Is Body Sofwave FDA-cleared?

Sofwave has US FDA clearance for improving the appearance of skin laxity on the upper arms and, on a short-term basis, the appearance of cellulite. If another body area is being considered, we first explain that it falls outside these cleared uses, and then decide whether to treat it after looking at your skin. Clearance describes the scope of use; it does not mean everyone will get the same result.

Does Body Sofwave reduce fat?

No. It works on skin firmness in the mid-dermis, not on fat volume or body weight. That is why it suits thin, slackened skin better than areas where thick fat is the main concern. If fat is what bothers you, we talk through other options at consultation.

Is Body Sofwave painful?

Most people feel warmth as the ultrasound is delivered, eased by the built-in cooling. If it becomes uncomfortable, tell us and we can adjust as we go. Mild redness afterwards usually settles within hours.

When will I see change after Body Sofwave?

A single session per area is common. As new collagen and elastin form, a gradual firmness becomes more noticeable over about 6–12 weeks, and this is typically when the result is assessed. At around six months your doctor reviews the area and discusses whether repeating would help.

Is there downtime after Body Sofwave?

Daily activities can usually continue the same day. Mild redness or swelling in the treated area usually eases within one to three days, and normal activity and skincare can resume as advised. Use sun protection on exposed areas such as the upper arms while the skin settles.

Which parts of the body is Body Sofwave mainly used on?

We look at places where thin skin has slackened — the inner arms, the abdomen, above the knees. Because Sofwave works on the mid dermis, it suits areas where surface texture and firmness are the concern more than areas with thick fat. Which area fits is decided by looking at the skin itself.

Can I have Body Sofwave during a short trip to Seoul, Korea?

We first check whether assessment and any necessary follow-up fit your stay. Share your arrival, departure and important event dates before booking. For this treatment, the expected course is as follows. A single session per area is common, with changes appearing gradually over about 6–12 weeks as collagen renews. Whether to repeat is decided at consultation. (Results vary by individual.) Temporary redness or mild swelling in the treated area may occur. Use sun protection on exposed areas and follow the aftercare guidance we provide. Examination may lead to postponement or additional visits. Confirm contact arrangements after returning home and when in-person medical care may be needed. What the doctor checks first for this treatment: “Loss of elasticity in body skin such as the abdomen and arms”.

Body Sofwavein Gangnam, Seoul

Body Sofwave firms areas of body skin laxity — commonly the upper arms — using mid-dermis ultrasound at about 1.5 mm. Parallel ultrasound beams prompt collagen renewal so the skin may feel firmer, while integrated cooling protects the surface. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea, we decide the areas after assessing your skin; a session usually takes about 30–45 minutes with little downtime. (Results vary by individual.)

Treatable areas

Back of the hands
Neck lines
Abdomen
Upper arms
Thighs

Reference images of products, devices and treatment areas.

Who it’s for

Mild skin laxity on the upper arms
Crepey skin on body areas decided at consultation
People who want to firm body skin without surgery
Anyone who prefers little downtime for body areas

Body Sofwave addresses skin firmness, not fat volume or weight — it is not a fat-reduction treatment. Whether it suits you is confirmed during consultation.

How it works

Parallel ultrasound beams warm the mid-dermis of the body area at about 1.5 mm, creating fractional zones that prompt collagen renewal over the following weeks so the skin may firm. Integrated cooling protects the surface. Sofwave is cleared by the US FDA for improving the appearance of skin laxity on the upper arms and, on a short-term basis, the appearance of cellulite.

THE MECHANISM, STEP BY STEP

01Parallel beams to the mid-dermis
Sofwave sends parallel ultrasound beams to a controlled depth of about 1.5 mm — the mid-dermis — rather than the deeper SMAS layer.
02Fractional zones of warmth
The beams create small, evenly spaced zones of warmth in the dermis, leaving surrounding tissue to support renewal.
03The surface stays cooled
An integrated cooling mechanism keeps the skin surface protected and more comfortable while the dermis is warmed.
04Firmness, not fat
Sofwave prompts collagen and elastin renewal to firm body skin over the following weeks; it addresses skin quality, not fat volume or weight.

Treatment areas

Upper arms: Laxity along the back of the arms.
Above knees / elbows: Fine crepey skin over the joints.
Other body areas: Decided at consultation.

What the procedure is like

1Consultation and assessment of the body area
2Cleansing and mapping of the treatment zone
3Ultrasound delivery with surface cooling
4Soothing and aftercare guidance

Time: A body session takes about 30–45 minutes.

Recovery & aftercare

Little to no downtime; most people return to daily activities the same day.
Temporary redness or mild swelling in the treated area may occur.
Use sun protection on exposed areas and follow the aftercare guidance we provide.

What to expect over time

A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.

DAY 0 Treatment day
Warmth as the ultrasound is delivered across the body area, eased by the integrated cooling; afterwards mild redness that usually settles within hours. Most people return to daily activities the same day.
DAY 1-3 Settling
Any redness or mild swelling in the treated area generally eases. Normal activity and skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-6 Early change
Some people notice the body skin feeling a little firmer. This varies from person to person.
6-12 WEEKS Collagen renewal
As new collagen and elastin form, a gradual firmness in the treated area becomes more noticeable for many people. This is typically when results are assessed. (Results vary by individual.)
~6 MONTHS Review
Your doctor reviews the outcome and, if appropriate, discusses whether to repeat treatment for that area.

