What Should You Check for Sagging Skin in Seocho-gu Lifting?

Hello, this is the Gangnam branch of Lee Jiham Dermatology.

Today, I’d like to share the story of a patient I met during an outpatient consultation. I thought many of you reading this might have similar concerns.

I hope this article will be practically helpful for those who feel uncomfortable looking in the mirror because of sagging skin, or those who are researching lifting procedures but feel unsure about which one to choose. If you are considering a Seocho-gu lifting procedure, I hope you’ll stay with this article until the end.

At Lee Jiham Dermatology, we view dermatologic care not as simple treatment, but as “a process of completing your beauty.” Since every skin type is different, we believe our role is to provide diagnosis and solutions tailored to each person’s skin.

The patient was a woman in her mid-40s. When she first entered the consultation room, I could sense that she hesitated for a moment before beginning to speak. Then, carefully, she said, “Doctor, my face feels unfamiliar to me these days.”

She said that as her cheeks had started to sag, the nasolabial folds had become deeper, and her jawline no longer looked as defined as it used to. She said she was shocked after seeing a photo taken with other mothers at a school event for her children. She described it not as her skin simply being bad, but as a feeling that something was “collapsing” downward. That really resonated with me. Skin does not suddenly become worse one day; rather, as it gradually gives way to gravity little by little, one day it becomes a face that feels unfamiliar.

I carefully examined the patient’s skin condition. The skin texture itself was not bad, but the elasticity had decreased, and the subcutaneous fat layer and fascia layer had become loosened. In cases like this, simply adding moisture or caring for the surface has its limits. It was a situation that required an approach capable of bringing about change from deeper layers.

Thermage FLX: What Happens Deep Inside the Skin?

When many people look into lifting procedures, they often first think of ultrasound-based devices. But if you take a closer look at the causes of sagging skin, you’ll find that an approach using RF (radio frequency) energy plays a very important role.

Thermage FLX is a device that delivers RF energy to the deeper layers of the skin, causing collagen fibers in the dermis to contract and inducing new collagen production. To use a simple analogy, it works a bit like using heat to restore an old, stretched-out rubber band to a firmer state. The key, however, is to deliver thermal energy precisely to the desired depth while minimizing irritation to the skin surface.

One of the most fundamental reasons sagging occurs is a decrease in collagen and elastin. Starting in our 20s, the body’s collagen production gradually begins to decline, and by the 40s, that rate accelerates further. When factors such as UV exposure, stress, lack of sleep, and rapid weight changes are added on top of that, the very structure that supports the skin becomes weakened. If you understand this first when considering a Seocho-gu lifting procedure, it becomes much clearer what direction of approach is needed.

Thermage FLX is also notable in that it can provide a tightening effect across the entire face with a single treatment, and it can be applied broadly regardless of skin type or the amount of pigmentation present. Since the effects appear over time as collagen regenerates rather than immediately after the procedure, it is important to move slowly with the skin’s changes rather than feeling rushed.

Approaches to Consider Along with Thermage FLX

When explaining this to patients, I never look at just one procedure in isolation. Skin sagging is not caused by a single factor but by a combination of multiple elements, so after accurately diagnosing the skin condition, it is important to find the most suitable direction together.

Thermage FLX induces collagen regeneration in deeper layers through RF energy. Ultrasound lifting devices such as Doublelo Gold, Vero, and Shurink use HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) to concentrate energy up to the fascia layer known as the SMAS layer. Because these two approaches act at different depths and through different mechanisms, they are sometimes planned together depending on the case. Which combination is appropriate depends on skin thickness, the degree of sagging, and the state of skin elasticity.

In addition, combining skin booster treatments can create synergy. Skin boosters such as Juvelook or Rejuran, which help improve skin hydration and elasticity, can also support skin texture and radiance while lifting procedures help organize the skin’s structure. Lifting that provides structural support and skin boosters that replenish moisture within the skin serve different roles, so they are approached in a complementary way. The important thing is that all of these approaches should aim for “naturalness without overdoing it.” That is exactly what we at Lee Jiham Dermatology always emphasize.

How You Manage Your Skin After the Procedure Makes a Difference in the Results

Post-procedure care after lifting treatments, including Thermage FLX, is just as important as the procedure itself. Right after treatment, the skin is more sensitive, so there are a few things you should make sure to follow. The most important thing is sun protection. Carefully applying a sunscreen with SPF50+ helps prevent post-procedure pigmentation and supports collagen regeneration without interference.

For about a week after the procedure, it is best to avoid activities that rapidly raise body temperature, such as saunas, jjimjilbang, and intense exercise. In addition, maintaining adequate hydration and moisturizing care consistently, getting regular sleep, and not smoking are lifestyle habits that affect the quality of the results.

Just as skin did not deteriorate overnight, recovery also happens through a steady process. Even after the procedure, it is wise to continue monitoring skin condition and, when needed, plan the next steps together. Rather than thinking of Seocho-gu lifting as something to finish in one session, how about viewing it as a journey you take with your skin over the long term?

A Word from the Director to Patients

Skin is always honest. Lifestyle habits, stress, age, and the environment are all steadily recorded in the skin. That is why, when seeing patients, I try not to look only at the skin in this present moment. I also try to understand what kind of life they have lived and what concerns they have brought with them.

For any procedure, including Seocho-gu lifting, the first thing needed is an honest diagnosis. Just as every skin type is different, the necessary approach is different as well. Lee Jiham Dermatology will continue to provide honest and careful care so that it can be a place you can trust for a long time, rather than just for one treatment.

We will continue listening to each patient’s story without change, so that when you have a skin concern, our name is the first one that comes to mind.

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