qd sofwave
Sofwave is a non-invasive treatment that uses ultrasound energy directed to the mid-dermis to warm the skin and prompt collagen renewal. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we assess your skin first, then decide the areas to treat. 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 on the face
- Those who want a non-invasive option with minimal downtime
- People looking to complement other lifting treatments
Suitability and expected change are 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
Loss of elasticity in the mid dermis and the area to treat
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 ultrasound energy to the mid-dermis at a controlled depth to create fractional zones of warmth that stimulate the skin’s collagen renewal over the following weeks. An integrated cooling mechanism helps protect the skin surface. Sofwave is cleared by the US FDA for improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and for lifting the eyebrow, submental (under-chin) and neck tissue.
How it works
01
Ultrasound to the mid-dermis
Sofwave delivers ultrasound energy (SUPERB) to a controlled depth in the mid-dermis — around 1.5 mm — rather than reaching the deeper SMAS layer.
02
Fractional zones of warmth
The energy creates spaced zones of heat within the mid-dermis while leaving the tissue around them intact, which prompts the skin’s natural repair response.
03
The surface stays protected
An integrated cooling mechanism cools the skin surface while the energy works below, helping protect the epidermis.
04
Collagen renews gradually
The repair response builds new collagen over the following weeks, so changes are 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
Sofwave is a non-invasive treatment that uses ultrasound energy directed to the mid-dermis to warm the skin and prompt collagen renewal. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we assess your skin first, then decide the areas to treat. 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 treatment areas
- Ultrasound delivery with surface cooling
- Soothing and aftercare guidance
Time: A 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 tenderness may occur.
- Use sun protection and follow the aftercare guidance we provide.
Safety & considerations
Possible reactions
- Temporary redness, a flushed feeling, or mild swelling
- Tenderness or a warm sensation in the treated areas for a short time
- Occasionally small areas of bruising
- Rarely, temporary numbness or small raised areas 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 during treatment, eased by the built-in 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 generally eases. Makeup and normal skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-6
Early change
Some people notice fine lines looking softer or the skin feeling a little firmer. This varies from person to person.
6-12 WEEKS
Collagen renewal
As new collagen forms, a gradual firming and fine-line improvement 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 further session based on 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) | 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 texture |
| Sensation | Generally comfortable with cooling | Brief warmth at each point | Warm heating cycles with cooling |
| Downtime | Little to none | Little to none | Little to none |
| Typical plan | Often a single session | Often a single session | Often a single session |
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 depth they reach is different. Ultherapy focuses ultrasound to a point and sends it deep, as far as the SMAS; Sofwave uses parallel beams to warm a broad area of the mid dermis, at about 1.5 mm. So Ultherapy suits deeper sagging, while Sofwave suits fine lines and an early loss of firmness. Which one fits you is decided at the examination.
There is next to none. A cooling system built into the device protects the surface while only the layers beneath are warmed. Redness and a feeling of warmth can follow immediately afterwards, but they usually settle within a few hours and make-up is fine. If your skin is sensitive, redness may linger for about a day.
Most people say it is. It does not go to the deeper layers and the surface is cooled as we work, so the sharp sensation is shorter and shallower. That said, pain differs greatly from person to person, and areas close to bone are still felt. We apply numbing cream before starting and adjust the intensity if you are uncomfortable.
It is often planned as one, with the change appearing over several months as new collagen forms. If the loss of firmness spans several layers, or your goal is ambitious, we may discuss adding a session. Rather than fixing a number at the outset, it is more accurate to review at two to three months and decide then.
We do not recommend it. Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been sufficiently established, so as a rule we postpone. Please also tell us if there is any chance you are pregnant. We also adjust the timing if you have an electrical device implanted, or if there is an infection or a wound in the treatment area.
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