InMode has become such a common lifting treatment that many people have already tried it — and it is just as common to hear that results vary widely even on the same device. Where does that difference come from? The key is not the device itself, but treatment time and the amount of energy delivered. This article explains what InMode FX and Forma each set out to do, and why treatment time and total energy are what separate the outcomes.
FX and Forma: two modes with different goals
InMode is a device with clearly divided purposes. FX uses RF heat to reduce fat cells and slim the facial line, while Forma focuses on stimulating collagen renewal in the dermis to improve firmness. Even on the same machine, though, how much and how the treatment is carried out changes the range of the result considerably. Fat requires sufficient heat sustained over a certain length of time, and collagen renewal requires enough total energy to go in. A short, light pass leaves a brief sensation of warmth and little more; it is hard to bring about structural change in the skin that way.
InMode FX: look at treatment time, not total appointment time
FX is the mode that uses radiofrequency (RF) heat to break down and reduce fat cells, and what matters here is temperature and how long the device is actually running. Without enough time for heat to reach the deeper fat layer, it is easy to end up warming only the surface. Many people ask how long the whole appointment takes, but the number worth checking is treatment time — the time the device spends actively delivering heat energy. At SKINIQUE Clinic we run at least 10 minutes of treatment time for full-face FX, and the actual appointment, including preparation and repositioning, runs longer than that. Heat accumulating in this way is what leads to the gradual refining of the cheek and jaw area over the weeks that follow.
InMode Forma: total energy rather than minutes
Forma targets the dermis rather than the fat layer. It holds the temperature inside the skin steadily in the 40-43°C range so that the heated dermis is prompted to build new collagen. What counts here is not simply how long the treatment runs, but the total energy delivered into the skin. At SKINIQUE Clinic we deliver 10 kJ (kilojoules) across the full face as our standard, covering every area. The dermis needs sufficient stimulation before both changes — improved firmness and smoother texture — can be expected together.
Before the device comes the one-to-one line design
How well InMode turns out depends less on running the handpiece over everyone in the same pattern, and more on a plan built around each person's facial lines and areas of concern.
At SKINIQUE Clinic, we look in the mirror with you before the treatment and a doctor maps out one to one which areas to lift and where to reduce volume, and only then do we begin. It is this design step that makes the changes afterwards specific to your own face.
Wrapping Up
There are three things that define a properly performed InMode treatment: a one-to-one line design beforehand, at least 10 minutes of treatment time for full-face FX, and 10 kJ of energy delivered across the full face for Forma. A good machine still has to be used correctly, and results vary from person to person, so a plan suited to your own face comes first. If you would like to know how FX and Forma might be combined for your facial lines, ask through a chat consultation about an InMode plan for your face.
This article was written by Dr. Park Tae-hyung, Chief Director. He is the Chief Director of SKINIQUE Clinic and serves as Senior Director of the Korean Society for Laser Dermatology and Trichology. First published August 13, 2025 · Last reviewed August 23, 2026
This article is general medical information. Skin condition and response to treatment vary from person to person. Whether to undergo treatment, and by what method, should be decided through consultation with a physician.