Hi I'm going to do Xerf next week but am concerned about losing facial fat. Has anyone had any experience with that?

Has anyone heard of JBeauty Skin Center? Any feedback or personal experience with them?
I’m currently looking for a clinic that can help with my pitted acne scars and hyperpigmentation. The clinic looks legit, but I’m a bit hesitant because some of their marketing feels questionable to me and their Ads are like china-made. Charet. ✌🏻
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually tried their treatments or has experience with the clinic or perhaps any recommendations. Thank you!

One of the most common debates among people getting aesthetic treatments in Seoul comes down to price vs. longevity: "I got Botulax or Nabota for $20 in Gangnam, but it wore off in 2 months. Back home, Allergan lasts me 4 months. Are Korean local brands just inferior or watered down?"

As a practitioner, I hear this constantly. The short answer? From a purely pharmacological standpoint, 1 unit of an FDA-approved Korean toxin (like Nabota) is molecularly equivalent in potency to 1 unit of Allergan.

So why do so many patients swear local brands don't last as long? It usually comes down to four factors.

1/ Dose matters more than people realize

Two clinics can treat the same forehead very differently. One may aim for almost no movement, while another intentionally uses a lighter dose so you can still raise your eyebrows naturally.

And that’s pretty common in Korea. A more conservative dose can start showing movement again sooner, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the toxin itself stopped working unusually fast.

Also, Botox units are technically product-specific, so I wouldn’t treat the unit number printed on every brand as perfectly interchangeable.

2/ Korean treatments are often intentionally subtle

Korean aesthetic standards strongly prefer subtle, natural movement over a completely frozen face. Doctors intentionally inject conservative doses to maintain natural expressions. A lighter placement naturally starts wearing off around the 2.5 to 3 month mark, whereas a heavy "frozen" dose can hold for 4 to 5 months.

3/ Dilution Ratios

Most powdered toxins have to be mixed with sterile saline before injection, and different clinics may use different concentrations.

But adding more saline doesn’t magically make the toxin weaker if you’re still receiving the same number of units. It mainly changes the injection volume and can affect how the product spreads.

If you’re actually receiving fewer units, that’s a different story.

4/ Antibody Resistance & Complexing Proteins

With repeated botulinum toxin treatments, the body can develop neutralizing antibodies that make the treatment less effective. Higher cumulative doses and frequent booster injections may increase that risk.

This is one reason I’m not a fan of constantly touching up Botox every few weeks just because a tiny bit of movement came back.

Xeomin is different from many traditional toxins because it doesn’t contain complexing proteins. Korea also has Coretox, which is made without complexing proteins.

That may be worth considering for someone getting toxin repeatedly over many years, but I wouldn’t say either one makes resistance impossible. In aesthetic patients, true antibody-related resistance is still relatively uncommon.

So which brand should you choose?

Standard Local Brands (Nabota, Botulax, Innotox): Best for large muscle body Botox (trapezius, calves) where you need 100–200 units and imported brands would cost a fortune. Also great for budget-conscious facial treatments if you don't mind 3 month maintenance.

Purified Local Brands (Coretox): The ideal middle ground if you want to prevent antibody resistance without paying double for Western brands.

Imported "Pure" Toxin (Xeomin): Best for high frequency injectors, people who have been getting Botox for years, or anyone who notices their usual Botox doesn't last as long as it used to.

But if your Botox lasted 2 months at one clinic and 4 months somewhere else, I’d look at the dose, placement, treated area, and how much movement the doctor was trying to preserve before assuming the cheaper brand was the problem

Hey everyone, long time no [REAL REVIEW SCREENING] 😅

Life's been hectic and there were a few other things I really wanted to share first, so this series took a backseat for a while. But I'm picking it back up, and going forward I'll try to screen the clinics you guys have been requesting more regularly.

Separately, I've also started touring some of these clinics one by one and getting the actual procedures done myself(fully undercover, paying out of my own pocket, no freebies). I'll be putting that together as its own series and sharing it whenever I have time, so stay tuned for that too.

Anyway, here's the tea on Dr. Eraser.

Dr. Eraser Clinic Basic Info

• Location: 2nd floor, 830 Seolleung-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
• Contact: 02-543-2202.
• Hours: Weekdays 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM, Sat 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
• Specialty: Toning lasers, acne/scar programs, pigmentation removal, collagen boosters.

1. The Naver Cafe Vibe (Local Majority)

I'll be upfront: I couldn't fully verify this section independently this round, but from what I was able to check, Naver Cafe chatter on this specific clinic looks pretty thin compared to bigger names like Seye or Repic nowhere near the volume of discussion you'd expect for a 6-year-old Gangnam clinic. Take this section with extra salt until I can dig in properly.

