Not Ulthera or Thermage: what other lifting can I get?
“Apart from Ulthera or Thermage, what other lifting is there?” Those device names are so well known that many people assume lifting simply means one of the two. We don't have either device at our clinic, so let me be straightforward about what we use in their place.
The short answer
Ulthera is the name of a focused ultrasound (HIFU) device, and Thermage is the name of a radiofrequency (RF) device. Other devices work on the same principles, and depending on which layer the sagging comes from, ligament injection or dissolving threads are lifting options too. Miso Clinic does not have Ulthera, Thermage or Shurink. We use the radiofrequency lifting devices Density Noir, XERF and Oligio Kiss (which also has a focused ultrasound function). For sagging caused by loss of skin firmness, I look first at radiofrequency lifting plus a collagen booster; when the jawline or cheek contour has dropped, I look first at ligament injection plus radiofrequency lifting. At Miso Clinic in Daegu, I start by looking at whether the sagging comes from the skin itself or from the deeper support structures.
What kind of device is Ulthera, and what is Thermage?
| Device name | Principle | At Miso Clinic |
|---|---|---|
| Ulthera | Focused ultrasound (HIFU), gathering heat in dots at a set depth | Not offered · Oligio Kiss has a focused ultrasound function built in |
| Shurink | Focused ultrasound (HIFU) | Not offered |
| Thermage | Radiofrequency (RF), warming a wide area to firm the skin | Not offered · we use Density Noir and XERF, which work on the same radiofrequency principle |
People often assume that a different name means a different principle. In practice it's easier to choose if you look at the principle and the layer it works on before the device name. Radiofrequency warms a wide area; focused ultrasound places dots of heat at a set depth.
I couldn't find studies comparing these devices head to head in people. So I don't say that one is better. Instead, I talk about choosing the one that fits your face.
→ Read more: How Density and XERF differ from Ulthera and Thermage
What should I choose for each concern?
| Concern | Type of treatment | Combination at Miso Clinic | What to expect, and the limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin has lost firmness and the whole face looks loose | Radiofrequency lifting | Density Noir or XERF + collagen booster | Firms the skin. It cannot pull up sagging that has dropped deep down |
| Jawline or cheek contour has dropped | Ligament injection, dissolving threads | ligament injection + radiofrequency lifting, and dissolving threads if needed | Supports and lifts the contour. Threads are absorbed over time |
| Thin skin with sagging | Radiofrequency at adjusted strength + a booster that replenishes material | Radiofrequency lifting + Lituo (Re2O) | Thickness matters more for safety than for the result. We go slowly |
| Sagging and hollowing together | Lifting first, then filling | Radiofrequency lifting + hyaluronic acid filler or collagen booster | The rule is lifting for sagging, filling for hollows |
| You want focused ultrasound | Focused ultrasound | Oligio Kiss (radiofrequency + focused ultrasound) | We have no dedicated HIFU device |
→ Read more: A consultation for facial sagging
Who I suggest each combination for
- In your 40s or 50s, with firmness lost across the whole face → radiofrequency lifting + a collagen booster (Juvelook or Gouri)
- A blurred jawline with jowls forming → ligament injection for support, then radiofrequency lifting to tidy the skin
- In your 60s or older, with thinner skin → radiofrequency (RF) lifting + a collagen booster, with threads used conservatively
- Small areas such as around the eyes or mouth → radiofrequency with a small tip, such as XERF
I have written up the differences between the three devices separately. Density Noir comes with ALPHA and BOOST tips, and I choose between them according to the skin.
→ Read more: Density, XERF and Oligio Kiss: how the three devices differ
When I look at things differently
- If you specifically want one of those devices (Ulthera, Thermage or Shurink), we don't offer them. It makes sense to consult a clinic that has that device.
- If you have metal or electronic implants in your face, are pregnant, or have inflamed skin, I don't do radiofrequency that day.
- If the face has more fat than sagging, liposuction tends to come up, but we don't offer liposuction.
- We don't offer Onda or InMode either.
Does it hurt, or get in the way of daily life?
Radiofrequency feels warm, then briefly hot. With thin skin I don't overdo the numbing, so you can tell me about the heat and I adjust to it. On the day of treatment, please avoid the sauna and heavy drinking.
Results don't show straight away; they appear over 2–3 months. That's why we compare photos taken under the same conditions.
