Full Face Thermage FLXin Gangnam, Seoul
Full Face Thermage FLX uses monopolar radiofrequency to heat the deep dermis across the whole face, tightening skin and stimulating collagen. The FLX handpiece adds a vibrating tip and cooling spray for comfort and surface protection, and AccuREP technology tunes the energy for each pulse. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea, we map the face with a treatment grid after assessing your skin; a session usually takes about 45–90 minutes with little downtime. (Results vary by individual.)
Who it’s for
- Mild skin laxity and loss of firmness across the face
- People who want to address skin texture and tightness together
- Those who prefer a single radiofrequency session per cycle
- Anyone who prefers little downtime
Radiofrequency tightens and improves texture; for deeper lifting an ultrasound approach may suit better. The right plan is decided at consultation.
How it works
Monopolar radiofrequency heats the deep layers of the skin across the face while the vibrating tip and cooling spray keep the surface comfortable and protected. The heat contracts existing collagen for an immediate firming effect and prompts gradual renewal over the following months. AccuREP adjusts the energy in real time for more even heating. Thermage is a radiofrequency technology cleared by the US FDA for the non-invasive treatment of wrinkles.
THE MECHANISM, STEP BY STEP
01Radiofrequency heats the deep dermis
Monopolar radiofrequency heats a broad volume of the deep dermis across the face, rather than focusing energy to separate points — a different way of delivering heat than ultrasound.
02An early effect, then renewal
The heat contracts existing collagen for an immediate firming effect, and prompts gradual collagen renewal over the following months.
03Cooling and vibration for comfort
The FLX handpiece pairs each pulse with a cooling spray and a vibrating tip, which protect the surface and ease the sensation of heat.
04Energy tuned per pulse
AccuREP technology reads and adjusts the energy for each pulse, helping the heating stay even across the treatment area.
Treatment areas
- Cheeks & mid-face
- Overall tightening and texture.
- Jawline & lower face
- Firming a softening contour.
- Under-chin
- Tightening beneath the jaw.
- Forehead
- Firmness across the upper face.
What the procedure is like
- 1Consultation and skin assessment
- 2Cleansing and mapping with a treatment grid
- 3Radiofrequency delivery with cooling and vibration
- 4Soothing and aftercare guidance
Time: A full-face session takes about 45–90 minutes.
Recovery & aftercare
- Little to no downtime; most people return to daily activities the same day.
- Temporary redness, mild swelling or warmth across the face may occur.
- Use sun protection 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
Brief heat with each pulse across the face, eased by cooling and vibration; some people feel an immediate tightening. Afterwards mild redness or warmth that usually settles within hours. Most people return to daily activities the same day.
DAY 1-3 Settling
Any redness, mild swelling or warmth generally eases. Makeup and normal skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-8 Early firming
Early firming may be noticeable as the skin responds. This varies from person to person.
2-6 MONTHS Collagen renewal
As collagen renews, a gradual tightening and improved texture across the face become more noticeable for many people. This is typically when results are assessed. (Results vary by individual.)
~6 MONTHS Review & maintenance
Thermage is often repeated per cycle; your doctor reviews the outcome and discusses timing for a further session based on your skin.
Sessions & results
Many people have a single session per cycle, with changes appearing gradually over about 2–6 months as collagen renews. Your plan is decided at consultation. (Results vary by individual.)
How it compares
These are all non-invasive, energy-based lifting treatments — but they use different energy and reach different depths, so they suit different goals.
| Comparison | Thermage FLX | Ultherapy PRIME | Sofwave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Monopolar radiofrequency | Focused ultrasound (imaging-guided) | Ultrasound (SUMS) |
| Main depth | Broad heating of the dermis | Up to ~4.5 mm — reaches the SMAS | Mid-dermis (~1.5 mm) |
| Often chosen for | Overall tightening and texture | Deeper lift; jawline and neck laxity | Fine lines and early laxity |
| Sensation | Warm heating cycles with cooling | Brief warmth at each point | Warmth with integrated cooling |
| 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, a warm feeling, or mild swelling
- Tenderness in treated areas for a short time
- Occasionally small areas of bruising
- Rarely, temporary changes in skin sensation, or surface marks, that typically settle
When to take extra care
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding — let us know at consultation
- A pacemaker or other implanted electronic or electrical device — important for radiofrequency, tell your doctor
- Active skin infection, inflammation or open lesions in the treatment area
- Metal implants in the treatment area, or recent fillers or threads — tell your doctor so timing can be planned
- A history of keloid or difficulty with wound healing
Radiofrequency tightens skin and improves texture but does not lift as deeply as some ultrasound approaches; the right method depends on your skin. 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.
FLX system with comfort features
We use the Thermage FLX handpiece — vibrating tip, cooling spray and AccuREP energy tuning — for more even and comfortable heating.
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
A full-face plan maps the cheeks and mid-face, the jawline and lower face, the under-chin and often the forehead. The face is marked with a treatment grid so the energy is spread evenly across each zone. The exact grid and number of shots are decided at consultation, and a session usually takes about 45–90 minutes.
Both cover the whole face, but Full Face Thermage uses radiofrequency to warm the dermis over a wide area, tightening the skin and refining texture, while Full Face Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound that reaches down to the SMAS layer to lift deeper tissue. If overall firmness and skin texture are your main concern we look at Thermage first, and if the goal is a deeper lift, such as for a sagging jawline, we look at Ultherapy first. Because the two work at different depths they are sometimes planned together, and this is decided after the examination.
Each pulse brings a brief heat, balanced by the cooling spray and the vibrating tip. Some people feel an immediate tightening as the session goes on. Afterwards mild redness or warmth across the face usually settles within hours, so most people return to daily activities the same day.
Some people feel a tightening straight after the session, but the main change continues over about two to six months as new collagen forms. That is why the result is assessed a few months later, and the timing of any next session is discussed then. Radiofrequency tightens the skin and refines texture, so if a deeper lift is the goal, an ultrasound-based treatment may suit you better.
Very little. Redness, mild swelling or warmth across the face usually settles within hours, and anything left generally eases within one to three days. You can usually wear makeup and use your normal skincare again as advised, with sun protection while the skin settles. If you have a pacemaker or another implanted electronic device, tell us beforehand, as this matters for radiofrequency.
It depends on the size of your face and on what we are aiming for, and the result is decided less by the total number of shots than by where they go and at what density. Around the cheekbones and cheeks, where volume needs protecting, we work at a lower density, and we place more where laxity has started. At your consultation we tell you in advance which areas we plan to treat and roughly how many shots that will take.
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. Many people have a single session per cycle, with changes appearing gradually over about 2–6 months as collagen renews. Your plan is decided at consultation. (Results vary by individual.) Temporary redness, mild swelling or warmth across the face may occur. Use sun protection 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: “Dermal elasticity and skin texture across the whole face”.
Often considered together
Treatments that are sometimes planned alongside this one, decided at consultation.
+Full Face Ultherapy PRIME
If deeper lifting is the goal, focused ultrasound reaches the SMAS — deeper than radiofrequency tightening — and can be combined to address different depths. Decided at consultation.
+Sofwave
Mid-dermis ultrasound addresses fine lines and early laxity and can complement radiofrequency tightening — sequencing decided by your doctor.
+Botulinum toxin
For dynamic lines from muscle movement (forehead, frown, crow’s feet), often planned alongside lifting for a balanced result.
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