Ultherapy Prime is a microfocused ultrasound device that delivers ultrasound energy to specific depths within the skin, creating thermal coagulation points. Through this stimulation, it aims to improve skin firmness and tissue tightening.

 

More precisely, it belongs to the MFU-V category, which stands for Microfocused Ultrasound with Visualization.

 

The important point here is that it is not simply about delivering strong ultrasound energy. It is about checking the layers beneath the skin and delivering energy to the depth where it is actually needed.

 

Skin sagging may look similar from the outside, but the cause can differ from person to person.

 

Some people have thin and loose skin itself, some have a thicker fat layer, some have a blurred submental line, and others have fine wrinkles and uneven surface texture at the same time.

 

So when looking at the effects of Ultherapy Prime, it is more accurate to think about which layer is causing the problem and how much tightening can be achieved, rather than simply expecting that “the face will definitely become smaller” or “everything will lift dramatically in one session.”

The study referenced here is Microfocused Ultrasound With Visualization in Skin Quality: A Narrative Review, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2025.

 

This paper is a narrative review that summarizes previous studies on how MFU-V may affect skin quality.

 

The study divided skin quality into four major categories: firmness, surface evenness, tone evenness, and glow.

 

Simply put, it looked at how firm the skin appears, how smooth the surface looks, how even the skin tone appears, and how the overall skin condition is perceived.

 

The paper reviewed a total of 703 records, and 67 studies were ultimately included.

 

Among them, 52 studies addressed improvement related to firmness, and 35 studies addressed improvement related to surface evenness.

 

In particular, firmness includes elasticity and tightness, while surface evenness includes wrinkles, pores, and scar texture improvement.

 

So rather than seeing Ultherapy Prime only as a device that lifts a sagging face, it can also be understood as a device that stimulates the structures beneath the skin and may help with firmness, fine wrinkles, and surface texture changes.

The image included in the paper shows changes in fine lines around the periorbital area after MFU-V treatment.

 

When comparing day 0, day 90, and day 180, we can see a gradual improvement in the appearance of fine lines and surface texture around the eyes.

 

The important point here is that Ultherapy Prime does not fill and smooth wrinkles immediately like a filler. Instead, it works in a way where skin firmness and texture changes may appear over time after thermal stimulation inside the skin.

 

The effects of Ultherapy Prime are not completed immediately after the procedure.

 

Ultrasound energy creates thermal coagulation points at specific depths within the skin, and then changes appear gradually as collagen and elastic fiber remodeling continues over time.

 

That is why many people ask when they can expect to see the results.

 

Although there are individual differences, I usually explain that some people may feel mild tightening in the early stage, followed by gradual refinement of the jawline and skin firmness over several weeks to months.

 

Of course, not everyone experiences the same degree of change.

 

The results can vary depending on skin thickness, fat volume, degree of sagging, age, pain sensitivity, and how the treatment is designed in terms of depth and line placement.

 

The jawline and submental area are especially common areas of interest during Ultherapy Prime consultations.

 

This area is affected by multiple factors, including skin laxity, fat, SMAS support, and neck skin elasticity. Therefore, it should not be approached simply as “more shots will give a better result.”

 

We first need to determine whether the submental area looks heavy because the skin is loose, because there is excess fat, because the chin structure is weak, or because the neck skin has lost elasticity.

The image above from the paper shows submental changes displayed through 3D analysis.

 

The green-highlighted area indicates where changes in the submental region were observed before and after treatment.

 

When looking at this image, it is more appropriate to focus on how the boundary between the chin and neck appears more refined and how much lighter the lower face line looks, rather than simply concluding that “fat has melted.”

 

Ultherapy Prime is a treatment that tightens loose tissue from within.

 

That is why it may not be enough as a standalone treatment for people with a large amount of double-chin fat.

 

In people with very thin skin and insufficient volume, excessive energy use may also feel burdensome.

 

In such cases, ONDA lifting, radiofrequency, fillers, collagen boosters, or fat-targeting treatments may need to be combined depending on the skin condition and facial structure.

 

On the other hand, Ultherapy Prime may be considered for people whose jawline has started to look slightly blurred, whose lower cheeks are beginning to feel heavy, or whose neck skin looks loose, but who feel burdened by surgical lifting.

What matters here is treatment design more than the number of shots.

 

Many people first ask, “How many shots will be used?” Of course, the shot count is important.

 

However, what matters more is at what depth, in which direction, in which areas, and at what spacing the energy is placed.

 

Even with the same 400 shots, the perceived result can differ depending on whether the shots are spread across the whole face or designed specifically around the jawline, submental area, and sagging lower cheek region.

 

Even for the same jawline concern, the energy depth, intensity, and treatment lines should differ between someone with thin skin and someone with more fat.

 

Ultherapy Prime is a non-invasive lifting device, but it is not a treatment with no reactions at all.

 

Temporary redness, swelling, tenderness, bruising, numbness, or a sore, heavy sensation may occur after the procedure.

 

Most of these symptoms improve over time, but in some individuals, discomfort may last longer.

 

Also, because nerves, blood vessels, salivary glands, fat layers, and fascial layers are complexly distributed in the face, treatment design based on anatomical structure is important.

 

To summarize, Ultherapy Prime is a non-invasive lifting device that delivers microfocused ultrasound energy to specific depths beneath the skin to address the jawline, submental area, neck, and decreased skin firmness.

 

The 2025 review paper summarized that MFU-V has been studied in relation to skin firmness and surface evenness, meaning skin tightness and surface texture improvement.

 

However, the evidence for tone evenness and glow is relatively more limited, and these areas can be seen as requiring further research.

 

First, it is important to identify whether your facial concern is caused by skin laxity, fat, volume loss, or decreased skin texture and firmness.

 

A good lifting result does not come only from using a lot of strong energy.

 

The difference comes from accurately designing the depth and direction that your face actually needs :)

 

This was Director Won Dae-han.

 

Thank you for reading.

 

Source:
Pavicic T, Green JB, Park JY, Casabona G, Vachiramon V, Spada J, Levine J, Muniz M, Akers J, McCarthy A, Jackson MJ.
Microfocused Ultrasound With Visualization in Skin Quality: A Narrative Review.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2025;24(S4):e70364. DOI: 10.1111/jocd.70364.

 

※ This article is intended to provide general medical information. Actual suitability and treatment methods may vary depending on each individual’s skin thickness, facial structure, fat volume, degree of sagging, and pain sensitivity. An accurate diagnosis and treatment plan should be determined through consultation.