Does Lifting Hurt? Vivian's “Pain Tolerance Test” in Seoul, and What Her Doctor Tells Nervous First-Timers

“How much does it hurt?” is usually the second thing a first-time lifting patient asks me, right after the price. I'm Dr. Hyunji Kim, director of Delphic Clinic in Sinnonhyeon, Gangnam; I trained at Korea University Medical Center, and I consult and treat international patients myself. Vivian (@wisteria_voyage) from Vancouver turned that exact worry into her reel title. Her post doesn't name the device she had, so I won't guess. What I can do is explain how each lifting option on our menu feels, how we keep it tolerable, and who should not start with lifting at all.

Medically reviewed · Dr. Hyunji Kim · October 8, 2026

What Vivian's post tells us, and what it doesn't

Vivian's caption says she “finally tried lifting treatments in Seoul” and framed it as a pain tolerance test. It doesn't name the device, the energy or the area, so this page isn't a review of one treatment. It's my answer to the fear behind her title.

One detail she did mention matters to me: English-speaking staff explained everything. Fear of pain is half fear of the unknown, and a patient who knows what the next ten minutes will feel like tolerates them far better.

Why lifting is felt at all

Every lifting device works by delivering heat below the surface so the skin responds by renewing collagen. What you feel is that heat arriving. The question isn't whether you'll feel something, it's how deep the energy goes and how the surface is protected while it does.

1. 1

   Titanium — laser warmth, cooled tip

   Three wavelengths (755, 810 and 1064 nm) warm the dermis while a sapphire contact tip cools the surface to around −3°C. Most people describe warm pulses rather than sharp heat.

2. 2

   ONDA — deep warmth, cool surface

   Coolwaves™ microwaves act on the deeper fat layer while the skin surface stays cool. Patients usually describe a spreading warmth along the jaw and cheeks.

3. 3

   Ultherapy — focused, brief and deeper

   Focused ultrasound reaches the SMAS layer. It's felt as brief points of warmth as each line is delivered, and we apply numbing cream beforehand.

If you want the detail on each device, I've written a titanium lifting guide for first-timers and an explanation of how Ultherapy lifts sagging skin.

How I keep a nervous patient comfortable

• I set the energy area by area, not one number for the whole face. Bony areas like the jawline edge are usually where people feel most, so I adjust there.
• I ask how it feels as we go. You can tell me to pause at any moment, and an interpreter is in the room if you'd rather say it in your own language.
• No anaesthetic injections are needed for these devices. Numbing cream is used where it helps.
• If you're very anxious, I'd rather start with a lighter option this trip than push a stronger plan you'll dread repeating.

Which one I'd suggest for a first visit

For someone mainly worried about comfort, the choice follows the concern, not the reputation. If the skin itself has lost firmness, Titanium is a short, approachable first step. If the lower face looks heavy, ONDA works on the deeper layer. If sagging is the issue, Ultherapy reaches deepest, and that is the one where I spend the most time explaining what you'll feel.

ONDA's mechanism is covered in my first-timer guide to ONDA lifting, which is useful if a heavy jawline is your main reason for coming.

What a first lifting visit costs

These are example menu prices for the three devices above, at first-visit rates. They are not what Vivian paid; her post doesn't say. International patients pay exactly what Korean patients pay.

Shot counts and energy are decided at the consultation, so your quote may differ. For Ultherapy, I've explained how much Ultherapy costs in Korea and what drives the number.

Planning the visit around your nerves

1. 1

   Before you fly

   Message us on WhatsApp with a front and side photo and tell me honestly how you handle discomfort. That changes what I'll suggest.

2. 2

   On the day

   A 1:1 consultation with me first, then treatment the same day only if you feel ready. English and Chinese interpreters are on site.

3. 3

   Getting here

   We're a short walk from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam.

4. 4

   Afterwards

   Gentle skincare and sunscreen. If anything feels unusual, message us, even after you've flown home.