Choosing an Ultherapy Clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul
Ultherapy focuses ultrasound as deep as the SMAS fascia to lift sagging facial tissue without surgery. When choosing a clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul, Korea, look beyond line counts and price. Check genuine-product verification and whether a doctor uses real-time ultrasound imaging to personally select treatment depth and line count. Even with the same number of lines, placement and depth affect both results and the risk of hollowing.
What is Ultherapy?
Ultherapy is Merz's ultrasound lifting device. It creates tiny 60–70°C thermal coagulation points that contract tissue and stimulate new collagen. Transducers at 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mm distribute energy from dermis to fascia. The latest model, Ultherapy PRIME, offers clearer ultrasound imaging and faster processing, allowing more precise treatment while checking the tissue layers.
Can it lift sagging cheeks, jowls and brows?
Its main effects are lifting sagging cheeks, jawline, and brows and improving firmness. In a 2025 meta-analysis of 42 studies, doctors assessed improvement in 89% of patients, while 84% reported improvement themselves. A study following 35 patients found visible brow lifting in 86% at day 90, with an average rise of 1.7 mm. A 2025 study of 30 Asian patients using two individually selected depths with Ultherapy PRIME also found that most improved by at least one laxity grade at day 90.
Who is a suitable candidate?
It can suit people with a loss of facial contour, reduced firmness after weight loss, or concerns about nasolabial or marionette folds and jaw or neck definition, as well as those who prefer lifting without incisions. Patients disappointed by short-lived previous treatments also seek it out. Very lean faces need particularly careful depth selection to avoid accentuating hollows.
When do results appear, and how often is treatment repeated?
A slight tightening may be felt immediately, followed by gradual improvement over several months as collagen forms. We time the next treatment based on age, skin thickness, laxity, and progress rather than a fixed interval, and we do not recommend very frequent repetition. Read more in How Ultherapy Works .
How painful is Ultherapy? Is sedation needed?
It is among the more uncomfortable lifting procedures, particularly near the cheekbones and jaw, where it can feel like a deep ache in the bone. The 42-study meta-analysis reported mean pain of 4.85 out of 10. At our clinic, patients can choose numbing cream or sedation. A 2025 survey reported less pain, redness, and swelling with PRIME than with the previous system, and some patients choose topical anesthesia alone. Swelling and soreness may last 1–2 days; you can wear makeup the same day.
What should you look for in a clinic?
Planning can substantially change the result even with the same device. Consider these six points.
| Criterion | What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Genuine-product verification | Are genuine tips used and a treatment certificate issued? | Energy delivery is less dependable with non-genuine equipment |
| Real-time imaging | Are tissue layers checked during treatment? | Skin thickness varies by area |
| Layer-specific planning | Are depth and line count selected for your face? | Placement affects the result |
| Treatment by your doctor | Does the consulting doctor perform the procedure? | The treatment can follow the assessment directly |
| Pain management | Can you choose numbing cream or sedation? | Comfort helps treatment proceed as planned |
| Hollowing prevention | Is depth adjusted in lean areas? | Excessive heat in fat can cause hollowing |
More lines may sound better, but placement and depth suited to each facial area and its laxity matter more. The 2025 Asian study planned at least 650 lines with depths individualized to each face. For the relationship between line count and cost, see our Ultherapy pricing guide for details.
Dong-An Joongsim Clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul meets all six criteria: genuine-product verification, live imaging, planning by layer, treatment by the doctor, pain management, and hollowing prevention. As a certified Ultherapy clinic, we issue a genuine-treatment certificate afterward. The consulting doctor uses PRIME's live imaging to choose depths and line counts and performs the procedure personally. Numbing cream or sedation is available. We reduce depth and line count in lean areas to avoid hollowing.
How can cheek hollowing be avoided?
