Ultherapy vs Thermage: Which Is Right for You? (Apgujeong, Gangnam)
Ultherapy Prime uses micro-focused ultrasound to reach the deeper SMAS layer for lifting, while Thermage FLX uses monopolar radiofrequency to tighten the dermis and improve density. At Live Young Clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Dr. Song decides between them, or combines them, after analysing your skin thickness, sagging pattern and facial structure in an English consultation.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Song Ki-seon
, Chief Director · English-speaking doctor · Updated September 2026
The core difference: depth and technology
Ultherapy Prime and Thermage FLX are both non-surgical, collagen-stimulating treatments, but they work in different ways. Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound to create precise points of heat deep beneath the skin, reaching the SMAS, the layer that supports facial structure. Collagen remodeling typically continues over roughly two to three months.
Thermage FLX uses monopolar radiofrequency, which heats a broader area in the dermis. This tends to tighten the skin and improve its density and texture. Its real-time skin resistance measurement helps the doctor keep energy appropriate across the face, adapting to thicker and thinner areas as the treatment proceeds.
Which concerns suit each treatment?
As a broad guide, ultrasound is often considered when the issue is structural sagging, such as early jowls or a lowered brow, while radiofrequency is often considered when skin feels thin, crepey or less dense. Many faces show a mixture of both, which is why the choice is rarely black and white in practice at our Apgujeong clinic.
- Ultherapy Prime: jowls, softening jawline, brow heaviness, under-chin laxity
- Thermage FLX: crepey texture, loss of density, fine laxity, eye-area firmness
- Both: mixed patterns of sagging and thinning skin
Why many people combine the two
Because the two devices act at different depths, some patients receive both in a single plan: ultrasound to address deeper support and radiofrequency to refine the skin surface. This layered approach is widely used in Gangnam, but it is not automatically right for everyone.
Dr. Song considers your age, skin thickness, fat distribution and goals before suggesting a combination. For some faces, one device alone is enough, or LinearZ or AllTight may be more appropriate. The aim at Live Young Clinic is always the change you need, and nothing more.
How Dr. Song makes the decision
In Needs Mapping, Dr. Song reads your face at rest and while smiling, looking at bone structure, soft tissue and expression muscles, and uses a skin analysis device for additional detail. She then writes a Curated Plan that explains which device, or which combination, addresses your specific pattern of ageing.
Tailored Treatment is performed personally by the doctor, placing energy precisely rather than by rote. Afterward, general care includes sun protection, hydration and briefly avoiding heat and alcohol. Results vary, and she will explain realistic expectations in English before you decide.
Getting an English second opinion in Apgujeong
If you have researched both treatments online and are unsure which to book, a consultation can help clarify things. Dr. Song Ki-seon speaks English, passed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CS, and uses genuine FDA- and CE-approved devices. The clinic is near Apgujeong Station in Gangnam, and you can message the team on WhatsApp beforehand.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for jowls, Ultherapy or Thermage?
Jowls often involve deeper structural sagging, so Ultherapy Prime is frequently considered. However, fat, bone and skin quality all play a role, and sometimes fillers, Botox or LinearZ are part of the answer. The doctor decides after examining you.
Can I have Ultherapy and Thermage on the same day?
Some patients do receive both in one visit as part of a combined plan. Whether that suits you depends on your skin and goals, and Dr. Song will advise at consultation in Apgujeong.
Which one is less uncomfortable?
Sensations differ. Ultherapy is often described as deep, brief pricking over bony areas, while Thermage feels like pulses of heat with cooling. Personal sensitivity varies, and the doctor discusses comfort beforehand.
Is there more downtime with one than the other?
Both typically involve limited downtime, with possible temporary redness, swelling or tenderness. Individual responses vary. Let the clinic know your travel plans when booking so the doctor can time treatment sensibly around flights or events.
What if neither is right for me?
The clinic also offers LinearZ, AllTight and Lephton, as well as fillers, Botox and skin boosters. Dr. Song recommends only what your face needs, which may differ from what you originally planned.
Related in Apgujeong, Gangnam
Book a consultation in Apgujeong, Gangnam
Message us in English on WhatsApp. Dr. Song will review your concerns and suggest only what you need. 2F Bonkyung Building, 208 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Results vary from person to person. This page is general information and does not replace an in-person medical consultation with a doctor.
