Ultrasound Lifting · SOFWAVE
Sofwave
It does not go deep. A parallel-beam ultrasound lifting that stays in the mid-dermis, at 1.5 mm.
Duration
30-45 min
Incl. topical anesthesia
Depth
1.5 mm
Mid-dermis
Downtime
Minimal
Same-day return
Price
₩1,100,000~
100 shots · VAT included
What is Sofwave?
Sofwave is a non-invasive ultrasound lifting device developed by Sofwave Medical of Israel. It belongs to the family of treatments that use ultrasound heat to have the skin rebuild its own collagen and elastin.
It uses the same ultrasound but takes a different approach from conventional HIFU. Where HIFU focuses energy to a point and sends it down to the deep fascial layer, Sofwave fires seven transducers in parallel and simultaneously, laying heat broadly and evenly across the mid-dermis at about 1.5 mm. This method is called SUPERB (Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam).
In Korea it is used to improve wrinkles of the cheeks, chin, brow, and neck. In the United States, the FDA has cleared it for improving facial lines and wrinkles, lifting the eyebrow, lifting lax submental and neck tissue, short-term improvement in the appearance of cellulite, and improving the appearance of skin laxity on the upper arms.
Device specifications
- Technology
- SUPERB (synchronous parallel beams)
- Transducers
- 7, firing in parallel at once
- Working depth
- Mid-dermis, about 1.5 mm
- Epidermal protection
- Cooling built into the transducers
- Use in Korea
- Age 22+ · cheeks, chin, brow, neck wrinkles
- Sessions
- 100 / 200 / 300 shots
How it works — SUPERB
Focusing ultrasound to a point makes that point very hot, but leaves the space between points untouched. SUPERB works the other way: seven transducers emit beams side by side, at the same moment, heating one layer as a surface rather than as dots.
That layer is the mid-dermis, about 1.5 mm below the surface. Heat delivered at this depth creates cylindrical thermal coagulation zones in the tissue, and as the body repairs them, new collagen and elastin are produced. The epidermis is protected by cooling built into the transducers.
A surface, not dots
Seven beams enter side by side at the same moment, covering one layer evenly. The gaps left between points in a focused approach are reduced.
Shallow, but precise
The energy stays in the mid-dermis. The epidermis is protected by cooling, and the fat layer below is not reached.
Why stay shallow — depth is a choice, not a strength setting
When choosing a lifting device, people often assume that deeper means stronger. But depth is not a question of strength — it is a question of what you are treating. The SMAS fascia at 4.5 mm is the structure that supports the face; the mid-dermis at 1.5 mm is the thickness and firmness of the skin itself. They are different targets.
And depth comes at a cost. When energy reaches the subcutaneous layer, it also reaches the fat there. That is why people with thin faces, or who have seen their cheeks hollow after a previous lifting procedure, hesitate over deep treatments. Sofwave confines its energy to 1.5 mm and so does not reach that layer.
In exchange, Sofwave is not a procedure that pulls the fascia. If laxity has progressed to where the structure itself must be tightened, HIFU (LinearZ) fits better; if the goal is overall tightening and contouring, radiofrequency (XERF) fits better. Which one your skin calls for is something we assess together at the consultation, looking at skin thickness and fat.
Lifting device comparison
| Item | Sofwave | HIFU (LinearZ) | RF (XERF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Ultrasound (parallel beams) | Ultrasound (focused) | Radiofrequency (monopolar RF) |
| Working depth | Mid-dermis, ~1.5 mm | 1.5 / 3.0 / 4.5 mm (to the SMAS) | Dermis to subcutaneous |
| Heat delivery | Covers one layer as a surface | Point-by-point coagulation | Bulk heating over a wide area |
| Primary target | Skin thickness, firmness, wrinkles | Fascial lifting, jawline | Overall tightening, contour |
| Reaches subcutaneous fat | No | Yes, depending on depth | Yes |
| Duration | 30-45 min | 10-20 min | 40-60 min |
The table summarizes where and how each device places energy; it does not imply that one is superior. All three are performed at our clinic, and which one suits you depends on skin thickness, fat, and the degree of laxity. Results vary between individuals.
What to expect, and when
Right after treatment
You may feel a slight tightening, with temporary redness or warmth. This usually settles the same day, allowing an immediate return to daily life.
4-6 weeks
As the thermal coagulation zones are repaired, new collagen and elastin are produced. Changes in skin thickness and firmness start to become visible from this point.
