Laser Lifting

Sofwave in Seoul: Planning Your Visit

A visit-planning guide to Sofwave at RESUM Plastic Surgery Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul: how much time to set aside, what the first days look like and when the result shows.

Plan a consultation

Published: 2026-10-15

Updated: 2026-10-15

At a glance

A session takes about 30-45 minutes with numbing cream, and daily activities resume right after.
Tightening is felt straight away, then the result builds over 4-12 weeks as new collagen and elastin form.
Sofwave treats the mid-dermis at about 1.5 mm. It does not reach the SMAS, so deep sagging needs another option.

What is Sofwave?

Sofwave is a non-surgical ultrasound treatment that heats the mid-dermis, about 1.5 mm below the skin surface. Every shot sends 7 parallel beams (the technology is called SUPERB), and the heat prompts the skin to make new collagen and elastin. The aim is firmer skin, a more even texture and softer fine lines.

The outer skin and the fat layer underneath are left alone. Sofcool cooling keeps the surface cool for the whole session, which is why numbing cream is usually enough. It is also why people with thin skin or a lean face, who worry about hollow cheeks, can often consider it.

How long does Sofwave take?

Set aside about 30-45 minutes for the session itself, plus the consultation and the wait while numbing cream takes effect. Nothing needs to be blocked off afterwards, because you can carry on with your day as soon as you leave. Tell us your travel dates in advance so the consultation and the session can be arranged on the same visit where possible.

Session	About 30-45 minutes
Numbing	Numbing cream
Back to daily activities	Right after the session
How long it lasts	About 12 months

What Sofwave cannot do

Sofwave does not lift at the depth of the SMAS. It works in the 1.5 mm layer only, so pronounced sagging, or a jawline that needs contour lifting, is outside its range. In that case Dr. Jin-Young Kim will say so in the consultation and explain Ultherapy or facelift surgery, and whether Sofwave can be added to them.

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Purpose & suitability

Your main concerns are texture, fine lines, pores or skin that has lost firmness, not deep sagging.

Your face is lean or your skin is thin, and you do not want to lose volume in the cheeks.

You want a session that needs numbing cream only and leaves little visible downtime.

You have had, or are planning, Thermage or Ultherapy and want the dermis treated as well.

You expect to come back for a touch-up every 6 months to 1 year.

Treatment process

Consultation. Skin thickness, texture and how deep the sagging sits are checked first, to decide whether a mid-dermis treatment fits your stage.
Shot plan. The areas that bother you are marked, and the number of shots and the intensity are set for each of them.
Numbing and treatment. Numbing cream goes on first, then the ultrasound is delivered while Sofcool cooling protects the surface.
Before you leave. You are told what to expect over the next 4-12 weeks, how to look after the skin and when a touch-up would make sense.

Time & recovery

Slight redness and mild swelling for 1-2 days are the usual reaction. They fade without treatment, and makeup covers them in most cases.

For 1 week, stay away from saunas, jjimjilbang and other strong heat or irritation. Be careful with sun protection during the 4-12 weeks in which new collagen and elastin are forming.

The first tightening is felt right after the session. The result then improves over 4-12 weeks and settles gradually over 2-3 months, so most of the change appears after you have returned home.

Limitations & precautions

Sofwave is not recommended during pregnancy, and it is not used on skin with an active infection or severe inflammation.

Burns, hyperpigmentation and cheek hollowing are the risks named for this kind of treatment. Because only the mid-dermis is heated and the surface is cooled, the risk tends to be low, and the intensity is still chosen after your skin thickness and fat distribution have been assessed.

The number of shots and the result differ from person to person. Please consult Dr. Jin-Young Kim before treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I have Sofwave during a short stay in Seoul?

Yes, a short stay is usually enough, because a Sofwave session takes about 30-45 minutes and daily activities resume right after. Allow for slight redness or swelling for 1-2 days, and keep away from saunas for 1 week.

Does Sofwave hurt?

Discomfort with Sofwave tends to be low, and numbing cream is normally all that is used. Sofcool cooling chills the skin surface throughout the session, so IV sedation is not needed.

How is Sofwave different from Ultherapy and Thermage?

Sofwave uses ultrasound at about 1.5 mm, in the mid-dermis. Thermage also targets the dermis but with radiofrequency (RF), and Ultherapy works deeper, at the SMAS. Which one fits depends on whether texture and firmness or deeper sagging is the priority.

Can Sofwave be combined with other lifting treatments?

Yes, Sofwave is sometimes used alongside Thermage or Ultherapy, because each differs in energy type or in the layer it reaches. Whether they can be done together in your case is assessed by the doctor in the consultation.

How long will the result of Sofwave last?

The result of Sofwave lasts about 12 months. People who want to keep it steady return on a touch-up cycle of 6 months to 1 year, and Dr. Jin-Young Kim sets the shots and the intensity each time.