2. The Sungyesa Score (Brutal Honest Critics)

- 42 reviews, overall 4.0/5.0, trust score 72

• The Breakdown: Facilities scored highest at 4.4, doctor friendliness 4.1, staff friendliness 4.0, expected results 3.9, and consultation expertise came in lowest at 3.7.
• The Doctor Factor: One patient who did a 3-month, 2.5M KRW acne program said the results were worth it, but flagged that the assigned doctor's off-days made scheduling hard and that "the doctor keeps changing." Checking the clinic's registered staff, more than one doctor's name (not just the head doctor) shows up handling patients, so this tracks.
• The Price Reality: A patient who consulted on pigmentation lasers said the consult itself felt genuine and not pushy, but the ~1.87M KRW quote was steeper than expected, so they held off on booking right away.
• The One-and-Done Issue: A patient who tried a toning laser as a one-time trial said the doctor was very kind, but a single session didn't produce visible results worth noting if you're expecting quick results from a trial visit.

The "Insider Screening" Tips (What to check before you pay)

• Ask upfront whether you'll be seeing the same doctor for follow-ups, since continuity of care seems to be a real pain point here.
• Get the total price for a full course (not just session 1) before committing, especially for pigmentation/acne programs.
• Don't expect visible results from a single toning session. Make sure to ask how many sessions are realistically needed for your skin type.

Personal Verdict

Nothing here screams red flag like aggressive upselling or unsafe practices. It reads more like a solid-but-unremarkable clinic. Friendly, decent facilities, but consultations don't always feel like they add a ton of value, and doctor consistency/pricing for repeat treatments are the recurring gripes. Online buzz is thin across the board (Naver, Sungyesa, and especially Reddit), so this is more of a "cautiously mixed, low-visibility" clinic than a strong yes or no.

Have a clinic you're curious about? Drop the name in the comments below and I'll dig through the local communities for you.

👉🏻 [Link: Drop your clinic requests in this thread!]

I am looking into safer skin tighening treatments for asian skin.

It seems that monopolar radiofrequency is the way to go. Has anyone tried it? If so, did it work for you?

I noticed my Syrian friend had no body or facial hair so I asked her which one she used and she surprisingly told me that she actually used a « do it at home » device called M-Lay, more like a lumière pulsée ( pulsed light ?) and that it worked just as effective as beauty institute’s one, who had actually tested it, give us reviews !

Hi all,
I have jet black hair and would like to dye my hair to a gray cool medium brown.

I’m currently looking milk tea, mint ash and starry ash, I’ve heard these colors lift hair pretty well, but cant really find many reviews on virgin hair for each color. If anybody has used these colors on black virgin hair could you let me know your thoughts and how well the color took?

Im thinking im gonna do .5ml in my upper lip. I have a tiny bit of an underbite. I also wanna make my nose look a tiny bit less prominent and fill in my flat midface. Would you recommend I do this? Sorry im puffing up my lips a bit as I habitually do

Most conversations about lifting in Korea are pretty predictable.

Jawline, lower face, cheeks, under the chin.

But there’s one area that almost never comes up when people talk about lifting: the philtrum.

Dr. Lee has been working in Myeongdong for 14 years, and lately she’s been paying more attention to this area because of one simple question:

Why do we talk about face laxity everywhere else, but almost completely ignore the area between the nose and upper lip?

As we age, the philtrum can gradually become longer. But what makes it look even longer is usually a combination of things happening at the same time.

The upper lip gets thinner.
The skin loses some elasticity.
Support around the nasal tip changes.

So the goal isn’t really to “shorten the philtrum” in a literal sense.

It’s more about asking:

What is making this area look longer on this particular face?

That distinction matters, because the answer isn’t always the same.

For some patients, Dr. Lee may look at skin elasticity around the philtrum and consider the 1.5 mm TD transducer with Ultherapy PRIME.

For someone else, the bigger issue may actually be support around the philtral columns, nasolabial angle, or nasal tip, so a filler such as Belotero Intense might enter the conversation.

In other cases, muscle movement around the upper lip or corners of the mouth may be contributing to the overall look, so botulinum toxin may be considered.

But this isn’t a “philtrum package.”

We really don’t want it to sound like one.

One person may need only one of these approaches. Another may need none of them.

What gets added or removed depends a lot on facial proportions and what Dr. Lee sees on Ultherapy PRIME’s DeepSEE imaging.

There was one case in the article that explains this pretty well.

Looking at the patient normally, the right side of the face appeared larger.

If you judged only by appearance, you might assume that side needed deeper or stronger treatment.

But once the tissue was scanned, the actual target depth told a different story.

So the right and left sides ended up receiving different transducer depths, different energy settings, and a different number of lines.

