qd eye ultherapy prime
Eye Ultherapy PRIME focuses on the brow and the area around the eyes, where the skin is thin and often the first place descent shows. Focused ultrasound is delivered at shallower depths (typically 1.5 and 3.0 mm) around the orbital rim and brow — not on the eyeball itself — to prompt collagen renewal. A subtle brow lift can help the upper-eye area look less heavy. 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.
- A heavy or descending brow that crowds the upper eye
- Early laxity and fine crepiness around the eyes
- People who want a subtle non-surgical lift near the brow
- Anyone not ready for upper-eyelid surgery
Treatment stays on the brow and the skin around the eye — not the eyelid 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
The thin tissue of the brow and eye area, and how far it has dropped
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.
Because the skin around the eyes is thin, the doctor uses shallower transducers (around 1.5 and 3.0 mm) and maps carefully to the brow and periorbital zone, staying off the eyeball. The focused ultrasound warms the dermis to prompt gradual collagen renewal over the following months, which may firm the brow and soften fine crepiness. PRIME’s real-time imaging helps confirm depth in this delicate area before energy is delivered. Ultherapy PRIME is an ultrasound technology cleared by the US FDA for lifting the brow.
How it works
01
Focused, not spread out
Instead of heating the surface broadly, the ultrasound is focused to precise points below the skin, leaving the surface largely untouched.
02
Working depths matched to the area
Energy is delivered at set depths below the surface. Around the eyes, shallower depths are typically used, since the skin here is thin; on the mid-face the deepest setting can reach the SMAS.
03
Guided by real-time imaging
With PRIME, the doctor sees the actual layers on ultrasound before delivering energy, so the delicate brow area is treated based on what your skin looks like — not a fixed template.
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 the change is progressive 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 Ultherapy PRIME focuses on the brow and the area around the eyes, where the skin is thin and often the first place descent shows. Focused ultrasound is delivered at shallower depths (typically 1.5 and 3.0 mm) around the orbital rim and brow — not on the eyeball itself — to prompt collagen renewal. A subtle brow lift can help the upper-eye area look less heavy. 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
- Shallow-depth ultrasound delivery, off the eyeball
- Cooling 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, mild puffiness or tenderness 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, a flushed feeling, or mild swelling around the eyes
- Tenderness or a tingling sensation in the treated area 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 near the eyes — 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; 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 or mild puffiness around the eyes generally eases. Because eye-area skin is thin, take extra care with sun protection and follow the aftercare advised.
WEEK 2-6
Early firming
Some people notice the brow area feeling a little firmer or more open. This varies from person to person.
2-3 MONTHS
Collagen renewal
As new collagen forms, a subtle lift around the brow becomes 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.
Sessions & results
A single session is common, with changes appearing gradually over about 2–3 months as collagen renews 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.
| Ultherapy PRIME | Thermage FLX | Sofwave | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Focused ultrasound (imaging-guided) | Monopolar radiofrequency | Ultrasound (SUPERB) |
| 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; brow and jawline 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.
Before you decide, the questions people always ask
before consultation
We do not treat over the eyeball. We work only above the brow, at the outer corner and where bone supports the area under the eye, and no energy is directed towards the eyeball. PRIME lets us confirm the layers on imaging before treating, so we can see where the safe boundary lies as we go. Please tell us in advance about any eye surgery or eye condition.
Because it is thin, we use a different depth and intensity there. Around the eyes we mainly use the shallow-depth tip and place the shots away from areas with little fat. Rarely, a heat-related reaction or a temporary change in sensation can occur, so we ask you to say immediately if anything feels different from usual during the treatment.
Mild drooping caused by a loss of firmness in the skin and supporting layers can improve, but when the skin hangs enough to get in the way of opening the eye, surgery is needed. Sometimes the cause is weakness in the muscle that opens the eye, so at the examination we separate those two first. If it applies to you, we will explain upper blepharoplasty as well.
Lenses come out before we start. Eye make-up is removed as well, so it is easier to arrive with time to spare. If you have recently had filler or threads placed around the eyes, please do tell us — we adjust the area and the timing so that heat is not added on top of them. It also helps to mention any eye drops or ophthalmic treatment you are currently on.
Lines that fold when you make an expression and lines caused by skin that has slackened have different causes. Ultrasound addresses the latter — the supporting layer that has loosened — so the fine lines that appear when you smile may suit botulinum toxin better. The two are often mixed, so at the examination we work out the balance between them and then set the order.
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