Shurink vs. Ulthera: both use ultrasound, so what is the difference?

The difference between Shurink and Ulthera lies less in the type of energy and more in how each device delivers heat and how the treatment is designed. Both use high-intensity focused ultrasound to create small thermal coagulation points at the depth of the fascia and dermis, but Ulthera delivers energy while viewing the skin layers on an ultrasound screen, whereas Shurink Universe uses handpieces of different shapes and modes to treat broad areas and curved areas separately.

How do Shurink and Ulthera work?

Focused ultrasound is designed so that energy concentrates only at a set depth while barely heating the skin surface. Tissue at that point contracts from the heat, and over the following weeks to months, as collagen is rebuilt, a tightening of sagging tissue can be expected. Both devices reach the fascia (SMAS) layer.

Comparing Shurink and Ulthera item by item

Which device is right for you depends on the degree of sagging, skin thickness and facial fat, your tolerance for pain, and whether your schedule allows for multiple sessions. If you have very little facial fat, heat delivered to deep layers can look like volume loss, so a prior assessment is needed, and the device and number of shots are decided together during the examination and consultation. At our Suwon clinic, both Ulthera and Shurink Universe are performed after numbing cream, and the whole treatment takes about an hour.

Ulthera vs. Thermage in Suwon: how deep do ultrasound and radiofrequency reach?

View Ulthera treatment information

Both treatments may cause swelling, throbbing, and redness for a few days; if you rarely notice white line-shaped marks or numbness, please contact the clinic. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have fillers, threads, or metal implants in the treatment area, please let us know before treatment.

FAQ

Q. Can I get Ulthera and Shurink on the same day?

A. Since both are ultrasound-based, receiving them together at once can concentrate heat in the same layer and increase swelling and pain. When they are combined, treatment is designed by dividing the areas or spacing the sessions, and the order and number of shots are decided based on skin thickness.

Q. How do Ulthera and InMode differ in how they work?

A. Ulthera uses focused ultrasound to create thermal coagulation points at the depth of the fascia and dermis, while InMode is a device that uses radiofrequency to broadly heat the fat layer and dermis. Because the energy and target layers differ, the choice is made during the examination based on whether your main concern is sagging, fat, or firmness.

Q. How does the pain of Shurink compare with Ulthera?

A. Pain is influenced more by the area, energy, and shot density than by the device. With both devices, people tend to feel a sharper, tingling heat in areas close to bone, such as the cheekbones and jaw, and treatment is performed after numbing cream with energy adjusted for each area.