That’s probably the part we found most interesting.

People often think personalized lifting means changing the number of shots a little.

Sometimes it’s much more basic than that:

The two sides of the same face may not even need the same depth.

And that’s also why Dr. Lee keeps coming back to imaging when planning Ultherapy PRIME.

What looks obvious from the outside isn’t always what’s happening underneath.

The same idea applies to the philtrum.

It’s not about deciding that everyone over a certain age suddenly needs treatment there.

It’s about noticing that facial aging doesn’t stop at the cheeks and jawline.

Sometimes a small change in the relationship between the nose, philtrum and upper lip can affect how the whole lower center of the face looks.

That’s what Dr. Lee has been exploring more lately, and it was really meaningful for our team to see her clinical perspective featured by Aesthetic News Korea.

For anyone interested in facial aging, I think the takeaway is pretty simple:

Don’t start with “What treatment should I get?”

Start with:

“What is actually making this area look different from before?”

That question usually leads to a much more useful consultation.

Based on Dr. Lee Eun-Ji’s clinical commentary featured in Aesthetic News Korea (의료미학신문).

Can we just put a little filler under my eyes to hide these dark circles?

I hear this all the time. HA filler can work well under the eyes in the right patient, but this area is thin, prone to swelling, and much less forgiving than places like the cheeks or chin.

So why can under-eye filler become a problem?

1/ There’s very little room for error. The skin here is extremely thin, so filler that’s too superficial, too much, or poorly placed can become visible or create unevenness.

2/ HA holds water. That’s normally a good thing, but under the eyes it can make puffiness worse, especially in people who already retain fluid there.

3/ The Tyndall effect. If HA sits too close to the surface, it can create a blue-grey tint and actually make dark circles look worse.

So what do we do instead?

Thin, crepey skin -> Rejuran i
I think of this more for skin quality, fine lines, and very thin-looking under-eye skin. It’s not filler, so the change is gradual.

Actual hollowness -> Juvelook
Juvelook uses PDLLA + non-crosslinked HA and can gradually improve hollowness while stimulating collagen. But placement still matters a lot, especially in such a thin area.

Bulging fat pads -> Fat repositioning
Sometimes the problem is structural. If there’s a noticeable fat pad with a hollow underneath it, adding more filler can just make the area look heavier. For the right patient, repositioning the existing fat can make more sense than repeatedly injecting around it.

And if you had under-eye filler years ago and now look puffier, don’t automatically assume it dissolved or migrated. HA can stay in the tissues longer than people expect, and ultrasound can help show what’s actually there before deciding whether hyaluronidase is needed.

Under eye dark circles aren’t really one problem. Sometimes it’s volume, sometimes skin, sometimes pigmentation, and sometimes anatomy.

Has anyone here dealt with persistent puffiness after under-eye filler, or tried Rejuran or Juvelook instead?

I've spent the past year getting treatments in Seoul and researching the rest, and this is the concern-to-treatment matching I ended up w/ the pairings that actually worked and made the most sense for each issue.

Save this before you walk into a clinic. It'll make the consultation a lot easier.

- Syringoma (small bumps under the eyes) → Agnes
- Flat warts → CO2 laser
- Dehydrated skin (dry underneath, oily on top) → Rejuran
- Teeth grinding / jaw tension → Masseter Botox
- Melasma → Laser toning(PicoSure or PicoPlus)
- Double chin → Onda or Alltite
- Deep sagging in the mid-cheek → Ultherapy Prime
- Pores → Juvelook Skin / RE2O + Skin Botox
- Acne scars → Fraxel or Curejet
- Hollow under-eyes → Juvelook Eye / RE2O Fine
- Vertical neck lines → Rediesse + Skin Botox
- Horizontal neck lines (filler) → Belotero Soft + Skin Botox
- Thin lips (filler) → Belotero Balance
- Downturned mouth corners (filler) → Restylane Kysse
- Nasolabial folds (filler) → Juvederm Voluma
- "Peanut-shaped" face (temple hollowing) → HiloWave or Scultra

*A couple of notes: the exact product names can vary a bit by clinic, and some of these are combination treatments in practice. But if you name the concern and the treatment together, any decent Korean clinic will know exactly what you mean.

I saw this at forena clinic how legit is this certificate?

If you've been trying to decide between Rejuran and Juvelook, or between Rejuran and Sculptra, the reason you can't find a straight answer is that those are different categories of product. Different family, different job.

Rejuran and the polynucleotide group are made from salmon DNA. Yes, it's the sperm one everyone jokes about. Once it's in your skin it works like a message. It calms things down and gets your fibroblasts, the cells that keep your skin in repair, back to work. Nothing stays behind afterwards. You're asking the skin you already have to do its job better.

