Lifting
Oligio vs Ultherapy in Seoul: has your skin lost spring, or has tissue dropped?
Oligio warms the dermis with RF and Ultherapy focuses ultrasound down to the SMAS, so the choice follows where your laxity sits. At 300 shots our list reads 319,000 KRW for Oligio and 1,200,000 KRW for Ultherapy Prime.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Jang Dong-hoon · Founder & Medical Director
Published · 8 min read
Oligio vs Ultherapy: you have seen both names on Korean clinic menus, one priced at a fraction of the other, and you cannot tell whether the cheaper one will do anything for your jawline.
Give this five minutes before you choose by price.
By the end you will know which layer each device reaches, how each one feels, what each costs here by the shot, how long recovery takes, and whether your face needs one, the other, both or neither.
Hello, I'm Dr. Jang Dong-hoon, Founder & Medical Director of THE Beautiful Clinic in Seoul. Oligio and two Ultherapy lines are all on our price list, and every plan starts with a 3D Meta-Vu scan of your face.
I wrote this because the two are usually sold as rivals, as if one were a budget version of the other. They are not. One is radiofrequency and one is ultrasound, and they work at different depths.
The short answer: Oligio tightens the dermis, the skin layer that holds collagen. Ultherapy reaches down to the SMAS, the fascia a surgeon would lift. Skin that has lost its spring points to Oligio, tissue that has slid points to Ultherapy, and some faces need a plan for both layers.
Oligio vs Ultherapy: the depth decides it
Think of the face in three layers: the dermis on top, the fat layer below it, and the SMAS underneath. Oligio passes monopolar radiofrequency into the dermis. Ultherapy Prime focuses ultrasound at 60–70 °C into three fixed depths, the deepest of them at the SMAS.
| Question | Oligio | Ultherapy Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Monopolar radiofrequency (RF) | Focused ultrasound (HIFU) |
| Where it works | Dermis | 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm: dermis to SMAS |
| What guides it | The handpiece senses skin condition and adjusts output | DeepSEE imaging shows the tissue in real time |
| Comfort | Contact gas cooling with vibration | A brief, deeper heat along each line |
| Sensation | Low to moderate | Moderate, brief per line |
| Downtime | Minimal | Minimal |
| Typically lasts | 6–12 months | 6–12 months |
So the RF vs HIFU question is really a question about your anatomy. Heat in the dermis firms skin that has thinned or gone crepey. Heat at the SMAS gives support back to a cheek, brow or jaw line that has descended.
Both have a regulatory record. The FDA's 510(k) database lists The Oligio, made by the Korean company Wontech, as cleared in October 2022, and Merz publishes the Ultherapy indications for the brow, the neck and under the chin. A clearance says what a device may be used for; it says nothing about which one your face needs.
When Oligio is the one we suggest
Oligio is where we tend to start when the outline of the face is still in place but the skin itself has softened: fine lines along the cheek, a rougher texture, or a jaw that looks less crisp without having dropped.
- Sensitive or reactive skin. The contact gas cooling and the sensor-guided output keep the sensation low to moderate, which suits skin that reddens easily or reacted badly to RF elsewhere.
- A first, smaller budget. Oligio starts at 100 shots, so one zone or a first try does not commit you to a full face.
- A tight schedule. Redness or warmth after RF usually fades within hours, and you can wash and wear makeup the same day.
Oligio is a face treatment here. We do not use it on the eyelids and we have no Oligio X, so if you are comparing Oligio price Korea quotes, check that the clinic names the same platform. Our Oligio guide has the full shot ladder.
When Ultherapy is the one we suggest
Ultherapy Prime is the device for tissue that has moved: jowls forming along the jaw, a deepening fold from nose to mouth, a brow that sits lower on the eyelid, or fullness under the chin. It is the only one of the two that reaches the SMAS.
