When people look into lifting treatments, many first ask, "From what age should I start?" Answering based on the guidance of Repic Clinic in Gangnam, the first criterion for choosing a lifting treatment is not age but the diagnosis result. The usual order is to check skin thickness, where and how deep the sagging has formed and the area you want to improve, and only then choose the device and combination.
Age Is a Reference, and the Standard Is the Diagnosis
Sagging of the SMAS (fascia) layer generally begins in the mid-to-late 30s, and many people consider preventive lifting such as Ulthera from around this time. However, individual differences are large. Even in your 20s, if sagging comes early because of your bone structure, or if you need cheekbone reduction or baby-fat refinement, you may consider Ulthera for specific areas. Conversely, even in your 40s, if your firmness is good, tone and texture care may come before lifting.
This is why treatment is not decided by age alone. Repic Clinic in Gangnam performs a dual diagnosis with Meta View (skin surface) and Mark-Vu (deep analysis) before treatment. Skin thickness, sagging locations, pores, pigmentation and facial proportions are checked as numbers, and this data is the basis for treatment decisions. Its principle is not to treat without a diagnosis.
Each Device Reaches a Different Layer
Ulthera is a treatment that focuses ultrasound energy on the fascia (SMAS) layer to aim at improving sagging of the jawline, cheeks and cheekbones. Because the depth is checked with DeepSee™ real-time imaging during the procedure, the focus is on hitting the layer where energy should reach accurately.
InMode delivers RF energy down to the SMAS layer. It aims at fat reduction, collagen production and tightening at the same time and is used for the double chin, jawline and cheeks. It is an FDA-cleared device.
ONDA uses ultra-short-wave Coolwaves™ technology to target the dermis and subcutaneous fat layers together while minimizing damage to the epidermis. Its purpose is fat reduction and collagen renewal.
What to look at when comparing the three devices is "which problem in which layer it aims at." If the center of the sagging is the fascia layer, Ulthera is a candidate, and if the fat layer plays a larger role, as with a double chin, InMode or ONDA, which also address the fat layer, become candidates. Which one is right is judged from the diagnostic data described earlier.
The Same Treatment Name Can Have a Different Design
Repic Clinic in Gangnam runs a Design series (Design Ulthera, Design Thermage, Design Lifting and Design Tone-Up) with the idea that even the same treatment name is designed differently for each patient. Because treatment differs when the cause differs even for the same symptom, the approach fits treatment to the cause rather than the symptom. The integrated approach that combines Ulthera, Thermage, thread lifting, EMFACE, lifting filler and Botox follows the same principle. Individual patient data is obtained through diagnosis, the director designs the treatment plan personally, and it is applied in a personalized way without a uniform protocol.
The whole process of diagnosis, consultation and treatment is handled directly by the directors within a five-director system. The consultation coordinator does not lead treatment decisions, and the director best suited to the diagnosis result performs the treatment. This is a reason to check "who diagnoses and who decides the treatment plan" when comparing clinics.
What to Know Before and After Treatment
Effects vary from person to person and are generally reported to appear gradually over 4 to 12 weeks. Temporary redness, swelling and a stinging sensation have been reported right after treatment and usually recover naturally within a few hours to a few days. It is generally recommended to avoid alcohol and excessive exercise for a week before treatment, and if you take photosensitizing medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have an implanted medical device such as a pacemaker, you should first discuss whether treatment is suitable. Checking the following items before the consultation makes your choice easier.
- Check the diagnostic items: whether skin thickness, sagging locations, pores, pigmentation and facial proportions are quantified
- Whether the layer the candidate treatment's energy reaches (fascia layer, dermis, subcutaneous fat layer) matches the area you want to improve
- Advance disclosure of medications, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and implanted medical devices
- Recovery plan: avoid saunas, steam rooms and intense exercise on the treatment day, and use sunscreen for 1 to 2 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
From what age is it good to have a lifting treatment?
The standard is the skin diagnosis result rather than age. SMAS layer sagging generally begins in the mid-to-late 30s, and preventive lifting begins to make sense from around this time. In your 20s, if sagging comes early because of bone structure, treatment of specific areas may be considered, and in your 40s, if firmness is good, tone and texture care may come first.
What should I check first when choosing a lifting treatment?
A diagnosis that checks where and how deep the sagging is. Repic Clinic in Gangnam quantifies skin thickness, sagging locations, pores, pigmentation and facial proportions with Meta View and Mark-Vu before deciding on treatment. Based on this data, candidates such as Ulthera, InMode and ONDA are compared.
Do I need to have several treatments together?
Not necessarily. Ulthera, Thermage, thread lifting, EMFACE, lifting filler and Botox can be combined, but whether to combine them is decided individually according to the diagnosis results. The same protocol is not applied to everyone.
Repic Clinic in Gangnam | 318 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, basement level 1 and floor 2
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※ This content is for general information only and does not replace a medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before any procedure. Results, downtime and side effects vary from person to person.