Lifting Consultation: What Should You Check, from Device and Shot Count to Aftercare?
In a lifting consultation, we first identify what makes the face look saggy, and before treatment you will be told the actual device and tip to be used, the number of shots, and the recovery timeline.
A device name and shot count alone cannot tell you whether a plan suits your face. Even with the same sagging, the layer the energy should reach and the device used differ depending on the cause.
Why We Start with the Cause of Sagging
A blurred jawline and cheeks that appear to droop result from several overlapping causes.
- Loss of skin elasticity: This is when the skin itself loses elasticity, leading to fine lines and sagging.
- Changes in fat and volume: This is when facial fat shifts downward or volume is lost, changing the facial contour.
- Muscle movement: This is when muscles move with facial expressions and create wrinkles.
Skin photos and measurement results are supporting materials used to explain your condition and compare changes. The cause of sagging and the depth at which energy should be delivered are determined by the medical team examining your face directly, taking into account your previous treatment history and the changes you hope for.
Five Things to Check During Your Consultation
- Why the device was chosen: Along with the examination results, ask why that device and those areas were chosen, and which treatments you do not need right now.
- Device name and tip: Before treatment, you will be told the name of the actual device and the type of tip or cartridge to be used. Korean regulatory approval information can be found on the medical device information portal run by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).
- Shot count and distribution: Check the total shot count and how those shots will be divided across different areas of the face.
- Pain management: Hear in advance about pain control such as numbing cream and the warmth you may feel during treatment.
- Recovery timeline and contact information: Check when you can resume face washing, makeup, saunas, and exercise, and how to reach the clinic if anything seems wrong.
Differences by Device
| Category | Ultherapy PRIME | Thermage FLX | Shurink Universe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Focused ultrasound | Radiofrequency | High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) |
| Main layer reached | SMAS layer | Dermis | SMAS layer |
| How depth is adjusted | Skin layers checked on real-time ultrasound imaging | Energy automatically adjusted to the skin with AccuREP | Swapping cartridges of different depths |
| Anesthesia | Numbing Cream | Topical anesthetic, approx. 30–60 minutes | Numbing Cream |
| Changes and duration | Gradually over 1–2 months; lasts approx. 6–12 months | Gradually over 2–4 months; generally reported to last about 1–2 years | Lasts about 3-6 months |
| Next treatment | Typically every 6 months to 1 year | Consider maintenance treatment about once a year | At 1-month intervals, at least 3–5 sessions |
Thermage FLX tips are designed to deliver radiofrequency for a set number of shots, and once those shots are used up, the tip cannot be reused. When asking about the device name, be sure to check the tip as well.
Look at shot count together with distribution by area
Rather than judging by shot count alone, look at it together with how many shots are used on which areas. At our Suwon branch, Ultherapy PRIME and Thermage FLX are each offered in 300-, 600-, and 1200-shot packages, and the 1200 shots can be split across 2 sessions.
Precautions on the day of treatment
- After Ulthera, you can wash your face and apply makeup right away; use a gentle, low-irritation cleanser.
- After Thermage FLX, avoid hot saunas, alcohol, and strenuous exercise on the day of treatment.
What to Avoid for One Week
- For 3 days after Ulthera, wash your face with lukewarm water, and for about 1 week avoid saunas, alcohol, peeling treatments, and scrub products.
- For one week after Thermage FLX, pause harsh care such as peels and scrubs.
Post-Treatment Care
- Apply sunscreen and moisturizer thoroughly.
- Throbbing, slight swelling, bruising, or redness may occur for a few days, and most of it subsides over time.
- In rare cases, marks that look like white lines may appear on the skin after Ulthera; if this happens, please let us know so we can provide a prescription and appropriate care.
Please contact us right away if redness or swelling worsens day by day, or if blisters form or sensation becomes dull.
What to prepare before your consultation
- The area that bothers you most and since when it has changed
- The names and dates of any recent lifting, Botox, fillers, or thread lifting
- Medications you're currently taking and any conditions you have
- Important events or photo shoots in the days after treatment
We review your previous treatment history to decide whether to proceed on the same day or on separate dates. Please let us know before treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an implanted electronic device such as a pacemaker, or have inflammation or wounds in the treatment area.
Booking and consultation
Face Filter Clinic Suwon offers Ultherapy Prime, Thermage FLX, and Shurink Universe in packages by number of shots, as well as a package combining Ultherapy Prime and Skin Botox on the same day. During your personalized consultation, we determine the device and shot distribution based on where sagging has occurred, your skin thickness, and any recent treatments.
View Ulthera treatment information
View Thermage FLX procedure information
This content is provided as general treatment information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a medical professional to decide whether and how to proceed with a treatment.