Thermage or Ultherapy: which should you get first? How to choose in Gangnam
Quick answer: Thermage and Ultherapy work on different layers. Thermage FLX heats the dermis with radiofrequency and tightens the skin itself. Ultherapy focuses ultrasound on the SMAS layer and lifts the structure that has dropped. Thin, loose skin points to Thermage. A blurred jawline and jowls point to Ultherapy.
What is the difference between Thermage and Ultherapy?
Depth. Thermage spreads radiofrequency heat through the whole dermis. It tightens the skin as one sheet, and over the next 2 to 6 months collagen rebuilds. Ultherapy is different. It concentrates ultrasound on single points in the SMAS, the same layer a surgeon pulls and anchors in a facelift. When the SMAS contracts, the face moves up.
For years I have been asked which one is stronger. Wrong question. The layer that is actually giving way decides the answer. Ultherapy has one more feature. A live ultrasound image appears on screen during treatment, so the operator sees the layer while firing. That is why results depend so heavily on who does it.
How do they compare side by side?
| Thermage FLX | Ultherapy (Ulthera) | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Monopolar radiofrequency, heat spread through the dermis | High-intensity focused ultrasound, delivered in points |
| Target layer | Dermis (the skin itself) | SMAS and deep dermis |
| Best for | Loss of firmness, texture, early ageing | Sagging, jowls, jawline and brow lift |
| Pain | Deep, hot sensation | Brief, sharp, deep zaps |
| Recovery | Redness for 1 to 2 days | Tenderness and swelling for a few days |
| When results show | Immediate tightening, then 2 to 6 months | Gradually over 2 to 3 months |
| How long it lasts | 6 months to 1 year | 6 months to 1 year |
Which one does my face need?
It comes down to where the looseness lives. Here are four things I hear often in consultations, and what they usually mean.
- "My skin feels thinner and looser, but my jawline is still there." Thermage. This stage is about improving skin quality, not moving structure.
- "In photos my jawline looks soft and I can see jowls." Ultherapy. The problem sits in a deeper layer that Thermage mostly does not reach.
- "I think it is both." A common answer from the mid-40s onward. Depth and surface need to be assessed together.
- "I have a fixed budget." One treatment matched to your problem, at a proper intensity, beats splitting the money into two weak sessions.
If the budget is tight and you want both anyway, I will talk you out of it. Doing one properly gives a better result.
Can I get Thermage and Ultherapy together? In what order?
Yes. It is a common combination in Korea. Ultherapy lifts the foundation, Thermage tightens the surface, and the two work in different places. Order does not matter; we plan it from your assessment, your skin and your schedule. Both can be done with a sedation (sleep) option, charged separately. With a wedding or big event coming, finish both at least 6 weeks ahead and start nothing new in the final week.
How much do Thermage and Ultherapy cost in Gangnam?
| Treatment (1 session) | Price (VAT excluded) |
|---|---|
| Thermage FLX 600 shots | KRW 2,300,000 |
| Ultherapy 300 shots | KRW 990,000 |
| Ultherapy 600 shots | KRW 1,890,000 |
| Ultherapy Prime 300 shots | KRW 1,390,000 |
| Ultherapy 300 shots + Thermage FLX 600 shots | KRW 2,990,000 |
Prices are from Repic Gangnam's September 2026 price list and exclude 10% VAT, which is added at payment. The same prices apply to Korean and international patients; the tax-refund scheme for cosmetic procedures is no longer available in Korea. Pricing varies with area and dose, and you get an exact quote after assessment. Ultherapy Prime is a higher-tier option Repic introduced in September 2026. For maintenance we also offer Shurink Universe, a Korean-made HIFU, from KRW 70,000 for 100 shots. Every item is on our price page.
How we decide at Repic
About half of our patients arrive having already picked a device. We assess first. Mark-Vu photographs the skin surface (pores, pigment, redness, oil, hydration) and Meta-Vu records facial contour and volume in 3D. The doctor then examines you to judge whether the dermis has stretched, the SMAS has dropped, or both, and only then chooses the treatment. The doctor performs it personally, and home care carries on through the months while collagen rebuilds. Prices are published on our website, so the number will not change once you are in the consultation room.