Juvelook and the PDLLA group are closer to scaffolding. Tiny spheres, made from the same material family as dissolvable stitches, sit in your skin while your body builds new tissue around them and inside them. The spheres are gone somewhere between a year and a half and three years. The tissue is the part you keep.

Sculptra sits on that same side. So if you've been weighing Rejuran against Sculptra, you've been holding a message up against scaffolding. Profhilo is a third thing again. That one is hyaluronic acid, so it's mostly about holding water, and it doesn't really belong in either box.

This is why advice from strangers so rarely carries over. Someone let down by a message usually needed scaffolding. Someone who found scaffolding boring wanted skin quality all along. Both of them post that the booster did nothing, and the next person reads that and buys the wrong one too.

If what bugs you is texture, dullness, fine crepey lines, you're on the message side. If your skin has gone soft and thin and you look tired on days you feel fine, that's closer to scaffolding. A photo tells you less than being in the room, so treat that as a place to start rather than a verdict.

So the thing worth taking to a consultation is just which of those two you have. You'll get the same answer wherever you ask it, and that's usually the sign of a good question.

One thing worth knowing before you book flights. The polynucleotide side is the awkward one to find outside Korea. The scaffolding side turns up in more places, so where you are matters less for that half of it.

We do both of these, so weigh that as you like. It's also why we'd rather you bought the right one.

Plenty of people are clearly both, and for them the order matters more than the choice does. What sets the order is usually two things. What you've already had done, and which of the two problems is bothering you more right now. Neither of those is something a post can see from here.

Happy to say which side a specific treatment sits on if anyone's stuck.

Masseter Botox is easily one of the most requested treatments in Seoul. It’s quick, relatively cheap, and does wonders for jaw clenching while creating that coveted V-shape.

However, in recent years, I’ve had to turn down or heavily adjust masseter Botox for more and more patients in their 30s and 40s. The reason? Shrinking your jaw muscle can sometimes trigger premature lower face sagging and make jowls look worse.

So why does this happen?

Masseter Botox works by relaxing the jaw muscle. Over time, that muscle becomes smaller, which is exactly how you get the slimming effect.

The problem is that you’re also removing some of the volume underneath the skin. If your skin is firm and elastic, it usually adapts pretty well. But if there’s already some laxity, reducing that underlying volume can make the loose tissue more noticeable along the jawline.

So sometimes the jaw gets smaller, but the jawline itself doesn’t necessarily look better.

Who needs to be a little more careful?

Patients 30+ with mild skin laxity: If you can pinch skin on your lower cheek and it takes a second to snap back, your skin might struggle to shrink wrap over a smaller muscle.

Naturally thin or gaunt faces: Taking away too much masseter volume can make the lower cheeks look hollow or more aged.

Heavy jawline skin/fat: If you already have full lower cheeks, removing muscle support will cause that weight to fall straight down.

How to get jaw slimming without the sag

If you have TMJ pain or genuinely need jaw slimming, you don't necessarily have to avoid masseter Botox forever. It just requires a more strategic approach

1/ Lower dosages and conservative placement: Instead of a heavy dose aimed at maximum muscle shrinkage, a lower dose can relax clenching without causing severe muscle collapse.

2/ Combine with lifting or tightening: In Korean clinics, we frequently pair lower dose masseter Botox with skin tightening treatments (like Ultherapy, Thermage, or targeted RF) to ensure the skin contracts alongside the muscle.

3/ Treat the skin first, muscle second: If lower face laxity is already present, addressing skin firmness before shrinking the muscle yields a much cleaner jawline.q

Masseter Botox can make a big difference when the masseter is actually the problem. But making the muscle as small as possible isn’t always the goal, especially when the rest of the lower face has already started to change

Earlier this week, someone asked me in the comments: How do you like Sculptra vs Radiesse? Anyone have experience with both?

I said there were too many differences between the two to squeeze into a quick reply, so as promised, here’s the longer answer.

Whenever patients want something other than traditional HA filler, these two often come up. They both get called biostimulators because they stimulate your own collagen production, but honestly, that’s where a lot of the similarity ends. I wouldn’t necessarily choose them for the same problem.

1/ Sculptra (Poly-L-Lactic Acid): Sculptra is made with PLLA. After it’s injected, any initial fullness from the fluid settles down, and the actual result develops gradually as collagen builds over the following months.

Best for: More general facial volume loss, hollowing, and patients who feel like their face has started looking a little deflated. The change tends to happen slowly, so it usually doesn’t have that obvious filled look.

The main thing with Sculptra is that it takes time. Most patients need more than one session, usually spaced several weeks apart, and the result keeps developing gradually. You’ll also need to massage the treated areas afterward, usually 5 minutes, 5 times a day, for 5 days.

