Sofwave in Seoul
소프웨이브 · 2026 Guide
Seven ultrasound beams warm only the mid-dermis at 1.5mm — an Israeli lift for fine lines, brows, under-chin and neck, made for people who worry about losing facial volume.
What Is Sofwave, and Why Is Seoul Talking About It?
Sofwave is an FDA-cleared ultrasound lift from Israel that heats only the middle layer of your skin, about 1.5mm deep. Instead of focusing energy into deep points like Ultherapy, its seven parallel beams warm a thin band of dermis, so it works on fine lines, brow and under-chin laxity and neck skin while staying away from facial fat. In Seoul a 100-pulse session costs about ₩880,000–₩1,100,000, and a full face (200 pulses) starts around ₩2,200,000 (public event prices, November 2026).
“I want a lift, but I’m scared my cheeks will look hollow afterwards.” If you have thin skin and not much facial fat, you’ve probably said something like this. Sofwave is one of the answers that came out of exactly that worry. It uses ultrasound, but rather than firing it deep into a single point, its beams run parallel to the skin and evenly warm the 1.5mm dermal layer. The energy is designed not to travel below 2mm, so it doesn’t reach the fat layer — which is why the manufacturer considers the risk of a gaunt, hollowed look to be low.
Of the four new lifts we cover, Sofwave also has the widest range of US FDA clearances: facial lines, brow lift, under-chin and neck, cellulite, acne scars and upper-arm laxity. Kim Kardashian has posted about it, K-pop singer Kwon Eun-bi tried it before a comeback, and in August 2026 the one-millionth Sofwave treatment worldwide was performed in Korea — it has clearly found a home here.
- What it is
- Ultrasound skin-lifting device using SUPERB parallel beams (not focused HIFU)
- Made by
- Sofwave Medical — Yokneam, Israel (listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange)
- Target depth
- Mid-dermis at 1.5mm (1–2mm); energy designed not to go below 2mm
- Pain & time
- Warm, prickly feeling with Sofcool cooling; numbing cream optional · 30–45 min for the full face
- Downtime
- Usually none — mild redness for a few hours
- Results
- Clearest at 2–3 months, lasting about 12 months · one session is standard
- Seoul price (2026)
- 100 pulses ₩880,000–1,100,000 · 200 pulses from ₩2,200,000 (event prices)
- Approvals
- US FDA 510(k) cleared (lines, brow, under-chin & neck, cellulite, acne scars, upper arm) · Korea MFDS approved (Aug 2021)
Ultrasound That Heats a Layer, Not a Point
Sofwave is made by Sofwave Medical in Yokneam, Israel, a company listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Its chairman, Dr. Shimon Eckhouse, is well known in the laser world as the inventor of IPL. In 2020 the company introduced SUPERB — Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam — which is exactly what it sounds like: synchronized ultrasound beams running in parallel.
A HIFU device such as Ultherapy gathers energy into tiny focal points deep under the skin. Sofwave works differently. Seven transducers sit directly on the skin and fire high-frequency (around 12MHz) ultrasound at the same time, creating seven cylinder-shaped heated zones that run parallel to the skin surface in the mid-dermis (1–2mm deep, centered at 1.5mm). Inside those zones the tissue reaches 60–70°C, which tightens existing collagen and kick-starts new collagen production.
Healthy tissue is left untouched between the heated zones, so recovery is quick. And because the depth stays fixed at 1.5mm even when the energy level goes up, results are easier to predict. Ultrasound isn’t affected by skin pigment either, so Sofwave can be used on all skin tones.
The surface is protected by Sofcool, an integrated cooling system that keeps the contact area cold and monitors skin temperature in real time to lower the risk of burns and pigmentation. That’s why some clinics treat without numbing cream, though you can always ask for it. There are two applicators: Lift (7 beams) for larger areas and Precise (3 beams) for around the eyes, mouth and jaw. In Korea, Sofwave was approved by the MFDS in August 2021, is distributed by Shinhan Systec, and won the 2026 Korea First Brand Award in the lifting-device category.
Who Is Sofwave Best For?
- People with thin skin and little facial fat who worry about looking hollow after an ultrasound lift — the No. 1 reason Koreans choose Sofwave
- Anyone bothered by fine lines around the eyes, mouth and forehead or by drooping brows — brow lifting is an FDA-cleared indication
- People whose under-chin and neck have started to loosen, or who are noticing neck lines
- People in their 30s who want to stay ahead of laxity, and people in their 40s–60s with mild to moderate sagging
- First-timers, people sensitive to pain or downtime, and anyone who needs to look normal the same day before an important event
- People with darker skin tones — ultrasound isn’t affected by pigment
What Results Can You Expect from Sofwave?