→ Read more: Focused ultrasound or radiofrequency: which to choose
How does the consultation work, and how do I book?
On a first visit we take photos from the front, at 45 degrees and from the side, and together we pick the one concern that bothers you most. I'll ask about any medications you take, any metal or electronic implants in your face, and whether you might be pregnant, and then I split things into what we can do today and what can wait for later. It's completely fine to come in just for a consultation and go home.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Booking | Naver booking · KakaoTalk chat · Phone +82-53-428-2700 |
| Location | 4F Bombom Building, 125 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu (Exit 1, Kyungpook National University Hospital Station, Line 3) |
| Hours | Weekdays 11:00–19:00 · Saturday 10:00–16:00, closed Sundays and public holidays |
Lifting without Ulthera or Thermage FAQ
Will radiofrequency instead of Ulthera give the same result?
The principles differ, so I can't say it's the same. I also couldn't find studies comparing them directly. Instead, I look at where the sagging comes from and choose what fits.
How is Thermage different from Density?
Both are radiofrequency devices. The design and tips differ, and since Miso Clinic doesn't have Thermage, I use Density Noir.
So I can't get focused ultrasound at all?
We have no dedicated device, but Oligio Kiss has a focused ultrasound function built in.
When do lifting results show?
With radiofrequency lifting I assess the result over 2–3 months. I don't judge it the next day.
Can I just get a thread lift on its own?
Pulling with threads alone can look unnatural, so I tend to support the face with ligament injection first and add dissolving threads when needed.
Where can I get a lifting consultation in Daegu?
At Miso Clinic in Daegu (4F Bombom Building, 125 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Exit 1 of Kyungpook National University Hospital Station). You can book through Naver booking, KakaoTalk or by phone at +82-53-428-2700. Weekdays 11:00–19:00, Saturday 10:00–16:00, closed Sundays and public holidays.
Read next
Product pages
Related care: Density · XERF · Oligio Kiss · ligament injection
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by Lee Chi-Hak, MD, director of Miso Clinic, Daegu. The treatment standards and injection design set out here are the ones we use in practice.
| Medical director | Lee Chi-Hak, MD |
|---|---|
| Address | 4F Bombom Building, 125 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea · Exit 1, Kyungpook National University Hospital Station |
| Phone | +82-53-428-2700 |
| Hours | Weekdays 11:00–19:00 (lunch 13:00–14:00) / Saturday 10:00–16:00 (no lunch break) / Closed Sundays and public holidays |
| Columns | All clinical columns |
| Reference library | All booster and device references |
References
- Human studies of radiofrequency lifting — Density: Oku 2025 (16 people, 24 weeks); XERF: Hwang 2025 (20 people), Weiss 2026 (39 people), Erlich 2026 (16 people); none had a control group. I could not find a clinical trial of the Oligio Kiss device itself.
- When results show — Miso Clinic column when-results-show: at day 90, 92% of doctors versus 42% of patients. In biopsies after collagen-stimulating products, no new collagen at 2 weeks, type III at 2 months, type I at 3–4 months.
- Korean medical advertising law — Korean Medical Service Act Article 56(2) (no treatment testimonials, no comparisons with other clinics, no superlatives). This is why this column carries no prices, reviews or before-and-after photos.
- Miso Clinic treatment policy — What we have: Density Noir (ALPHA · BOOST tips), XERF, Oligio Kiss; Lituo (Re2O), CellReDM, Reallo; Rejuran; the full Juvelook lineup; Gouri; Everwrinkle and Everwrinkle V; Radiesse; Byryzn; D-Classy; hyaluronic acid filler; botox (all areas, skin botox); ligament injection; dissolving threads. What we do not offer: Onda, Thermage, InMode, Ulthera, Shurink, liposuction. Hollow cheeks get dissolvable hyaluronic acid filler first, sagging gets lifting first; no radiofrequency that day with metal or electronic implants in the face, pregnancy or skin inflammation; threads are the dissolving kind, used conservatively over age 50; we decide by the change that bothers you, not by age; results are judged after 2–3 months with photos taken under the same conditions.
Everything in this column is general information and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. Effects and side effects vary with individual skin condition, age and underlying illness, and the same result is not guaranteed for everyone. Any decision to proceed should be made in an in-person consultation with a physician.