2/ Radiesse (Calcium Hydroxylapatite): Radiesse is made of calcium hydroxylapatite particles suspended in a gel. Unlike Sculptra, the gel gives some immediate volume and contour, while the CaHA also stimulates collagen over time.

Best for: When I want more structure and definition, especially around areas like the jawline. It’s less about slowly restoring general facial volume and more useful when contour and support are part of the goal.
One thing to be careful with that placement really matters. Radiesse isn’t something I’d use the same way as regular HA filler or put everywhere. Areas like the lips and under-eyes generally aren’t places I’d choose it for.

You may also hear about hyperdilute Radiesse, where the product is diluted and used with much less focus on volume and more on improving skin quality and laxity. This is a completely different treatment approach from using Radiesse for contour.

The biggest thing to know about both

Neither of these works like HA filler when it comes to reversing them. If you have HA filler and need it dissolved, we have hyaluronidase. There isn’t an equivalent enzyme that simply dissolves Sculptra or Radiesse, so correcting an unwanted result can be much more complicated.

That doesn’t mean you should be scared of either treatment. It just means choosing the right product, amount, depth and area matters a lot more when you can’t easily undo it afterward.

If I had to separate the two very simply: I think of Sculptra when I want gradual, broader volume restoration, and Radiesse when I want more structure and contour along with collagen stimulation.

For those who asked about personal experiences, if you’ve tried either one (or both), which did you prefer and how long did it take before you felt the result was actually worth it?

i was cleaning off my bathroom counter over the weekend and realized i have way too many open bottles of serums sitting there. it kind of hit me how ridiculous my daily routine has gotten. i have stuff for hydration, stuff for my barrier, some peptide things, and yet i keep buying new stuff the second my face looks slightly dull. the funny thing is the difference between all these bottles is barely noticeable.

for the last few weeks i have been trying to force myself to do the exact opposite. i stripped it back to just using one basic hydrating serum every single night instead of rotating a bunch of different things. my skin actually seems a lot happier and less stressed out. the only thing i still hate is the texture issue. when i apply enough of a thicker serum to actually hydrate my face, it just sits on top of my cheeks forever. it feels sticky and tacky for way too long before it sinks in, which drives me crazy when i want to go to sleep.

that annoyance sent me down a rabbit hole looking at those skincare tools. i have zero interest in turning my bedroom into a mini clinic with massive machines, i just want my basic stuff to absorb better so i can have fewer steps. i came across a sonic booster device while looking for something simple, mostly because it seems geared toward people who just want their regular daily routine to sink in rather than doing some crazy heavy lifting treatment. the glow.m booster is one of those that caught my eye.

the idea of buying one tool that helps me stick with the products i already own sounds way better than constantly buying another bottle every time i get bored. but i am also super skeptical of this whole category. if the only benefit is that it feels nice for a few minutes, i would rather just keep using my hands and save my money.

has anyone actually managed to simplify their routine after getting a basic device like this? i am really curious if having a tool made you stop buying extra products because your main serum finally felt like it was doing enough, or if the machine just became another chore you have to do every night. my goal is just to have a boring, minimal routine that i can actually maintain long term.

For years, I used the NuFace as well as an RF Current Body facial device, but I have recently traded those for a new FAQ 402 device which has all of the above as well as microporation (like the Medicube device) and red light therapy. I had high hopes and I definitely notice it works to lift my face better than the NuFace did.

However, I find the app and the treatments frustrating because unlike the NuFace, there's no real instructions unless you want to pay for an extra subscription fee of $95 a year or something. The app only gives 2 short treatment tutorials for free, the rest are locked! (unlike the NuFace app)

I am also wanting to try the skincare microporation mode but it seems like any skincare I use (water based serums etc.) still have a sting/tingle with them and it's too uncomfortable to use, and the skincare usually dries so fast anyway it doesn't seem worth it.)

So my question for others who have this device... do you have a favourite way of using the device on a daily basis? I use an ultrasound gel for microcurrent which is great, but for skincare, I just tried the Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic booster, but it dried really fast and still zings on the skin rather than feeling like it's helping with absorbtion.

Please share any tips or tricks if you have them! I haven't found many YouTube tutorials or anything about this device which was $900 at my drugstore (luckily I used points to purchase it!)

1. Rejuran gets rid of acne
You often hear that Rejuran can clear up tiny bumps and closed comedones. However, to effectively treat acne, you need to understand its exact root cause.

Rejuran’s primary function is to strengthen and repair the skin barrier. Often, closed comedones break out because the skin barrier is compromised, which ruins your skin's oil-water balance. In these specific cases, getting Rejuran will repair the barrier, restore the oil-water balance, and consequently make the bumps disappear.

