Sofwave tightens loose skin and smooths fine lines. It delivers parallel ultrasound beams to the mid-dermis at around 1.5 mm while cooling the skin’s surface, stimulating new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Treatment follows topical anesthesia, and you can usually return to your routine right away.
An option for improving skin firmness and fine lines through dermal renewal.
Dr. Soyoun Koo Dong-An Joongsim ClinicFirmness and wrinkles improve gradually
Topical anesthesia; more intense over the forehead and jawbone
Up to 1–2 days; avoid saunas for one week
Ultrasound that
rebuilds firmness
within the skin
Sofwave is a noninvasive treatment that uses SUPERB™ (Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam) technology to deliver seven parallel ultrasound beams at once. It distributes energy evenly in the mid-dermis, around 1.5 mm deep, while protecting the skin’s surface.
This energy triggers the skin’s natural healing response, encouraging new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. As the skin renews itself, firmness and texture improve and wrinkles soften over time.
Heating the mid-dermis to 60–70°C stimulates collagen and elastin, visibly firming loose skin.
New collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid in the dermis soften fine lines on the forehead and around the eyes.
Seven parallel ultrasound beams heat the dermis evenly, improving skin density and smoothing rough texture.
As the dermis renews itself, restored firmness supports cheeks that have begun to sag.
Cylindrical zones of heat in the loose skin beneath the chin stimulate renewal and tightening, helping define the lower face.
Treatment softens horizontal neck lines and improves loose skin. Surface cooling protects this thin skin while energy stimulates collagen in the mid-dermis.
Skin tightening results depend on how treatment is planned and performed. We take time with every patient. A doctor handles your consultation and performs your treatment personally.
Skin thickness differs across the forehead, eye area, jawline and neck. Your doctor follows the manufacturer’s area-specific guidance to set energy levels and pulse counts, avoiding the thyroid region when treating the neck.
We take time with every patient. Your consultation and treatment are handled by a doctor; a patient coordinator only helps with pricing.
With devices including Ultherapy PRIME, Thermage FLX and ONDA, we can plan dermal tightening alongside treatments that address deeper fascial or fat layers.
The side that bothered me looks more defined
The right side of my face looked droopier, with lines from below my eye down to my jaw. I tried Sofwave for that. I liked that they focused on the areas I was concerned about. When I compared the results afterward, that side looked a little more defined.
I was concerned about my smile lines
I had Sofwave hoping to firm up my cheeks a little, because the lines that appeared when I smiled bothered me. It was quite painful without anesthesia, and even after giving it plenty of time, I couldn’t really see the change I had hoped for.
My under-eye area looks less puffy
I had Sofwave on my forehead and below my eyes. Some of the pulses were very painful. Afterward, my under-eye area looked less puffy, but my drooping eyelids didn’t change much. I’d also had injections earlier, so I can’t credit everything to Sofwave.
My lines look a little shallower
I tried Sofwave for deeper facial lines and skin that felt loose. During treatment, the pain was quite hard to sit through, but as time passed my lines looked shallower and my face felt a little firmer. It didn’t make every wrinkle disappear.
How does parallel ultrasound rebuild firmness? Four steps take the skin from surface cooling to dermal renewal.
The surface is cooled for one second before energy delivery to protect the epidermis and pigment cells.
Parallel ultrasound beams heat the mid-dermis to 60–70°C for four seconds, creating cylindrical thermal zones.
Signals recruit fibroblasts as the body clears and repairs the treated tissue.
New collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid restore firmness and soften wrinkles.
The thermal effect of this skin-tightening treatment is concentrated in the dermis, 0.5–2 mm below the surface, above the deeper fat, nerves, blood vessels and bone. Your doctor assesses skin thickness and your response to treatment to choose the energy and pulse count for each area.
Cylindrical thermal zones form in the dermal layer that contributes to firmness and fine lines.
Layer thicknesses are simplified for illustration. Actual depths vary with the treatment area and skin thickness.
ForeheadAround the eyesCheekbonesCheeksJawlineUnder the chinNeckCompare skin tightening treatments side by side. The right choice varies from person to person, so your doctor will help you decide at your consultation.
| Treatment | Results | Duration | Comfort | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofwave | Gradual improvement | Lasts around 6 months | Heat and tingling | Redness for a few hours |
| Ultherapy | Gradual improvement | Lasts around 12 months | A deep ache near the bone | Swelling and soreness for 1–2 days |
| ULTLINE | Visible right away | Lasts around 6 months | Tingling, usually tolerable | Redness for a few hours |
| XERF | Visible right away | Lasts around 6 months | Tolerable stinging | Minimal swelling |
| Thermage | Gradual improvement | Lasts around 10 months | Brief bursts of heat | Redness and swelling for a few hours |
Improved wrinkle scores
Among 60 participants, 3 months after one treatment
Sofwave 2025 product brochure: FDA pivotal study (Kauvar & Geronemus) ↗Improved submental & neck lifting
Among 80 participants, 3 months after two treatments
Sofwave 2025 product brochure: FDA pivotal study (Kauvar et al.) ↗Patient satisfaction
Self-assessment after one treatment
From actors preparing for filming to patients planning a wedding or presentation, many people visit us ahead of an important date. Your doctor plans the timing and combination of treatments around your facial features and schedule.
