Shurink vs. InMode in Suwon: which layers do ultrasound and radiofrequency heat?
When you look into lifting because your jawline has blurred and your cheeks look saggy, it is easy to be confused about whether to get Shurink or InMode. Shurink is a device that focuses ultrasound at a set depth in the skin to create thermal points down to the fascia (SMAS) layer, while InMode is a device that heats the fat layer and dermis with radiofrequency and high-voltage pulses.
The difference between Shurink and InMode lies in the layer the energy reaches. If sagging started in the deep layers, we look first at ultrasound; if fat is noticeably thick under the jaw and on the cheeks, we look first at InMode FX. At our Suwon clinic, we first look at where the sagging is, the amount of fat, and skin thickness in consultation, then decide the device and number of shots.
In this article, we outline in turn how the two devices generate heat, a device-by-device comparison including LinearZ and ONDA, the treatment steps, recovery and care, side effects, and what to check before treatment.
Shurink vs. InMode: key points
- Shurink uses focused ultrasound to create dot- or line-shaped thermal points at a set depth.
- InMode FX mainly heats the fat layer and InMode FORMA mainly heats the dermis, both using radiofrequency.
- Based on where the sagging is and the amount of fat, we choose one device or plan both on the same day.
- With both Shurink and InMode, you can wash your face and wear makeup right after treatment, and bruising may occur after InMode FX.
How do Shurink and InMode generate heat?
Shurink Universe focuses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) on a single point in the skin. On the skin surface the ultrasound passes through, the energy is dispersed, and only where the focus forms does the temperature rise, creating a small thermal coagulation point. The tissue there contracts, and collagen production is stimulated while the tissue recovers. Each cartridge has a set focal depth, so the dermis side and the fascia layer are treated separately.
Shurink Universe has the Ultra F, which passes over broad areas in a line pattern, and the Ultra Booster, a round pen-shaped handpiece used on narrow, curved areas such as around the eyes and the nasolabial folds. Even on the same face, skin thickness differs by area, so we switch handpieces and depths as we go.
InMode is a radiofrequency (RF) device. In FX mode, the handpiece draws the skin up with suction, heats the fat layer with radiofrequency, and sends instantaneous high-voltage pulses (HVP) to induce a reduction in fat cells. In FORMA mode, the handpiece is glided over the skin to gently warm the dermis and encourage collagen and elastin production.
Shurink vs. InMode, compared with LinearZ and ONDA as well
LinearZ, also ultrasound-based, delivers both dot and linear energy with a single handpiece, while ONDA generates heat in the subcutaneous fat layer and dermis using 2.45GHz microwaves. Dividing the four devices by energy type and the layer reached gives the following.
| Device | Energy | Main layer reached | How heat is generated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shurink Universe | Focused ultrasound | From the dermis to the fascia (SMAS) | Thermal coagulation points in dots or lines at a set depth |
| LinearZ | Focused ultrasound | From the dermis to the fascia (SMAS) | Dot-type and linear-type delivery |
| InMode FX, FORMA | Radiofrequency | FX targets the fat layer, FORMA the dermis | Suction with high-voltage pulses, or broad-area heating |
| ONDA | Microwave 2.45GHz | Subcutaneous fat layer and dermis | Tissue absorbs the energy and generates heat |
The table does not show an order of choice but separates where each device acts. If a lot of heat goes into the fat layer on a face whose cheeks are already hollow, the hollowness may become more noticeable, so devices that heat the fat layer are planned after first checking the amount of fat.
How are Shurink and InMode lifting treatments carried out?
The principle for choosing between Shurink and InMode
The device is chosen according to the layer where the sagging began. If the cheeks and jawline look like they have dropped, we look at Shurink cartridges that reach the fascia layer; if fat feels thick when the area under the jaw is pinched, InMode FX; and if the skin has thinned and fine lines have increased, FORMA mode or shallow cartridges. When both concerns overlap, devices that reach different layers are sometimes planned side by side on the same day, and there are also packages combining LinearZ or ONDA with FX.
Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic
- Personalized Consultation
- Self-Cleansing
- Numbing Cream
- Treatment
- Finishing Care
The order above is for Shurink Universe; the whole process takes about an hour, and you can return to daily life right after treatment. The basic schedule is at least 3 to 5 sessions at 1-month intervals, and results last about 3 to 6 months, though this varies with skin condition. InMode proceeds in the order of personalized consultation, self-cleansing, treatment, and finishing, with no anesthesia step, taking about 30 minutes or less, and the basic schedule is at least 3 to 5 sessions at 2- to 3-week intervals. FX is set for the double chin and jawline or the full face, and FORMA for the full face.
View Shurink Universe Treatment Information
View InMode Treatment Information
Recovery and care after Shurink and InMode
- You can wash your face and wear makeup right after treatment; use a gentle cleanser.
- To reduce irritation to the skin, wash your face with lukewarm water for 3 days after treatment.
- For about 7 days after the treatment, avoid heavy drinking, saunas and jjimjilbang, hot baths, and strenuous exercise.
- The skin tends to dry out, so apply moisturizer often, and apply sunscreen when going out.
Heat, stinging, and redness usually subside soon during recovery. Neither Shurink nor InMode is a treatment where the change is complete after one session; both are treatments where sessions continue at set intervals while progress is monitored. Consistent sun protection and moisturizing between sessions may help maintain skin condition.
Side effects and precautions of Shurink and InMode
Right after treatment, heat, stinging, redness, mild swelling and dryness, and itching may occur, and most are reactions that appear during recovery. Because InMode FX uses suction on the skin, red or purple bruises may appear, fading gradually over several days. The degree of reaction and speed of recovery vary from person to person.
In rare cases, burns or blisters may occur if heat overlaps in the same spot or energy concentrates in areas of thin skin. On faces with hollow cheeks, hollowness may look more noticeable after stimulation of the fat layer. If you have an electronic medical device such as a pacemaker, have metal implants near the treatment area, or are pregnant, be sure to tell us before the procedure.
If blisters form, pain does not ease and gradually worsens, or the skin turns white and oozes, do not touch it and contact the clinic right away.
What is checked before Shurink or InMode?
If these apply to you, start by checking which layer the sagging is in
- Your jawline and cheeks look like they have dropped compared with before.
- When you pinch under your jaw and the lower cheeks, you can grab thick fat.
- Your skin has thinned and fine lines have increased, so your makeup cakes easily.
- Your cheeks or temples already look hollow.
If two or more apply, it is best to first check which layer the sagging started in before choosing a device. Whether to proceed, the device, and the number of shots are decided together in consultation after the medical team's examination.
In short, the difference between Shurink and InMode lies in the layer they reach, so the key is first checking where the sagging is and how much fat there is.
FAQ
Q. Can I get Shurink and InMode on the same day?
A. The two devices reach different layers, so they are sometimes planned side by side on the same day. We decide together in consultation whether to do them on the same day or separately, based on whether your skin tends to stay red for a long time after radiofrequency and whether you have important plans within a week.
Q. How are InMode FX and FORMA different?
A. FX draws the skin up with suction and then acts on the fat layer with radiofrequency and high-voltage pulses, while FORMA gently warms the dermis to encourage collagen production. Depending on whether your concern is fat or elasticity, you choose one or receive both modes together.
Q. Is anesthesia used for Shurink and InMode?
A. For Shurink Universe, numbing cream is applied after you cleanse your face yourself, and then the treatment is done. InMode has no anesthesia step in its process, so treatment begins right after cleansing, and if the heat feels strong, let us know during the procedure and we will adjust the intensity.
Q. How is ONDA different from Shurink and InMode?
A. ONDA uses 2.45GHz microwaves, and this energy is absorbed by the subcutaneous fat layer and dermis to generate heat. The way heat is generated differs from ultrasound, which concentrates heat at a focal point, and from radiofrequency, which passes an electric current, and it is performed without anesthesia.
Q. How many sessions of Shurink and InMode do I need, and at what intervals?
A. The basic schedule is 3 to 5 sessions at 1-month intervals for Shurink Universe and 3 to 5 sessions at 2- to 3-week intervals for InMode. The effect and how long it lasts vary with skin condition and individual differences, so the number of sessions and intervals are adjusted in consultation while monitoring progress.
Q. How can I find out the cost of Shurink and InMode?
A. The cost depends on the device, treatment range, number of shots, and number of sessions. We explain it after confirming in consultation whether to treat only the double chin and jawline or the whole face, and you can also check items by package on the treatment information page.
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.