- Lifted brows and more open-looking eyes
- Softer fine lines around the eyes, mouth and forehead
- Firmer, more radiant skin on thin cheeks
- A neater under-chin contour
- Smoother neck skin and fewer neck lines
- Improved acne scars (separate FDA indication)
- Firmer upper-arm skin (separate FDA indication)
Here’s how it usually unfolds. Some people notice smoother skin texture within the first week. Collagen then builds slowly over 3–6 months, and the changes to fine lines, brows and jawline tend to look clearest at around 2–3 months. Results last about a year, and one session is the standard plan; people with moderate laxity sometimes add a second session 3–6 months later.
One honest note: Sofwave’s lifting pull is gentler than Ultherapy’s. If you’re hoping to fix deep sagging in a single visit, you may be disappointed — that’s a job for SMAS-level HIFU or surgery. Sofwave shines when the goal is better skin quality, fine lines, brows and the under-chin.
How a Sofwave Session Goes
A full face takes 30–45 minutes; the exact flow differs a little by clinic.
Sofwave Pre- and Post-Treatment Care
A little preparation keeps the skin calm and helps the result build properly.
Before Your Session
- Pause lasers, peels and retinol for 1–2 weeks beforehand
- Leave 2–4 weeks after filler in the same area
- Tell the doctor about thread lifts, metal implants, pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Mention keloid tendencies, active inflammation or open wounds
- Arrive with clean skin (makeup removed) and avoid heavy drinking the night before
After Your Session
- Mild redness, slight swelling, a warm tingling feeling or tenderness can last from a few hours to two days — most of it settles within hours
- Skip saunas, hot baths, intense exercise and alcohol for about 3 days
- Avoid strong facial massage while the skin settles
- Moisturize well and use sunscreen every day to help prevent pigmentation
- Makeup is fine from the same day
- Contact your clinic right away if you notice blisters or pain that doesn’t ease
Sofwave vs Ultherapy, Thermage, Onda & EMFACE
Lifting devices differ mainly in which layer they heat and how. Here’s where Sofwave sits next to the devices people most often compare it with.
| Device | Principle & Depth | How It Differs from Sofwave |
|---|---|---|
| Ultherapy · Shurink (HIFU) | Focused ultrasound, SMAS at 3.0–4.5mm | Stronger structural lift for deep sagging, but more pain and some risk of hollowing |
| Thermage FLX (monopolar RF) | Resistive heat, dermis | Also targets the dermis but heats it volumetrically. Sofwave’s fixed 1.5mm depth is more predictable and usually cheaper |
| Onda (microwave) | Fat + firmness | Can reduce fat, so it suits fuller cheeks; often paired with Sofwave |
| EMFACE | Muscle + dermis | Complements Sofwave — Sofwave treats the skin, EMFACE trains the lifting muscles |
| Sofwave | SUPERB parallel ultrasound, 1.5mm | Low hollowing and nerve risk, a wide 35mm² spot for speed, the broadest FDA indications. Weaker on deep sagging and priced higher |
In Gangnam you’ll often see “Sof-thera” packages (Sofwave + Ultherapy) that split the work by layer — Sofwave for the skin, Ultherapy for the SMAS. Clinics also offer “On-wave” combinations with Onda for people who want firmer skin and less fat at the same time.
Celebrities Who Have Shared Sofwave
Outside Korea, the Kardashian sisters did a lot to make Sofwave famous — Israeli media even described the device as the sisters’ new Israeli favorite. In Korea, interest jumped in 2026 after a K-pop singer’s vlog and a run of magazine reviews.
Shared her third Sofwave session on Instagram and described it as one of the very few treatments she finds truly firming.
Publicly backed Sofwave alongside her sister; Israeli media covered the sisters’ enthusiasm for the Israeli-made device.
Named Sofwave its first-ever aesthetic device partner in May 2026 and presented it as a low-maintenance routine for its models.
Had Onda and Sofwave while preparing for her August 2026 comeback and said she could clearly feel a lifting effect.
Ran a hands-on review in September 2026 of the Sofwave treatment Kim Kardashian chose.
How Much Does Sofwave Cost in Seoul?
Sofwave is priced by pulses (shots), and a full face uses 100–200. These are publicly listed Seoul clinic event prices for 2026, VAT included. Note that since January 2026, foreign patients no longer get a tax refund on cosmetic treatments in Korea.
| Package | Seoul Public Price |
|---|---|
| 50 pulses (partial area) | ₩550,000–660,000 |
| 100 pulses (event price) | ₩880,000–1,100,000 |
| 100 pulses (example list price) | ₩2,000,000–2,110,000 |
| 200 pulses (full face) | ₩2,200,000–3,550,000 |
| Sofwave 200 + Ultherapy 200 | ₩3,200,000 |
| Sofwave 200 + Onda 80kJ | ₩3,080,000 |
| Reference: US average | $2,408 / session (RealSelf) |
The gap between event and list prices is unusually large for Sofwave, so check whether a deal is limited to first visits or weekdays. When you compare clinics, line them up by the same pulse count and the same Lift/Precise split rather than by the headline price.