Plain information for international readers considering ultrasound lifting in Seoul. No clinic owns this site, and no clinic is recommended here.
Ultherapy is a micro-focused ultrasound device made by Merz Aesthetics. It places small points of heat at set depths beneath the skin without breaking the surface. The transducers work at about 4.5 mm, 3.0 mm and 1.5 mm; at the deepest setting the energy reaches the SMAS, the fibrous layer a surgeon tightens during a facelift. The heat contracts collagen and prompts new collagen to form over the following months, which is why the result builds gradually rather than appearing on the day.
What separates Ultherapy from many other focused-ultrasound devices is imaging: the operator can see the tissue layers on screen before delivering energy. In the United States it is FDA-cleared to lift the brow and the tissue under the chin and on the neck, and to improve lines on the décolletage. Ultherapy Prime is the newer-generation system from the same manufacturer, with updated imaging.
Ultrasound lifting treats mild to moderate laxity — early jowling, a softening jawline, a heavier brow. It does not replace lost volume, and it cannot reposition tissue that has descended a long way; those are better served by fillers, fat grafting or surgery. People with active skin infection, open wounds, or implants in the treatment area are usually not treated, and pregnancy is a general reason to wait.
Clinics in Seoul usually quote Ultherapy by the number of lines (often called shots), sometimes by area, and sometimes as part of a package with another device. The figures are not directly comparable unless the same things are being compared, so it is worth asking each clinic the same questions:
Korea's medical tax refund scheme for foreign patients has ended, so a quote should not be discounted on the assumption of a refund.
There is no wound. Mild redness, swelling or tenderness for a few days is common, and some people notice temporary numbness or small bruises. Most people return to normal activity, including flying, the same or next day. The result is usually judged at around two to three months.
Ultherapy is one brand of focused ultrasound. Many HIFU devices work on a similar principle; Ultherapy is distinguished mainly by real-time imaging and its FDA clearances.
Results develop over two to three months and typically last around a year or more, depending on age, skin and lifestyle. Maintenance sessions are common.
The heat is felt, most at the deeper settings and over bone. Clinics use topical anaesthetic or other measures; how it feels varies between people.
Usually, yes. Consultation and treatment can often happen on the same day, and there is no downtime that prevents flying.