About 3 months
The point at which the change peaks. How long it is maintained afterwards varies with age, skin condition, and lifestyle, so we discuss maintenance based on how your skin looks then.
The timings above are averages and vary between individuals. Do not judge the result by how things look right after treatment.
Recommended for
- Those with thin facial fat who hesitate over lifting treatments that go deep
- Those whose cheeks hollowed after a previous lifting procedure
- Those bothered by fine lines together with a sense of thinning skin
- Those who cannot take downtime and need to return to daily life the same day
- Those who want to focus on a narrower area such as the brow, jawline, or neck
Sofwave Launch Event
| Plan | List | Event | Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sofwave 100 shots | ₩1,100,000 | ₩950,000 | -14% |
| Sofwave 200 shots | ₩2,200,000 | ₩1,800,000 | -18% |
| Sofwave 300 shots | ₩3,300,000 | ₩2,600,000 | -21% |
Launch event pricing, applied to everyone treated during the event period. All prices include VAT. The number of shots you need depends on how much area is covered, so we settle on the areas of concern first and match the shot count together at the consultation.
Before & after care
- Redness, warmth, and mild swelling may occur right after treatment and usually settle within the same day to a few days.
- On the day of treatment, avoid sauna, hot baths, alcohol, and intense exercise.
- Moisturize well and use sun protection after treatment.
- Consultation before treatment is required if you are pregnant, have infection or inflammation in the treatment area, or have metal or electronic medical devices in the body.
- The treatment is outside the approved use in Korea for those under 22.
- Contact the clinic if redness or swelling lasts more than a few days, or if pain worsens.
- Results and duration vary between individuals.
Frequently asked questions
Q.What kind of treatment is Sofwave?
It is a non-invasive ultrasound lifting device. Seven transducers emit ultrasound in parallel, simultaneously, heating the skin at a depth of about 1.5 mm — the mid-dermis — so that collagen and elastin are rebuilt there. In Korea it is used to improve wrinkles on the cheeks, chin, brow, and neck.
Q.How is it different from HIFU such as Ulthera or Shurink?
The way the ultrasound is concentrated, and the depth it reaches, differ. HIFU focuses energy to a point and sends it down to 3.0 mm and 4.5 mm, placing coagulation points in the SMAS fascia. Sofwave spreads energy into parallel beams rather than points, keeping it in the mid-dermis at 1.5 mm. So Sofwave works on the thickness and firmness of the skin itself; it is not a procedure that pulls the fascia. If laxity has progressed to where the fascial layer needs to be tightened, HIFU (LinearZ) is the better fit.
Q.Can it cause hollow cheeks?
Sofwave confines its energy to the mid-dermis at 1.5 mm. It does not reach the subcutaneous layer where facial fat sits, so hollowing caused by fat loss is, by mechanism, a different question. That is why we suggest this device for people with thin faces, or who have seen their cheeks hollow after a previous lifting procedure and hesitate about treatments that go deep. That said, results vary between individuals, so we check fat volume and skin thickness at the consultation first.
Q.Does it hurt? Is anesthesia used?
A topical anesthetic cream is applied first, and the pain is moderate. During treatment you feel a stinging warmth passing through. Because the ultrasound does not reach the SMAS fascia, the deep ache that resonates against bone is less pronounced — but heat entering a shallow layer does produce sensation at the surface. Cooling built into the transducers chills the epidermis as it works. Pain varies by area and by person, so tell us right away if you are uncomfortable during the session.
Q.When do results appear and how long do they last?
You may feel a slight tightening right after treatment, but the substance of this procedure is the collagen remodeling that follows. Changes typically become visible from 4-6 weeks, peak at around 3 months, and are then maintained to a degree that varies by individual. Rather than treating it as a one-off, we discuss maintenance based on your skin. Results and duration vary between individuals.
Q.How many shots do I need? Can it be combined with other treatments?
The number of shots is set by how much area you want covered. Narrowing to the jawline or the brow takes fewer; covering the whole face evenly takes more. At the consultation we settle on the areas of concern first, then match the shot count. Combining is possible — because this treatment stimulates collagen within the skin, it does not overlap with treatments that address volume or texture (collagen boosters, skin boosters); their roles are separate. Whether to do them on the same day or space them out is decided based on your skin.
Consultation
Let's find the right depth together
We look at skin thickness, fat, and the degree of laxity, and tell you at the consultation whether Sofwave or another treatment fits.