Ulthera vs Thermage: Five Patient Situations and the One I Would Choose for Each
Dr. Hyunji Kim
2026-09-298 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 am a member of the Korean Academy of Aesthetic Surgery & Laser Medicine and the Korean Filler Society, among others. Lifting, laser and anti-ageing care make up my days, and I plan and perform both Ultherapy and Thermage FLX myself.
Ulthera vs Thermage is the lifting question I hear most often from international patients, sometimes several times in one afternoon. Most of them have already read the technical comparisons and still can't decide, because the comparisons describe machines, not faces. So here I do the opposite: five situations I see all the time, and which one I would actually choose for each.
Why patients type Ulthera, not Ultherapy
Ulthera is the device, Ultherapy the treatment, and in Korea the two names are used interchangeably. If you have seen "Ulthera" on one Seoul menu and "Ultherapy" on another, they are describing the same treatment. At Delphic we use the current generation, Ultherapy Prime.
The core difference, depth, is explained in my Thermage vs Ultherapy guide, and how Korean patients schedule Thermage in their year is in my piece on Korean Thermage. This page starts where those end: with you.
Five faces, five answers
Situation one: "My jawline has gone soft"
When the jowl sits below the jawline and the neck angle has blurred, the laxity is deep. That is Ulthera territory. I plan more lines along the jaw and fewer over any hollow area.
Situation two: "My skin looks crinkly, like tissue paper"
If the face shape is still good but the skin surface has loosened, Thermage usually suits better. Its RF heat tightens the skin broadly and prompts new collagen over the following months.
Situation three: "My eyelids are getting heavy"
Thin, crepey eyelid skin responds well to eye Thermage, which uses its own tip. If the heaviness is mostly excess skin, however, no energy device will fold it away, and I will say so.
Situation four: "I'm slim and my face looks tired"
In a thin face with hollow cheeks, tightening can make the hollows look deeper. Here I often recommend neither at first, and restore volume or skin quality before any lifting.
Situation five: "I have both"
Some faces have a deep sag and loose surface skin at the same time. Then combining them can make sense, with each device placed where it belongs rather than both everywhere.
What each one feels like on the day
Ulthera is felt as a deeper, sharper sensation, strongest over bony areas like the jawline. Thermage comes as waves of heat followed by cooling. Neither is painless, and both are adjusted as we go. An Ultherapy session takes roughly 30 to 90 minutes depending on area, and both let you go back to normal activities the same day.
Ulthera vs Thermage on a short Seoul trip
Because both allow same-day return, either fits a short trip. What differs is when you see the result: both build gradually as collagen remodels, so the face you fly home with is not the final one. If you are timing this before an event, plan it weeks ahead, not days. How the Ultherapy side settles, week by week, is in my Ultherapy recovery and aftercare guide.
Here are both price tables side by side. International patients pay exactly what Korean patients pay.
| EYE Ultherapy Prime 200 shots | ₩1,350,000$980 |
| FACE Ultherapy Prime 300 shots | ₩1,350,000$980 |
| Ultherapy Prime 300 shots (First-visit trial) | ₩940,000$680 |
| Ultherapy Prime 100 shots | ₩450,000$330 |
| 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 |
I don't choose between Ulthera and Thermage. Your face does; my job is to read it correctly.— Dr. Hyunji Kim, Delphic Clinic
When neither is the right call
- Significant excess skin, especially on the eyelids or neck. Energy devices tighten; they do not remove skin.
- Marked volume loss. Tightening a hollow face can make it look more tired.
- Expectations of a surgical facelift. Both firm gradually; neither replaces surgery.
- A one-off trip for a small concern. The travel may cost more than the treatment is worth to you.
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.
Book a free 1:1 consultation and I will examine where your laxity sits and tell you which one you need, both, or neither, before anything is booked. English and Chinese interpreters are on site, international patients pay the same price as Korean patients, and we are one minute from Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 3.
Get a free 1:1 consultation
Message our English-speaking team — same price as locals, no pressure.
Frequently asked questions
Ulthera vs Thermage: which is better?
Neither is better in general; they work at different depths. Ulthera (Ultherapy) focuses ultrasound energy down to the SMAS layer and suits sagging, especially along the jaw. Thermage uses RF heat in the dermis and subcutaneous layers and suits loose, crepey skin. Which one suits you depends on where your laxity sits.
Is Ulthera the same as Ultherapy?
Yes, in practice. Ulthera is the name of the device and Ultherapy is the treatment name, and many patients in Korea use them interchangeably. At Delphic we use Ultherapy Prime.
Which is better for hooded or crepey eyelids, Ulthera or Thermage?
For thin, crepey skin around the eyes, I usually reach for eye Thermage, which has its own tip and shot options. Eye Ultherapy is also available, and I choose between them after examining the eye area.
Which hurts more, Ulthera or Thermage?
Patients usually describe Ulthera as a deeper, sharper sensation over bony areas, and Thermage as waves of heat. Both are adjusted as we go, and both allow a same-day return to normal activities.
Can I do Ulthera and Thermage on the same trip to Seoul?
Sometimes, when your face has both deep sagging and loose surface skin. I decide that only after examining you, and I will tell you if one of them is enough.
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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