Ultherapy

Ultherapy in Seoul: Planning Your Visit

A visit-planning guide to Ultherapy at RESUM Plastic Surgery Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul: how long to set aside, what the day involves and how the 2-3 months after it unfold.

Plan a consultation

Published: 2026-10-15

Updated: 2026-10-15

At a glance

No incisions. Most people return to daily activities right after the session.
Some change shows right away. The rest builds gradually over about 2-3 months.
The number of lines and the depth for each area are decided by the doctor in a 1:1 consultation.

What is Ultherapy?

Ultherapy PRIME is an ultrasound lifting treatment that works at three depths under the skin (1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm) without cutting the surface. The deepest setting reaches the SMAS, the same layer a surgical facelift works on.

The session is guided by DeepSEE real-time ultrasound imaging. The doctor sees the tissue on screen, so energy is placed in the intended layer for your skin thickness and facial structure.

How long does an Ultherapy session take?

A focused session takes around 30 minutes, and a full face and neck session takes about 60-90 minutes. Numbing cream needs another 30-40 minutes before the session starts. If your schedule in Seoul is tight, tell us your travel dates in advance so the consultation and the session can be planned on the same visit where possible.

Session	From about 30 minutes; about 60-90 minutes for full face and neck
Numbing	Numbing cream (30-40 minutes); IV sedation or added pain relief on request
Back to daily activities	Right after the session
How long it lasts	About 12 months

What can Ultherapy not do?

Ultherapy does not replace surgery. Very deep sagging, or sagging that needs the SMAS to be surgically released and fixed, cannot be corrected with ultrasound alone. If that is your situation, the doctor at RESUM Plastic Surgery Clinic will say so during the consultation and explain other options such as a thread lift, a mini facelift or facelift surgery.

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Purpose & suitability

You have mild to moderate sagging and want to try a non-surgical option before deciding on a facelift.

The area under the cheekbones, the jawline or the area under the chin has lost definition.

You are also considering Thermage, a thread lift, fillers or Botox and want the order and timing planned together.

You want gradual change that can be reviewed step by step.

Treatment process

Consultation. The doctor looks at where the sagging sits, how thick the skin is and how much fat is present, then tells you what ultrasound can and cannot change.
Plan. The depths and the number of lines for each area are set for you. A full face and neck plan usually falls within about 600-800 lines.
Numbing and treatment. Numbing cream is applied first. The session is carried out while the tissue is checked on the ultrasound screen.
Before you leave. We go over how to handle swelling and tightness and when you can return to your usual routine.

Time & recovery

Slight swelling, tightness and tenderness can last from a few days to about a week. Mild bruising is uncommon and may take 1-2 weeks to fade.

For one week, avoid saunas and anything that strongly irritates the treated skin.

Do not judge the result in the first days. Part of it appears right away and the rest develops over about 2-3 months, so the full change usually shows after you have returned home.

Limitations & precautions

The treatment is not performed on areas with an active skin infection or severe inflammation.

Rare cases of nerve irritation or temporary numbness have been reported with this type of treatment. Areas close to facial nerve branches are treated at conservative depths.

Results vary with the condition of each person's tissue. Please consult the doctor before treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I have Ultherapy during a short stay in Seoul?

Yes in most cases. Ultherapy involves no incisions and daily activities can resume right after the session. Allow for slight swelling or tenderness for a few days to about a week, and remember that the result keeps developing for about 2-3 months after you leave.

Is Ultherapy painful?

Discomfort during Ultherapy is generally rated as moderate, and the 4.5 mm depth tends to be felt the most. Numbing cream is applied for 30-40 minutes beforehand, and pain relievers or IV sedation can be added if you are sensitive to pain.

Can it replace a facelift?

No. Ultherapy treats mild to moderate laxity without surgery. Deep sagging that needs surgical release and fixation of the SMAS is outside its range, and the doctor will tell you if surgery or a thread lift would suit you better.

Can I combine it with Thermage, threads or fillers?

Yes. Ultherapy and Thermage act at different depths and can complement each other, and thread lifts, fillers or Botox can be staged around it. The order and the intervals are planned in the consultation.

Who decides how many lines I receive?

Dr. Jin-Young Kim decides the Ultherapy line allocation personally in the 1:1 consultation at RESUM Plastic Surgery Clinic. More lines go where sagging is pronounced and fewer, conservatively, where the skin is thin or lacks fat.