How is it different from the earlier Ultherapy?

Both are micro-focused ultrasound. PRIME is the newer generation with finer depth selection and energy control. In practice, differences come more from depth planning and the number of lines delivered than from the device name.

It depends on depth and area; zones close to bone tend to feel sharper. Topical anesthesia plus adjustments to intensity and pace are used, and it is better to speak up during the session than to endure pain.

When does it show, and how long does it last?

Change usually appears from a few weeks after the session and continues for two to three months. Duration varies widely with age, skin condition, and lifestyle, so no fixed number of months is guaranteed.

Can it be combined with threads or filler?

Combinations are common, but order and interval matter. If filler or threads are already in the same area, depth has to be adjusted, so tell us your treatment history precisely.

Procedure guide

Ultherapy PRIME

No incisions and no threads: ultrasound is focused into a single point beneath the skin to create heat. Because the depth you choose decides the outcome, judgment matters more than the device.

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Time needed: 60-90 min including consultation
Anesthesia: Topical, adjusted as needed
Back to routine: Same day

What the procedure actually targets

Ultrasound lifting concentrates energy at a chosen depth below the surface rather than on the skin itself, creating small coagulation points only at that level. Because the surface is bypassed, no incision or thread insertion is involved.

Ultherapy PRIME is the current generation of this device family, with finer control over depth selection and energy delivery than earlier models. The device does not decide the result, though: without matching depth to skin thickness and fat distribution, the energy is spent in the wrong layer.

Same device, different layer: that is the real variable

Depth changes with the area and with skin and fat thickness. Layer thicknesses in the figure are schematic, not anatomical proportions.

Epidermis and upper dermis1.5mm

Deep dermis3.0mm

SMAS4.5mm

1.5mmEpidermis and upper dermis: The layer closest to texture and fine lines. Treating only this depth can refine the surface while leaving sagging largely unmoved.
3.0mmDeep dermis: The layer that carries elasticity. It becomes the reference depth on thicker areas such as the cheek and forehead.
4.5mmSMAS: The layer that actually supports the face. It is the target when sagging dominates, but it is avoided where skin and fat are thin.

Three things worth knowing first

Depth changes by area

Forehead, cheek, and jawline differ in skin and fat thickness even on the same face. Depth should change with the area, and measuring is safer than estimating by eye.

Change arrives gradually

The meaningful part of this treatment unfolds over weeks to two or three months rather than immediately after the session, so the first week is a poor basis for judgment.

Lifting is not volume

Sagging and volume loss are separate problems. When volume loss dominates, ultrasound lifting alone rarely reaches the look a patient has in mind, so other options are reviewed alongside it.

How the visit goes

1
Assessment and depth planning
We check where sagging begins, how thick the skin and fat layers are, and what treatments came before. At Beautystone we read layer thickness with ultrasound at this stage and set the depth per area.
2
Anesthesia and delivery
After topical anesthesia, energy is delivered along the planned lines. Sensation varies by zone, and intensity and pace are adjusted to your tolerance.
3
Aftercare and follow-up
Washing and makeup are usually fine the same day, and warmth or mild swelling typically settles within a few days. We review progress weeks later before planning any next session.

Who it suits, and who should pause

Worth considering if

Your jawline is blurring and the lower cheek has started to sag
You cannot set aside a long recovery for incisions or threads
Sagging is the main concern and volume loss is limited

Discuss carefully first if

Volume loss or skeletal asymmetry drives your appearance more than sagging
You are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have active inflammation or infection in the area
You have keloid tendency, autoimmune disease, or take anticoagulants

Frequently asked

Start by checking whether the depth fits your face

At Beautystone Clinic near Hapjeong Station we measure your skin and fat layers first, then decide together whether this is the treatment you need right now.

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Please note

This page is medical information to aid understanding and does not replace a consultation.
Results and recovery vary between individuals, and side effects are possible.
Suitability and treatment extent are decided by a doctor during an in-person visit.