If your event is tomorrow
This ultrasound tightening has no downtime and can be performed close to an event, but results develop gradually. If your event is tomorrow, your doctor may combine it with a treatment that gives more immediate results.
If your event is a month away
We work backward from your event date to plan a course of treatment around skin tightening. Our broad range of devices lets us choose a combination that suits your face.
Redness and swelling usually settle within 2–6 hours, occasionally taking 1–2 days. You can wash your face on the day of treatment.
This is when the manufacturer’s clinical studies assessed wrinkle reduction and lifting.
Biopsies taken after a single treatment showed increased collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
Your doctor handles both your consultation and treatment. A patient coordinator can help with pricing.
Your doctor assesses skin laxity and fine lines.
Skin thickness guides the energy setting and pulse count for each area.
Topical anesthetic is left on for at least 30 minutes.
Parallel ultrasound is delivered area by area while the surface is cooled.
After soothing care, we check your skin before you leave.
Our doctors explain loose skin and fine lines in clear, practical terms.
Radiofrequency and ultrasound treatments can improve fine lines around the eyes and mild eyelid sagging.
The doctors at Dong-An Joongsim Clinic
Skin tightening devices work at different depths. The choice should reflect the layer where sagging begins.
The doctors at Dong-An Joongsim Clinic
ONDA and EMFACE take two different approaches to lifting. The column explains how ONDA's 2.45 GHz microwaves deliver more energy to fat than to skin.
Dr. Chang-Hwan ChoSofwave results depend on both treatment planning and technique. Check who conducts your consultation and procedure, whether authentic devices and supplies are used, and whether your plan can include other treatments suited to your face. At Dong-An Joongsim Clinic, a doctor handles both your consultation and your treatment, with time to discuss your individual concerns.
We normally use topical anesthesia. If you are particularly sensitive to discomfort, you can discuss whether sedation is suitable. Your doctor will review your health and medication before recommending an option. If sedation is planned, ask about preparation and arranging a ride home in advance.
SUPERB™ technology delivers seven parallel ultrasound beams simultaneously. Sofcool™ first cools the surface, then ultrasound heats the mid-dermis at around 1.5 mm to 60–70°C, forming cylindrical thermal zones. The healing response stimulates new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
Results develop as the skin renews itself. The manufacturer’s clinical studies assessed wrinkles and lifting at three months. Biopsies at ten months after a single treatment showed increased collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Changes in firmness, fine lines and texture therefore develop over months, rather than on the day of treatment.
Duration varies with age, skin thickness and the degree of laxity. Further sessions are spaced at least three months apart, depending on your skin. Your doctor assesses the regenerative response before recommending when to return.
Topical anesthetic is applied for at least 30 minutes first. You may feel heat and sharp pulses, particularly over bony areas such as the forehead and jawline. Your doctor adjusts the energy according to your response.
Redness and swelling may occur immediately afterward. They usually settle within 2–6 hours, occasionally taking 1–2 days, and you can wash your face the same day. Energy is concentrated in the mid-dermis, above deeper structures. Contact the clinic if redness or swelling lasts more than 48 hours, or if you develop blisters.
Both use ultrasound, but the delivery method and target depth differ. HIFU devices such as Ultherapy focus energy into individual thermal points, reaching as deep as the SMAS. Sofwave sends seven parallel beams at once across the mid-dermis, around 1.5 mm deep, with surface cooling and temperature monitoring during treatment.
They use different energy sources. Thermage uses radiofrequency to heat the dermis while cooling the epidermis. Sofwave uses parallel ultrasound to create cylindrical thermal zones around 1.5 mm deep, stimulating collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Your doctor recommends a device based on your skin thickness and concerns.
Cost depends on the treatment area, its size, and the energy and pulse count required. Your doctor examines your skin, develops a plan and explains the cost during your consultation.
Yes. Ultrasound is largely unaffected by skin pigment, so it can be used across a range of skin types. Previous fillers or implants do not necessarily rule out treatment, but we recommend waiting at least 48 hours after filler or botulinum toxin injections.
| Manufacturer | Sofwave Medical |
|---|---|
| Technology | SUPERB™ parallel ultrasoundSeven transducers deliver energy simultaneously |
| Frequency | 10–12 MHz |
| Treatment depth | Mid-dermis at 1.5 mmThermal effect at 0.5–2 mm |
| Cooling | Sofcool™ active coolingReal-time skin temperature monitoring |
| Certifications | FDAWrinkle reduction; brow, submental and neck lifting; acne scars; short-term improvement in cellulite appearance |
We take time with every patient. Your doctor leads the consultation and performs the treatment, with a plan based on your facial features.
