qd one-point ultherapy prime
One-Point Ultherapy PRIME concentrates a set number of ultrasound lines on a single area — for example a softening jawline, one cheek or the under-chin — rather than the whole face. Focused ultrasound reaches the dermis and, where appropriate, the 4.5 mm SMAS depth in that one zone. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we confirm the area and line count after assessing your skin; a session is short, usually 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 single concern in one area rather than overall laxity
- People who had a full-face session and want to top up one zone
- Those with a shorter time or budget for a focused treatment
- Anyone trying focused ultrasound for the first time on one spot
One-point covers a single zone; if several areas concern you, a full-face plan may suit better. This is confirmed 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
The depth of one specific area of concern and the direction of the lift
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.
The doctor selects one area and delivers a set number of ultrasound lines there at the depths suited to that zone — typically the dermis at 1.5–3.0 mm and, where appropriate, the SMAS at 4.5 mm. PRIME's real-time imaging lets the layers be seen before energy is delivered, which matters when concentrating on a small area. Collagen renews gradually in the treated zone over the following months. Ultherapy PRIME is an ultrasound technology cleared by the US FDA for lifting the brow, chin and neck and for improving lines on the décolletage.
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
Three working depths
Energy is delivered at roughly 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm. The 4.5 mm depth reaches the SMAS — the deep support layer a surgeon addresses in a facelift.
03
Guided by real-time imaging
With PRIME, the doctor sees the actual layers on ultrasound before delivering energy, so each zone 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
One-Point Ultherapy PRIME concentrates a set number of ultrasound lines on a single area — for example a softening jawline, one cheek or the under-chin — rather than the whole face. Focused ultrasound reaches the dermis and, where appropriate, the 4.5 mm SMAS depth in that one zone. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we confirm the area and line count after assessing your skin; a session is short, usually 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 selection of the target area
- Cleansing and mapping of the single zone
- Ultrasound delivery of a set number of lines
- Cooling and aftercare guidance
Time: A one-point 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 tenderness in the treated spot may occur.
- Use sun protection and follow the soothing 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 to the chosen 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 across the face generally eases. Makeup and normal skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-6
Early firming
Some people notice the treated area feeling a little firmer. This varies from person to person.
2-3 MONTHS
Collagen renewal
As new collagen forms, a gradual lift and firmness across the face become 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 based on your skin.
Sessions & results
A single focused session is common, with changes appearing gradually over about 2–3 months in the treated area. Whether to repeat or expand to other zones 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; jawline and neck 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
Rather than the whole face, we treat a single area where the concern is clear — the jawline, a cheek, the forehead: the one place you notice first in the mirror. How far that one area extends is decided by the direction the sagging runs, so at the consultation we draw the boundary together and confirm it.
Setting the area so that no visible edge appears is the heart of this treatment. Sagging does not stop at a single point but continues sideways, so instead of cutting off exactly at the area of concern we plan out to the margin where it blends. If the difference from the neighbouring area looks likely to be large, we widen the area or suggest another approach.
The area is narrower, but the nature of the energy going into it is the same. That said, if you are hoping for the impression of the whole face to change, one area alone may not be enough. It fits best when the concern is clearly in one place; if there is a general loss of firmness as well, we will suggest widening the area at the examination.
It is. It is a way to find out what the treatment feels like and how your own skin responds, without committing to much. Bear in mind that the result in one area is hard to extrapolate to the whole face, so we look at how it goes and then discuss whether to widen. For anyone having it for the first time, we explain the sensation and the course in detail beforehand.
Yes. But collagen takes two to three months to form, so having it again before that means adding energy without having seen the result of this session. Usually we check how it has gone and then set the area again. The interval is advised individually, based on how your skin responded and how it recovered.
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