qd eye sofwave
Eye Sofwave focuses on the brow and the area around the eyes, where fine lines and early crepiness show first. Its mid-dermis depth of about 1.5 mm suits the thin skin here, warming the dermis around the orbital rim and brow — not the eyeball — to prompt collagen renewal, with a subtle brow lift. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, a session usually takes about 15–30 minutes 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.
- Fine lines and crepiness at the outer eye and brow
- A brow that has begun to descend
- People who want a mid-dermis ultrasound option for the eye area
- Anyone not ready for eyelid surgery
Treatment stays on the brow and the skin around the eye — not the lid margin or the eye itself — and is not a substitute for blepharoplasty. 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
Elasticity of the thin skin around the eyes and the lines made by expression
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 plan the area and the intensity of the parallel ultrasound aimed at the mid dermis around your skin thickness and sensitivity.
Because eye-area skin is thin, the mid-dermis depth of about 1.5 mm suits it well. Parallel ultrasound beams create fractional zones of warmth around the brow and outer eye, staying off the eyeball, to prompt collagen renewal over the following weeks. Integrated cooling helps protect the delicate surface. Sofwave is cleared by the US FDA for improving the appearance of facial fine lines and wrinkles and for lifting the eyebrow.
How it works
01
Parallel 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.
02
Fractional zones of warmth
The beams create small, evenly spaced zones of warmth in the dermis, leaving surrounding tissue to support renewal.
03
Off the eyeball, surface cooled
The doctor maps the brow and periorbital skin and stays off the eyeball, while an integrated cooling mechanism protects the delicate surface.
04
Collagen and elastin renew
The warmth prompts the skin’s own collagen and elastin renewal over the following weeks, so changes are gradual rather than immediate.
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
Eye Sofwave focuses on the brow and the area around the eyes, where fine lines and early crepiness show first. Its mid-dermis depth of about 1.5 mm suits the thin skin here, warming the dermis around the orbital rim and brow — not the eyeball — to prompt collagen renewal, with a subtle brow lift. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, a session usually takes about 15–30 minutes 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 brow and eye area
- Cleansing and careful mapping around the orbital rim
- Ultrasound delivery with cooling, off the eyeball
- Soothing and aftercare guidance
Time: An eye-area session takes about 15–30 minutes.
Please read this before treatment
- Little to no downtime; most people return to daily activities the same day.
- Temporary redness or mild puffiness around the eyes may occur.
- Use sun protection and follow the gentle soothing guidance we provide for the eye area.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Temporary redness or a flushed feeling
- Mild puffiness or tenderness around the eyes 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 around the eyes
- Implanted electrical devices, or metal implants in the area — tell your doctor
- Recent eye-area 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 around the brow and eyes, eased by the integrated cooling; afterwards mild redness or puffiness that usually settles within hours. Most people return to daily activities the same day.
DAY 1-3
Settling
Any redness or mild puffiness around the eyes generally eases. Makeup and normal skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-6
Early change
Some people notice the skin around the brow and outer eye feeling a little firmer. This varies from person to person.
6-12 WEEKS
Collagen renewal
As new collagen and elastin form, a gradual firmness around the eyes and a subtle brow lift become 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 a further session suits your skin.
Sessions & results
A single session is common, with changes appearing gradually over about 6–12 weeks around the brow and eyes. A follow-up plan is discussed at consultation. (Results vary by individual.)
how it compares
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.
| Sofwave | Ultherapy PRIME | Thermage FLX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Ultrasound (SUPERB parallel beams) | 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 around the eyes | Deeper brow lift | Eyelid skin texture and tightness |
| Sensation | Warmth with integrated cooling | Brief warmth at each point | Warm heating cycles with 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.
Before you decide, the questions people always ask
before consultation
We treat above the brow, at the outer corner and the area under the eye where bone gives support. We do not treat over the eyeball. The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the face, so we lower the intensity and reduce the number of passes. We set and explain the boundary at the examination.
Some people say the eyelid feels a little lighter as firmness returns to the skin above the brow. Sofwave is also cleared by the US FDA for lifting the eyebrow. That said, how much changes varies a great deal from person to person, and if the drooping is well advanced it may not rise as much as you hope.
The lines have different causes. Lines that fold when you smile are made by muscle, so botulinum toxin fits; lines that are there even at rest come from skin firmness, so Sofwave fits. The two are often mixed, and we sometimes stage them, so we check the balance at the examination.
It depends on the cause. Where the skin has thinned and vessels show through, thicker skin can make them less visible; but where the cause is pigment, or where under-eye fat and a hollow are casting a shadow, it will not help. We identify which it is and then tell you what suits.
Tell us what was placed and when. Heat added directly over a filled site can change its shape, so we either work around that site or adjust the timing. If you have had surgery such as under-eye fat repositioning, we check how far you have healed before setting a start date.
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