Is More Always Better? The Difference Between 300 and 600 Thermage Shots

If more shots really mean

better results, let's start

with that question.

'Doctor, will 300 shots be enough for me, or should I get 600 shots?' Many people ask me this.

I’m 이유득, and I provide consultations and treatment at 이지함피부과.

Today, I’d like to carefully address the concerns of those who have wondered whether more is better when it comes to the difference between 300 and 600 Thermage shots.

By the end of this post, you’ll be able to assess for yourself what criteria suit your skin, without being swayed by the numbers. Let me begin with the story of someone I met in the consultation room recently.

'If I get more shots, it must be better,'

I understand that feeling, too.

A woman who had just turned fifty

came to see me.

She said that the contour of her cheeks

was no longer what it used to be,

and that she had been receiving

various treatments for several years.

However, she looked tired as she said,

'Even after going to a dermatology clinic

for five years, it seems to look better

only for a short while.'

People around her told her,

'If you’re going to have it done anyway,

go for the higher number of shots,'

while someone else said,

'Even a smaller number is enough,'

so she said she didn’t know

whom to believe.

Above all, she was very worried

that she might be wasting money

by getting more shots than necessary.

I could fully understand

how she felt.

Thermage is easy to understand

if you think of ironing.

First, let me briefly explain

what kind of treatment Thermage is.

Thermage is a lifting treatment that delivers

radiofrequency energy to the dermal layer

inside the skin, warming loosened collagen

and helping it tighten again.

In simple terms, it is similar to how

a wrinkled shirt becomes smooth

when heat is applied while ironing it.

When heat reaches the skin, collagen contracts,

and the process of new collagen gradually

building up over time is anticipated.

That is why, before discussing

the difference between 300 and 600 Thermage shots,

you first need to understand

what a 'shot' means.

Here, a shot refers to one instance

of delivering heat.

The number of shots is ultimately

a matter of coverage.

So what does it mean

to have more shots?

I often compare it to wallpapering a wall.

Just as the amount of wallpaper needed

differs between covering one small wall

and covering an entire house,

the number of shots is ultimately connected

with how large an area is being treated.

It may help to think of 300 shots

as focusing on specific areas such as

the eye area, forehead, or part of the cheeks,

while 600 shots may cover the entire face

and extend to the neck.

In other words, the difference between

300 and 600 Thermage shots is closer to

a difference in the area being treated

than a difference in intensity.

It is similar to how applying twice as much wallpaper

by layering it over a small wall

does not make the wall more beautiful.

Let's reconsider the idea

that more is always better.

The statement that 'more shots are always better'

is worth examining again.

Everyone has a different face size,

different areas where sagging has begun,

and different skin thickness.

For someone concerned about a limited area,

recommending an unnecessarily large number

of shots over a wider area may not be appropriate.

There is one more thing I want to emphasize:

because Thermage is a treatment that uses heat,

you may feel warmth and brief stinging

during the procedure.

These sensations are a natural part of the process,

and if the discomfort is significant,

numbing cream can be applied beforehand.

Ultimately, the criteria for choosing between

300 and 600 Thermage shots should not be

the 'number,' but 'your skin and the area

being treated.'

Please also remember that the degree of change

and how long it lasts may vary from person to person.

This is what I explained to her.

For the woman I mentioned earlier,

we first confirmed that the area

that concerned her most was the cheek contour.

Rather than treating the entire face,

we focused on the midface where she felt sagging

and discussed the number of shots

that suited that area.

Instead of automatically recommending

a larger number, I told her,

'Let’s calmly focus first on the area

that concerns you most right now.'

Her expression became much more relaxed.

A few days later, she told me,

'I feel relieved now that I’m not being pressured

by the numbers.'

Of course, because the changes each person feels

can differ, we decided to take our time

and observe how her skin responded.

What to consider before the number.

To summarize,

the difference between 300 and 600 Thermage shots

is not about having 'more or fewer shots.'

It is about 'which areas of your face

should be treated, and to what extent.'

I hope you will remember today

that a larger number does not necessarily

mean better results.

I believe that a comfortable, natural-looking face

lasts longer than an excessive change.

That is why, within honest consultations

and proven treatments,

I consider it most important to find together

the criteria that suit each person’s skin.

I hope today’s story will offer

a small clue to those who have been

anxious about the numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answered directly by Dr. 이유득

Q1. What is the difference

between 300 and 600 shots?

A. In short, it is a difference

in the area being treated.

Think of 300 shots as focusing on specific areas

such as the eye area, forehead, or cheeks,

while 600 shots covers a wider area,

including the entire face and neck.

Please understand it as an expansion

of the treatment area, not an increase in intensity.

Q2. So is a larger number of shots

always better?

A. Not necessarily.

Because face size, areas of sagging,

and skin thickness differ from person to person,

if you are concerned about a limited area,

it may be more suitable to focus on that area.

I believe the first step is to look at

'which area is concerning you,'

rather than the number.

Q3. Is Thermage very painful?

A. Because it is a treatment that uses heat,

you may feel warmth and brief stinging

during the procedure.

It is generally tolerable,

but if you are sensitive to such sensations,

numbing cream can be applied beforehand.

Q4. What are the benefits of receiving

Thermage treatment at a dermatology clinic?

A. The area and coverage can be determined

after examining your skin condition

and the areas of sagging.

Even with the same treatment,

the coverage can be adjusted to suit your face,

which may feel more reassuring

than deciding based only on an arbitrary number.

However, please also remember

that the changes you experience may vary

from person to person.

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