Anyone looking into Ultherapy will run into claims like "it has to hurt to work" or "more shots is always better." Here is a look at what actually shapes the result of ultrasound lifting, and why SKINIQUE Clinic performs Core Lifting before Ultherapy.
What kind of treatment is Ultherapy
Ultherapy is a lifting treatment that delivers focused ultrasound (HIFU) energy into the deep layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production, and it is one of the best-known ultrasound lifting devices with US FDA clearance. What sets it apart is that the practitioner can see the structures beneath the skin on ultrasound imaging during the session, so the depth at which energy is delivered can be adjusted to each person's skin thickness and layer structure.
The misconception that stronger is better
Because the device has been in use in Korea for a long time, plenty of misinformation has built up around it. The most common is the belief about intensity. In the early days the cost per shot was high, so it was common to raise the energy to the maximum and reduce the number of shots. Accounts from people who went through that strong discomfort spread, and the idea that "Ultherapy has to hurt to be done properly" took hold. What matters more to the result, however, is not the strength of the energy but the number of thermal coagulation points (TCPs) created across the face, in other words how densely the thermal energy is distributed.
Why Core Lifting comes first
Sharply increasing the shot count is one way to secure dense thermal points, but SKINIQUE Clinic designed the sequence differently. Before Ultherapy, Core Lifting raises the temperature of the tissue across the whole face, and the ultrasound energy is then applied. Heat transfers more efficiently into a dermis that has already been warmed, so an even heat distribution can be aimed for without pushing the shot count unnecessarily high, and the discomfort tends to be relatively lower. Core Lifting is not charged separately, and Ultherapy at SKINIQUE is always performed as a set with Core Lifting.
Design matters more than shot count
Because raising the temperature throughout the dermis with Core Lifting also opens the door to texture changes from dermal remodeling, Ultherapy at SKINIQUE Clinic is based on a standard of 200 to 300 shots. We see how the same energy is arranged as what separates the outcome, rather than adding several hundred more shots to the face. That said, how quickly and how strongly tissue responds varies from person to person, so the appropriate shot count and treatment area are decided together after your skin is assessed in consultation.
Pricing and consultation
Full pricing is available on the price guide.
Wrapping Up
The key to Ultherapy is not how strongly or how many times the shots are placed, but how evenly and densely the thermal energy is laid down. SKINIQUE Clinic pairs the treatment with Core Lifting to design an even heat delivery with a lower shot count. If you are wondering which approach suits your skin, ask us by chat about the right lifting direction for your skin.
This article was written by Dr. Park Tae-hyung, Chief Director. He is the chief director of SKINIQUE Clinic and serves as academic director of the Korean Society for Laser Dermatology and Trichology. First published November 13, 2023 · Last reviewed August 24, 2026
This article is general medical information. Skin condition and response to treatment vary from person to person. Whether and how to treat should be decided through an in-person consultation.