Ultherapy (HIFU) lifting in Korea: how many shots do you need? A Gangnam guide

Quick answer: Ultherapy is a lifting treatment that focuses ultrasound on single points to heat the SMAS. The SMAS is the layer a surgeon pulls and anchors in a facelift, so this is not just smoother skin; the sagging structure itself moves up. At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, the doctor treats while watching live ultrasound imaging, from KRW 390,000 for 100 shots (September 2026, VAT excluded).

How does Ultherapy lift a sagging face?

It heats a deep layer that surface treatments cannot reach. HIFU concentrates ultrasound energy on one point beneath the skin and creates tiny coagulation points at a set depth. With Ultherapy, that depth is matched to the SMAS, the fibrous sheet covering the facial muscles and the very layer that gets pulled and stitched in a facelift. Heat there causes contraction, and new collagen forms over the following months.

Think of a tent. If the poles are leaning, no amount of smoothing the fabric will fix the shape. Ultherapy works on the poles. There is one more thing: the handpiece displays live ultrasound imaging, so the operator can see the layer the energy is going into while treating. Even on one face, some spots have the target layer a few millimetres above bone and others sit much deeper. That is why this matters so much.

Does Ultherapy hurt? Can I be sedated?

It hurts, but it is short. Each shot sends a deep, sharp sensation through for a moment, and the jawline and forehead, close to bone, are more sensitive than the cheeks. Most people finish the full session without trouble, and slowing down over sensitive zones makes it much more bearable.

Better to know this before booking than to find out on the treatment bed. If you are sensitive to pain, Repic offers a sedation (sleep) option as a separate item. Afterwards: mild redness, tenderness along the treated lines, sometimes a little swelling. These are expected. They settle on their own, and most people go straight back to work or sightseeing.

When do Ultherapy results show, and how long do they last?

You may feel some tightening on the day, but the real lift develops over 2 to 3 months. That is the time collagen needs to rebuild in the treated layer. Results usually last 6 months to a year, after which maintenance treatments keep the contour in shape. If you have a fixed date such as a wedding, book about 6 weeks ahead and do not add any new treatment in the final week.

How many Ultherapy shots do I need?

It depends on the size of your face and how far things have dropped. As a rough guide:

• 100 shots: one small zone, such as around the eyes.
• 300 shots: a focused area such as the jawline.
• 600 shots: the full face.

So is 600 always better? No. If the sagging is concentrated along the jawline and you spread shots evenly across the whole face, the zone that needs it ends up with less density. At Repic we first check where and how much the SMAS has dropped, then propose the lowest shot count that still delivers a result.

Who is Ultherapy right for, and who is it not for?

It suits early to moderate sagging. Cheeks starting to descend, the jaw angle softening, the area under the chin loosening. If your concern is texture, pores or fine lines instead, that lives in the dermis and Ultherapy is not the answer.

• Sagging structure, jawline, mid-face: Ultherapy. It reaches the SMAS and lifts.
• Loose skin, thinning texture: Thermage FLX. Monopolar radiofrequency tightens the dermis.
• Both: combine them; order does not matter. See Thermage vs Ultherapy.
• Mild loss of firmness, maintenance: Shurink Universe, a Korean-made HIFU, every 3 to 6 months. See Ultherapy vs Shurink.

What I see in clinic is that the people happiest with Ultherapy came for a lift. If your skin is smooth but your jawline has blurred, this is the treatment.

How much does Ultherapy cost in Gangnam?

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 depends on area and dose, and you get an exact quote after assessment. The sedation option is a separate item; see the full list on our price page.

Ultherapy Prime is a higher-tier option Repic introduced in September 2026, priced above standard Ultherapy (Deep See). The principle is the same: live imaging, ultrasound focused on the SMAS. We suggest Prime when you want the newer platform and the budget allows; the standard device is a perfectly good choice for most faces. Which one is decided at your assessment.

How we do it at Repic

Every consultation starts with assessment. Mark-Vu photographs the skin surface, Meta-Vu records facial contour and volume in 3D, and the doctor examines where the SMAS has loosened. Once that map is clear, it sets the shot count and depth, and the doctor treats you personally. Home care follows. Collagen that took three months to build is worth protecting.

Related reading

• Thermage or Ultherapy: which should come first?
• 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.