qd full face thermage flx
Full Face Thermage FLX uses monopolar radiofrequency to heat the deep dermis across the whole face, tightening skin and stimulating collagen. The FLX handpiece adds a vibrating tip and cooling spray for comfort and surface protection, and AccuREP technology tunes the energy for each pulse. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we map the face with a treatment grid after assessing your skin; a session usually takes about 45–90 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.
- Mild skin laxity and loss of firmness across the face
- People who want to address skin texture and tightness together
- Those who prefer a single radiofrequency session per cycle
- Anyone who prefers little downtime
Radiofrequency tightens and improves texture; for deeper lifting an ultrasound 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
Dermal elasticity and skin texture 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
Monopolar radiofrequency delivers heat to the border between the dermis and the subcutaneous layer, with intensity and density adjusted to your skin thickness and how much fat there is.
Monopolar radiofrequency heats the deep layers of the skin across the face while the vibrating tip and cooling spray keep the surface comfortable and protected. The heat contracts existing collagen for an immediate firming effect and prompts gradual renewal over the following months. AccuREP adjusts the energy in real time for more even heating. Thermage is a radiofrequency technology cleared by the US FDA for the non-invasive treatment of wrinkles.
How it works
01
Radiofrequency heats the deep dermis
Monopolar radiofrequency heats a broad volume of the deep dermis across the face, rather than focusing energy to separate points — a different way of delivering heat than ultrasound.
02
An early effect, then renewal
The heat contracts existing collagen for an immediate firming effect, and prompts gradual collagen renewal over the following months.
03
Cooling and vibration for comfort
The FLX handpiece pairs each pulse with a cooling spray and a vibrating tip, which protect the surface and ease the sensation of heat.
04
Energy tuned per pulse
AccuREP technology reads and adjusts the energy for each pulse, helping the heating stay even across the treatment area.
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 Thermage FLX uses monopolar radiofrequency to heat the deep dermis across the whole face, tightening skin and stimulating collagen. The FLX handpiece adds a vibrating tip and cooling spray for comfort and surface protection, and AccuREP technology tunes the energy for each pulse. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we map the face with a treatment grid after assessing your skin; a session usually takes about 45–90 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 with a treatment grid
- Radiofrequency delivery with cooling and vibration
- Soothing and aftercare guidance
Time: A full-face session takes about 45–90 minutes.
Please read this before treatment
- Little to no downtime; most people return to daily activities the same day.
- Temporary redness, mild swelling or warmth across the face may occur.
- Use sun protection and follow the aftercare guidance we provide.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Temporary redness, a warm feeling, or mild swelling
- Tenderness in treated areas for a short time
- Occasionally small areas of bruising
- Rarely, temporary changes in skin sensation, or surface marks, that typically settle
When to take extra care
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding — let us know at consultation
- A pacemaker or other implanted electronic or electrical device — important for radiofrequency, tell your doctor
- Active skin infection, inflammation or open lesions in the treatment area
- Metal implants in the treatment area, or recent fillers or threads — 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
Brief heat with each pulse across the face, eased by cooling and vibration; some people feel an immediate tightening. Afterwards mild redness or warmth that usually settles within hours. Most people return to daily activities the same day.
DAY 1-3
Settling
Any redness, mild swelling or warmth generally eases. Makeup and normal skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-8
Early firming
Early firming may be noticeable as the skin responds. This varies from person to person.
2-6 MONTHS
Collagen renewal
As collagen renews, a gradual tightening and improved texture across the face become more noticeable for many people. This is typically when results are assessed. (Results vary by individual.)
~6 MONTHS
Review & maintenance
Thermage is often repeated per cycle; your doctor reviews the outcome and discusses timing for a further session based on your skin.
Sessions & results
Many people have a single session per cycle, with changes appearing gradually over about 2–6 months 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.
| Thermage FLX | Ultherapy PRIME | Sofwave | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Monopolar radiofrequency | Focused ultrasound (imaging-guided) | Ultrasound (SUPERB) |
| Main depth | Broad heating of the dermis | Up to ~4.5 mm — reaches the SMAS | Mid-dermis (~1.5 mm) |
| Often chosen for | Overall tightening and texture | Deeper lift; jawline and neck laxity | Fine lines and early laxity |
| Sensation | Warm heating cycles with cooling | Brief warmth at each point | Warmth with integrated 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
It depends on the size of your face and on what we are aiming for, and the result is decided less by the total number of shots than by where they go and at what density. Around the cheekbones and cheeks, where volume needs protecting, we work at a lower density, and we place more where laxity has started. At your consultation we tell you in advance which areas we plan to treat and roughly how many shots that will take.
Some people feel an immediate tightening as the tissue responds to the heat, but that is not the final result. The real change appears gradually over three to six months, as new collagen forms. Rather than judging from a photograph taken right after the session, we suggest taking another one a few months later in the same light and at the same angle, and comparing the two.
That can happen if a high density is used on a face with little fat. Fat atrophy and contour irregularity are rare, but they have been reported, so please tell us at the consultation if your cheeks are on the thin side. We mark the volume that has to be preserved and pass over those areas at a low density.
On the day itself, please avoid rubbing or pressing firmly. It is also better to put off the sauna, strenuous exercise and alcohol for about a day. You can cleanse and use your basic skincare as usual; with harsh exfoliants and retinoids, take a few days off and then start again.
The season makes little difference. That said, a lot of sun exposure afterwards can leave pigmentation behind, so in summer you will need to be more diligent with sunscreen and a hat. If you have caught a lot of sun recently, it is safer to postpone the treatment until your skin has settled.
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