Real Patient Consultation Story
※ This video was produced with patient consent and features a real treatment case.
📌 Why This Patient Visited the Clinic
A patient visited Dr.Newcell with a deeply relatable aging concern: when pinching the skin with her fingers, she noticed a severe lack of elasticity, accompanied by a heavy, sagging facial line.
Having heard that Thermage is the gold standard for restoring collagen and lifting loose skin, she wanted to experience its true potential. However, she was highly concerned about the risk of burns and potential lack of efficacy from undertreatment. She came to Dr.Newcell seeking a safe, high-energy protocol that could fundamentally tighten her loose skin and deliver a sharply defined, perfectly “fitted” facial contour.
Patient’s Main Concerns
- ✔ Loose Skin & Loss of Elasticity — noticeable sagging when pinching the skin
- ✔ Fear of Laser Burns — worried about the intense heat energy required for the procedure
- ✔ Anxiety Over Ineffective Treatment — concerned about poor results if energy is set too low due to pain
- ✔ Need for Deep Layer Lifting — wanting a solution that goes beyond the surface to treat sagging deep within
- ✔ Desire for Immediate “Fitting” Effect — seeking a visibly tightened, perfectly adhered jawline and cheek area
“I want a safe, high-impact treatment that makes my skin feel tight and firmly attached to my face again — without burns or low-energy undertreatment.”
📌 Consultation & Diagnosis
During the evaluation, Dr. Yongbae conducted a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s skin thickness, resistance, and degree of sagging to customize the ultimate energy transfer protocol.
① Area of Concern
The doctor identified a clear loss of structural collagen in the dermal layer combined with deep-tissue sagging. When the skin loses its firm grip, it begins to drift and droop, creating a loose appearance that cannot be corrected by superficial skincare. Both the dermis and the deeper fascial layers required simultaneous tightening to achieve a true, cohesive lift.
② Combining Ultherapy and Thermage
Thermage alone can improve skin elasticity and firmness by stimulating collagen remodeling within the dermal layer. For example, after a full 600-shot Thermage treatment, many patients notice smoother and tighter skin texture.
However, some patients still feel that the deeper structures of the face lack firm support — almost as if the skin and underlying tissue are not fully connected. This is because the deeper fascial layer, including the SMAS layer, also plays a critical role in facial support and contour.
③ Doctor’s Recommendation
To safely overcome the limitations of the device and unlock maximum efficacy in a single session, the doctor recommended combining Thermage FLX with Ultherapy. Ultherapy tightens the deeper foundational layers, while Thermage improves collagen density and elasticity within the skin itself. Together, this dual-layer approach creates a more fitted, lifted, and naturally tightened appearance.
📌 Treatment Approach: Thermage
To treat both dermal loose skin and deep structural sagging, Dr.Newcell implemented an advanced synergistic lifting protocol combining Thermage FLX and Ultherapy.
1. Thermage FLX — Automated Energy Control for Dermal Tightening
This advanced monopolar RF system utilizes a “Fast Algorithm Experience” to automatically measure and adjust the optimal resistance value for every single shot, ensuring precise energy delivery unique to each patient’s skin. By delivering sufficient RF heat energy deep into the dermis under controlled comfort, it triggers immediate collagen denaturation and long-term neocollagenesis, tightening loose skin from the inside out.
2. Ultherapy Integration — Deep SMAS Layer “Fitting”
When Thermage 600 shots are used alone, the skin gains noticeable elasticity, but the deeper tissues can sometimes feel separated from the facial structure. By targeting the SMAS layer beneath the dermis, Ultherapy tightly cinches the foundational tissue, causing the newly volumized, elastic skin to beautifully “stick” and adhere to the face, creating a seamless, sharp contour.
3. Optimized Session and Interval Planning
A single, high-impact session of Thermage FLX can deliver definitive, long-lasting lifting and tightening results when performed correctly. By keeping the patient comfortable, the doctor can safely utilize higher, more effective energy levels (up to 8 customizable stages) while completely mitigating the risk of burns through clinical know-how.
