Thermage

Thermage for Special Areas in Seoul: Planning Your Visit

A planning guide to Thermage for the décolleté, backs of the hands, knees and elbows at RESUM in Gangnam: time per area, why sun exposure matters, and what these areas need besides Thermage.

Plan a consultation

Published: 2026-10-15

Updated: 2026-10-15

At a glance

One area takes 20-30 minutes and several areas around 60 minutes, plus 30-40 minutes for numbing cream.
The areas treated are the décolleté, backs of the hands, knees and elbows, each at a lower intensity than the face.
Sun protection afterwards is part of the plan: poor UV care can cause temporary hyperpigmentation and shorten how long the result lasts.

Which areas does Thermage for Special Areas treat?

Thermage for Special Areas applies Thermage FLX, monopolar radiofrequency at about 6.78MHz, to four areas that are often on show and often looked after late: the décolleté, the backs of the hands, the knees and the elbows. It warms the dermis without incisions to refine surface texture and fine lines little by little.

Each area has its own difficulty. The décolleté and the backs of the hands have a very thin dermis, and on the hands nerves and blood vessels lie just under the surface. Knees and elbows bend all day. Intensity is therefore set below the facial standard and reset for every area.

How long does Thermage for Special Areas take?

A single area takes 20-30 minutes and several areas together take around 60 minutes, with 30-40 minutes for numbing cream added separately. Daily activities can resume right after. Because these areas catch a lot of sun, treatment is scheduled for a time when UV exposure is low, so say so if your trip includes long days outdoors.

Session	20-60 minutes: 20-30 minutes for one area, around 60 minutes for several
Numbing	Numbing cream (30-40 minutes, added separately)
Back to daily activities	Right after the session
How long it lasts	About 12 months as a general guide; relatively shorter on the backs of the hands and the knees

What can Thermage not do in these areas?

Thermage does not treat prominent veins, hyperpigmentation or very deep wrinkles. For those concerns a combination with fillers, laser toning or skin boosters is recommended, and for prominent veins on the hands fillers are the more suitable option.

On the knees, pronounced sagging may call for another treatment or a surgical option. Results on joints that bend constantly tend not to last as long as on the face, so repeat treatments are often needed.

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Purpose & suitability

Your face is well cared for, but the décolleté or the hands have fallen behind.

Fine horizontal lines on the décolleté or the surface texture of the backs of the hands bother you.

Skin above the knees or on the inner side of the elbows has begun to sag or crease.

You are ready to keep up sun protection and want UV care advice along with the treatment.

Treatment process

Consultation. Dermal thickness, the degree of ageing and the amount of UV damage are assessed for every area you want treated, and the range that suits treatment is marked out.
Area plan. Intensity is lowered further where the dermis is thin, and on the hands, where nerves and vessels sit near the surface, shots are distributed very conservatively.
Numbing and treatment. Once the numbing cream has worked, the dermis of each area is heated in broad passes, with pulses and intensity matched to that area.
Before you leave. The doctor goes through sun protection, any addition that applies to you such as a laser or a skin booster, and when to come back.

Time & recovery

A little swelling and redness for about 1-3 days is common, and in rare cases it lingers mildly for up to 1-2 weeks. You do not need to rest.

Reduce UV exposure for about 1-2 weeks. Hands, chest, knees and elbows are easy to forget, so protect them from the sun whenever you are outdoors.

During the first week or so, stay away from saunas and hot compresses, do not rub the treated skin hard, and keep it moisturised.

Some change is visible right away and new collagen builds over 4-6 months. These are small areas, so you may notice the difference earlier than you would on the face.

Limitations & precautions

Treatment may be restricted for people with an implanted electrical device or a metal implant near the treatment area.

Thin areas carry a risk of burns and depressions if intensity is too high, which is why they are treated at least one level below the standard facial intensity.

Temporary hyperpigmentation is possible when sun protection after treatment falls short, and these areas are more prone to it than the face. Having it once and then neglecting UV care is not something the clinic recommends.

How much changes depends on the tissue in each area. Dr. Jin-Young Kim decides the treatment area during the consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I have my hands and décolleté treated in one visit?

Yes. Several areas can be treated in one visit in around 60 minutes, plus 30-40 minutes for numbing cream. A single area, such as the hands alone, takes 20-30 minutes.

I will be sightseeing outdoors afterwards. Is that a problem?

Outdoor plans are possible, but UV exposure should be reduced for about 1-2 weeks after treatment. These areas are exposed often, and too little sun protection can lead to temporary hyperpigmentation and affect how long the result lasts, so tell the doctor about your itinerary.

Will Thermage hide the veins on the backs of my hands?

No. Thermage can gradually improve fine lines and texture on the backs of the hands, but it does not address prominent veins. Fillers are the more suitable option for veins, and both can be discussed in the same consultation.

How long do results last on hands and knees?

The general guide is about 12 months, but results last a relatively shorter time on the backs of the hands and the knees. Hands receive frequent UV exposure and knees bend constantly, so repeat treatments are often needed.

Why is the intensity lower than on the face?

The intensity is lower because the dermis in these areas, especially the décolleté and the backs of the hands, is thinner than on the face. Carrying facial settings over brings irritation before it brings results, so Dr. Jin-Young Kim resets the intensity for each area after checking skin thickness.