How Density differs from Thermage
“Is Density the same as Thermage?” Similar in some ways, different in others. First, plainly: Miso Clinic does not have Thermage. So this is not a page written to run Thermage down.
The short answer
Thermage is the original monopolar RF device, and most of the RF lifting evidence was generated with it. Density is a Korean device with the same 6.78 MHz monopolar plus sequential bipolar. Thermage’s evidence base is far deeper; Density has one study of 16 people. But most Thermage data is also uncontrolled observation, and the two have never been compared directly. Miso Clinic does not have Thermage. We have Density, XERF and Oligio Kiss.
In one table
| Density | Thermage (FLX etc.) | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Jeisys Medical (Korea) | Solta Medical (USA) |
| Mode | Monopolar → bipolar in sequence | Monopolar |
| Frequency | 6.78 MHz | 6.78 MHz |
| Tips | Four | EYE 0.25 cm² 450 REP, TOTAL 4.0 cm² 600 REP, etc. |
| Surface protection | Gas cooling | Cryogen spray |
| Endpoint | Heat feedback | Heat feedback 2.0–2.5 on 0–4 (manual) |
| US FDA | Not found | Cleared |
| Human data | One study, 16 people | Many — mostly uncontrolled, including physician surveys |
| Head-to-head | None | None |
| At Miso Clinic | Yes | No |
What “deeper evidence” means
RF protocols shifted in the mid-2000s from a single high-energy pass to multiple low-energy passes, and most of that evidence came from Thermage: a three-person ultrastructure study, a 14-physician survey, single-arm prospective observation. So “deeper” means more studies, not more randomised comparisons. The 2020 international Delphi consensus itself noted that device-specific guidelines are lacking.
What Density designed differently
Monopolar current passes through the body and heats deep and broad; bipolar runs the short path between two electrodes and heats shallow and predictably. Density sends both in sequence within one pass to treat different depths at once. Whether that changes results has never been confirmed in humans.
So can I have Density instead of Thermage
“Instead” needs comparison data, and there is none. Plainly: same class of principle, different design, different depth of evidence. Miso Clinic has Density, puts Oligio Kiss on sagging that reaches the deeper layer, and XERF on no-downtime precision work. If you want Thermage, a clinic that has it is the right place, and we do not hesitate to say so.
Which treatment fits which concern
| Concern | Treatments to consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want the deepest evidence base | Thermage (not at Miso Clinic) | We say so plainly |
| Sequential-polarity design, Korean-approved | Density | 16-person data |
| No downtime, by zone | XERF | US FDA cleared |
| Sagging into the deeper layer | Oligio Kiss | Focused ultrasound added |
| Thin, papery skin | Booster class first | Not the RF layer |
Which treatment is “best” is decided by the state of your skin right now, not by the product. In consultation we look first at what has been lost and what is still there, before we talk about any product name.
Frequently asked questions
Is Density a Thermage copy?
Same 6.78 MHz monopolar class, but a different design with sequential bipolar added. Whether that counts as a copy is not ours to judge.
Is 600 Thermage shots the same as 600 Density shots?
Not if tip areas differ. Thermage TOTAL is 4.0 cm²; Density tips vary by type.
Why does Miso Clinic not have Thermage?
Device choices vary by clinic. We cover layers and zones with Density, XERF and Oligio Kiss.
Read next
If you want to go deeper
Product page
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by Lee Chi-Hak, MD, medical director of Miso Clinic in Daegu, South Korea. Studies are cited with their size and limitations, and where we could not find data we say so. Individual decisions need an in-person examination; this page does not replace one.
| 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 |
| KakaoTalk | Miso Clinic channel |
| Hours | Weekdays 11:00–19:00 (lunch 13:00–14:00) / Saturday 10:00–16:00 / Closed Sundays and public holidays |
| Treatment guides | All guides |
| Comparisons | All comparisons |
| Columns | All clinical columns |
| Reference library | All booster and device references |
References
- Jeisys Medical, Density product material — sequential monopolar → bipolar RF, 6.78 MHz, up to 400 W, RIC impedance correction, five-level gas cooling, four tips (ALPHA, Eye, Face, Body). MFDS-approved medical device.
- Density human study — 16 people, 3D measurement 0.82 ± 0.36 mm, no control group.
- Thermage CPT Technical User’s Manual (Solta, 2021, NP009240-06) — endpoint heat feedback 2.0–2.5 on 0–4. No recommended total REP count for the face.
- Dover JS & Zelickson B, Dermatol Surg 2007;33(8):900–907 — the shift to low-energy multiple passes; survey of 14 physicians.
- Chapas A et al., JDD 2020;19(1):20–26 — international Delphi consensus, 19 recommendations. “Device specific guidelines are lacking.”
Everything on this page 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.
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