Thermage Before and After: Why the Real Change Arrives Months Later, and How to Record It
Dr. Hyunji Kim
2026-10-018 min read
Medically reviewed by Dr. Hyunji Kim · Last reviewed
I'm Dr. Hyunji Kim, director and lead physician at Delphic Clinic in Gangnam, one minute from Sinnonhyeon Station. I trained at Korea University Medical Center and I am a member of the Korean Academy of Aesthetic Surgery & Laser Medicine and the Korean Filler Society. I focus on lifting and anti-ageing care, and I plan and perform Thermage FLX myself, on the genuine device, and I follow each patient's Thermage before and after over the months that follow.
Thermage before and after is the search I most often see on a patient's phone when they sit down. A week after treatment, some of the same patients message me worried that nothing has happened. Both moments come from the same misunderstanding about timing, so this page is about the slow part: what changes when, and how to record your own face so you can see it.
Why week one after Thermage looks like nothing happened
On the day, RF heat contracts existing collagen and the skin can feel tighter. That feeling softens within days. Meanwhile the body has started building new collagen in the heated layer, and that work is slow. If you judge the treatment in week one, you are judging the part that fades, not the part that lasts.
In Korea many patients plan for this. They book Thermage well ahead of the occasion they care about and treat it as maintenance, a habit I describe in my post on how Korean patients use Thermage.
Month by month: collagen remodelling in plain terms
Face 600 shots or eyes: two different kinds of after
The full-face 600 shot plan aims at the lower face and jaw: a cleaner edge, softer jowls, skin that feels firmer to the touch. Eye Thermage, at 225 or 450 shots, treats the lid skin itself. Its after is subtler and more about texture: less crepiness, a slightly smoother upper lid. Patients who expect the eye plan to change their jawline, or the face plan to open their eyes, are set up for disappointment.
| Thermage FLX 600 shots | ₩2,800,000$2,030 |
| Eye Thermage FLX 225 shots | ₩1,800,000$1,300 |
| Eye Thermage FLX 450 shots | ₩2,800,000$2,030 |
| Thermage FLX 600 shots (First-visit trial) | ₩1,790,000$1,300 |
| Eye Thermage FLX 225 shots (First-visit trial) | ₩990,000$720 |
| Eye Thermage FLX 450 shots (First-visit trial) | ₩1,790,000$1,300 |
A self-recording kit for your own Thermage result
The only before and after that answers your question is your own. Set this up the evening before treatment and keep it in one album.
- 1
Fix the light
Daylight from a window in front of you, same room, same time of day, overhead lights off.
- 2
Fix the camera
Rear camera rather than selfie mode, at eye height, the same distance each time. Tape a mark on the floor.
- 3
Fix the face
No makeup, hair back, lips together, jaw relaxed, eyes looking straight ahead.
- 4
Take the set
Front, both 45-degree angles and both profiles. For eye Thermage, add a close-up with eyes open and gently closed.
- 5
Repeat on schedule
One week, around three months, and later. Compare only matching sets.
On-track signals, and signals that mean message us
Most of what people feel after Thermage is mild and short-lived. A few things are worth a message. I explain the full range of effects in my guide to what is normal and what is not after Thermage.
- On track: mild redness or warmth that settles within a day or so, slight tenderness, skin that slowly feels firmer over the months.
- Message us: blistering, a spot that stays painful or darkens, swelling that grows rather than settles, or numbness that does not ease.
Faces where I expect only a subtle after
Thermage firms skin; it does not replace lost volume or lift heavy, deeply sagging tissue. If your face looks hollow rather than loose, or the sagging is marked, I will tell you that the after will be subtle and suggest we talk about other options first. I also postpone treatment for pregnancy, an implanted electronic device, or active skin infection on the area.
Thermage is patience in a treatment room. If someone needs a visible change by next weekend, I would rather say so now than watch them wait for it.— Dr. Hyunji Kim, Delphic Clinic
If you are reading reviews to decide, check what shot count each reviewer had and when they wrote. My post on reading Thermage Korea reviews like a doctor who counts the shots walks through that.
Verified Google reviews
4.7 · 260 Google reviewsI received ONDA lifting and Juvelook Skin treatment at Delpic Clinic. Before the procedure, Dr. K carefully examined my skin condition and explained everything in a kind and easy-to-understand way, which made me feel very comfortable and reassured. During the treatment, I could really tell that Dr. K was highly skilled, so I felt confident and at ease throughout the entire process. Overall, I was very satisfied with my experience. It’s definitely a clinic I would love to visit again.
I had a really great experience at Delphic Clinic. The staff were very friendly and made me feel comfortable from the moment I walked in. They explained everything clearly in English and didn’t try to oversell unnecessary treatments, which I really appreciated. The clinic is very clean and modern, and the whole process felt professional and well-organized. Overall, I would definitely recommend this clinic, especially if you’re a foreigner looking for a trustworthy place in Korea.
Bring your photos and your timeline to a free one-to-one consultation. I will look at your skin, tell you what kind of after is realistic for your face, and whether Thermage is the right choice at all. English and Chinese interpreters are on site, international patients pay the same price as Korean patients, and we are one minute from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station.
Get a free 1:1 consultation
Message our English-speaking team — same price as locals, no pressure.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Thermage take to show results?
Some patients feel the skin tighten slightly on the day, but the main change comes from collagen remodelling, which builds gradually over the following months. I ask patients to compare photos at around three months and again later, not in the first week.
Why do I look the same a week after Thermage?
Because the collagen response has only just started. The early tightness is mostly the immediate effect of heat on existing collagen. Looking unchanged at one week is normal and not a sign the treatment failed.
Is eye Thermage before and after different from the face?
Yes. Eye Thermage treats the upper and lower lid skin, so the change is usually smoother, firmer lid skin and slightly less crepiness rather than a changed jawline. The timeline is similarly gradual.
Can Thermage results be seen in photos?
Often they can, but only if your before and after photos are taken in the same light, angle and expression. Photos taken differently can show more or less change than really happened.
What does Thermage FLX cost at Delphic?
Thermage FLX 600 shots is 2,800,000 won and eye Thermage FLX is 1,800,000 won for 225 shots or 2,800,000 won for 450 shots at list price, with first-visit trial prices available. Everyone pays the same price, local or international.
Written by
Dr. Hyunji Kim
Dr. Hyunji Kim is the director and lead physician at Delphic Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul. She trained at Korea University Medical Center and personally performs consultations and procedures for both local and international patients.
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