qd smile line thermage flx
Smile Line Thermage FLX firms the cheek and the skin around the nasolabial folds (the smile lines), where laxity can deepen the fold. Monopolar radiofrequency tightens the mid-face skin that supports the fold and stimulates collagen; it firms rather than fills. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we assess whether firming, filler or a combination fits your goals; 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.
- Softening mid-face skin that deepens the smile lines
- People who want to firm the cheek that supports the fold
- Those who prefer radiofrequency over filler, or to combine both
- Anyone who prefers little downtime
Thermage firms skin and does not fill a static fold; a deep nasolabial fold may be better addressed with filler or a combined plan, 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 around the smile lines and the fold in the skin
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 dermis of the mid-to-lower cheek around the smile lines, contracting existing collagen for an early firming effect and prompting gradual renewal, so the skin that supports the fold may firm over the following months. Because it firms rather than fills, it is often planned alongside — or instead of — filler depending on the fold. 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 in the cheek that supports the fold, rather than focusing energy to separate points.
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
It firms rather than fills
Thermage tightens the mid-face skin that supports the fold; it does not add volume inside a static fold the way a filler does.
04
Cooling and vibration for comfort
Each pulse is paired with a cooling spray and a vibrating tip, which protect the surface and ease the sensation of heat.
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
Smile Line Thermage FLX firms the cheek and the skin around the nasolabial folds (the smile lines), where laxity can deepen the fold. Monopolar radiofrequency tightens the mid-face skin that supports the fold and stimulates collagen; it firms rather than fills. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we assess whether firming, filler or a combination fits your goals; 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 on firming, filler or a combination
- Cleansing and grid mapping around the smile lines
- Radiofrequency delivery with cooling and vibration
- Soothing and aftercare guidance
Time: A smile-line 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, mild swelling or warmth around the mouth and cheek may occur.
- Use sun protection and follow the aftercare guidance we provide.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Temporary redness, a warm feeling, or mild swelling around the mouth and cheek
- 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
- Recent nasolabial fillers or threads in the area — 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 around the smile lines and cheek, eased by cooling and vibration. 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 around the mouth and cheek generally eases. Makeup and normal skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-8
Early firming
Early firming of the cheek that supports the fold may be noticeable. This varies from person to person.
2-6 MONTHS
Collagen renewal
As collagen renews, a gradual firmness around the smile lines becomes more noticeable for many people, and early folds may look softer. This is typically when results are assessed. (Results vary by individual.)
~6 MONTHS
Review
Your doctor reviews the outcome and, if appropriate, discusses whether to combine with filler or repeat treatment.
Sessions & results
A single session per cycle is common, with changes appearing gradually over about 2–6 months as collagen renews. Whether to combine with filler 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.
| 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 | Firming the cheek around the fold | Deeper lift of the mid-face that supports the fold | Firming the skin around early folds |
| 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
The smile line is the crease that forms as the tissue of the cheek slides downward and folds over. Heating and tightening the junction between the dermis and the layer beneath it reduces that downward pull, so the fold can become shallower. It cannot fill in a groove that is already deeply etched, however, which is why it is often weighed up alongside volume-filling options.
Please tell us when the filler was placed and exactly where. Added heat can make filler break down faster or change its shape, so we either work around that spot or adjust the timing. Filler is very often placed around the smile lines, which is why we treat this check as especially important.
It cannot stop ageing, but caring for sagging just as it begins may help slow how quickly it progresses. That said, we do not recommend putting heat repeatedly into skin that has nothing wrong with it. Whether it is needed for your skin as it is now is something we decide together at the consultation.
We usually talk in terms of one to two years, but it differs with age, the condition of the skin and changes in weight. New collagen keeps forming for three to six months and the result keeps changing over that time, so there is no need to repeat before then. We look at how you have responded and set the next timing together.
Lines that show up only when you smile are created by muscle movement, so radiofrequency does little to change them. The lines this treatment addresses are the ones that remain when the face is at rest. The two are often mixed together, so at the consultation we ask you to make a few expressions and check how much of each you have.
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