qd full face sofwave
Full Face Sofwave treats fine lines and mild laxity across the whole face using ultrasound directed to the mid-dermis at around 1.5 mm. Parallel ultrasound beams create fractional zones of warmth that prompt collagen renewal, while integrated cooling helps protect the skin surface. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we map the cheeks, lower face and brow after assessing your skin; a session usually takes about 30–45 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 early laxity across more than one facial area
- People who want overall skin quality rather than a single spot
- Those who prefer a mid-dermis ultrasound approach with little downtime
- Anyone looking to complement a deeper lifting plan
Sofwave works in the mid-dermis; for deeper laxity a different approach may suit better. The right plan is decided at 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
Mid-dermal elasticity and fine lines across the whole face
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.
Sofwave delivers parallel ultrasound beams to the mid-dermis at a controlled depth of about 1.5 mm, creating fractional zones of warmth that stimulate the skin’s collagen and elastin renewal over the following weeks. A built-in cooling mechanism helps keep the surface comfortable and protected. Sofwave is cleared by the US FDA for improving the appearance of facial fine lines and wrinkles and for lifting the eyebrow, submental (under-chin) and neck tissue.
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
The surface stays cooled
An integrated cooling mechanism keeps the skin surface protected and more comfortable while the dermis is warmed.
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
Full Face Sofwave treats fine lines and mild laxity across the whole face using ultrasound directed to the mid-dermis at around 1.5 mm. Parallel ultrasound beams create fractional zones of warmth that prompt collagen renewal, while integrated cooling helps protect the skin surface. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we map the cheeks, lower face and brow after assessing your skin; a session usually takes about 30–45 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 skin assessment
- Cleansing and mapping of facial zones
- Ultrasound delivery with surface cooling
- Soothing and aftercare guidance
Time: A full-face session takes about 30–45 minutes.
Please read this before treatment
- Little to no downtime; most people return to daily activities the same day.
- Temporary redness or mild swelling across the treated zones may occur.
- Use sun protection and follow the aftercare guidance we provide.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Temporary redness or a flushed feeling
- Mild swelling or tenderness in treated areas 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 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 mapped zones, eased by the integrated 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 across the face generally eases. Makeup and normal skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-6
Early change
Some people notice the skin feeling a little smoother or firmer across the cheeks and lower face. This varies from person to person.
6-12 WEEKS
Collagen renewal
As new collagen and elastin form, a gradual firmness and finer texture across the face 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
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
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 | Deeper lift; jawline and neck laxity | Overall tightening and contour |
| 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 plan the whole face as one flow: forehead and brows, cheeks, the smile-line area and the jawline. Because the method warms a broad band of the mid dermis, treating the whole face evenly settles the texture more naturally than treating one spot. Whether the neck is included depends on how far the sagging and the lines continue.
It means that as new collagen forms in the skin, fine lines become shallower and the surface reads smoother. It is less a matter of pulling things up and more that make-up sits better and light reflects evenly. If you are hoping for a clear lifting effect, we will compare other approaches with you.
Usually the same day. If redness remains, it is more comfortable to wait a few hours; strong active ingredients and exfoliation are better postponed for a few days. From the day after, please be more careful than usual with sun protection.
It is fine. The surface is cooled during the treatment, so the season matters little. However, long sun exposure afterwards can leave pigment, so bring sunscreen and a hat. If you have recently caught a lot of strong sun, we postpone until your skin has calmed.
Sometimes, if we set the order. But adding heat straight onto injection sites can increase swelling and irritation, so we often suggest leaving a few days rather than doing both on one day. If you already have filler in place, tell us where — we either avoid that site or adjust the intensity.
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