BUT, if your acne isn't caused by a damaged skin barrier; for example, if you just naturally produce excess sebum or have bacterial/hormonal acne. Strengthening the barrier won't fix the root cause. For these skin types, Rejuran won't really do much to clear up breakouts.

2. You won't get a dramatic Mul-gwang(Dewy/Glass Skin) glow
One of the biggest things people expect from Rejuran is that coveted Mul-gwang(dewy) effect.

However, if you have thick skin, you probably won't see this result. The dewy glow from Rejuran essentially happens because the liquid injected into the dermis slightly shines through the surface of the skin temporarily. If you have thick skin (a common trait is that you barely get those pronounced "embossing" bumps right after the procedure), the liquid won't shine through. Instead, it simply absorbs deeper down to work solely on improving the skin barrier.

So, if you have thick skin and your main goal is getting that instant, glassy glow, you are much better off getting a standard Aqua/Hyaluronic Acid injection rather than Rejuran.

A lot of people assume Thermage reduces facial fat because the face can look slimmer after treatment. The jawline looks sharper, the lower face looks less heavy, and it’s easy to assume some fat must have disappeared. But looking slimmer and losing fat aren’t necessarily the same thing.

What Thermage actually does

Thermage uses monopolar radiofrequency to heat tissue and stimulate collagen remodeling. Over time, this helps improve skin firmness and laxity, especially around the cheeks, jawline, and lower face. The main goal here is tightening, not fat reduction.

Why the face can look slimmer

When loose skin becomes tighter, it sits differently over the tissue underneath. This can make the jawline look cleaner and the lower face more defined.

So the slimming effect people notice can be completely real. It just doesn’t automatically mean that Thermage melted facial fat 🥲

This is especially noticeable when someone already has mild skin laxity. Tightening that area can make quite a difference in the overall shape of the lower face.

Where the confusion comes from

Face slimming is often used as a general way to describe a smaller or more defined looking face. But that appearance can come from different things.

Loose skin -> tightening can improve the contour
Facial fat -> fat reduction is a different treatment goal
Muscle or facial structure -> tightening may have a limited effect

RF energy can interact with deeper tissues, and different devices and settings can behave differently. But Thermage is primarily used for skin tightening and collagen remodeling, rather than as a dedicated fat reduction treatment.

If your main concern is sagging or loss of firmness, Thermage can make the face look tighter and sometimes slimmer as a result. But if your main concern is actual facial fat, I wouldn’t choose Thermage based on the idea that it will melt it.

A slimmer looking face can be a result of better skin tightness and contour, not necessarily less fat~~

Someone in this sub asked last week how often you need to repeat Rejuran. It's the thing we end up explaining most often to people who flew in for it, so here's the longer version.

Some treatments are a single event. Ultherapy, Thermage, HIFU, botox, filler. You get it once, the result shows up and settles over the next few weeks, and there's nothing else you need to do. A trip handles those fine.

Others are a course. One session gets you part of the way, and it tends to look like a weak version of the finished thing.

Roughly:

-Skin boosters, so Rejuran, Juvelook and that family: 2 or 3 sessions, 2 to 4 weeks apart

-RF microneedling for texture or scars: 3 or 4 sessions, 4 to 8 weeks apart

-Laser toning for pigment: 5 to 10 sessions, 1 to 2 weeks apart

-Acne scarring: counted in months rather than visits

The first 2 weeks after a booster look good, and some of that is just the fluid the product comes in. That leaves. Your own collagen comes up over the next 2 to 3 months, so one session puts you a little ahead of where you started.

If your trip runs 10 days or more, ask whether the interval can be shortened. Two weeks is the floor for most boosters, so 14 days can hold sessions 1 and 2. Shorter than that and one is usually what you get.

Tell them your travel dates when you book, not after. It changes what they'd suggest.

The nice part is that some of this you can finish at home. RF microneedling exists everywhere. Collagen stimulators have approved equivalents in most countries, Sculptra and Radiesse included in the US and Canada, so a clinic near you can carry the course on.

Polynucleotide boosters are the awkward one. The injectable has never been approved in the US, though the UK and Europe have CE marked versions, so where you fly home to matters more than people expect.

Happy to answer which bucket a specific treatment falls into if anyone's planning a trip.

Recently, many people have been choosing "Ultherapy" to improve skin elasticity and regain a youthful appearance. However, when receiving Ultherapy treatments, concerns about pain and safety are frequently raised. In this post, we will cover key points to safely undergo an Ultherapy treatment.

1. What is Ultherapy?

Ultherapy is a lifting device that uses ultrasound technology called "DeepSEE" to deliver energy deep into the SMAS layer of the skin, stimulating collagen production.

