Ultherapy FAQ: Common Questions Answered

Published studies document improvement through their defined follow-up periods, often 180 days; some small studies report selected measures to 9–12 months, but they do not establish a universal duration. Retrospective data found 67% of subjects showed blinded-reviewer improvement and 77.7% physician-rated improvement at 180 days after a single MFU-V session, with no association between outcome and age or Fitzpatrick skin type. Ultherapy is not permanent. Maintenance timing is separate from efficacy duration and should be decided only after an individual reassessment.^[1]

Source: Fabi SG, Goldman MP. (2014).

Honestly: yes, it is uncomfortable, particularly at the deeper 4.5 mm depth over bony zones like the jawline. Most clinics use a combination of topical anesthetic cream, oral analgesia, and sometimes a short course of an anxiolytic to manage this. Pain tolerance varies more than most people expect; in a Singapore Asia-Pacific case series of 30 patients receiving an updated Ultherapy Prime protocol, mean pain score was 4.50 out of 10 with treatment described as well tolerated. The consultation will discuss the anesthesia plan that fits you. Discomfort can occur during and after treatment.^[3]

Source: Lim J, Siew TW, Xu Y. (2025).

For most patients, one well-mapped session is used before the result is reassessed. A second session is not an automatic continuation of the first: maintenance timing is separate from efficacy duration and is decided after an individual examination. Patients who want a stronger initial change are sometimes better served by a combination plan (for example, MFU-V plus a thread lift or RF microneedling) rather than repeated MFU-V sessions in quick succession.

A small day-of effect, mild tightening from the immediate thermal contraction, is visible to some patients. The real result builds slowly as new collagen forms. Changes develop over the following months; arrange result assessment with the clinician. Photographs in consistent lighting are the most reliable way to track it.

Yes, and combinations are common. Thread lifts can be performed before MFU-V or some weeks after, depending on the plan. Dermal filler placed recently changes the focal-path planning for MFU-V, so the order matters; the dermatologist will sequence treatments based on what you have had and what you want next. Patients who want broader dermal collagen stimulation alongside MFU-V's deeper SMAS work sometimes layer in other energy-based modalities: that decision is made in person at consultation.

Common, transient effects include redness, mild swelling for one to three days, and occasional bruising at the jawline. In a 52-patient open-label trial in Fitzpatrick III–VI skin, three reported adverse events (raised mild edema in two patients, moderately severe prolonged erythema with mild scabbing in one) all resolved by day 90 without sequelae. Reported adverse events include temporary numbness in a specific facial zone, transient weakness in a facial muscle, and small areas of skin sensitivity that resolve over weeks. Postmarketing reports also include nodules and fat or volume loss; their frequency is uncertain.^[2]

Source: Harris MO, Sundaram HA. (2015).

Published MFU-V studies include Fitzpatrick III–VI skin, and focused ultrasound does not target melanin in the way a surface pigment laser does. That evidence supports use across a broad range of skin tones, but it does not make treatment risk-free: temporary redness, swelling, tenderness, bruising or altered sensation can occur, and an in-person assessment is still required.^[2,4,3]

Source: Harris MO, Sundaram HA. (2015); Park JY, Hong W, Lee KC, et al. (2025); Lim J, Siew TW, Xu Y. (2025).

It does not, and a clinician who tells you it does is overselling. MFU-V is a non-surgical tightening and modest-lift treatment for patients with mild to moderate laxity. A surgical lift addresses skin redundancy and deeper tissue repositioning at a level no non-surgical device can match. The right framing is that MFU-V is one tool in the lifting category: well-suited for the right candidate, but not a replacement for surgery when surgery is what the patient actually needs.

International patients can discuss allowing three to five days in Seoul around treatment with the treating clinician. Day one is for consultation and treatment; day two allows rest; the remaining days allow any post-treatment check the dermatologist requests and some flexibility if swelling persists. A consensus from seven Korean dermatology clinics describes MFU-V line counts and depth sequencing for Korean male facial anatomy. A general appointment request does not require photographs. An optional photo and medication review can help with preliminary travel planning, but it cannot confirm candidacy; final diagnosis and treatment decisions follow an in-person examination.^[4]

Source: Park JY, Hong W, Lee KC, et al. (2025).

A study of 19 women used two HIFU sessions and six low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser sessions. Neck sagging and chest wrinkle scores improved, with 84% satisfaction at week 16. These HIFU findings do not establish outcomes for an MFU-V combination.^[5]

Source: Nam JH, Choi YJ, Lim JY, Min JH, Kim WS. (2016).

Disclose everything at consultation, including non-prescription supplements. Anticoagulants, recent or planned cosmetic surgery, autoimmune skin conditions, prior fillers (especially permanent fillers), keloid history, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and active facial infections all change the plan or postpone it. The treating clinician assesses suitability based on medical history and an in-person examination.

Korean dermatology clinics commonly accept payment in KRW by card or cash. Some accept advance deposits. Confirm accepted payment methods, the deposit policy, and total tax-inclusive fees with the treating clinic before booking.

Delight Dermatology Clinic accepts consultation requests without a photograph. Photo review is optional and provides preliminary guidance only; final candidacy is decided after an in-person examination.