Sessions & results

A single session per area is common, with changes appearing gradually over about 6–12 weeks as collagen renews. Whether to repeat is decided at consultation. (Results vary by individual.)

How it compares

On the body, several energy treatments address different things — skin firmness versus fat. They are not interchangeable, and the right choice depends on your goal.

Comparison	Sofwave	Thermage FLX	ONDA Lifting
Energy	Ultrasound (SUMS parallel beams)	Monopolar radiofrequency	Microwave (Coolwaves)
Main target	Skin firmness in the mid-dermis	Skin tightening across the dermis	Selective targeting of deeper fat
Often chosen for	Crepey or lax body skin	Overall skin tightening	Localized fat with some laxity
Sensation	Warmth with integrated cooling	Warm heating cycles with cooling	Deep warmth over the area
Downtime	Little to none	Little to none	Little to none

Neither is “better” — they work differently and suit different goals. The right choice is decided after we assess your skin.

Safety & considerations

Possible reactions

Temporary redness or a flushed feeling
Mild swelling or tenderness in the treated area for a short time
Occasionally small areas of bruising
Rarely, temporary changes in skin sensation that typically settle

When to take extra care

Pregnancy or breastfeeding — let us know at consultation
Active skin infection, inflammation or open lesions in the treatment area
Implanted electrical devices, or metal implants in the area — tell your doctor
Recent fillers, threads or other energy treatments in the area — tell your doctor so timing can be planned
A history of keloid or difficulty with wound healing

Body Sofwave addresses skin firmness, not fat volume or weight, and it does not suit every degree of laxity. Whether it is right for you is confirmed during consultation. Effects and downtime vary by individual, and side effects may occur.

Your care at QD Clinic

Performed by a board-certified doctor
Your treatment is performed and medically reviewed by a board-certified doctor, not delegated unsupervised.
Mid-dermis approach with cooling
Sofwave works in the mid-dermis at about 1.5 mm with integrated surface cooling — an approach chosen to firm body skin rather than reduce fat.
Care in your language
Consultation in English, with 中文 and 日本語 support arranged on request — including questions before you travel.
A short walk from Gangnam Station
Central Seoul location with guidance from the airport and nearby hotels, and hours shown in KST.

Frequently asked questions

Sofwave has US FDA clearance for improving the appearance of skin laxity on the upper arms and, on a short-term basis, the appearance of cellulite. If another body area is being considered, we first explain that it falls outside these cleared uses, and then decide whether to treat it after looking at your skin. Clearance describes the scope of use; it does not mean everyone will get the same result.
No. It works on skin firmness in the mid-dermis, not on fat volume or body weight. That is why it suits thin, slackened skin better than areas where thick fat is the main concern. If fat is what bothers you, we talk through other options at consultation.
Most people feel warmth as the ultrasound is delivered, eased by the built-in cooling. If it becomes uncomfortable, tell us and we can adjust as we go. Mild redness afterwards usually settles within hours.
A single session per area is common. As new collagen and elastin form, a gradual firmness becomes more noticeable over about 6–12 weeks, and this is typically when the result is assessed. At around six months your doctor reviews the area and discusses whether repeating would help.
Daily activities can usually continue the same day. Mild redness or swelling in the treated area usually eases within one to three days, and normal activity and skincare can resume as advised. Use sun protection on exposed areas such as the upper arms while the skin settles.
We look at places where thin skin has slackened — the inner arms, the abdomen, above the knees. Because Sofwave works on the mid dermis, it suits areas where surface texture and firmness are the concern more than areas with thick fat. Which area fits is decided by looking at the skin itself.
We first check whether assessment and any necessary follow-up fit your stay. Share your arrival, departure and important event dates before booking. For this treatment, the expected course is as follows. A single session per area is common, with changes appearing gradually over about 6–12 weeks as collagen renews. Whether to repeat is decided at consultation. (Results vary by individual.) Temporary redness or mild swelling in the treated area may occur. Use sun protection on exposed areas and follow the aftercare guidance we provide. Examination may lead to postponement or additional visits. Confirm contact arrangements after returning home and when in-person medical care may be needed. What the doctor checks first for this treatment: “Loss of elasticity in body skin such as the abdomen and arms”.

Often considered together

Treatments that are sometimes planned alongside this one, decided at consultation.

Body ONDA Lifting

If localized fat rather than skin laxity is the main concern, ONDA uses microwave energy to target deeper fat — a different aim from skin firmness. Sequencing is decided by your doctor.

Thermage FLX

Radiofrequency tightening heats the dermis broadly and can also be considered for body skin firmness — which approach suits you is decided at consultation.

For international patients

Consultation in English / 中文 / 日本語 · WhatsApp · WeChat · KakaoTalk · a 4-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon / Nonhyeon Station (hours in KST).

How many days should I stay?

Surgery and course-based treatments need a check-up. We tell you before you book whether that means staying longer or coming back another time.

For International Patients