Lifting
Thermage in Korea: FLX Shot Counts, Eye Thermage and What It Costs in Gangnam
Medically reviewed byDr. Kim Ji-a DirectorPublished 6 min read
Thermage in Korea is one of the two treatments international patients message us about most, and the other is Ultherapy. We are Vellicell Clinic, on the third and fourth floors of OPUS 407 on Gangnam-daero, one minute on foot from Gangnam Station Exit 10, and Dr. Kim Ji-a is the only physician here — she consults, treats and gives the aftercare instructions herself.
By the end of this page you will know what Thermage FLX actually does, how eye Thermage differs from the face treatment, how a shot count is decided, what we charge for each option, and what the days after treatment look like if you are treating during a short trip.
What Thermage FLX is, and how it differs from Ultherapy
Thermage FLX is a monopolar radiofrequency device made by Solta Medical (manufacturer's site, accessed September 2026). The tip delivers radiofrequency energy that warms the deeper layer of the skin while the surface is cooled, and the skin responds over the following weeks by remodelling collagen. The FLX generation pairs each pulse with cooling and vibration, which is why most patients describe it as a hot snap rather than a sharp pain.
Ultherapy Prime is a different technology with a different target, and we have both on our lifting page. The comparison that matters is not which is stronger but which one matches what you dislike in the mirror.
| Thermage FLX | Ultherapy Prime | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Monopolar radiofrequency | Focused ultrasound |
| Works on | Broad dermal heating over an area | Specific depths, point by point |
| Usually chosen for | Skin tightness, texture, crepey eyelid skin | A softening jaw or cheek line |
| Counted in | Shots per tip | Shots per transducer |
Neither device removes fat, changes bone or replaces surgery. If your reference photo shows a structural change, we will say so at consultation rather than sell you shots that cannot reach it. Every procedure carries a possibility of side effects, and both the result and how long it lasts vary between individuals.
If ultrasound is the direction you are leaning towards, our separate guide on Ultherapy in Korea covers shot counts and prices in the same detail.
Who eye Thermage suits, and who it does not
Eye Thermage uses a smaller dedicated tip so energy can be delivered on the thin skin around the eye, including the upper lid area that a face tip cannot treat comfortably. It is the single most asked-about item in this category among the patients who write to us from abroad.
- It may suit you if the skin of your eyelids looks crepey, if fine lines show when your face is at rest, or if you feel the eye area looks tired rather than heavy.
- It may suit you if you want something with no stitches and no bandage before a trip home or a work week.
- It is not the right tool if the upper lid has a fold of excess skin that hangs over the lash line — that is a surgical question, and we do not perform surgery.
- It is not for you right now if you have inflamed or broken skin in the area, or an active skin infection.
- Tell us first if you have any implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have had laser or injectable treatment around the eyes recently, because it changes what the doctor recommends that day.
Thermage prices in Korea: the shot counts we list
Our shot counts are published item by item, and the figure you read here is the figure at the desk. Prices are in Korean won and exclude 10% VAT.
| Eye Thermage 225 Shots | 1,200,000KRW |
|---|---|
| Eye Thermage 450 Shots | 1,800,000KRW |
| Thermage FLX 300 Shots | 1,500,000KRW |
| Thermage FLX 600 Shots | 2,200,000KRW |
| Thermage FLX 900 Shots | 3,000,000KRW |
Shot count is coverage, not strength. A higher count means the tip passes over more area or the same area more thoroughly — it does not mean the energy on each pulse is turned up.
| If you want treated | Usually discussed |
|---|---|
| Eye area only | Eye Thermage 225 or 450 Shots |
| Lower face and jawline | Thermage FLX 300 Shots |
| Full face | Thermage FLX 600 Shots |
| Full face with neck or fuller coverage | Thermage FLX 900 Shots |
The doctor decides this after examining you, not from a photo, and she will say when a smaller count is the sensible starting point. Results and recovery vary between individuals, and side effects are possible with any procedure. The full catalogue, including every lifting device we own, is on our price list.
How a Thermage appointment runs at our Gangnam clinic
- Send a photo on WhatsApp. A makeup-free photo in natural light, the concern you want addressed, and your travel dates. We reply in English with what may suit and an estimate from the published list.
- Confirm a time. We are open 10:00 to 20:00 on weekdays with last booking at 19:00, and 10:00 to 17:00 at weekends with last booking at 15:00. We are open on Sundays.
- Check in at the third-floor reception. The OPUS 407 building sits beside Gangnam Station Exit 10, next to the Samsung flagship store.
- Cleansing, consultation and treatment in one private room. You do not move between rooms. The doctor reads your skin with the scanner, marks the treatment grid on your face, and treats in the same suite.
- Aftercare guidance at the fourth-floor reception. Instructions are explained before you leave, and you can keep asking on WhatsApp after you fly home.
Parking in the building is limited and electric vehicles, large sedans and SUVs cannot be parked, so the subway is easier. Mechanical parking is free for thirty minutes, then KRW 1,200 per 10 minutes. Address and map links are on our location page.