Related reading
- Thermage FLX explained: when do results show and how long do they last?
- Ultherapy (HIFU) lifting: how many shots do you need?
- Ultherapy vs Shurink: what is the difference?
- Thermage cost in Korea: why do prices differ between clinics?
Consultations and booking: Repic Clinic, B1 & 2F, 318 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Yeoksam-dong, TOWER837) · +82-2-6952-0312 · English-speaking staff on site · Book online
This is general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.
Related treatments
Frequently asked questions
Should I get Thermage or Ultherapy first?
- The order itself does not matter, but if sagging is your main concern, starting with Ultherapy makes sense. If firmness and texture bother you more, start with Thermage. At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, the doctor assesses which layer has given way first before deciding the plan.
Which hurts more, Thermage or Ultherapy?
- They hurt differently. Thermage feels like deep, spreading heat. Ultherapy gives brief, sharp, deep zaps. At an effective intensity, both hurt. Turning the power down to reduce pain can weaken the result, so Repic Clinic in Gangnam offers a sedation (sleep) option for both treatments.
Can you do Thermage and Ultherapy on the same day?
- Yes. Ultherapy reaches down to the SMAS, while Thermage tightens the dermis above it, so the two do not interfere. At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, the combo of Ultherapy 300 shots plus Thermage FLX 600 shots costs KRW 2,990,000 as of September 2026, VAT excluded.
Why didn't my Ultherapy work?
- Results vary with skin thickness and how much sagging there is, and the energy or shot count may have been too low. Ultherapy has to be delivered while watching the layer on live ultrasound, so the operator matters. Bring your previous treatment record to Repic Clinic and we will check what was missed.
What is the difference between Ultherapy Prime and regular Ultherapy?
- Ultherapy Prime is a higher-tier option on the Ultherapy platform, introduced at Repic Clinic in Gangnam in September 2026. For 300 shots it costs KRW 1,390,000, compared with KRW 990,000 for regular Ultherapy 300 shots (VAT excluded). Which one suits you is decided after assessment.
Can Shurink replace Ultherapy?
- They serve different purposes. Shurink Universe is a Korean-made HIFU suited to maintenance every 3 to 6 months, starting at KRW 70,000 for 100 shots at Repic Clinic in Gangnam. When you need structural lifting, Ultherapy remains the reference device.
Related columns
Elasticity & LiftingThermage cost in Korea: why do Gangnam clinics quote different prices for 600 and 900 shots?
At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, Thermage FLX is KRW 2,300,000 for 600 shots and KRW 3,350,000 for 900 shots (September 2026, VAT excluded). Quotes differ between clinics on shot count, tip type and who performs the treatment, and Repic publishes every price online.
- Elasticity & Lifting
Thermage FLX in Korea explained: when do results show and how long do they last?
Thermage FLX heats the dermis with monopolar radiofrequency so the skin rebuilds collagen. Results build over 2 to 6 months and last 6 months to a year. At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, the doctor performs it personally and 600 shots cost KRW 2,300,000 (September 2026, VAT excluded).
Elasticity & LiftingUltherapy (HIFU) lifting in Korea: how many shots do you need? A Gangnam guide
Ultherapy focuses ultrasound on the SMAS layer to lift sagging structure. Results develop over 2 to 3 months and last 6 months to a year. At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, the doctor treats while watching live ultrasound imaging, from KRW 390,000 for 100 shots (September 2026, VAT excluded).
Elasticity & LiftingUltherapy vs Shurink in Korea: which one should you get? Price and longevity compared
Ultherapy is the original US-developed HIFU that treats the SMAS under live ultrasound imaging; Shurink Universe is a Korean-made HIFU for maintenance every 3 to 6 months. At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, 100 shots cost KRW 390,000 and KRW 70,000 respectively (September 2026, VAT excluded).