Fine lines and loss of firmness
Usually discussedSofwave
TREATMENT GUIDE · Lifting and tightening
Sofwave in Korea: what does it do that Ultherapy does not?
Sofwave is an ultrasound device that works at a single shallower depth in the dermis, aimed at tightening, fine lines and texture with a short treatment time. It suits early laxity and people who found deep HIFU too uncomfortable; it is not a substitute for a facelift. Seoul price: $700–$1,920.
- Seoul price
- $700–$1,920
- Sessions
- One session; repeat interval set by your doctor
- First days
- Redness for a few hours.
- In Korean
- 소프웨이브
START WITH THE CONCERN
Which one is for what you actually want?
Most people arrive with a product name from social media. The doctors we work with start from the concern instead, and sometimes the answer is a different treatment, or none.
Deep HIFU was too painful before
Usually discussedSofwave or an RF device
Jawline lift
Usually discussedUltherapy, sometimes combined
Heavy sagging
Usually discussedSurgical consultation
NotAnother device
A starting point for your consultation, not a diagnosis. Your doctor decides what suits your skin.
PRICES
What Seoul clinics charge
Sofwave 100 shotsper session
$700–$700
Sofwave 200 shotsper session
$1,345–$1,345
Sofwave 300 shotsper session
$1,920–$1,920
List prices from partner clinics, pending their final confirmation. Converted at about ₩1,400 to the dollar. Ask whether 10% VAT is included. Since January 2026 foreign patients can no longer claim a VAT refund on cosmetic treatment.
BEFORE AND AFTER
Real patients, with the clinic named
Read this first: every pair below was photographed on one day. The “after” is minutes after treatment. For injected volume that is the result. For devices, lasers and botox it is not; the label on each photo says which.
Before
After · same dayNot retouched: both halves resized identically, nothing else. Close-cropped by the clinic. Individual cases; results vary between people.
RECOVERY AND YOUR FLIGHT
What the days after look like
- Day 0
Redness for a few hours. Make-up usually later the same day.
- Day 1–3
Occasional mild swelling or tenderness.
- Week 4–12
Firmness builds gradually. Evaluate at around three months.
HONESTLY
When we would tell you not to book it
- You need a deep lift along the jaw. Sofwave works shallower; Ultherapy reaches the SMAS.
- You compare totals without shot counts. Sofwave is priced per shot.
- You expect results before you fly home.
- You are pregnant, or have an active skin infection in the area.
HOW WE CHOOSE YOUR CLINIC
We vet the clinics first.
Then we match you to the doctor.
Seoul has hundreds of clinics selling Sofwave. We work with a short list that meets five conditions, and introduce you to the one or two doctors who fit your concern, your dates and your budget.
- 01
The consulting doctor is the treating doctor
We ask every clinic who actually holds the needle. A clinic that hands you to someone else after the consultation does not make our list.
- 02
Product, device and dose are named
“Premium booster” is not an answer. We only work with clinics that tell you the brand, the volume and the machine before you sit in the chair.
- 03
A written quote, per unit or per cc
So you can compare two clinics on the same scope rather than two totals that measure different things.
- 04
A doctor willing to say “not this”
We listen for it in consultations we sit in on. A clinic that agrees to everything is selling, not advising.
- 05
Someone to contact after you fly home
A named contact and channel for follow-up questions, agreed before treatment rather than discovered after.
Doctors we can introduce you to for Sofwave
Dr. Park Hyung-kwon
LUNN Dermatology Clinic, Cheongdam · 박형권 원장
- Board-certified dermatologistchecked by us
- Single-doctor clinic: same doctor at consultation and treatmentchecked by us
- Every device and product named on the clinic’s own sitechecked by us
- Non-surgical only: injectables, devices, laserschecked by us
We introducePeople who want one doctor from start to finish, and who would rather hear which product and how much before anything is done.
Partner doctor profile
Photo, board, case focus and languages, added once consent is confirmed.
Partner doctor profile
Photo, board, case focus and languages, added once consent is confirmed.
We do not publish a ranking, and placement is not for sale. If a clinic pays us a referral fee, we tell you before you book. Medical decisions stay with your doctor.
HOW IT WORKS
From your brief to the consultation room
- 01
Your brief
Your concern, what you want to keep, your dates and your budget. No photo required.
- 02
Two or three doctors
From clinics we have already vetted, chosen for your concern and your timeline, not whoever pays most.
- 03
Written quotes, side by side
Same scope, per unit or per cc, with anything not included listed.
- 04
With you on the day
An interpreter in the consultation room, and the option to walk away.
- 05
After you fly home
We stay the contact for practical questions. Medical follow-up stays with your doctor.
Start my briefFree to start. You can stop at any step.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ACTUALLY ASK
Sofwave: the short answers
How much is Sofwave in Korea?
In Seoul, about $700 for 100 shots, $1,345 for 200 shots, and $1,920 for 300 shots.
Sofwave vs Ultherapy?
Sofwave targets a shallower dermal layer for firmness and texture; Ultherapy reaches deeper for jawline lift. Some people do both. Your doctor decides by where the laxity is.
Is Sofwave less painful than HIFU?
Many people describe it as more tolerable thanks to built-in cooling, but you will still feel heat, and comfort varies.
Can I fly after Sofwave?
Usually yes. It fits the last days of a trip.
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