Aftercare and downtime after Thermage
Radiofrequency lifting has instructions that run opposite to what people expect from a laser. The warmth in the skin is part of the process, so we ask you not to chase it away.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Same day | Moisturise generously; the skin can feel dry and tight |
| Days 1–3 | Let the warmth linger — no cold packs, no cold-water cleansing |
| First week | Keep up moisturiser and sun protection as normal |
| Weeks 2–4 | The change develops gradually over this period |
A throbbing or burning sensation can occur and usually eases within a few hours. If blisters appear within a few days, contact us and come in immediately rather than waiting for your flight. Every procedure carries a possibility of side effects, and both the result and how long it lasts vary between individuals; the full published guidance is on our before and after care page.
Two notes for short trips. No lifting result is immediate, so booking Thermage two days before a wedding will not do what you hope — treat earlier if there is a date you are aiming at. And if you are also planning lasers or a jjimjilbang, tell us at consultation so the order of your week makes sense.
Thermage Korea price, VAT and booking from abroad
Thermage prices differ between clinics in Seoul, and no clinic can quote for another. Ours are published on our price list in Korean won excluding 10% VAT, and international patients pay the same published price as Korean patients. There is no separate foreigner rate and no consultation fee added at the desk.
For patients who treat regularly we also list a prepaid membership, valid for one year from purchase, non-transferable, with treatment discounts calculated before VAT.
What to send when you ask for a Thermage estimate
- One makeup-free front photo and one three-quarter photo in natural light, so the doctor can read texture and tone
- The single thing you most want changed — eye area, jawline, overall tightness
- Your dates in Seoul, so treatment and the 2 to 4 week development period fit the trip you actually have
Consultation is available in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese (Traditional). The director's background is on our doctor page, and if you are still choosing between clinics, our Gangnam clinic guide lists the questions worth asking anyone before you send a deposit.
Summary: Thermage in Korea without guessing
- Thermage FLX is monopolar radiofrequency; Ultherapy Prime is focused ultrasound, and the right one depends on your concern, not on which sounds stronger
- Eye Thermage uses a separate tip and is priced separately: KRW 1,200,000 for 225 shots and KRW 1,800,000 for 450 shots, excluding VAT
- Shot count is coverage, not intensity — the doctor sets it after examining your skin with the scanner
- Aftercare is the reverse of laser care: let the warmth stay for 2 to 3 days, no cold packs, moisturise well
- Our prices are published in Korean won excluding 10% VAT and are identical for international and Korean patients
Send one makeup-free photo and your travel dates on WhatsApp, and we will tell you which shot count fits your face and the days you actually have in Seoul — including when the honest answer is to wait.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Thermage cost in Korea?
It differs by clinic and by the number of shots used, so no single national figure exists. At our Gangnam clinic Thermage FLX 300 Shots is KRW 1,500,000, 600 Shots is KRW 2,200,000 and 900 Shots is KRW 3,000,000, all excluding 10% VAT and the same price for international and Korean patients.
How much does an eye Thermage treatment cost?
Our published prices are KRW 1,200,000 for Eye Thermage 225 Shots and KRW 1,800,000 for Eye Thermage 450 Shots, excluding 10% VAT. The eye tip is separate from the face tip, so eye and full-face treatment are priced separately.
Does eye Thermage really work?
Radiofrequency heats the deeper skin to prompt collagen remodelling around the eye area, and no lifting result is immediate — it appears gradually over 2 to 4 weeks. Every procedure carries a possibility of side effects, and both the result and how long it lasts vary between individuals.
How long do Thermage FLX results last?
We do not publish a duration figure, because it depends on your age, skin condition and how you live afterwards. What we can say honestly is that the change develops over 2 to 4 weeks and then declines slowly, and the doctor will tell you at consultation when a repeat would make sense for your skin.
What is better, Thermage or Ultherapy?
Neither is better as a category. Thermage FLX is monopolar radiofrequency that works broadly through the dermis, while Ultherapy Prime is focused ultrasound aimed at specific deeper layers, and the choice depends on whether your main concern is skin texture and tightness or a sagging line along the jaw.
How much does Ultherapy cost in Korea, and is it cheaper than Thermage?
At our clinic Ultherapy Prime 300 Shots is KRW 1,200,000 excluding VAT, and the full shot-count list is on our price page. Comparing one clinic's Thermage price to another clinic's Ultherapy price tells you very little, because shot count, tip type and what is included all differ.
Can I have Thermage on the day I land in Seoul?
Usually yes, if the time is confirmed in advance on WhatsApp. Weekday last booking is 19:00 and weekend last booking is 15:00, and the doctor examines your skin before confirming that treatment is suitable that day.
Every procedure carries a possibility of side effects, and both the result and how long it lasts vary between individuals. Read the before & after care guidance
Sources
Reviewed by
Dr. Kim Ji-a Director
- Director, Vellicell Clinic Gangnam
- Member, Korean Dermatological Association
- Member, Korean Society for Laser Dermatology and Trichology
- Member, Korean Society of Aesthetic Surgery
- Extensive clinical experience in stem-cell based regenerative treatment
The medical information on this page is based on what Vellicell Clinic publishes on its official site and has been checked by our doctor. Results and recovery vary between individuals.
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