What Is Thermage MAX? Wells Dermatology’s Elasticity Design—Different from Standard Thermage

Hello.

I’m Lee Won-shin, a dermatologist with 23 years of experience.

When consulting with patients about Thermage, there are several questions I hear most often.

“Does Thermage really work?”

“It’s an expensive procedure—can I be satisfied after just one treatment?”

“Is more shots always better?”

Thermage is a representative skin-tightening treatment that many people have chosen over the years.

However, even among people who receive the same Thermage treatment, some are highly satisfied while others feel that the results were less noticeable than expected.

I do not believe this difference is caused solely by the equipment used.

Ultimately, Thermage is a treatment in which the key factor is how safely and efficiently collagen in the dermal layer is stimulated.

Today, focusing on Thermage MAX performed at Wells Dermatology, I would like to explain the criteria you should be sure to consider when thinking about Thermage.

Contents

1. The key to Thermage is collagen regeneration.

2. Energy design is more important than the number of shots.

3. What makes Thermage MAX different?

4. People who may wish to consider Thermage MAX.

1. The key to Thermage is collagen regeneration

Thermage is a treatment that delivers radiofrequency (RF) energy to the dermal layer of the skin to provide thermal stimulation.

This thermal stimulation causes changes in the collagen fibers within the skin and helps induce the production of new collagen over time.

Put simply, it is a process that stimulates the skin to reorganize its loosened elasticity structure.

Therefore, rather than simply lifting the face upward, Thermage is closer to an anti-aging treatment that improves the skin’s density and elasticity.

It may be helpful for people whose skin has become thinner and developed more fine lines,

whose facial contours have begun to look less defined,

or whose skin has become drier and less resilient than before.

However, there is an important prerequisite.

For collagen regeneration to occur, sufficient energy must be delivered to the dermal layer.

If the energy is too weak, stimulation may be delivered but the actual change may be limited,

while excessively strong energy may increase the burden of pain or skin irritation.

Ultimately, Thermage is not about “how strongly the energy is delivered.”

The key is designing sufficient stimulation within the range that your skin can tolerate.

2. Energy design is more important than the number of shots

When researching Thermage, the number of shots is what many people compare first.

Whether it is 600 or 900 shots, and how much it costs, often becomes the basis for their decision.

Of course, the number of shots is also important.

However, having more shots does not necessarily guarantee better results.

Even with the same 600 shots, the results may vary depending on which areas receive the energy, in what direction, and at what intensity.

Delivering excessively strong energy to someone with thin, sensitive skin may increase the burden, while using energy that is too weak for someone with thicker skin and clearly reduced elasticity may lead to lower satisfaction.

In other words, Thermage is not a treatment in which a predetermined number of shots is simply completed.

The practitioner must assess skin thickness, the degree of reduced elasticity, sensitivity to pain, and facial structure before deciding how to distribute and deliver the energy.

I explain it to my patients this way.

Thermage is similar to making clothes from the same fabric.

Even with good fabric, the clothes will not fit properly if the person’s body shape is not taken into account.

Thermage is the same.

Even when high-quality equipment is used, natural and satisfying results can be expected only when the treatment design and energy plan are tailored to the condition of the skin.

3. What makes Thermage MAX different?

Thermage MAX at Wells Dermatology is not simply a program that uses stronger energy.

The key is creating an environment in which highly efficient energy can be delivered safely to skin that requires stronger stimulation.

Thermage requires sufficient energy delivery for a collagen regeneration response to be expected.

However, as the energy level increases, the burden of pain, heat, and skin irritation may also increase.

That is why Thermage MAX begins by examining the condition of the skin and carefully designing how much energy should be applied to each area.

Sufficient stimulation is provided to areas that need it, while areas where excessive stimulation may be burdensome are adjusted accordingly.

An approach that takes into account the protection of collagen cells and the skin environment is also considered.

Strong thermal stimulation may serve as a signal for collagen regeneration, but excessive thermal stress may instead place a burden on the skin.

Therefore, Thermage MAX is not simply “Thermage performed more intensely.”

It can be understood as a protocol that balances effectiveness and safety through analysis of the skin’s condition and customized energy design.

This is also why we have researched and developed Thermage MAX.

Our goal is to identify not only visible changes but also the biological changes taking place within the skin, and to incorporate those findings into clinical care.

Skin aging cannot be explained simply by the depth of wrinkles or the degree of sagging.

It is connected in complex ways to the skin barrier, inflammatory responses, collagen metabolism, and the skin microbiome environment.

For this reason, we view Thermage not simply as a skin-tightening procedure, but as a precise anti-aging treatment aimed at reversing the signs of skin age.

4. People who may wish to consider Thermage MAX

Thermage MAX is often suitable for people concerned about reduced skin elasticity.

It may be considered by people whose entire face looks drier and more tired than before,

whose fine lines have increased and skin texture has become looser,

whose cheeks and jawline have begun to lose elasticity,

or who want natural improvement in skin elasticity without surgery.

People who have previously received Thermage but were disappointed with the results should also have their current skin condition reassessed.

This is because it is necessary to determine whether the insufficient results were due to the number of shots, the energy intensity, or issues with skin preparation and treatment design.

However, Thermage MAX is not the right answer for everyone.

For people with more advanced sagging in the deeper layers, ultrasound lifting such as Ultherapy may be more suitable,

while for people concerned about lower-face fat and a double chin, combining treatment with Onda MAX may be a better approach.

Conversely, for people with very thin or sensitive skin, the energy intensity and treatment area must be adjusted even more carefully.

Ultimately, the important question is not “Should I have Thermage?”

It is whether Thermage is appropriate for your skin and, if so, how it should be performed.

In closing

Thermage is certainly a good piece of equipment.

However, using good equipment alone does not guarantee good results.

The number of shots, energy, pain, skin thickness, degree of aging, and facial structure must all be considered together to expect a result with a high level of satisfaction.

Thermage MAX at Wells Dermatology is not simply a treatment performed with greater intensity.

It is a precise elasticity-focused program that analyzes the condition of the skin and designs customized energy delivery for the areas that need it.

The more expensive the treatment, the more carefully you should make your decision.

Rather than comparing only prices or the number of shots, we recommend checking whether the provider can fully understand your skin and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Just as skin elasticity does not disappear overnight, its recovery also requires accurate diagnosis and consistent care.

If you are curious about Thermage MAX, you may wish to first have your current skin condition assessed and then receive a consultation about an anti-aging approach suited to you.

Thank you for reading this long post.

This has been Lee Won-shin of Wells Dermatology.

[Related reading]

Best 1. Introduction

Best 2. Thermage MAX Research Results Revealed

Best 3. 2026 Thermage Seoul Roadshow

Wells Dermatology Main Telephone (Click the number below to connect)
02 - 542 - 2372

Clinic Hours
Weekdays 10:00 ~ 20:00
Saturdays 10:00 ~ 17:00
Lunch 13:00 ~ 14:00
Closed on Sundays and public holidays

This post was written directly by Wells Dermatology Clinic and complies with Article 56(1) of the Medical Service Act and all other laws concerning medical advertising.

All surgeries and procedures may be accompanied by side effects depending on the individual. Please receive sufficient information and guidance from a medical professional before carefully deciding whether to undergo a procedure.