qd ultherapy prime
Ultherapy PRIME is a non-invasive lifting treatment that uses focused ultrasound to deliver heat to the deep layers of the skin, including the SMAS layer that surgeons address in a facelift. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we assess your skin first, then decide the treatment areas and the number of shots. A full-face session usually takes about 40–60 minutes, with no incisions and 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 to moderate laxity around the cheeks, jawline or neck
- Early sagging you'd like to address without surgery
- Anyone who prefers little to no downtime
Ultherapy PRIME is not a replacement for surgical lifting. Whether it suits you is 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
The target depth the focused ultrasound must reach, and how far the sagging goes into the SMAS
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.
Focused ultrasound heats targeted depths — typically 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm and 4.5 mm — to prompt the skin’s natural collagen renewal over the following months. The 4.5 mm depth reaches the SMAS layer. With PRIME, real-time ultrasound imaging lets the doctor see the layers being treated before delivering energy. Ultherapy PRIME is an ultrasound lifting 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 area 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
Ultherapy PRIME is a non-invasive lifting treatment that uses focused ultrasound to deliver heat to the deep layers of the skin, including the SMAS layer that surgeons address in a facelift. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, we assess your skin first, then decide the treatment areas and the number of shots. A full-face session usually takes about 40–60 minutes, with no incisions and 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 by depth and area
- Cooling and aftercare guidance
Time: A full-face session takes about 40–60 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 moisturizing and 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
Some warmth during treatment; 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 to the touch generally eases. Makeup and normal skincare can usually resume as advised.
WEEK 2-6
Early firming
Some people notice the skin feeling a little firmer. This varies a lot from person to person.
2-3 MONTHS
Collagen renewal
As new collagen forms, a gradual lift and firmness 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
Many people have a single session, with changes appearing gradually over about 2–3 months as collagen renews. A maintenance session may be considered after a period 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.
| 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
The biggest difference is that we see the layer we are about to treat on ultrasound before any energy is delivered. The earlier device worked at fixed depths; PRIME lets us check on screen how the skin, fat and fascia actually sit in that particular area, and only then choose the depth and the placement. Thickness varies from one part of the same face to another, and that is where seeing beats estimating.
It cannot replace one. Ultherapy PRIME delivers heat to layers under the skin to prompt collagen renewal, without an incision; it does not remove loose skin or pull and fix it in place. Where sagging is already well advanced the change may fall short of what you hope for, so at the examination we will also tell you whether surgery suits your condition better.
There is a short, sharp heat each time energy goes in. It feels stronger over areas close to bone, and it differs from area to area even in the same person. If you are sensitive to pain, tell us before we start — we prepare pain relief and adjust the strength and pace of the shots. Once the session is over, pain does not usually linger.
No. What decides the result is whether the energy reached the right layer, not how many shots were delivered. On a face with little fat, a high shot count can push it towards looking hollow rather than firm, so the areas and the number of shots are set from your skin thickness and how volume is distributed. We tell you the planned range at the examination beforehand.
New collagen takes time to form, so it usually appears gradually over two to three months. You may feel slightly tighter right after the session, but that is not the final result. How long it lasts differs a great deal with age, skin condition and daily habits, so we look at how it goes and decide the timing of the next session together.
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