Three transducers set the depth: 1.5 mm for texture and fine lines, 3.0 mm through the fat layer, and 4.5 mm at the SMAS. With DeepSEE imaging on screen, the operator can see which plane the energy is entering and what to keep away from.
Tissue contracts on the day, and new collagen arrives over eight to twelve weeks, so the jaw line you see at week ten is not the one you leave with. A peer-reviewed review of micro-focused ultrasound (Contini et al., 2023) reports the same gradual pattern.
Our list carries two Ultherapy lines. Ultherapy Prime is the platform with DeepSEE described above. Ulthera is the earlier platform at a lower price per shot. Ask which one a quote refers to; the Ultherapy price guide sets them side by side.
Oligio vs Ultherapy price and recovery, side by side
All three lines are priced per session by shot count. Each figure is one visit, and a repeat is charged at the single-session rate on the list in force at that time.
| Shots | Oligio (KRW) | Ulthera (KRW) | Ultherapy Prime (KRW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 109,000 | 280,000 | 400,000 |
| 300 | 319,000 | 840,000 | 1,200,000 |
| 600 | 599,000 | 1,680,000 | 2,400,000 |
| 900 | 990,000 | 2,520,000 | 3,600,000 |
Prices are from the list of 20 August 2026 and exclude 10% VAT. The final figure is confirmed at consultation, after the 3D Meta-Vu scan and before anything is started.
A shot on one device is not a shot on the other. An Oligio pulse is RF from a wide face tip, and an Ultherapy shot is a line of focused points at one depth. Compare the Ultherapy Prime price with Oligio by what each plan covers, not by the count.
- After Oligio: redness or warmth usually fades within hours. Wash and wear makeup the same day.
- After Ultherapy: a dull ache and some swelling for 1–3 days is common. A cold compress is fine. Skip the sauna and hard exercise for a week, and alcohol for 24–48 hours.
- Flying: neither leaves a wound, so a flight the next day is workable after either one.
Can Oligio and Ultherapy be combined?
Yes, when your face has both problems: skin that has thinned and tissue that has slid. Two devices in one visit only make sense when they work on different planes, which is exactly the case here, RF in the dermis and ultrasound at the SMAS.
We call a plan across those layers THE Beautiful Total Lifting. It is not one machine. The director chooses the devices, the depth and the order at consultation, and each device is charged at its own line on the list. The combined result typically lasts 3–12 months, depending on the devices used.
Where two treatments overlap at the same depth, we space them out instead of stacking them. If you are also thinking about a pigment laser, it waits: we do not fire one straight after heat lifting, because of the risk of darker marks.
Who should ask first, and when we suggest neither
The limit comes before the benefit. Neither device replaces surgery for skin that hangs in folds, and neither adds volume.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding: we wait.
- A pacemaker, defibrillator or other implanted electronic device, or metal in the area: tell us before anything is booked, so the plan can be checked against each device's labelling.
- Open wounds, active acne or infection where the energy would go: the skin settles first.
- A face that looks hollow rather than loose: heat does not fill a hollow. Volnewmer or a volume treatment may fit better, and Oligio vs Thermage explains the other RF options here.
- Heaviness that comes from fat: neither device takes fat away, and the consultation says so.
The American Academy of Dermatology lists radiofrequency and ultrasound among the non-invasive ways to firm mildly sagging skin, with results that build gradually and vary from person to person. A consultation that ends in a different device, or in nothing at all, is the plan working.
How the director chooses between them
- 3D Meta-Vu scan. Makeup comes off and the face is photographed in 3D. It takes about 10 minutes and is part of the consultation.
- Consultation with the director. Dr. Jang Dong-hoon reads the scan with you and locates the laxity: dermis, fat layer or SMAS.
- Device and shot count. Oligio, Ultherapy Prime, Ulthera, both or neither, and how many shots where.
- The price, before treatment. The final figure is confirmed here, with no deposit and no obligation to go ahead.
- Treatment by the director. If you agree, the session often follows the same day, and the consultation fee is waived when it does.
