Comparing Lifting Treatments in Seoul: XERF, Ulthera, and Thermage Prices Explained

In Seoul’s Gangnam district, the three lifting treatments most often weighed against each other are priced quite differently at Ode Clinic: XERF DEEP Mode from ₩1,000,000 (~$720) for 300 shots, Ulthera at ₩350,000 per 100 shots, and Thermage at ₩2,300,000 for 600 shots, all VAT excluded. XERF and Thermage are monopolar radiofrequency devices while Ulthera uses focused ultrasound, and they work at different depths for different goals. The right pick depends on whether you need lifting, tightening, or both — decided with a doctor, not a brochure. USD equivalents are approximate.

Three Technologies, Three Depths

Device names get thrown around interchangeably, but the physics behind XERF lifting, Ulthera, and Thermage are not the same. Understanding the energy type and working depth explains most of the price and outcome differences.

Monopolar RF: XERF, Thermage, and Their Cousin Density

XERF is a monopolar radiofrequency device in the same family as Thermage and Density, but with a key distinction: it delivers energy deeper, which is why its result profile leans toward lifting. Its signature 6.78MHz + 2MHz dual-frequency output exists only in DEEP mode — and Ode Clinic runs XERF exclusively in that mode despite the longer session time.

Thermage and Density work at shallower levels, producing a tightening effect rather than a lift. Density differs again by spreading bipolar RF evenly at a shallower depth, making it a distinct tool rather than a budget XERF.

Ulthera: Ultrasound Instead of RF

Ulthera takes the ultrasound route, delivering focused energy in a shot-based format like the RF devices but through a different mechanism. At Ode Clinic the average recommended course is 300–600 shots, and the effect typically lasts 6–12 months, which makes it a repeating line item in your yearly budget rather than a one-off cost.

Depth is the organizing principle: XERF reaches deeper for lifting, Thermage and Density stay shallower for tightening, and Ulthera arrives by ultrasound rather than RF. Price comparisons only make sense once you know which layer you are actually paying to treat.

The Price Comparison, Line by Line

Here is how the major lifting options at this dermatology clinic near Gangnam stack up on the official menu. All prices exclude VAT.

Device	Option	Price (KRW)
XERF (monopolar RF, DEEP mode)	300 shots	₩1,000,000
XERF (monopolar RF, DEEP mode)	600 shots	₩1,900,000
XERF (monopolar RF, DEEP mode)	900 shots	₩2,750,000
Ulthera (ultrasound)	100 shots	₩350,000
Thermage (monopolar RF)	600 shots	₩2,300,000
Thermage (monopolar RF)	900 shots	₩2,700,000
Density (bipolar RF)	300 shots, classic tip	₩750,000
Density (bipolar RF)	300 shots, alpha tip	₩950,000

Matching the Menu to a Budget

A few practical readings of that table:

• Under ₩1,000,000: Density classic tip (₩750,000) or alpha tip (₩950,000) for shallower tightening, or a modest Ulthera course.
• Around ₩1,000,000–₩2,000,000: XERF 300 or 600 shots — the deeper-lifting territory. Ulthera at 300–600 shots also lands here (₩350,000 per 100 shots works out to ₩1,050,000–₩2,100,000).
• Above ₩2,000,000: XERF 900 shots (₩2,750,000) or Thermage 600/900 for a full tightening protocol.

Cost Over Time, Not Just Per Session

Because Ulthera’s effect typically holds 6–12 months, its yearly cost can approach or exceed a single deeper RF session repeated less often. When you compare a XERF price in Seoul against alternatives, ask about expected duration and re-treatment cadence, not just the day-one receipt. Other in-house options — Onda lifting at ₩700,000 per 100kJ and Coolsonic at ₩1,100,000 for 5,000 shots — round out the lower and middle tiers.

Sticker price and annualized price are different questions. A published menu across eight lifting devices lets you compare both — and shifts the decision from marketing to arithmetic.

Which Treatment Fits Which Face

Technology and price narrow the field; your specific pattern of aging picks the winner. This is where an in-person, doctor-led assessment earns its place in the process.

Concern-Based Shortcuts

As a starting framework:

• Nasolabial folds, sagging mouth corners, loosening jawline — XERF’s deeper delivery targets exactly these, and it suits people who want elasticity and sagging improved together with less pain and downtime.
• Surface laxity and skin texture tightening — Thermage or Density, which concentrate energy at shallower depths.
• Preference for ultrasound or a shot-flexible budget — Ulthera, dosed in 100-shot increments.

Why the Consultation Decides It

Ode Clinic keeps Ulthera, Thermage, EMFace, XERF, Density, Onda, Shrink, and Mirajet in-house, so the recommendation is not constrained to whatever single machine a clinic happens to own. The doctor who performs your treatment — reachable in English consultation for international patients — reviews 2D/3D diagnostic photos and designs a per-individual plan rather than applying a one-size-fits-all protocol.

When one clinic operates the full lifting lineup, the device recommendation can follow the face instead of the inventory. That structural detail is worth as much as any single price on the menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.What is the core difference between XERF and Thermage?

A.Both are monopolar RF, but XERF delivers energy deeper for a lifting effect, while Thermage works shallower for tightening. XERF’s 6.78MHz + 2MHz dual-frequency energy is produced only in DEEP mode.

Q.Which is cheaper in Gangnam — XERF, Ulthera, or Thermage?

A.Entry points differ: Ulthera starts at ₩350,000 per 100 shots, XERF DEEP 300 shots is ₩1,000,000, and Thermage 600 shots is ₩2,300,000, all VAT excluded at Ode Clinic. Total cost depends on the shot count your skin needs.

Q.Can a foreigner get help choosing between these devices?

A.Yes — Ode Clinic is foreigner-friendly, offers English-language support, and publishes treatment information in English at odeclinicseoul.com/en. The device choice is made in a 1:1 consultation with the treating doctor.

Q.How long do the results of these lifting treatments last?

A.Ulthera’s effect typically lasts 6–12 months. For XERF, changes can begin soon after the session and peak around 2–3 months; your doctor can outline a realistic maintenance rhythm at consultation.

Q.How do I book a comparison consultation?

A.Contact Ode Clinic near Gangnam Station by phone (+82 2-569-0222), WhatsApp (+82 10-2609-4529), or Instagram @odeclinic.global. The clinic is open Mon–Fri 11:30 AM–8:30 PM and weekends 10:00 AM–4:00 PM without a lunch-break closure.