Seoul winters are dry, and heated hotel rooms make it worse. Moisturize well and follow the aftercare your dermatologist gives you. For a deeper comparison of the two devices, read our guide to Thermage vs Ultherapy, or see 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 Sin Lee

Medical Director · WELLS Clinic, Apgujeong

• Board-certified dermatologist in Korea; trained at Asan Medical Center in Seoul
• Dermatology residency, Asan Medical Center; board certification in dermatology in Korea
• Adjunct professor, Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center
• Former director, Bokji Dermatology Clinic, Korean Leprosy Welfare Association
• Commendation for Outstanding Service as a Public Health Physician

Full profile