Ultherapy is a lifting treatment that delivers ultrasound heat energy to the deep SMAS layer to draw up loosened tissue and reduce unwanted fat. That said, even with the same device, the result differs considerably depending on who performs it and how. This article sets out four things worth checking before Ultherapy - the pre-treatment consultation, combining Core Lifting, genuine-tip certification, and treatment experience - alongside how Skinique Clinic approaches each.
The consultation shapes the result
Ultherapy is a device whose intensity and depth can be adjusted to approach each area differently. Because fat sits and skin sags in different places on every face, the practitioner has to identify precisely at the consultation stage which areas need fat reduced and which need lifting, so that the device can perform as intended. Treating uniformly at high output, in line with the notion that "it only works if it is strong and painful", can lead to an unwanted result on a face with little fat. That is why excessive treatment, up to and including IV sedation, is not the answer, and why a thorough consultation with the practitioner must come first.
Why we combine Core Lifting
Skinique Clinic combines Ultherapy with Core Lifting. Core Lifting delivers heat to the dermal layer, so performing it alongside raises the overall temperature of the skin and creates conditions in which Ultherapy's concentrated heat energy can work well, while also supporting collagen renewal and tightening. It is a combination that can ease the burden of discomfort while offering a change in skin texture as well - though the degree of response does vary from person to person.
Checking for a genuine tip is not optional
An Ultherapy tip is designated for use up to 2,400 shots. Each treatment counts the shots precisely and deducts them, and once the count reaches zero the tip must not be used further. Genuine-product certification stickers are likewise supplied to a clinic only in proportion to the designated shot count, so it is worth making a habit of checking for the yellow genuine sticker printed with a QR code.
Because the tips themselves are expensive, some places recharge used tips by irregular means to cut costs and treat with what are known as "recycled tips". Treatment with a recycled tip is not only unlikely to deliver the expected result but also carries a risk of adverse effects, so if a price looks unusually low, we would encourage you to check whether genuine-tip certification is in place.
Skinique Clinic uses only genuine tips, and shows them to the patient directly before treatment.
In the end, it comes down to the practitioner's experience
Just as the same ingredients produce quite different dishes depending on the cook, treatment with the same device gives different results depending on the practitioner. Ultherapy lifting in particular requires designing the balance of the whole face, so the practitioner's judgement carries considerable weight. At Skinique Clinic, medical staff recognised by Merz, the developer of Ultherapy, treat each person individually - distinguishing depth and intensity according to the characteristics of each area, rather than rushing to fill a shot count.
On concerns about pain and volume loss
Numbing cream is applied for a sufficient length of time, Core Lifting is performed alongside, and we communicate with the patient throughout the treatment, all of which helps lower the burden of discomfort. We also design the treatment to reduce only the areas where fat is present and to lift the areas that have loosened, so lifting proceeds with care not to hollow out facial volume. Both the discomfort felt and the result vary from person to person.
Detailed costs for Ultherapy and Core Lifting can be found on the pricing guide.
Wrapping Up
If you are looking into Ultherapy, check four things before you look at the price: a thorough consultation with the practitioner, a combined treatment that supports the result, genuine-tip certification, and treatment experience. If you are wondering which approach suits your own face, ask us through a chat consultation on the lifting plan for your face.
This article was written by Director Park Tae-hyung. He is the chief director of Skinique Clinic and serves as an academic director of the Korean Society for Laser Dermatology and Trichology. First published 6 September 2021 - Last reviewed 24 August 2026
This article is general medical information. Skin conditions and responses to treatment can vary from person to person. Whether and how to treat should be decided through consultation with a physician.