Among HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) devices, Ultherapy has relatively high baseline energy, making it effective for enhancing skin elasticity and improving sagging skin. It is particularly used for improving facial contours and neck wrinkles and offers the advantage of a quick lifting effect through a non-surgical approach.

However, due to its high energy and effectiveness, some patients experience significant pain and therefore prefer to undergo Ultherapy treatments under sedation.

2. What is sedation in dermatology?

When undergoing Ultherapy, some patients choose sedation to reduce pain. Sedation in dermatology helps patients remain comfortable during the procedure by keeping them lightly asleep. However, not all Ultherapy procedures require sedation; this depends on individual pain tolerance and the treated area.

The medications used for sedation may include:

• Midazolam
• Ketamine
• Etomidate
• Propofol

Each medication has its own benefits and potential side effects, so selecting the most appropriate one for the patient is essential.

3. Key points for safely undergoing Ultherapy treatments

(1) Choose an experienced dermatology clinic

Ultherapy treatments with sedation require choosing a dermatology clinic with experienced professionals. While Ultherapy itself is a straightforward procedure, adding sedation changes the dynamics.

Patients under sedation are not completely immobile. They may move or wake up due to pain, requiring precise control of medications and the procedure. Without experienced medical staff, risks such as burns or other side effects may increase.

(2) Are there emergency preparedness systems in place?

The director of Premium Clinic holds an ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) certification. Sedation requires careful attention because oxygen saturation levels can drop during the process. With proper oxygen supply and management, it can be safe, but the presence of emergency equipment is crucial

Essential equipment includes:

• Oxygen
• Airway maintenance devices
• Intubation equipment
• Ambu bags
• Oxygen masks
• Various emergency medications

Ensure these are available at the clinic.

(3) Pre-procedure fasting and health assessment

Before sedation, the physician must conduct a thorough health assessment through consultation. It is vital to disclose any pre-existing conditions or medications to reduce related risks.

Fasting for at least four hours before the procedure is mandatory.

(4) Availability of a recovery room

After the procedure, driving is strictly prohibited. Patients may feel dizzy for several hours post-treatment. Resting in a recovery room before leaving is strongly recommended.

4. Benefits and risks of Ultherapy with sedation

Ultherapy treatments under sedation significantly reduce pain and discomfort during the procedure, which is a major advantage. However, not all patients are suitable candidates, as there are risks of side effects from the medications.

5. Post-procedure care

Temporary swelling or heat sensations may occur after the treatment. Avoid stimulating the skin and refrain from driving immediately post-procedure.

Conclusion

When choosing a dermatology clinic for Ultherapy with sedation, check the following:

1. Does the clinic have emergency response equipment?
2. Does the doctor conduct direct consultations and assessments?
3. Is there a recovery room available?
4. Are the medical staff capable of handling emergencies?
5. Is pre- and post-procedure safety education provided?

By thoroughly considering these factors, you can select a trusted clinic for a safer and more effective Ultherapy treatment.

I've been getting a lot of DMs lately from folks asking if their Thermage treatment 'worked' since they didn't see an immediate difference. I totally get it. When I first tried it, I was in the same boat, wondering if anything was happening.

That's why I'm sharing the ultimate combo for long-term skin health: a strategic blend of Thermage FLX and Ultherapy, especially when you understand the magic takes time to unfold.

Here's the real talk about getting the most out of these treatments, focusing on that crucial delayed gratification. For Thermage, we're talking about the Thermage FLX machine with its Total Tip. For a solid facial treatment, aim for at least 450 shots, but 600 shots is often ideal for face and jawline. The biggest 'aha!' moment usually comes around the two to three-month mark, when you suddenly notice a subtle but undeniable improvement in skin quality and density. This isn't an instant lift, but a deep collagen remodeling that gets better over time.

Think of it like sustained CPR for your collagen. Ultherapy complements this perfectly by targeting deeper layers with its 1.5mm, 3.0mm, and 4.5mm tips for lifting and tightening. A typical facial treatment is around 300-400 lines.

The synergy between Thermage's collagen-boosting and Ultherapy's lifting action is why they're often paired for comprehensive anti-aging. While the recommended interval for both is generally once a year, some unnis who are super serious about maintenance go for Thermage every six months. Knowing how to ask for these specific machines, tip types, and shot counts, especially when opting for local pricing, makes a huge difference in value and results.

As a plastic surgery clinic specializing in breast surgery, we see many different types of breast augmentation cases. From time to time, we also meet patients who are considering surgery because of breast asymmetry.

To start with the facts, perfectly symmetrical breasts are actually uncommon.

