Plastic Surgery or Dermatology for Lifting?

Don't Believe That Plastic Surgery is Better for Lifting Procedures

Dr. Wi Young-jin, Beautystone Clinic Hongdae, BeautysDoctors

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Q. Isn't plastic surgery more specialized than dermatology for lifting procedures?

A. Surgical lifting is indeed the domain of plastic surgery, but non-invasive lifting procedures like Ultherapy and Thermage are specialized areas of dermatology. It's not about which is better or worse—they are entirely different specialties.


Q. So where should I go?

A. If you don't want surgery, go to dermatology. If you want surgical procedures that involve cutting and pulling the skin, go to plastic surgery.

"Non-invasive lifting (Ultherapy·Thermage) is dermatology's specialty, while surgical lifting is plastic surgery's domain."

— Dr. Wi Young-jin (Beautystone Clinic Hongdae)

What is Lifting?

Lifting is a comprehensive term for all procedures

and surgeries that pull or contract sagging skin

and soft tissues to restore facial contours.

While filler and Botox are about 'filling,'

lifting is about 'lifting up'—

the approach itself is completely different.

They're Both 'Lifting'—Why Should the Medical Specialty Matter?

This is where many people get confused.

The single word 'lifting' actually encompasses

two completely different worlds.

The first is non-invasive lifting.

These include devices like Ultherapy, Thermage, and Shurink.

Without any skin incision,

ultrasound or radiofrequency energy is delivered deep into the skin

to stimulate collagen and contract tissues.

What's confusing is that

while device names are well-known,

many people don't know

which specialty they should visit for these procedures.

Non-invasive lifting success depends on

delivering energy to the precise depth and with uniform distribution

throughout the skin tissue.

This is the domain of dermatologists

who work with skin structure daily.

The second is surgical lifting.

These include facelifts and SMAS elevation procedures

that actually involve cutting and pulling the skin and fascia.

These are literally surgeries.

They must be performed by plastic surgery specialists,

and require anesthesia and post-surgical recovery.

But here's an important point:

Just because a plastic surgery clinic operates non-invasive devices

doesn't make them more specialized.

Reading skin layers accurately and

controlling energy precisely are skills

developed through dermatology training.

To be honest,

when I was first learning Ultherapy settings,

it took hundreds of cases before I developed

the sense of "this depth with this energy gives this result."

With Ultherapy specifically,

the key is delivering energy precisely to the SMAS layer

(facial fascia layer, approximately 4.5mm deep),

and even 1-2mm deviation completely changes the results.

This is why good devices don't automatically mean good results.

So Where Should I Go? — Selection Criteria by Type

While it varies case by case,

this is generally how I categorize patients:

Dermatology is Right for You If:

— You want to improve sagging without surgery

— You're considering Ultherapy, Thermage, Shurink, etc.

— You need to maintain daily activities without downtime

— Your goal is collagen regeneration and skin elasticity improvement

Plastic Surgery is Right for You If:

— Your skin has significantly sagged and

you've been diagnosed that non-invasive methods have limitations

— You want long-term, dramatic changes

— You're prepared for surgery and recovery period

But it's not always straightforward.

Patients with moderate sagging are often

very satisfied with non-invasive dermatology procedures,

and I've seen quite a few cases where patients

considering plastic surgery ended up not needing surgery

after 2-3 dermatology sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. If I get Ultherapy at a dermatology clinic, will the effects be weaker than at a plastic surgery clinic?

A. With the same device, results depend not on the specialty

but on the practitioner's experience and setting capabilities.

Actually, dermatology clinics that deal with skin layers daily

often achieve more precise depth control with non-invasive devices.

I've had quite a few patients who saw no results

after 10 sessions elsewhere, but were satisfied

after just 2-3 sessions with adjusted settings at our clinic.

Q2. How long does Ultherapy last? How many sessions do I need?

A. While individual results vary,

most patients start feeling effects 2-3 months after the procedure

and maintain results for 6 months to 1 year.

For patients with significantly reduced skin elasticity,

annual or bi-annual maintenance sessions are

a realistic approach for sustained results.

Claims of permanent results from one session are honestly exaggerated.

Q3. I'm concerned about side effects. Is it safe to get Ultherapy or Thermage?

A. I must emphasize that

non-invasive devices use energy, so

incorrect settings can cause burns or

nerve stimulation symptoms.

Especially with Ultherapy, since energy penetrates to the SMAS layer depth,

it must be performed by experienced practitioners

who accurately understand facial nerve anatomy.

I recommend checking the practitioner's experience

before considering device brands.

Feel free to contact us via KakaoTalk or phone with any questions. This has been Dr. Wi Young-jin.