The first confusion you meet when you start looking into lifting treatment is a flood of names. Ulthera, InMode, ONDA, Thermage, Shrink... the names are unfamiliar, and the advice on how to choose varies from source to source. In the end, one thing matters: what energy each procedure uses, which layer of skin it acts on, and what change it brings about. Once you understand this principle, the procedures that match your own concerns narrow down on their own.
The Type of Energy Shapes the Result
Lifting procedures are broadly divided by the type of energy they use. Ulthera uses focused ultrasound (HIFU), InMode uses radiofrequency (RF), and ONDA uses ultra-short microwaves (microwave, 5.8GHz). This difference may look like a matter of technical specifications, but in practice the way energy travels through the skin and the layer where heat builds up are different, so the pattern of effect differs too.
Ultrasound focuses energy in a straight line to create thermal coagulation points at a specific depth. Radiofrequency generates heat using the resistance of tissue, so energy spreads evenly over a wide area. Microwaves are selectively absorbed by fat cells, so they can act directly on the subcutaneous fat layer while barely heating the epidermis. The type of energy determines "where it touches and how precisely."
Ulthera: Ultrasound Lifting That Directly Stimulates the Fascia Layer
Among dermatology lifting procedures, Ulthera is one of the few methods that can deliver energy as far as the fascia (SMAS) layer. The SMAS layer is directly tied to the structural cause of skin sagging, and working on this layer is also the key in surgical lifting. Ulthera non-invasively delivers focused ultrasound to this layer to coagulate and contract the tissue, then induces a collagen regeneration response.
The Ulthera device used at Repic Clinic in Gangnam is equipped with DeepSee™ real-time imaging. Because energy is applied while the structure of the skin layers is checked in real time on an ultrasound screen, it is possible to monitor whether thermal points are being created at the intended depth. A device without this function relies on preset depth values, so it is harder to reflect the skin thickness and layer arrangement that differ from person to person.
The actual number of shots and areas treated depend on the results of a prior diagnosis. At Repic Clinic, skin thickness and sagging position are measured with Meta View and Mark-Vu diagnostics, and then the doctor directly designs the application position and energy level, in a protocol the clinic has established itself called Design Ulthera. Unlike a uniform shot-application approach, the key is a customized design that reflects facial proportions and skeletal structure.
InMode: Lifting That Handles Fat and Collagen Together with RF
InMode is an FDA-cleared radiofrequency device that delivers RF energy as deep as the SMAS layer and is characterized by inducing fat reduction, collagen production and tightening at the same time. It is often used for sagging concerns accompanied by a double chin or fat under the chin. Radiofrequency energy applies heat to fat cells to induce cell death while also applying thermal stimulation to the collagen fibers in the dermis, causing contraction and regeneration responses.
It is sometimes used on its own, but depending on the degree of sagging and the layers being targeted, it may also be designed in combination with other lifting procedures. Which combination suits you is best confirmed in a consultation after a prior skin diagnosis.
ONDA: Microwaves That Act on the Fat Layer Without Epidermal Damage
ONDA uses Coolwaves™ technology based on 5.8GHz ultra-short microwaves. This frequency band is selectively absorbed by fat tissue, so it can directly target the subcutaneous fat layer without overheating the epidermis or dermis. It also induces collagen regeneration in the dermis, so fat reduction and improved elasticity can both be expected.
As the name "Coolwaves" suggests, an epidermal cooling system operates together to manage surface temperature while delivering energy to the deeper layers. This is why ONDA is considered as an alternative when epidermal irritation from lasers or some radiofrequency procedures is a concern.
Choosing a Procedure: Diagnosis Comes First
To sum up the principles of the three procedures, each responds to a different layer and concern. Ulthera has its strengths for structural sagging in the fascia layer, InMode when fat and collagen need to be handled together, and ONDA when selective targeting of the fat layer and improved elasticity are needed at the same time. However, these criteria are only distinctions in principle. In reality, even for sagging in the same area, the suitable procedure and combination differ depending on skin thickness, fat distribution, skeletal structure and current elasticity.
Repic Clinic in Gangnam follows an operating principle of first securing layer-by-layer skin data with Meta View and Mark-Vu diagnostics before treatment, and then having the doctor design the treatment plan directly based on that data. Personalized application, not a uniform protocol, is the basic premise. After understanding how each type of lifting works, the practical order is to confirm the procedure combination that suits your skin condition through a diagnostic consultation.
The actual scope and cost of application can be explained at a consultation after diagnosis. Treatment effects and results may vary depending on individual skin condition, age, lifestyle and other factors.
Related Official Information
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※ This content is for general information only and does not replace a medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before any procedure. Results, downtime and side effects vary from person to person.