Omokgyo Dermatology: Ulthera and Thermage — How Many Shots Do You Actually Need to See the Right Results?

Hello, I’m Lim Young-soo, the chief doctor at Troy Plastic Surgery.

Many people considering Ulthera and Thermage in the Omokgyo or Mokdong area ask this question most often during consultations.

"How many shots are effective for Ulthera?"

"How many shots of Thermage are needed to feel satisfied?"

Ulthera, Thermage

Ulthera and Thermage are both well-known lifting devices, but to actually achieve effective results, choosing the right number of shots and energy settings is very important.

Today, I’ll give you the most practical and professional information about Ulthera and Thermage, including the correct shot settings and number of treatment sessions.

1. How are Ulthera and Thermage different?

2. How many shots of Ulthera are needed?

3. How many shots of Thermage are ideal?

4. Why is the number of shots important?

5. Why shot settings should differ depending on skin condition

6. How long do Ulthera and Thermage results last?

7. How to care for your skin after Ulthera and Thermage

8. Key points you must remember about Ulthera and Thermage

Ulthera, Thermage

1. How are Ulthera and Thermage different?

Both treatments share the basic goal of improving skin elasticity and sagging, but they differ in the depth of the skin they target and the way energy is delivered.

Feature	Ulthera (Ulthera)	Thermage (Thermage)
Energy used	High-intensity ultrasound (HIFU)	Radiofrequency (RF)
Target layer	SMAS layer (fascia layer, deep layer)	Dermis layer (surface layer)
Effect	Improves sagging and lifts facial contours	Improves skin texture, fine wrinkles, and elasticity

In other words, Ulthera is more suitable for strongly lifting sagging skin, while Thermage is more suitable for improving skin elasticity and fine wrinkles.

Ulthera, Thermage

2. How many shots of Ulthera are needed?

Ulthera is a method that uses ultrasound to deliver strong thermal energy deep into the SMAS layer, lifting sagging skin.

Ulthera, Thermage

In general, for the full face (including the forehead, cheeks, and jawline), at least 300 to 400 shots are recommended.

Depending on the skin condition, if there is significant sagging, an additional higher-shot treatment of 500 shots or more may be performed to intensively strengthen specific areas such as the cheeks and jawline.

In actual clinical practice, the following shot counts are commonly used:

Treatment area	Recommended number of shots
Full-face lifting	300–400 shots
Severe cheek sagging, jawline	500+ shots
Eye area, eyebrow lifting	100–150 shots

Important tip

Just having a higher number of shots does not necessarily mean better results.

Ultrasound must accurately and concentrically reach the SMAS layer for sagging improvement to occur.

Therefore, the skill of the medical staff is just as important as the number of shots.

Ulthera, Thermage

3. How many shots of Thermage are ideal?

Thermage uses radiofrequency (RF) to deliver energy to the dermis and promote collagen production.

The number of Thermage shots varies somewhat depending on skin condition and treatment area.

In general, full-face Thermage FLX treatment most commonly uses about 600 to 900 shots.

For cases with more severe sagging or when treating a larger area, up to 1200 shots may be used.

The average number of Thermage shots is as follows:

Treatment area Recommended number of shots

Treatment area	Recommended number of shots
Full face (basic)	600 shots
Full face (standard)	900 shots
Full face and neck (intensive)	1200 shots

Important tip

For Thermage, it is very important to maintain skin temperature and deliver energy consistently during treatment.

Rather than a large number of shots, even delivery and appropriate intensity improve satisfaction.

Ulthera, Thermage

4. Why is the number of shots important?

The lifting effect is proportional to collagen regeneration inside the skin and the amount of energy delivered.

If the number of shots is not appropriate, enough energy will not be delivered, making it difficult to achieve the desired result.

• If the number of shots is too low: the skin-improvement effect may be minimal or may not appear at all.

• If the number of shots is excessive: the skin may become overstimulated, recovery may be slower, or temporary redness may occur.

In the end, accurate shot setting is very important, and the most suitable number of shots must be determined according to each person’s skin condition and degree of sagging.

Ulthera, Thermage

5. Why shot settings should differ depending on skin condition

If the skin is thin and sensitive, too many shots will place a burden on the skin.

In such cases, the number of shots should be adjusted appropriately to minimize irritation while still achieving results.

If the skin sagging is severe or the skin is thick, enough energy must be delivered to deeper layers of the skin with more shots than usual.

6. How long do Ulthera and Thermage results last?

Ulthera: The effect lasts for about 2 years after the procedure. Retreatment is recommended every 1 to 2 years.

Thermage: An immediate improvement in skin elasticity appears, and the average duration is about 1 year. Repeated treatments over time can provide longer-term results.

Ulthera, Thermage

7. How to care for your skin after Ulthera and Thermage

To maintain good results for a long time, be sure to follow these guidelines for both treatments.

1. Be thorough with sun protection: Ultraviolet rays can interfere with collagen production and worsen sagging.

2. Keep the skin well moisturized: If the skin becomes dry after treatment, regeneration may slow down and results may worsen.

3. Soothe the skin: During the first 1 to 2 weeks after treatment, it is best not to irritate the skin and to keep it well soothed.

Ulthera, Thermage

8. Ulthera and Thermage: Key points to remember

Item	Ulthera	Thermage
Recommended number of shots	Average of 300–500+ shots	Average of 600–1200 shots
Target layer	SMAS layer (deep layer)	Dermis layer (surface layer)
Effect	Improves sagging, improves contours	Improves skin elasticity, improves skin texture
Duration	1–2 years	About 1 year

Choosing the right number of lifting shots requires an expert diagnosis

The most important part of Ulthera and Thermage is not simply whether the number of shots is high or low, but whether the treatment is performed with the correct number of shots based on the condition of your skin.

Ulthera, Thermage

Do not be swayed by the idea of simply getting more shots or cheaper shots; it is essential to receive an accurate skin diagnosis and shot setting through 충분한 consultation with a board-certified dermatologist.

I hope this information becomes a useful guideline for those considering Ulthera and Thermage.

Thank you.

Sincerely, Lim Young-soo, Chief Doctor of Troy Plastic Surgery