Key Treatment Principle
The key to an effective Thermage treatment is not simply using high energy, but delivering RF energy safely and evenly into the skin to stimulate proper collagen remodeling. Because every patient has different skin thickness, sensitivity, and degree of laxity, the treatment must be carefully customized. Proper pain control, precise energy adjustment, and strategic shot placement are all essential to achieving optimal tightening results while minimizing the risk of burns. At Dr.Newcell, the focus is on creating natural, balanced lifting results by improving both skin elasticity and overall facial firmness through controlled and consistent energy delivery.
📌 Results After Treatment
- ✔ Significant tightening of loose, sagging skin with a visible boost in dermal thickness and bounce
- ✔ Immediate “fitting” effect — skin looks tightly and cleanly adhered to the jawline
- ✔ Smooth, natural facial contouring without any hollow or sunken side effects
- ✔ Zero burn injuries or extreme downtime, delivering high-energy results through expert heat control
※ Note: Thermage stimulates collagen contraction and regeneration by delivering radiofrequency energy deep into the skin, helping improve skin firmness and elasticity. To achieve good results, the treatment must be performed with proper pain control and appropriate energy levels. As a heat-based treatment, there is always a potential risk of burns if not performed carefully. Choosing an experienced clinic is extremely important.
📌 Who May Benefit from Thermage Lifting Treatment
- ✔ Individuals experiencing a loss of facial elasticity and a visibly loose, sagging skin texture
- ✔ Those who want a definitive, scientifically proven lifting effect in just a single session
- ✔ People looking to achieve both deep structural lifting and surface tightening simultaneously
- ✔ Patients worried about laser burns or undertreatment due to low energy thresholds at other clinics
- ✔ Anyone seeking an FDA-approved, non-surgical solution for a perfectly tight, youthful facial line
📌 Treatment Philosophy at Dr.Newcell
Treat the Root, Not Just the Surface
True lifting cannot be achieved by pulling the surface alone; it requires triggering fundamental collagen regeneration in the dermis and tightening the deep fascial foundations.
Synergy Is Essential
Advanced devices reach their highest potential when combined correctly. Coupling Thermage with Ultherapy ensures that skin elasticity and structural anchoring work together to lock the face in place.
Customization Over Generalization
Every face has a different skin thickness and thermal resistance. Overcoming the mechanical limitations of a device through expert clinical know-how and tailored energy levels is the key to sustainable, breathtaking results.
Safe, High-Impact, Evidence-Based Care
For patients trapped in a cycle of worsening skin laxity and heavy, sagging facial lines, the masterfully executed Thermage FLX protocol at Dr.Newcell offers a safe, powerful, and scientifically backed journey to achieving beautifully tight, firm, and flawlessly fitted skin.
Curious about how this multi-layered lifting approach can be customized for your specific facial structure, or do you have another skin concern you’d like to address?
Dr.NewCell
Foreigner-Friendly Skin & Aesthetic Clinic in Seoul
Dr. Shin Yong Bae
Representative Director, Dr. Newcell
Visiting Fellow, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital (USA)
Former Department Head, Gangwon Provincial Medical Center
Former Medical Director at leading aesthetic clinics in Gangnam
Member of the Korean Medical Association (KMA)
Member of the Korean Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Foreigner-Friendly Skin & Aesthetic Clinic in Seoul
The same standard from every doctor.
A dermatology clinic that works as a team.
Doctor NewCell Medical Team
- Certified Top 10 XERF Treatment Volume Clinic in Korea
- Specialized Dermatology Clinic for Lifting & Skin Texture Improvement
- Equipped with Premium Devices including XERF, Ultherapy Prime, Thermage, and Potenza
At Doctor NewCell, you can expect a consistent standard of expertise and personalized care from every practitioner.
We recommend a consultation if
- You worry that treatment quality will change when the available doctor changes
- You have tried various devices but never received an accurate diagnosis
- Different doctors have given you different diagnoses, and you are not sure whom to trust
