3 Things to Know to See Results from Thermage in Hongdae

Hello. I’m Wonjin Cho, the director of Chai Clinic, where I have been providing dermatological care in Hongdae for 10 years.

Why is Thermage so cheap here?

Is it really reliable?

Thermage is considered one of the more expensive lifting treatments.

However, when you look into it, you may find cases where the price is significantly lower despite being the same Thermage treatment.

“Since it’s the same Thermage anyway, wouldn’t it be fine to get it at the cheaper clinic?”

You may find yourself thinking this.

However, I have seen quite a few people make their decision based only on price, fail to see results, and then undergo another treatment or look into other procedures.

There is a clear reason why prices vary from clinic to clinic, even when the treatment has the same name.

Today, I’ll explain the three things you must check if you want to see results from Thermage in Hongdae.

I provide treatments safely based on completion of the Thermage Master Course.

Table of Contents

1. Is it an authentic Thermage device?

2. Are authentic tips used, and are they new?

3. Is the number of shots sufficient and appropriate for your face?

4. Is it an authentic Thermage device?

First, you need to check whether the device itself is an authentic Thermage device.

Thermage is a treatment that delivers monopolar radiofrequency (RF) energy to the dermal layer, immediately contracting collagen and then inducing regeneration.

The latest authentic model currently available is Thermage FLX.

The problem is that some clinics advertise other radiofrequency devices based on similar principles as being “like Thermage,” or describe them vaguely.

Similar principles do not necessarily mean identical results.

Each device differs in output stability, safety features, and the clinical evidence supporting its effects.

Therefore, the first step during your consultation is to check whether the Thermage device used in Hongdae is an authentic FLX.

2. Are authentic tips used, and are they new?

In fact, this is where most of the price difference is determined.

The “tip” attached during a Thermage treatment is disposable, and each tip has a set number of shots it can deliver.

So, there are two things you need to check.

First, is it an authentic tip?

Authentic tips have an authentication code, and the device automatically counts the number of shots.

This allows you to verify whether you actually received the number of shots you were supposed to receive.

If you look at the Thermage monitor in the photo above, the number of shots being delivered during the treatment is displayed.

Second, is an unopened tip opened in front of you?

Some clinics reduce costs by reusing disposable tips or sharing one tip among multiple people.

This can result in an insufficient number of shots and hygiene concerns.

You should be especially cautious about places where the price is unusually low.

Authentic tips have a set cost, so if a new authentic tip is properly used, it is difficult to reduce the price indefinitely.

If the price is still exceptionally low, there is a high possibility that costs have been cut by compromising on the tip.

That can directly lead to a difference in results.

During your consultation, it is perfectly reasonable to ask to see the authentic tip box or authentication yourself.

3. Is the number of shots sufficient and appropriate for your face?

Once you have checked the tip, the next thing to consider is the number of shots.

When treating the entire face, around 600 shots is generally used as a baseline, with adjustments made according to the degree of sagging and the treatment areas.

However, do not misunderstand this point: receiving as many shots as possible is not always the answer.

An excessive number of shots only increases the cost burden and does not necessarily lead directly to better results.

Conversely, too few shots may lead to a result that makes you feel the treatment was hardly worthwhile, leaving you with the misconception that “Thermage is not very effective.”

The key is to allocate an appropriate number of shots while considering the characteristics of each area.

If 600 shots are mechanically distributed evenly across the entire face, the areas that actually need treatment may not receive enough shots, preventing the desired results from appearing properly.

Meanwhile, areas that do not need as many shots may receive too much energy, which can lead to different results.

Therefore, it is best to find a clinic that explains where shots are needed and why that number is appropriate.

The best approach is to check whether the doctor performing the treatment conducts the consultation personally.

If a consultation staff member only explains the fixed number of shots included in a package, and the doctor performing the treatment sees your face for the first time only after you lie on the treatment table, it is difficult to create a proper treatment plan for each area.

The person designing the treatment and the person performing it should be the same.

That way, judgments such as “This area has many fine lines and responds well to regenerative treatment, so let’s concentrate the shots here” can be directly reflected in the procedure.

Therefore, during your consultation, check whether the doctor personally examines and touches your face and explains which areas need how many shots, and why.

The more specific this explanation is, the more likely it is that the treatment will be performed with the same level of precision.

As Thermage can be painful, many people ask about sedation.

I do not recommend sedation.

There are research findings showing that improvement may be much better when the treatment is performed at an appropriate energy level while receiving real-time feedback, rather than simply increasing the energy.

You may be wondering, “How can I undergo it if it hurts?”

One option is to use a device called AirNox, which uses laughing gas to dull the sensation of pain. Considering this instead of sedation may be a good approach.

Using AirNox before a Thermage treatment can dull sensation and make the procedure much more comfortable.

Here is one more tip: with laser lifting devices, adjusting the energy is particularly important.

To carefully adjust the energy for each area, what is needed?

Yes, sufficient time must be set aside for each person, and there must be a system for managing the details in the patient chart.

I have written more about this in the article below, so if you are considering a lifting treatment, be sure to read it.

For Thermage in Hongdae, “how” matters more than “how much.”

The same Thermage treatment only delivers its proper value when it is performed using an authentic device, a new authentic tip, and an appropriate number of shots suited to your face.

So, do not look only at the number on the price list. Look at what is included in that price.

Is it an authentic device? Is a new authentic tip used? Is the number of shots sufficient and appropriate?

Simply checking these three things can help you achieve a much more satisfying result for the same cost.

Thank you. This was Wonjin Cho.