qd body ultherapy prime
Body Ultherapy PRIME uses focused ultrasound on areas of body skin laxity — commonly the abdomen, the upper arms, the knees or above the elbows. Because body skin is thicker and the areas larger, the doctor plans the depths and the number of lines for each zone. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, a session usually takes about 45–60 minutes or more depending on the area, with little downtime. (Results vary by individual.)
is this for me
Who it’s for
Even if none of these describes you, we will look again at the consultation.
- Mild skin laxity on the abdomen or upper arms
- Crepey skin above the knees or elbows
- People who want to firm body skin without surgery
- Anyone who prefers little downtime for body areas
Body Ultherapy PRIME addresses skin firmness, not weight or fat volume — it is not a fat-reduction or weight-loss treatment. Whether it suits you is confirmed during consultation.
Before you pick a treatment name, start with the cause of your concern.
start with your concern
Even a treatment with the same name takes on a different role and scope depending on your current structure, the change you want, what you have had before and the recovery time you have.
01
Where you are now, and where we start
Loss of elasticity in body skin and the layer to target
02
The change you want, the impression you keep
Rather than how much to lift, we first decide what impression to leave, then mark out how much expression and volume to keep.
03
How it differs from similar options
We compare how deep ultrasound, radiofrequency and microwave energy reach and what each does, alongside thread lifting and surgery.
04
Health information and recovery schedule
We check medication and conditions, any implant in the area, possible pregnancy and the dates that matter, then set the timing and intensity.
the
principle
We confirm the tissue layers on live imaging, then design the depth and the shot placement of the focused ultrasound for you individually.
Focused ultrasound warms the dermis of the body area at depths chosen for that zone, prompting the skin’s own collagen renewal over the following months so the skin may feel firmer. PRIME’s real-time imaging helps the doctor confirm the layers on thicker body skin before delivering energy. Ultherapy PRIME is an ultrasound technology cleared by the US FDA for improving the appearance of skin laxity on the abdomen and the arms.
How it works
01
Focused, not spread out
Instead of heating the surface broadly, the ultrasound is focused to precise points within the skin, leaving the surface largely untouched.
02
Depths chosen for thicker skin
Body skin is thicker than facial skin, so the doctor selects the working depths within the dermis for each zone rather than using one fixed setting.
03
Guided by real-time imaging
With PRIME, the doctor confirms the actual layers on ultrasound before delivering energy — useful on thicker, larger body areas where depth matters.
04
Your own collagen responds
The controlled heat prompts the skin’s natural repair, and new collagen forms gradually over the following months. This is why body skin may feel firmer only over time.
The same treatment, never the same plan.
the qd standard
Rather than a fashionable name or a fixed package, we weigh the structure found at examination, safety, recovery and the limits within one plan.
- 01DIAGNOSIS FIRSTCause before nameWe first separate out the tissue and the function behind your concern.
- 02LESS, PRECISEOnly as much as neededRather than an excessive change, we plan the smallest scope with a clear role.
- 03HONEST LIMITThe limits, explained tooWe explain the change you can expect, the alternatives, individual differences and the risks.
From consultation to follow-up, planned as one flow.
personal plan
Body Ultherapy PRIME uses focused ultrasound on areas of body skin laxity — commonly the abdomen, the upper arms, the knees or above the elbows. Because body skin is thicker and the areas larger, the doctor plans the depths and the number of lines for each zone. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, a session usually takes about 45–60 minutes or more depending on the area, with little downtime. (Results vary by individual.)
Layer-by-layer diagnosis
We examine whether the sagging, the lines or the volume sit closer to the dermis, the fat or the deep supporting layer.
Mapping by area
We mark what to treat, what volume to keep and what to avoid, so the settings differ even within one face.
A plan built on response
Taking in how your skin reacted, how it felt and any earlier energy treatments, we set the intensity, the area and the follow-up point.
What the procedure is like
- Consultation and assessment of the body area
- Cleansing and mapping of the treatment zone
- Ultrasound delivery by depth across the area
- Cooling and aftercare guidance
Time: A body session takes about 45–60 minutes or more, depending on the area.
Please read this before treatment
- Little to no downtime; most people return to daily activities the same day.
- Temporary redness, mild swelling or tenderness in the treated area may occur.
- Use sun protection on exposed areas and follow the aftercare guidance we provide.
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
what to expect
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; 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 in the treated area generally eases. Normal activity and skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-6
Early firming
Some people notice the body skin feeling a little firmer. This varies from person to person.
2-3 MONTHS
Collagen renewal
As new collagen forms, a gradual firmness in the treated body 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 based on your skin.
Sessions & results
Many people have a single session per area, with changes appearing gradually over about 2–3 months as collagen renews. Whether to repeat is decided at consultation. (Results vary by individual.)
how it compares
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.
| Ultherapy PRIME | Thermage FLX | ONDA Lifting | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Focused ultrasound (imaging-guided) | Monopolar radiofrequency | Microwave (Coolwaves) |
| Main target | Skin firmness in the 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 | Brief warmth at each point | 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.
Before you decide, the questions people always ask
before consultation
We mainly look at places where skin firmness has dropped — the inner upper arms, the abdomen, the inner thighs. The US FDA has cleared Ultherapy PRIME for improving skin laxity on the arms and the abdomen. Which areas are suitable depends on skin thickness and the state of the fat, so the scope is set at the examination.
It is not. It does not reduce fat; it addresses the firmness of skin that has slackened. If there is still a lot of weight to lose, the change can be hard to notice, so it is better to discuss weight and sequence together. If the fat itself is your concern, we will compare other methods for you.
It varies a great deal by area and scope. A narrow area such as one arm and the whole abdomen differ several-fold in time, so we set the scope at the consultation and then give you an estimate. For large areas, dividing the work rather than doing it all at once is better for recovery and for seeing how you respond.
Where skin firmness has dropped it can help, but if the abdominal muscles have separated or a lot of skin remains, the limits are clear. If you are breastfeeding we adjust the timing, and if there is a caesarean scar we decide in advance how to handle that site. We look at your condition and tell you honestly what is within reach.
It depends on the area and the goal. Unlike the face, the body covers wide areas and skin thickness varies greatly from place to place, so it is safer to see the result of one session before deciding on more. Rather than fixing a course from the start, we review after two to three months and plan the next step then — including whether to widen the area.
The medical information on this page was reviewed by Hong Sahyeok, plastic surgeon and Medical Director of QD Clinic.
personal consultation
Tell us what bothers you now, the change you want, what you have had done before and any dates that matter. We will compare the possible approaches and their limits, calmly.
Consult now