Which Lifting Treatment Suits Your Face?
Ultherapy, Thermage, ONDA, Titanium: the number of names can make choosing a lifting treatment confusing. The decision should depend on where your face has lost support, rather than how familiar a device sounds. Fascia, skin elasticity, and cheek fat each call for a different approach.
Why are there so many lifting treatments?
The face consists of overlapping layers: epidermis and dermis, fat, and SMAS fascia. The layer that loses support first varies. Declining dermal collagen shows as fine lines and reduced firmness; descending fascia and fat make jowls and a blurred jawline more apparent. Devices use different forms of energy to target different layers.
Comparing the main lifting treatments
The four devices commonly used at our clinic differ in energy, depth, and the concerns they address.
| Device | Energy | Main treatment layer | Typical concerns | Comfort and recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultherapy PRIME | High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) | Dermis at 1.5 and 3.0 mm; fascia at 4.5 mm | Sagging jawline and loss of contour | Deep aching near bone; numbing cream or sedation; swelling or soreness for 1–2 days |
| Thermage FLX | Monopolar radiofrequency (RF) | Throughout the dermis | Fine lines, firmness, and the eye area | Brief heat with each pulse; numbing cream; redness or swelling for a few hours |
| ONDA skin tightening | 2.45 GHz microwaves | Dermis through to the fat layer | Full cheeks, lower face, and double chin | Warmth with numbing cream; cleansing and makeup allowed right after |
| Titanium lifting | Three-wavelength diode laser | Dermis and subcutaneous tissue | Firmness and tone with little recovery time | Warmth like a hot-stone massage, usually without anesthesia; cleansing and makeup allowed right after |
Sagging jawline or loss of firmness: Ultherapy or Thermage?
Ultherapy focuses ultrasound into tiny thermal coagulation points at 60–70°C. Reaching as deep as the 4.5 mm fascial layer, it helps lift descending contours. A systematic review found focused ultrasound effective for mild to moderate facial laxity: 92% of patients showed improved firmness or wrinkles at day 90, with changes lasting up to a year.[1] It often suits a jawline or neck contour that is beginning to lose definition.
Thermage cools the epidermis while heating the dermis broadly to contract and renew collagen. It suits firmness, fine lines, and thin areas such as the eyes. A review of RF studies found measurable improvement in facial and body laxity with both monopolar and bipolar RF, with mostly mild, temporary adverse effects.[2] This RF treatment also often suits loss of firmness after rapid weight loss. Collagen builds over 2–3 months, with the greatest effect around 6 months, so judging the result right away may be disappointing.
Heavy lower face or little downtime: who might choose ONDA or Titanium?
ONDA uses 2.45 GHz microwaves to heat from the dermis into the fat while the surface is cooled to 5°C. We often use it where fat contributes to a heavy-looking cheek or lower face. One patient reported a visibly slimmer appearance immediately afterward. Using the same settings for everyone without assessing fat thickness and sagging, however, may produce little visible change. Your doctor therefore adjusts how the 3 mm and 7 mm handpieces are used for each face. Read more in ONDA vs. Ultherapy and Radiofrequency: What Is the Difference?
Titanium delivers 755, 810, and 1064 nm laser wavelengths simultaneously. Discomfort is low enough that numbing cream is often unnecessary, and there is no downtime. It is popular before important events. For patients with a photo shoot coming up, it can fit a plan to improve appearance right away without swelling or redness. We generally recommend three sessions 3–4 weeks apart, as tone, texture, and pores improve through the course.
Is one device enough?
Sagging usually involves several layers, so two or three devices are often combined. In a split-face study, adding RF microneedling to focused ultrasound on the same day produced better firmness and wrinkle scores at 3 months than ultrasound alone.[3] We add only what the affected layers need. When both fascia and dermis have lost support, we may recommend Ultherapy plus Thermage, known as UlThermage. One patient said their skin began to feel increasingly lifted after about a week. We may also use ONDA for fat and Titanium for skin, or add a booster such as HILO WAVE to help device results last longer.
How does Dong-An Joongsim Clinic plan lifting treatment?
At Dong-An Joongsim Clinic, your doctor personally handles your consultation and treatment, deciding which energy to deliver to which layer.
We are a certified Ultherapy clinic and issue a certificate confirming genuine treatment. Dr. Chang-Hwan Cho was invited to teach Eye Thermage FLX techniques at Solta Medical's SOMA MTL Forum. Dr. Soyoun Koo is Korea's first ONDA LIFTING EXPERT MEMBER recognized by El.En and DEKA. The clinic also received the Alma Elite Award. Since 2016, we have offered the UlThermage Penta System, combining Ultherapy and Thermage tailored to each face.
Find device details on the Ultherapy, Thermage, ONDA, Titanium lifting treatment pages.
What should you know before lifting treatment?
Results and duration vary with age, skin thickness, sagging, and lifestyle. Reports suggest reduced focused-ultrasound effectiveness with severe laxity or high BMI; surgery may then be more appropriate.[1] Implanted electrical devices such as pacemakers rule out RF lifting. We avoid ONDA during pregnancy or breastfeeding and in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Lifting treatments: common questions
How should I choose a lifting clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul?
Check whether a doctor consults personally, has relevant device certification or teaching experience, and follows a genuine-product verification process. At Dong-An Joongsim Clinic, your doctor handles both your consultation and treatment.
Will I see results immediately?
Many patients notice an immediate change with ONDA or Titanium. Ultherapy and Thermage results build over months as collagen forms. The extent and speed of change vary.
What is the difference between Ultherapy and Thermage?
Ultherapy delivers focused ultrasound heat as deep as the fascia to lift contours. Thermage heats the dermis broadly with RF to address firmness and fine lines. Their different targets allow them to be combined.
What determines the cost?
Cost depends on the device, treatment areas, pulse or line count, and anesthesia. Your doctor determines what treatment you need before we explain the cost.
References
- Contini M et al., “A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Microfocused Ultrasound for Facial Skin Tightening”, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021522
- Rohrich RJ et al., “Minimally Invasive Approach to Skin Tightening of the Face and Body: Systematic Review of Monopolar and Bipolar Radiofrequency Devices”, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000009535
- Wang R et al., “Combined Novel Microfocused Ultrasound and Microneedle Fractional Radiofrequency System for Multilayered Facial Rejuvenation: A Prospective, Randomized, and Split-Face Study”, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.70455