InMode Face Cost: FX, Forma or Both?
An InMode face quote depends on whether it includes FX, Forma or both, the area treated and the number of sessions. Here's how the 4-session Forma plan works, when RF has limits, which reactions need a call and which quote lines to match up.
Wi Young-jin
Chief Director, Myeongdong
An InMode quote for the face comes down to three things: which modes it includes, how much of the face is treated and how many sessions are planned. FX works on the fat under the skin, while Forma heats the dermis, the deeper skin layer that holds collagen. A quote with only one of them and a quote with both describe different sessions, and because Forma is planned as a series, the total for the whole plan is the number worth comparing.
InMode is a single device that takes several handpieces, and FX and Forma are the two used most on the face. In this article, we'll cover why face quotes differ, how to tell whether your concern points to FX or Forma, how many sessions a fair quote should include, which reactions are normal and which line items to match up before you compare.
Quick summary
- Compare face InMode quotes by the total for the full plan: modes, treated area and number of sessions.
- Modes: FX targets the fat layer under the skin, and Forma warms the dermis.
- Sessions: the Forma plan studied under the chin was 4 sessions, 2 weeks apart, with clear changes after the 2nd to 3rd session.
- Fat volume under the chin stayed lower for up to 6 months, so it's worth comparing photos before adding sessions.
Why Do InMode Quotes for the Face Vary So Much?
Start by checking which modes are on each quote. One clinic may list FX alone while another lists FX and Forma in the same session, so the per-session prices will look far apart even when both are honest. Before you compare numbers, look at what each session actually contains.
| FX | Forma | |
|---|---|---|
| Main layer it reaches | The fat layer under the skin | The dermis, where collagen sits |
| Concern it's usually chosen for | A full, pinchable double chin | Skin that has lost firmness |
| How it works | RF heat plus very short electrical pulses | RF heat that warms the dermis |
FX doesn't rely on heat alone. In a study of the body version of FX on the abdomen, adding very short, high-voltage electrical pulses to RF heat made fat cells die off over time, and an electron microscope confirmed the cell damage. The face handpiece is smaller and works on the same principle, but keep in mind that this evidence comes from the abdomen, not the face.
Radiofrequency (RF) simply means a type of energy that turns into heat inside the skin. Both handpieces use it; they differ in which layer they aim at and what they add on top.
Double Chin or Loose Skin: Should Your Quote Include FX or Forma?
It comes down to what you can pinch under your jaw. If a thick layer of fat gathers between your fingers, FX has something to work on. If there's little fat and the skin itself has loosened, warming the dermis with Forma is closer to the problem.
When I look at a lower face, I start with the side profile and the view with the head tilted down rather than the front. I also check how the left and right sides of the jaw and cheeks differ, then decide which layer to treat first. When both fat and loose skin are present, the quote will list both modes in one session, and that bigger session costs more per visit.
Very loose skin is where RF reaches its limits. DermNet's page on Thermage, an RF treatment in the same family, notes that people with very loose skin and sagging jowls may see little improvement and are better suited to cosmetic surgery. In that situation, a quote with extra sessions mostly adds cost, so it's worth weighing surgery or other lifting options alongside it.
How Many InMode Sessions Should a Face Quote Include?
Plan on a series from the start. In a study of 22 people in Thailand who had Forma under the chin, the plan was 4 sessions, 2 weeks apart, over about a month and a half. Two doctors who didn't know when each photo was taken scored the results: the chin laxity score improved significantly after the 2nd session, and a physical assessment scale did so after the 3rd.
That means one session usually won't look like much in the mirror. The study had no comparison group, and results differ from person to person, but it gives you a fair benchmark for how many sessions a face quote should cover.
Fat volume under the chin was measurably lower from 1 week through 6 months after treatment. That's why booking extra sessions right after your final visit can be premature: the change may still be developing. If you're offered an add-on package at that point, ask when you'd compare photos first.
You may also come across an 8-session, once-a-week plan. That schedule belongs to the body version of FX on the abdomen, so it isn't a useful yardstick for a face quote.
InMode Side Effects: What Passes and When to Call
Brief redness right after each session is expected and tends to settle quickly. With Thermage, a related RF treatment, redness and swelling last 1 to 2 hours or, at most, a few days. A tingling or burning feeling for a few days and soreness around the jawline have also been reported with it.
The signs below are rarely reported, but don't wait them out. Contact the clinic that treated you if you notice:
- Blisters on the treated area
- Burning or stinging that gets stronger each day instead of fading
- A dent or hollow where you were treated
- Swelling that feels hot, spreading redness or pus
Dents are a rare complication linked to overheating the fat layer. The less fat you have in your lower face, the more it's worth asking how the FX settings and session count were chosen for you. If you notice spreading redness, fever or worsening pain, seek medical care right away.
