Thermage FAQ
Written by Delight Dermatology editorial team · Medically reviewed by Lead Dermatologist, Delight Dermatology Clinic (Korean Board-Certified Dermatologist, AAD International Fellow, ASLMS) · Last reviewed · Editorially updatedThermage FLX changes develop gradually and vary in persistence. Published studies do not establish one universal peak or fixed duration. Delight Dermatology publishes a Thermage FLX range of KRW 1,000,000–2,600,000, checked on 2026-09-23. The final amount depends on the tip and treatment plan; Eye Thermage is quoted separately. Published clinic pricing.Allow about 90 minutes for the full visit, including check-in, consultation and preparation; actual energy-delivery time varies by plan. Most patients return to usual activity the same day, although temporary warmth, pinkness, tenderness or mild swelling can occur. Pacemakers, ICDs, metal implants in the field, pregnancy, active infection, and recent fillers or threads are contraindications. Because radiofrequency does not cause photosensitivity, Thermage can be done in any season, including summer. Below are the questions Delight Dermatology answers most often.
How long does Thermage last?
Published monopolar RF studies assess change over defined follow-up periods, but they do not establish one peak time or a fixed one-to-two-year duration for every patient. Any visible change and how long it remains vary with baseline laxity, treatment plan and individual response. Thermage is not permanent; maintenance should be considered only after reassessment.
Is Thermage painful?
Comfort varies by treatment area, settings and the individual. The FLX handpiece includes vibration intended to improve comfort, but this does not guarantee a low-pain session or determine whether analgesia is appropriate. Sensations may include brief heat, pressure or discomfort; the clinician should agree a comfort plan before treatment.
How is Thermage FLX different from older Thermage versions?
FLX includes AccuREP, which measures tissue impedance and adjusts delivered energy pulse by pulse, plus a vibrating handpiece intended to improve comfort. These features support treatment delivery but do not remove clinician judgment or all operator-dependent variability; tip selection, pulse count, settings and treatment mapping still matter.
Can I do Thermage and Ultherapy together?
They may be combined when a dermatologist finds that treating different planned tissue depths is appropriate. That does not mean every patient benefits or that the devices can be sequenced without consideration of prior treatments, anatomy and recovery. Combining is an individual clinical decision, not a default add-on.
What about Eye Thermage?
Eye Thermage refers to use of the smaller, contoured Thermage Eye Tip around the orbital rim and eyelid skin under a trained physician's protocol. Periorbital wrinkles were included in the original 2002 FDA 510(k) clearance history. That regulatory history does not by itself establish suitability or outcome for an individual patient.
Which body areas can Thermage treat?
The abdomen, inner arms, knees, inner thighs and similar broad areas where the laxity is dermal rather than at a deeper layer. Body Thermage uses a larger tip and a higher total pulse count than face Thermage. It does not produce surgical body-contouring results, but it produces a measurable improvement in firmness when the underlying laxity is mild to moderate.
How long is the actual session?
For a full-face plan, around ninety minutes is an estimated total visit from check-in to departure, including consultation and preparation; it is not a claim that radiofrequency energy is delivered for ninety minutes. Energy-delivery time varies with the treatment map and pulse count. Eye Tip sessions usually take twenty-five to thirty-five minutes. Body plans may take longer because the treated area and pulse count vary.
Are there contraindications I should know about?
Thermage is not used in patients with a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator because monopolar radiofrequency can interfere with implanted cardiac devices. Permanent metal implants in the treatment area are a contraindication for that specific area. Pregnancy, active infection in the treatment field, and recent fillers or threads in the area (waiting-period dependent) are also exclusions. The candidates page covers this in detail.
What is the international patient workflow?
International patients can begin with a general enquiry or book directly without sending a photo. If they choose a photo-based preliminary review, a no-makeup front and side photo and relevant treatment history may help the clinic discuss possible options. Photo sharing is optional, and the in-person examination confirms candidacy, tip, pulse count and final plan.
How much should I budget?
Delight Dermatology publishes a Thermage FLX range of KRW 1,000,000–2,600,000, checked on 2026-09-23. The final amount depends on the tip and treatment plan; Eye Thermage is quoted separately.
Is summer a good time for Thermage?
Yes. Thermage works year-round because monopolar radiofrequency is not absorbed by melanin, and the cooling spray keeps the skin surface intact on every pulse. There is no peeling phase and no post-treatment photosensitivity window of the kind ablative lasers and IPL create, which is why many international patients schedule Thermage during a summer trip to Seoul. Two seasonal caveats apply: the clinic postpones treatment on skin that is actively sunburned, and daily sunscreen matters even more after a summer session because the three to six month collagen response overlaps the highest-UV months.
What does recovery look like?
Mild pinkness and warmth in the treated area for a few hours to one day. Most patients return to normal activity the same day. Make-up can be applied the same day if needed. Rare side effects include small bruising (usually self-limited) and, very rarely, blistering. Sun protection during the three to six months of collagen response is the single most important aftercare habit.
How do I book?
Message Delight Dermatology Clinic through WhatsApp, Line or KakaoTalk without a photo, or book through the clinic booking page. A photo is optional only if you request a preliminary photo review; final decisions require an in-person examination.
Ready to book? Book directly through Delight Dermatology Clinic. A general enquiry does not require a photo; optional photo-review guidance and privacy details appear below.