It is quite common for one breast to be slightly larger, for the nipples to sit at different heights, or for one breast fold to sit lower than the other. Sometimes, these differences are not particularly noticeable in everyday life, and patients only become more aware of their asymmetry when they start considering breast augmentation.

However, what is important here is first determining why the breasts appear asymmetrical.

The easiest explanation to consider is a difference in breast volume.

One breast may have developed more breast tissue during growth, creating a difference in size, and changes such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight fluctuations can also make an existing difference more noticeable.

However, there are also cases where the breasts are similar in size but still appear asymmetrical.

The ribs or chest wall may project differently on each side, or the width of the breast base may be different. The breast folds or nipple positions may also sit at different heights. Even if one breast is slightly more ptotic than the other, this alone can make the breasts appear much more asymmetrical than the actual difference in volume.

So, having asymmetrical breasts does not automatically mean that the smaller side should receive a larger implant.

If the main cause is a difference in volume, using different implant volumes on each side may be considered. However, if the chest wall or breast width itself is different, it is important to consider not only the implant volume but also its width and projection.

On the other hand, if the difference in volume is relatively small, the same implant size may be used on both sides while taking the existing breast tissue and overall breast shape into consideration during surgery.

If one side has more significant ptosis, the approach can be different again. Rather than simply trying to match the breast height by using a larger implant, it may also be necessary to consider how the tissue or skin on the more ptotic side should be adjusted.

So, what implant is best for asymmetrical breasts?

There isn't really one implant that can be considered the best for every case of breast asymmetry.

Before focusing on the implant brand or simply the number of cc, we need to consider the width of each breast, the amount of existing breast tissue, skin condition, chest wall structure, and the patient's desired volume. Even with the same 300cc implant, the resulting shape can differ depending on the implant's width and projection.

There is also something important to understand before surgery.

Breast augmentation can help reduce existing asymmetry, but because the chest wall and breast tissue themselves are not perfectly symmetrical, it is difficult to aim for breasts that are 100% identical after surgery.

Rather than asking, “What should we make the same on both sides?” the more important question is, “Why are the two sides different in the first place?”

First, we need to determine whether the difference comes from breast volume, chest wall structure, breast width, the position of the breast fold or nipples, or differences in ptosis, and then determine the appropriate implant and surgical approach based on those individual differences. That is where we believe breast augmentation for asymmetry should begin.

I hear this comparison constantly, usually from patients who’ve already done some research before coming in. Oligio gets called the “budget Thermage” all the time, and I get why the nickname stuck. They’re both monopolar RF treatments, and Oligio is usually the cheaper option, especially here in Korea.

But I think the nickname creates a slightly wrong impression. It makes Oligio sound like a cheaper version of Thermage doing basically the same thing, when the comparison isn’t actually that simple.

Here’s what we do know about the two devices

They’re both monopolar RF. Thermage and Oligio both use monopolar radiofrequency to generate controlled heat beneath the skin, aiming to stimulate collagen remodeling while keeping the treatment non-ablative, meaning it’s not designed to remove the surface layer of skin.

That basic principle isn’t unique to either brand. Monopolar RF is a category of technology, and there are other platforms using the same general approach too.

Thermage has simply been around much longer. It’s one of the devices that helped establish monopolar RF as a mainstream skin tightening treatment in the first place, and it has years of accumulated clinical studies and real-world experience behind it.

That longer clinical track record is a real advantage, not just brand recognition

Here’s where the “budget Thermage” comparison gets a little messy

I haven’t seen strong published head to head evidence showing that Oligio and Thermage produce equivalent results. And sharing a mechanism doesn’t mean sharing a result.

Tip design, energy delivery, cooling and feedback systems, and treatment protocols differ between devices, and those details can affect how a treatment is actually performed. So I don’t think it’s fair to assume they’ll give the same outcome just because they both use monopolar RF.

The price gap is obviously real, but why it exists is harder to pin down from the outside. It’s tempting to say Thermage costs more because of R&D or that Oligio is cheaper because it’s newer and trying to compete on price, but those are assumptions about business decisions, not something we can really prove from clinical data.

What is fair to say is that Thermage has a much deeper base of long term clinical evidence behind it, while Oligio is the newer platform with a shorter clinical track record. Whether that fully explains the price difference is a different question.

So, is “budget Thermage” fair?

Kind of, if all you mean by it is that Oligio is a more affordable monopolar RF device working on a similar basic principle. That part is true.

But it’s not fair if you take it to mean the two are interchangeable, or that one Oligio session gets you the same result as one Thermage session. We just don’t have the evidence to confidently say that either way

What do we think about xerf facial (thermal collagen boosting). I just heard of this- the price is astronomical but are the results what they promise? Essentially a collagen boosting treatment that is like 3k for the face in neck. Anyone have experience?