Sofwave Liftingin Gangnam, Seoul
Sofwave is a non-invasive treatment that uses ultrasound energy directed to the mid-dermis to warm the skin and prompt collagen renewal. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea, we assess your skin first, then decide the areas to treat. A session usually takes about 30–45 minutes with little downtime. (Results vary by individual.)
Available Sofwave treatments
- QD Full Face Sofwave
- Jawline Sofwave
- Forehead Sofwave
- Neck Sofwave
- Smile Line Sofwave
Who it’s for
- Fine lines and early laxity on the face
- Those who want a non-invasive option with minimal downtime
- People looking to complement other lifting treatments
Suitability and expected change are confirmed during consultation.
How it works
Sofwave delivers ultrasound energy to the mid-dermis at a controlled depth to create fractional zones of warmth that stimulate the skin’s collagen renewal over the following weeks. An integrated cooling mechanism helps protect the skin surface. Sofwave is cleared by the US FDA for improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and for lifting the eyebrow, submental (under-chin) and neck tissue.
THE MECHANISM, STEP BY STEP
01Ultrasound to the mid-dermis
Sofwave delivers ultrasound energy (SUMS) to a controlled depth in the mid-dermis — around 1.5 mm — rather than reaching the deeper SMAS layer.
02Fractional zones of warmth
The energy creates spaced zones of heat within the mid-dermis while leaving the tissue around them intact, which prompts the skin’s natural repair response.
03The surface stays protected
An integrated cooling mechanism cools the skin surface while the energy works below, helping protect the epidermis.
04Collagen renews gradually
The repair response builds new collagen over the following weeks, so changes are progressive rather than immediate.
Treatment areas
- Full face
- Overall firmness and fine-line improvement.
- Lower face & jawline
- For early laxity along the jaw.
- Neck
- For the under-chin area and neck.
- Eyebrow
- A subtle lift around the brow.
What the procedure is like
- 1Consultation and skin assessment
- 2Cleansing and mapping of treatment areas
- 3Ultrasound delivery with surface cooling
- 4Soothing and aftercare guidance
Time: A session takes about 30–45 minutes.
Recovery & aftercare
- Little to no downtime; most people return to daily activities the same day.
- Temporary redness, mild swelling or tenderness 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
Warmth during treatment, eased by the built-in 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 generally eases. Makeup and normal skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-6 Early change
Some people notice fine lines looking softer or the skin feeling a little firmer. This varies from person to person.
6-12 WEEKS Collagen renewal
As new collagen forms, a gradual firming and fine-line improvement 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 further session based on your skin.
Sessions & results
Many people have a single session, with changes appearing gradually over about 6–12 weeks 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 | Sofwave | Ultherapy PRIME | Thermage FLX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Ultrasound (SUMS) | Focused ultrasound (imaging-guided) | Monopolar radiofrequency |
| Main depth | Mid-dermis (~1.5 mm) | Up to ~4.5 mm — reaches the SMAS | Broad heating of the dermis |
| Often chosen for | Fine lines and early laxity | Deeper lift; jawline and neck laxity | Overall tightening and texture |
| Sensation | Generally comfortable with cooling | Brief warmth at each point | Warm heating cycles with cooling |
| Downtime | Little to none | Little to none | Little to none |
| Typical plan | Often a single session | Often a single session | Often a single session |
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 warm sensation in the treated areas for a short time
- Occasionally small areas of bruising
- Rarely, temporary numbness or small raised areas 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
Sofwave targets the mid-dermis and is not a replacement for surgical lifting; it does not suit every skin type or 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 targeting with cooling
We use Sofwave, which delivers ultrasound to a controlled mid-dermis depth while integrated cooling helps protect the surface.
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
Most people say it is. It does not go to the deeper layers and the surface is cooled as we work, so the sharp sensation is shorter and shallower. That said, pain differs greatly from person to person, and areas close to bone are still felt. We apply numbing cream before starting and adjust the intensity if you are uncomfortable.
Both use ultrasound, but they work at different depths. Sofwave targets the mid-dermis at a controlled depth and cools the surface as it works, while Ultherapy PRIME reaches deeper, including the SMAS layer. Fine lines and early laxity often point toward Sofwave, whereas deeper sagging leans toward Ultherapy PRIME. Which suits you depends on your skin, and we decide it at consultation.
There is next to none. A cooling system built into the device protects the surface while only the layers beneath are warmed. Redness and a feeling of warmth can follow immediately afterwards, but they usually settle within a few hours and make-up is fine. If your skin is sensitive, redness may linger for about a day.
It varies with skin condition, age and lifestyle. Because the change comes from collagen renewal, it builds over about 6–12 weeks rather than appearing at once, and results are typically assessed around then. How long it holds also differs from person to person, so at a review around six months your doctor looks at the outcome and discusses whether a further session makes sense.
Sofwave uses parallel ultrasound beams (SUPERB technology) aimed at the mid-dermis, at a depth of about 1.5 mm. Unlike Ultherapy PRIME, which reaches the SMAS layer, it is geared toward dermis-level concerns such as fine lines and early laxity. We check suitability against your skin thickness and the area, rather than assuming that the same depth suits every part of the face.
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, with changes appearing gradually over about 6–12 weeks as collagen renews. Your plan is decided at consultation. (Results vary by individual.) Temporary redness, mild swelling or tenderness 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: “Loss of elasticity in the mid dermis and the area to treat”.
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 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 alongside collagen-based firming.
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