We are a 2-minute walk from Exit 5 of Nonhyeon Station. Our own staff interpret at no charge, messages are answered within 24 business hours, and questions after you fly home go to the same WhatsApp thread.
Still torn on Oligio or Ultherapy? Leave it to the scan. When you are ready, tick Oligio in the booking selector or tick Ultherapy Prime and send your dates.
First visit to a Seoul clinic? Read what patients ask before they visit.
At a glance
The treatments in this article, side by side
- Works onDermisDowntimeMinimalTypically lasts6–12 monthsFrom≈ $81₩109,000
- Works on1.5 / 3.0 / 4.5 mm — dermis to SMASDowntimeMinimalTypically lasts6–12 monthsFrom≈ $208₩280,000
- Works onDermis → SMASDowntimeNone to same-day flushingTypically lasts3–12 months by deviceFromPriced after the doctor sees your skin
- Works onDermisDowntimeUsually noneTypically lastsAbout 12 monthsFrom≈ $737₩990,000
Which one fits is decided at the examination, not from this table. Prices are the lowest listed option, before 10% VAT. US dollar figures are approximate, at the exchange rate of 10 November 2026. The clinic charges in Korean won.
The short version
- Oligio is monopolar RF that heats the dermis; Ultherapy Prime is focused ultrasound at 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm, reaching the SMAS.
- Skin that has lost its spring points to Oligio; cheeks, brow or jaw line that have descended point to Ultherapy.
- On the list of 20 August 2026, before 10% VAT, 100 shots cost 109,000 KRW for Oligio, 280,000 KRW for Ulthera and 400,000 KRW for Ultherapy Prime.
- Oligio redness fades within hours; after Ultherapy a dull ache or swelling for 1–3 days is common, and a next-day flight works after either.
- Both can be planned together as THE Beautiful Total Lifting when the face needs the dermis and the SMAS treated.
Questions patients ask
Is Oligio or Ultherapy better for sagging jowls?
Jowls usually mean tissue has descended, and Ultherapy reaches the SMAS where that support sits. Oligio works in the dermis, so it suits skin that has lost spring while the jaw line is still in place. The scan and the consultation decide.
How much do Oligio and Ultherapy cost in Seoul?
At THE Beautiful Clinic, 300 shots cost 319,000 KRW for Oligio, 840,000 KRW for Ulthera and 1,200,000 KRW for Ultherapy Prime, on the list of 20 August 2026 and before 10% VAT. The final figure is confirmed at consultation, before treatment.
Which hurts more, Oligio or Ultherapy?
Oligio is listed as low to moderate, helped by gas cooling and vibration. Ultherapy is listed as moderate, a brief deeper heat along each line. How it feels varies from person to person.
What is the downtime after Oligio and Ultherapy?
After Oligio, redness usually fades within hours and makeup is fine the same day. After Ultherapy, a dull ache and some swelling for 1–3 days is common, with no sauna or hard exercise for a week.
Can I have Oligio and Ultherapy on the same day?
Yes, when the face needs both the dermis and the SMAS treated. The director sets the order at consultation, and each device is charged at its own line on the price list.
How long do Oligio and Ultherapy last?
Both are listed as typically lasting 6–12 months, and results build over the weeks after the session. A repeat is discussed when the effect has faded, not sold in advance.
How do I book Oligio or Ultherapy from abroad?
Send a front and a side photo with your dates in Seoul on WhatsApp. We reply within 24 business hours; there is no deposit, and changing or cancelling is free.
Results and recovery vary between individuals, and every treatment can have side effects. Prices are from the clinic's price list and are confirmed at consultation. This article is general information, not a diagnosis.
Sources
About the author
Dr. Jang Dong-hoon
Founder & Medical Director
Founder and medical director of THE Beautiful Clinic in Nonhyeon, Gangnam. He sees every patient's skin analysis before a plan is drawn, and reviews every article on this blog against what the clinic actually does.
Credentials in full
