How Deep Does Ulthera Reach Inside the Face?

This photo shows Dr. Song Sang-hoon, the chief director, performing an Ulthera treatment in Golden Diamant’s private single-patient treatment room. It is an image showing the treatment process and does not depict treatment results.

When facial contours sag, people often say the skin has “loosened.” But the face is not a single layer of skin. It is made up of several layers, and Ulthera targets a deeper layer among them that is hidden from view. Here, along with photos from the Golden Diamant treatment room, we explain how deep Ulthera reaches and how that depth is decided.

The face is built in layers from the surface down

In cross-section, beneath the outermost epidermis lie, in order, the dermis, subcutaneous fat, and the fibrous fascial layer (SMAS) that connects to the facial expression muscles. SMAS stands for Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System.

This diagram is simplified for explanation. The thickness and proportions of the layers differ from reality and vary by person and by area. The focal depths of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mm are manufacturer specifications for Ulthera transducers.

Sagging of the facial contour is explained as involving not only the elasticity of the outer skin but also the supportive strength of the layers beneath it. That is why, when lifting treatments are discussed, “which layer it reaches” tends to come up before “which device is used.”

01 · Principle (HIFU)

It is High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). Just as a magnifying glass concentrates sunlight onto a single point, ultrasound energy is focused onto one point at a set depth within the skin. The target is not the skin’s surface but the depth where the focal point forms.

02 · Depth (SMAS)

The Golden Diamant website describes Ulthera as a treatment that delivers high-intensity ultrasound down to the SMAS layer. Each transducer that attaches to the end of the handpiece has a preset focal depth, so the one suited to the area is selected from 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm, and 4.5 mm.

03 · Response (Collagen)

The goal is to induce collagen regeneration in the area where the energy is focused. Because it is not a surgical procedure that cuts and pulls tissue, changes are described as appearing gradually over time rather than all at once right after treatment.

Note ※ This content provides general information about how the device works and does not guarantee any specific treatment effect. Responses and recovery vary from person to person.

Depth is set while viewing the layers on screen

This is the Ulthera screen during the step where the layers are checked on video before energy is delivered. The band at the top is an ultrasound image (DeepSEE) of the skin beneath the spot where the handpiece is placed, and the scale on the left shows depth from the skin surface.

The photo above was taken before energy was delivered during an actual treatment. The gray band at the top is an ultrasound image of the skin beneath the spot where the handpiece is placed. The boundaries between layers appear as horizontal stripes, and depth markers of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 are shown on the left.

Before delivering energy, this video lets the practitioner confirm whether the handpiece is properly in contact with the skin and where the targeted layer sits on the screen. Skin and layer thickness differ across the forehead, cheeks, jawline, and neck, so energy is not delivered to the entire face at a single depth.

[Common question at consultations] How many shots do you need?

The number of shots is not a figure set before consultation; it is determined after examining the face. Even within the same area, the depths used and how shots are distributed vary with skin thickness and the location of sagging. Golden Diamant adjusts ultrasound settings by skin type and by area, and tailors the number of shots to the contour of each face.

Note ※ The focal depth of each transducer is a manufacturer specification. The depths, number of shots, and treatment range actually used vary depending on skin condition and the medical team’s judgment.

You can verify whether the tip is genuine

The Ulthera device in the Golden Diamant treatment room.

Ulthera delivers energy through a transducer (tip) that attaches to the end of the handpiece. Whether the consumable tip is genuine is hard for patients to confirm by sight.

Golden Diamant uses a genuine Ulthera device and genuine tips, and after treatment provides a certificate and sticker for the genuine tip that was used. You can check authenticity yourself through the manufacturer’s official app using the number on the hologram sticker or the QR code.

Note ※ Using genuine products is a basic requirement for treatment, but it does not by itself guarantee any treatment effect.

Ulthera and Thermage reach different layers

Thermage is the device most often mentioned alongside Ulthera. Both are grouped together as “lifting devices,” but they use different energy and reach different layers. This is not a comparison of which is better, but a clarification that they are different tools.

This diagram simplifies the layers reached by each device, based on information from the Golden Diamant website. It does not show the actual energy distribution as-is.

Ulthera vs. Thermage — based on information from the Golden Diamant website

Note ※ This table is for informational purposes only. It summarizes the general characteristics of each device and does not imply the superiority of any particular device. The degree of pain and response varies from person to person.

A Thermage treatment being performed in the same treatment room. The “thermage” engraving is visible on the handpiece.

The two devices are less about replacing each other and more about covering different layers. For this reason, Ulthera and Thermage are sometimes performed together. Whether to do one or both, and how to order and space them, is decided during consultation based on where the sagging is and the condition of the skin.