In these cases, it's better to postpone treatment:
- You're pregnant
- You have a skin infection where you'd be treated
- You take regular medications you haven't mentioned yet, since some may rule it out
What Should an InMode Quote List Before You Compare Prices?
Match up the contents of two quotes before you compare their per-session prices. If any row below is blank, that quote isn't ready to compare yet.
| Line item | What it should say | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Modes | FX only, Forma only or both | Both means a higher per-session price is expected |
| Area | Under the chin only, or also the jawline and cheeks | A larger area takes longer |
| Sessions and spacing | How many sessions, how many weeks apart | Per-session price times sessions is the real total |
| Follow-up | When photos are compared after the last session | Extra sessions aren't bought in advance |
If the fat under your jaw is thick enough to pinch, start with the quotes that include FX. If there's little fat but the skin has loosened, start with the Forma-focused ones. Once the rows line up, the remaining difference in price is easier to judge.
Planning InMode Sessions Around a Trip to Korea
Unless you've had sedation that day, there's no reason to postpone your flight home after an InMode session.
It also helps to know what a single visit can do. Some treatments, such as fillers, change your shape the same day. Most others, InMode included, don't change things dramatically at once; they bring you gradually closer to how you used to look. One visit also doesn't replace a planned series.
A 4-session plan with 2 weeks between sessions spans about six weeks, so a short stay may only fit part of it. If you're visiting Seoul, ask at your consultation how the sessions would be spaced around your travel dates before you agree to a package.
Once you're home, you can send photos through the consultation button on this page if you have questions about how your skin is settling. If a reaction looks serious, see a local doctor first rather than waiting for a reply.
The Bottom Line: Compare InMode by the Whole Plan
Before you decide, ask each clinic two things: which layer its plan targets, fat with FX or the dermis with Forma, and how many sessions at what spacing its price assumes. With those answers written down, quotes that looked far apart become much easier to compare. Like any procedure, InMode comes with trade-offs, and whether it fits depends on how much fat and how much loose skin you have.
Beautystone is a clinic in Seoul's Hapjeong area, and you can reach us through the consultation button on this page. In your first message, include a side-view photo with your head tilted slightly down, the names and dates of any lifting treatments you've had and your travel dates.
Sources
- Changes in 22 people who had Forma under the chin, 4 sessions 2 weeks apart — Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
- RF heat with short electrical pulses to reduce abdominal fat (BodyFX, a body device) — Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2016
- Recovery, comfort and who does best with non-invasive skin tightening — American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
- Side effects of RF tightening (Thermage) and which faces it suits — DermNet
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I have one InMode session first and decide later whether to continue?
A. One InMode session is usually too early to judge. In a study of Forma under the chin, changes became clear after the 2nd to 3rd session of a 4-session plan spaced 2 weeks apart. If you start with one session, ask when the rest would be scheduled and what they'd cost.
Q. Does InMode hurt?
A. InMode may cause some discomfort during treatment. The AAD says non-invasive skin tightening can be uncomfortable during the procedure, but that's usually the extent of it. With Thermage, a related RF treatment, the energy is turned up or down based on how the heat feels to you, so tell your provider if it's too much.
Q. Can I wear makeup and go back to work the same day after InMode?
A. You can often apply makeup right after non-invasive RF tightening like InMode. The AAD says most of these procedures take 1 hour or less, with little or no downtime besides some redness and swelling. If you have an important event or photo shoot, it's still best not to book it for the same day.
Q. Is InMode suitable for darker skin?
A. RF treatments like InMode can be used on darker skin. The AAD describes non-invasive skin tightening as safe for people of all skin colors, and the Thai study of Forma under the chin concluded the device can be used with any skin type.
Q. Should I wait to have InMode if I'm still losing weight?
A. If your weight is still changing, it's better to wait until it settles. The AAD says skin-tightening results tend to be best in people who are at a healthy weight and keep it there. The abdominal BodyFX study also only included people who could keep their weight within 5 pounds (about 2.3 kg) of where they started.
Q. Do smoking and drinking affect InMode results?
A. Smoking and drinking can hold back skin-tightening results. The AAD lists quitting smoking and drinking little alcohol among the habits of people who get the best results. Cutting back during your series also makes your before-and-after photos easier to compare.
Q. Can I get an InMode quote for my stomach as well as my face?
A. The stomach is quoted separately because it's treated with a larger body handpiece. In a study of BodyFX on the abdomen with 8 weekly sessions, mean fat thickness was 39.6% lower 3 months after treatment. Individual results vary, and because the area is larger, the session count and time differ from the face.
Q. Does insurance cover InMode?
A. Insurance generally doesn't cover InMode or other cosmetic skin tightening. The AAD notes that the cost varies and isn't covered by insurance, so ask for the total for the whole plan in writing before you start.