Hollowing can occur when excess heat reduces fat in an already lean area. A 2025 systematic review involving 506 patients found temporary swelling, redness, and pain to be common, with fat atrophy reported rarely. We therefore assess fat thickness on live imaging and reduce depth and line count where needed. See also Cheek Hollowing: Causes and Prevention .
How does Ultherapy differ from Thermage?
Ultherapy reaches the fascia with ultrasound to lift sagging tissue, while Thermage heats the dermis broadly with RF to tighten skin and improve fine lines. When both sagging and skin firmness are concerns, we may combine them. Since 2016, our UlThermage Penta System has combined them to suit each face. For other comparisons, see ONDA, Ultherapy, and RF Compared .
Why choose Dong-An Joongsim Clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul?
At Dong-An Joongsim Clinic, your doctor personally handles your consultation and treatment, with individual attention throughout. We are a certified Ultherapy clinic. Our officially certified Ultherapy doctors select depth and line count for each face and issue a genuine-treatment certificate afterward. We have worked with Ultherapy and Thermage for more than 10 years. In May 2026, all three doctors attended the Ultherapy PRIME AURA Grand Symposium.
Dr. Soyoun Koo also attended the AURA PRIME Heritage physician training seminar in September 2025. Sedation is available; our Apgujeong Rodeo location offers valet parking and stays open until 9 p.m. on Fridays.
What have patients said about their lifting results?
One patient found it very helpful that we explained the anesthesia time and discomfort in advance. Another said they felt brief sensations in some areas despite anesthesia but could talk during treatment and felt a slight lift immediately afterward. Many describe the discomfort as tolerable.
Patients have reported a clearer jawline in later photographs, and a slimmer face after Ultherapy and CoolMini lifted fullness that had developed with weight gain. One returning patient said they had kept coming back for the treatment since their first visit and noticed greater firmness each time. Others mentioned checking the genuine-treatment certificate afterward. Read more on the Ultherapy treatment page and patient reviews page for details.
What should you know before an ultrasound lift?
Swelling and soreness may last 1–2 days. Tenderness on pressure or bruising can occur and generally fades within days. Same-day cleansing and makeup are possible, but avoid vigorous massage. Avoid hot saunas, heat treatments, and strenuous exercise for a week. Rare nerve-related symptoms, including reduced sensation, have been reported; contact the clinic promptly if anything feels unusual afterward. Results and adverse effects vary.
Ultrasound lifting: common questions
How should I choose an Ultherapy clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul?
Check genuine-product verification and whether a doctor personally selects depth and line count using live imaging. Dong-An Joongsim Clinic, near Apgujeong Rodeo Station, is a certified provider and issues a genuine-treatment certificate.
How can I verify genuine Ultherapy?
Ask whether genuine tips are used and whether authenticity can be confirmed afterward. We issue a genuine-treatment certificate after the procedure.
Are more lines better?
Depth and placement suited to your face's size and laxity matter more than the total number of lines. Too many lines in a lean area can cause hollowing.
Can I resume normal activities immediately?
Swelling and soreness may last 1–2 days, but same-day cleansing and makeup are possible. Avoid hot saunas and strenuous exercise for about a week.
What affects the price of Ultherapy?
Cost depends on area, line count, and anesthesia. Your doctor assesses your face and explains the cost at consultation.
References
- Amiri Mojgan et al., “Microfocused Ultrasound With Visualization (MFU-V) Effectiveness and Safety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjae228
- Alam Murad et al., “Ultrasound tightening of facial and neck skin: a rater-blinded prospective cohort study”, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2009.06.039
- Panithaporn Dissapong, “Pain, Erythema, and Edema After Facial Lifting With Ultherapy Prime or Ultherapy Legacy-A Survey Study”, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.70467
- Lim Joyce et al., “Early Experience With Ultherapy Prime in Asia Pacific: A Pilot Case Series”, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000007269
- Humphrey Victoria S et al., “Microfocused Ultrasound With Visualization: A Systematic Review of Adverse Events and Risk of Subsequent Facelift Compromise”, Dermatologic Surgery, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000004510