Ultherapy Prime in Suwon: What Has Changed from the Original Ulthera?

If a blurred jawline or cheeks that seem to have dropped are bothering you, it is worth first checking which layer the sagging comes from rather than focusing on device names. Ultherapy Prime is an ultrasound lifting device that concentrates focused ultrasound (HIFU) on a single point to create small thermal coagulation points in the fascial layer (SMAS) and the dermis, using the same principle as the original Ulthera.

What changed in Ultherapy Prime is the ultrasound display that shows the inside of the skin during treatment, the speed at which the device responds, and the layout of the main unit and control screen; the principle of tightening sagging tissue and the tip depths remain the same. At our Suwon clinic, we first look at where the sagging has occurred, the area to be treated, and the thickness of the skin and cheek fat during consultation, and then decide the shot count and tip ratio.

In this article, we go through how Ulthera tightens sagging skin, what changed and what stayed the same in Prime, the role of the ultrasound display and the treatment steps, when results appear and how to care for recovery, and side effects.

Ultherapy Prime: Key Points

• Ulthera-type devices focus ultrasound on a single point to create thermal coagulation points in the fascial layer and dermis, prompting a process in which collagen is rebuilt at those spots.
• Ultherapy Prime has a new ultrasound display format and speed and a new control screen layout, while the principle and tip depths are the same.
• During treatment, we use the ultrasound display to check the boundaries between the dermis, fat layer, and fascial layer, and decide the tip and shot placement.
• Changes appear gradually over 1 to 2 months, and the next treatment is usually planned at intervals of 6 months to 1 year.

How does Ulthera tighten sagging skin?

Ulthera focuses ultrasound energy on a single point at a set depth beneath the skin, passing through the skin surface and generating heat only at that depth. This heat leaves rows of thermal coagulation points smaller than a grain of rice, causing the collagen there to contract, followed by a process over the next several months in which new collagen is formed.

The depth is chosen with the tip. The 4.5mm tip focuses heat on the fascial layer that supports facial sagging, the 3.0mm tip on the deep dermis, and the 1.5mm tip on the shallow dermis. The ratio of tips differs depending on whether the sagging comes from the fascial layer or from thinning skin.

What has changed and what has stayed the same in Ultherapy Prime

Three things have changed in Ultherapy Prime. The size and display format of the ultrasound screen that shows the inside of the skin during treatment have changed, the speed at which the device responds and the screen advances is different, and the design of the main unit and the layout of the control screen have changed.

What remains the same is the principle of creating thermal coagulation points with focused ultrasound and the tip lineup of 4.5mm, 3.0mm, and 1.5mm. That is why, when planning treatment, we first consider the layer where the sagging occurred and where to distribute the shots, rather than the device generation. Pain also depends more on the area and individual sensitivity than on the device generation, and areas close to bone, such as the jawline and below the cheekbones, tend to feel a stronger tingling sensation.

How Ultherapy Prime Is Performed and the Role of the Ultrasound Display

What the ultrasound display shows

Because skin and fat thickness differ from person to person, even the same 4.5mm tip can reach different layers. So during treatment, we check the boundaries between the dermis, fat layer, and fascial layer on the screen and decide whether to switch tips or skip that spot. For faces with little cheek fat where hollowing is a concern, we reduce deep-tip shots and concentrate shots where fascial sagging is clear, such as the jawline.

Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic

1. Personalized Consultation
2. Self-Cleansing
3. Numbing Cream
4. Treatment
5. Finishing Care

Treatment is done after applying numbing cream, the whole process takes about 1 hour, and you can return to daily activities right after. During treatment, we check skin depth on the ultrasound display and choose the right tip for each area. Shot counts come in 300, 600, and 1200-shot options, and the 1200 shots can be split into two sessions; the option is decided by whether the sagging is concentrated along the jawline or spread across the whole face, and by the area to be treated.

View Ulthera treatment information

When Ultherapy Prime Results Appear and Recovery Care

• You can wash your face and wear makeup right after the treatment; use a gentle cleanser.
• To reduce irritation to the skin, wash your face with lukewarm water for 3 days after treatment.
• For about 1 week after treatment, avoid saunas, alcohol, peeling treatments, and scrub products.
• Pay attention to sun protection and moisturizing, and take antioxidants such as vitamin C.

Right after Ultherapy Prime, you may feel a tightening sensation as the heated collagen contracts, and the changes from new collagen formation appear gradually over 1 to 2 months. We generally describe the duration as about 6 to 12 months, and the next treatment is usually decided within a 6-month to 1-year cycle based on the sagging.

Ultherapy Prime Side Effects and Precautions

For a few days after treatment, the skin may throb, and slight swelling, bruising, or redness may appear temporarily. The jawline or the area below the cheekbones may feel stiff or tender to the touch for a few days, and the degree of reaction varies from person to person depending on skin thickness and the degree of sagging.

Rarely, white lines may appear on the skin surface (a phenomenon called white striping), which is eased with prescriptions and care. If deep-tip shots are concentrated on areas with thin skin or little fat, the risk of hollowing or reduced sensation may increase, so we distribute shots while checking the layers on the screen. Please let us know before treatment if you have inflammation or severe acne in the treatment area, have metal implants in your body, or have recently had filler injected in your face.

If line-shaped marks appear or pain does not subside and keeps getting worse, please contact the clinic right away.

What should be checked before Ultherapy Prime?

If any of these apply, start with a sagging assessment

• My jawline has become less defined and my cheeks feel like they have dropped.
• Shadows form beside the corners of my mouth even when I am not smiling.
• I have little cheek fat and worry about hollowing after treatment.
• It has been nearly a year since my previous Ulthera treatment.

If two or more apply, it is best to first check whether the sagging comes from the fascial layer or from changes in the skin and fat layers. Whether to proceed with treatment, as well as the method and extent, is decided together during consultation after a medical examination.

In short, the key to Ultherapy Prime is deciding the layer where the sagging occurred and where to distribute the shots before thinking about device generation, and then watching the changes over 1 to 2 months.

FAQ

Q. I have had the original Ulthera. Do I need to approach Ultherapy Prime differently?

A. Because the principle and tip depths are the same, the way consultation and treatment are done is not very different. If you tell us during consultation when you had your previous treatment, the shot count, and the changes you noticed afterward, we will consider them together with your current sagging to decide where and how many shots to place.

Q. How painful is Ultherapy Prime?

A. Pain depends more on the area and individual sensitivity than on the device. Treatment is done with numbing cream; the jawline and area below the cheekbones, which are close to bone, feel tingly, while areas with thicker fat such as the middle of the cheeks tend to be less painful.

Q. Do more Ulthera shots change the results?

A. A larger area requires more shots, but distributing them according to where the sagging is comes first. In areas with little cheek fat, we actually reduce deep-tip shots, and the shot count is decided after examining the area to be treated and skin thickness.

Q. When do Ultherapy Prime results start to show?

A. Right after treatment there is only a tightening sensation, and the changes from new collagen formation appear gradually over 1 to 2 months. Timing and degree vary from person to person depending on skin thickness and the degree of sagging, so we check the changes after a month or two.

Q. How soon can I have Ulthera again?

A. The next treatment is usually planned at intervals of 6 months to 1 year. Since how long results last varies with skin thickness, the degree of sagging, and lifestyle, we decide the timing during consultation by looking at the changes after your previous treatment together with your current sagging.

Q. How can I find out the cost of Ultherapy Prime?

A. The cost depends on the shot count and the combination of treatments you receive. We let you know which of the 300, 600, or 1200-shot options suits you after checking the extent of sagging during consultation, and you can also see itemized details on the treatment information page.