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Sofwave: frequently asked questions

Written by the Delight Dermatology editorial team · Medically reviewed by Lead Dermatologist, Delight Dermatology Clinic (Korean Board-Certified Dermatologist, AAD International Fellow, ASLMS) · Last reviewed

These are the questions patients most often ask about Sofwave before booking at Delight Dermatology Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, answered from the published literature and the clinic's stated protocol. Where the evidence does not settle a question, this page says so rather than filling the gap.

A calm arrangement of rounded cards of varying widths in pale neutrals with a few tinted teal
Separate questions, answered separately — including the ones the evidence does not settle. Stylised illustration made for this site — not a photograph, not the Sofwave device, and not a patient.

How long does a Sofwave session take?

Published reports describe sessions of roughly 30 to 60 minutes depending on how many areas are treated. That is the treatment itself; allow additional time for check-in, consultation and topical anaesthetic.

Does Sofwave hurt?

Each pulse produces a brief sensation of heat. Mean pain scores in the published series range from about 3.9 to 6.6 on a 0-10 scale depending on the protocol and area, which is a wide range and uncomfortable at the upper end. Topical anaesthetic is standard. Pain tolerance is worth raising at the consultation.

When will I see a result?

Not on the day. Any tightening felt immediately is tissue response to heat. The measurable change develops over weeks to months as new collagen forms; studies found significant change at one and three months, with the two-to-three-month visit the meaningful assessment point.

How long do the results last?

Published follow-up in the studies cited on this site runs to six, eight and ten months, and the measured change held stable within those windows. No published study establishes a fixed duration, and no non-surgical tightening treatment is permanent. Anyone quoting a specific number of years is going beyond what has been measured.

How deep does Sofwave treat?

At a fixed focal depth of about 1.5 mm, in the mid-dermis, with thermal zones spanning roughly 0.5 to 2 mm. It does not reach the subcutaneous fat or the SMAS. That single fixed plane is the defining characteristic of the device.

How is Sofwave different from Ultherapy?

Sofwave uses seven parallel non-focused beams to heat a continuous band at one fixed depth of about 1.5 mm. Ultherapy uses microfocused ultrasound with visualization to place discrete points at selectable depths of 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm, the deepest of which can reach the SMAS, and it images the tissue before delivery. They share the 1.5 mm plane. No head-to-head randomised trial between the two has been published.

Is Sofwave "FDA approved"?

It is FDA cleared, which is a different regulatory pathway from approval. The cleared indications are improvement of facial lines and wrinkles (2019), lifting the eyebrow and lifting lax submental and neck tissue in subjects aged 22 and older (2021), short-term improvement in the appearance of cellulite (2022), treatment of acne scars (2023), and improvement of the appearance of upper-arm skin laxity (2023). Any other use is off-label.

How much does Sofwave cost in Seoul?

Delight Dermatology Clinic publishes a range of KRW 2,000,000 to 2,200,000 per session, roughly USD 1,450 to 1,600 at prevailing exchange rates, with the final amount confirmed at consultation based on the treatment area and the plan agreed there. Prices at other Seoul clinics vary widely.

How many sessions will I need?

Sofwave is delivered as a single session rather than a course. Whether to repeat is decided at reassessment months later, based on how the skin actually responded, not on a prepaid schedule.

Can I fly home the next day?

Most people resume usual activity the same day and there is no dressing or scheduled recovery. Mild redness or tenderness on pressure may persist for a day or two. Travel plans are worth mentioning at consultation so the plan can account for them.

Can Sofwave be combined with fillers or botulinum toxin?

Often, but the sequence and interval matter because heat interacts with implanted material and threads change the tissue plane. Declare everything that has been placed in the treatment area and when, and let the clinician set the order. This is planned at examination, not improvised.

Will Sofwave replace a facelift?

No. It suits mild to moderate laxity in the dermal plane. Where laxity is advanced or the deeper support structures have descended, a device confined to the mid-dermis will under-deliver, and a surgical opinion is the more honest answer.

Published references

The clinical statements on this page reflect the published literature on synchronous parallel-beam ultrasound of the mid-dermis. Citations below are primary or review sources; PubMed identifiers link to abstracts. Where an author group includes device-manufacturer employees, that affiliation is noted in the entry.

  1. Hongcharu W, Boonchoo K, Gold MH. The efficacy and safety of the high-intensity parallel beam ultrasound device at the depth of 1.5 mm for skin tightening. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2023;22(5):1488–1494. PubMed · doi:10.1111/jocd.15672
  2. Gold MH, Biron J. Efficacy and safety of high-intensity, high-frequency, non-focused ultrasound parallel beams for facial skin laxity. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2024;23(1):117–123. PubMed · doi:10.1111/jocd.16098
  3. Suh DH, Lee SJ, Song KY, Ahn HJ, Shin MK. High-intensity, parallel ultrasound tightening of facial skin: clinical and pathologic results. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2025;24(2):e16670. PubMed · doi:10.1111/jocd.16670
  4. Liao D, Prasad A, Bloom JD. Use of ultrasound in face and neck rejuvenation. Facial Plastic Surgery. 2026 (online ahead of print). PubMed · doi:10.1055/a-2854-6601