Here is how the treatment proceeds

1. Lifting design and anesthesia — After examining the face and designing the treatment area, the procedure proceeds under either sedation or topical cream anesthesia.

2. Ultrasound settings by skin type and area — Transducer depth and settings are adjusted according to the skin thickness of each area.

3. Ultrasound delivery to the SMAS layer — Energy is delivered at the predetermined depth while the layers are checked on screen.

4. Inducing collagen regeneration — Because changes appear gradually over time, we also guide you through your recovery progress afterward.

The Golden Diamant private single-patient treatment room. Both the Ulthera and Thermage devices are in the same room.

At Golden Diamant, everything from consultation through recovery takes place in a private single-patient treatment room. Because the medical team moves into the room for each treatment, your path does not overlap with other patients.

Note ※ The anesthesia method and treatment range may vary depending on skin condition, medical history, and the medical team’s judgment.

Results do not come all at once

Ulthera is not a surgical procedure that cuts the skin and pulls it tight. Because changes appear as tissue responds over time in the area where energy was delivered, we guide you through the weeks and months after treatment, not just the day of treatment.

Pre- and post-treatment guidelines — based on the Golden Diamant website

Note ※ If swelling and warmth persist, please contact the clinic at 02-6480-7800. The degree and timing of changes vary from person to person, and identical results are not guaranteed.

People often come in for consultation with concerns like these

· When the forehead, cheeks, or jawline feels like it is sinking — we first look at which layer the sagging is most pronounced in.

· When you want firmness care without surgery — the method and scope differ from incisional lifting.

· When the facial contour feels blurred — the boundary between the jawline and neck is a typical example.

· When you have an important event coming up — because changes appear gradually, the timing is aligned with your schedule during consultation.

Note ※ This summarizes concerns frequently raised in consultations and does not mean the same treatment applies to everyone.

Please be aware of the following in advance

1. Some pain may be involved. The degree of discomfort varies by area and individual, and the anesthesia method is chosen between sedation and topical cream after consultation.

2. Reactions may occur after treatment. Redness, swelling, tightness, and stinging are common and usually subside within a few hours to a few days. Rarely, bruising or temporary tingling may occur.

3. This is not a treatment that produces results all at once. Changes appear gradually over time, and the degree and duration of results vary widely from person to person.

4. This treatment is not suitable for everyone. Depending on the degree of sagging, skin thickness, medical history, and medications being taken, a different approach may be recommended.

Note ※ Adverse reactions such as redness, swelling, bruising, or temporary tingling may occur after treatment, so caution is advised. Risk and recovery may vary depending on individual health status, medical history, and medications being taken. For detailed risks and precautions, please consult your treating medical team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Should I get Ulthera or Thermage?

The two devices use different energy and reach different layers. According to the website, Ulthera uses high-intensity ultrasound to reach the SMAS layer, while Thermage uses radiofrequency to heat the dermis broadly, with the skin surface cooled during the procedure.

Which option fits you depends on which layer the sagging is most pronounced in and whether fine lines or firmness is the bigger concern, so it is decided together during consultation. In some cases, both treatments are performed together.

Q. Does it hurt a lot? How is anesthesia given?

Ulthera may involve some pain, and the degree felt varies by area and individual.

At Golden Diamant, the choice between sedation and topical cream anesthesia is made after consultation, and the treatment proceeds from there.

Q. Can I return to daily activities right after treatment?

Washing your face and applying makeup is possible from 6 hours after treatment, and high-heat stimulation such as massage or saunas is recommended from 7 days after treatment onward.

Mild swelling, tightness, or stinging may occur right after treatment, but these usually subside within 1–3 days. If swelling or warmth continues, please contact the clinic.

Q. When will I start to notice changes?

The clinic describes changes as beginning to appear gradually right after treatment, and the website uses about 90 days as the reference point.

The degree and timing of changes vary from person to person depending on skin condition and the extent of treatment.

Q. How can I confirm that a genuine tip was used?

Golden Diamant provides a certificate and sticker for the genuine tip used after treatment.

You can verify authenticity yourself through the manufacturer’s official app using the number on the hologram sticker or the QR code.

What we look at first in consultation

We look at the layers before the number of shots

· Location of sagging — we distinguish which layer it is most pronounced in

· Skin thickness — the depth used differs by area

· Medical history and medications — treatment may be restricted in some cases

· Schedule — we take into account the time it takes for changes to appear

At Golden Diamant, Dr. Song Sang-hoon, the chief director and a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience, personally handles everything from consultation through treatment.

The Golden Diamant reception area.

Consultation and Booking Information

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