Full Face Ultherapy PRIMELifting in Gangnam, Seoul
Full Face Ultherapy PRIME treats the whole face — the cheeks, the jawline and lower face, the under-chin and the brow — in one mapped session. Focused ultrasound reaches three depths (1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm), and the 4.5 mm depth reaches the SMAS layer that a surgeon addresses in a facelift. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea, we plan the zones and the number of lines after assessing your skin; a session usually takes about 40–60 minutes with little downtime. (Results vary by individual.)
Who it’s for
- Mild to moderate laxity across more than one area of the face
- People who want overall firmness rather than a single spot
- Early cheek descent, a softening jawline and under-chin fullness together
- Anyone who prefers a non-surgical approach with little downtime
Ultherapy PRIME is not a replacement for surgical lifting. Whether it suits you is confirmed during consultation.
How it works
Focused ultrasound is delivered zone by zone across the face at 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm and 4.5 mm, prompting the skin's own collagen renewal over the following months. The 4.5 mm depth reaches the SMAS, while the shallower depths address the dermis for firmness and surface quality. With PRIME, real-time ultrasound imaging lets the doctor see each layer before delivering energy. Ultherapy PRIME is an ultrasound technology cleared by the US FDA for lifting the brow, chin and neck and for improving lines on the décolletage.
THE MECHANISM, STEP BY STEP
01Focused, not spread out
Instead of heating the surface broadly, the ultrasound is focused to precise points below the skin, leaving the surface largely untouched.
02Three working depths
Energy is delivered at roughly 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm. The 4.5 mm depth reaches the SMAS — the deep support layer a surgeon addresses in a facelift.
03Guided by real-time imaging
With PRIME, the doctor sees the actual layers on ultrasound before delivering energy, so each zone is treated based on what your skin looks like — not a fixed template.
04Your own collagen responds
The controlled heat prompts the skin’s natural repair, and new collagen forms gradually over the following months. This is why the change is progressive rather than immediate.
Treatment areas
- Cheeks & mid-face
- Where early volume descent and laxity often begin.
- Jawline & lower face
- To firm a softening jaw contour.
- Under-chin
- For submental laxity beneath the jaw.
- Brow
- A subtle lift where the brow has descended.
What the procedure is like
- 1Consultation and skin assessment
- 2Cleansing and mapping of treatment areas
- 3Ultrasound delivery by depth and area
- 4Cooling and aftercare guidance
Time: A full-face session takes about 40–60 minutes.
Recovery & aftercare
- Little to no downtime; most people return to daily activities the same day.
- Temporary redness, mild swelling or tenderness across the treated zones may occur.
- Use sun protection and follow the moisturizing and soothing 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 mapped zones; afterwards mild redness or a flushed feeling that usually settles within hours. Most people return to daily activities the same day.
DAY 1-3 Settling
Any redness, mild swelling or tenderness across the face generally eases. Makeup and normal skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-6 Early firming
Some people notice the skin feeling a little firmer across the cheeks and jawline. This varies from person to person.
2-3 MONTHS Collagen renewal
As new collagen forms, a gradual lift and firmness across the face become more noticeable for many people. This is typically when results are assessed. (Results vary by individual.)
~6 MONTHS Review & maintenance
Your doctor reviews the outcome and, if appropriate, discusses timing for a maintenance session based on your skin.
Sessions & results
Many people have a single full-face session, with changes appearing gradually over about 2–3 months as collagen renews. A maintenance session may be considered after a period 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 | Ultherapy PRIME | Thermage FLX | Sofwave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Focused ultrasound (imaging-guided) | Monopolar radiofrequency | Ultrasound (SUMS) |
| Main depth | Up to ~4.5 mm — reaches the SMAS | Broad heating of the dermis | Mid-dermis (~1.5 mm) |
| Often chosen for | Deeper lift; jawline and neck laxity | Overall tightening and contour | Fine lines and early laxity |
| Sensation | Brief warmth at each point | Warm heating cycles with cooling | Generally comfortable |
| 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 flushed feeling, or mild swelling
- Tenderness or a tingling sensation in treated areas for a short time
- Occasionally small areas of bruising
- Rarely, temporary numbness or nerve-related sensations 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 — tell your doctor so timing can be planned
- A history of keloid or difficulty with wound healing
Ultherapy PRIME is not a replacement for surgical lifting, and it does not suit every skin type or degree of laxity. Whether energy-based lifting 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.
Imaging-guided across every zone
With PRIME, the doctor sees each layer on real-time ultrasound before delivering energy, so the cheeks, jawline, under-chin and brow are each treated to what your skin shows.
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
No. Focused ultrasound is delivered at three depths, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm, and areas where sagging begins, such as the cheeks and jawline, are planned at different depths from areas where the skin is thin. Because PRIME lets the doctor see the actual layers on real-time ultrasound imaging, the settings can be adjusted zone by zone within the same face. The depth and number of lines for each zone are decided after your examination.
Full face brings the cheeks, the jawline and lower face, the under-chin and the brow together in one mapped plan to address firmness across the whole face. Treating a single area lets the lines be concentrated on that one concern, but the balance with the surrounding zones then has to be looked at separately. At the examination we check whether the laxity sits in one place or spans several zones before setting the scope.
There is warmth or a brief, sharp sensation as the ultrasound is delivered, and it tends to feel stronger over areas close to bone. Because a full-face session covers several zones, we check in with you as we move from one area to the next. If you are sensitive, tell us beforehand so we can plan comfort measures and adjust the pace.
For the whole face it usually takes about 40–60 minutes, plus the waiting time after the numbing cream goes on. There is no incision, so most people return to their normal day straight away. Redness or mild swelling can linger for a few hours, though, so it is easier not to book the session for the day right before an important occasion.
We plan the whole face at once, from the forehead and above the brows down to the cheeks, the jawline and under the chin. Skin thickness and the amount of fat differ by area, so we do not run at one setting throughout: we check the layers on imaging and divide the depth and density zone by zone. Whether the neck is included as well is decided at the consultation, once we see where the sagging begins.
Many people have a single full-face session, and the change appears gradually over about two to three months as collagen renews. Some notice the cheeks and jawline feeling a little firmer from around two to six weeks, but the result is usually assessed at two to three months. At around six months your doctor reviews the outcome against the original aim and, if appropriate, discusses timing for maintenance.
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 full-face session, with changes appearing gradually over about 2–3 months as collagen renews. A maintenance session may be considered after a period decided at consultation. (Results vary by individual.) Temporary redness, mild swelling or tenderness across the treated zones may occur. Use sun protection and follow the moisturizing and soothing 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: “Sagging across the whole face and the depth needed in each area”.
Often considered together
Treatments that are sometimes planned alongside this one, decided at consultation.
+Botulinum toxin
For dynamic lines from muscle movement (forehead, frown, crow’s feet), often planned alongside lifting for a balanced result.
+Thermage FLX
Radiofrequency tightening can be combined with ultrasound lifting to address different depths — sequencing is decided by your doctor.
+Skin boosters
Injectable hydration and skin-quality treatments address surface texture and glow, which lifting alone does not target.
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