Ulthera Shot Count Differences and Cost Comparison: Choosing Between 300, 600, and 1000 Shots in Korea

Q: Who needs 1000 shots?

This is considered when you need to improve sagging across the entire face as well as the neck, and because the treatment area is larger, the cost is confirmed through an individual consultation.

Q: Are there side effects after Ulthera, or cases where you shouldn't get it?

Temporary redness, swelling, and pain right after treatment are common and generally resolve within 1–2 weeks. Ulthera is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, patients with implanted electronic medical devices such as pacemakers, patients with metal stents or plates in the treatment area, patients with keloid-prone skin, or patients with acute skin inflammation or open wounds.

Q: How much extra does sedation cost?

An additional ₩110,000 is charged for the face and ₩165,000 for the body. Whether fasting is required before sedation and how long you'll need to stay at the clinic afterward for recovery should be confirmed during consultation.

💡 Quick Summary: At a Glance

How it works: Ulthera is a non-invasive High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) lifting treatment that delivers ultrasound energy down to the SMAS layer (the skin's supportive meshwork — essentially a "safety belt" beneath the skin that holds up the face) to improve sagging.
Cost by shot count: Based on SafeDoc pricing, the 300-shot treatment is ₩880,000 and the 600-shot treatment is ₩3,080,000, while the 1000-shot treatment covers a wider area, so its cost is confirmed during consultation.
Precautions: Ulthera may not be suitable for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have metal implants in the face, among other conditions — be sure to confirm with your doctor whether any of these apply to you before deciding on a shot count.

🎯 Who This Guide Is For: Anyone preparing for an Ulthera consultation who is trying to decide between 300, 600, and 1000 shots.

If you're preparing for an Ulthera consultation and trying to figure out how many shots you should get, that's a completely understandable concern. Ulthera is a High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment that delivers ultrasound energy down to the SMAS layer (the skin's supportive meshwork — essentially a "safety belt" beneath the skin that holds up the face) to improve sagging. The device most commonly used in Korea today is Ultherapy Prime.

How many Ulthera shots should you get?

Ulthera's treatment coverage and how noticeable the results feel differ depending on the number of shots. The 300-shot option is a partial treatment that focuses only on a narrow area, such as the under-eye or cheeks; the 600-shot option lifts sagging and loss of elasticity across the entire face from the inside; and the 1000-shot option is chosen when you want to address the neck along with the face. Based on SafeDoc pricing, the 300-shot treatment costs ₩880,000 and the 600-shot treatment costs ₩3,080,000, while the 1000-shot treatment covers a wider area, so the price varies by individual and must be confirmed during consultation. If you're concerned about pain and want sedation, an additional ₩110,000 is charged for the face and ₩165,000 for the body. Which shot count is right for you depends on the degree of sagging and the scope of improvement you want, so rather than deciding based on numbers alone, it's safer to make the decision after a consultation with a specialist. That said, there are situations where Ulthera may not be suitable — such as being pregnant or breastfeeding, or having metal implants in the face — so if any of these apply to you, check with your doctor about whether the treatment is appropriate before deciding on a shot count.

What is Ulthera (HIFU, the SMAS layer)

HIFU stands for High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, a method that focuses ultrasound energy at a single point to deliver heat to deep layers of tissue without affecting the skin's surface. Ulthera works by sending this energy down to the SMAS layer to stimulate collagen regeneration.

Key differences by shot count, summarized

300 shots: A partial treatment focused on a specific area
600 shots: Improves sagging and elasticity across the entire face
1000 shots: Covers the entire face plus the neck

Why shot counts are priced differently

The number of shots is determined by the surface area being treated and the depth the ultrasound energy needs to reach. Because Ulthera delivers ultrasound down to the SMAS layer rather than just the skin's surface, a larger treatment area requires more shots. For example, if only the jawline has lost elasticity, a smaller number of shots may be enough, but if the entire face — cheeks, forehead, and jawline — has sagged, more shots are needed to deliver energy evenly across that larger area. If sagging is also noticeable in the neck, that adds to the facial area being treated, which increases the shot count once more. However, since the degree of sagging is difficult to judge by eye alone, the right shot count for you should always be determined by a specialist after directly examining your skin and fascia.

The shot count varies depending on how deep the energy needs to travel, from the skin's surface down to the SMAS layer.

The depth the energy reaches is determined by the 1.5mm, 3.0mm, and 4.5mm transducer tips, and the shot count is precisely allocated across each depth according to the treatment area and degree of sagging.

The relationship between treatment area and shot count

The larger the area, the more the shot count increases proportionally. It helps to think of it as the shot-count range shifting up a level each time the scope expands — from partial to full-face, and from full-face to full-face-plus-neck.

Guidelines based on the degree of sagging and loss of elasticity

Use the checklist below to get a rough sense of direction, but always have your final decision confirmed in a consultation.

You notice sagging only in a specific area (jawline, cheeks, etc.) → consider 300 shots
You feel an overall loss of elasticity across the whole face → consider 600 shots
You notice sagging in the neck as well → consider 1000 shots, which is suitable when you want to address severe loss of elasticity across a wide area — the whole face, jawline, and neck wrinkles — all at once.

Choosing among Ulthera shot counts

A comparison showing which areas of the face each of the 300-, 600-, and 1000-shot treatments covers.

Category	300 Shots	600 Shots	1000 Shots
Coverage	Partial treatment (specific area)	Full face	Full face + neck
SafeDoc Price	₩880,000	₩3,080,000	Confirmed during consultation
Sedation add-on (if desired)	+₩110,000 (face)	+₩110,000 (face)	Confirmed at consultation
Best For	Improving localized sagging in specific areas like the under-eye, nasolabial folds (around the mouth), or double chin, or maintaining elasticity after a previous treatment	Improving overall facial elasticity and achieving a noticeable lifting effect for concerns like sagging cheeks, a lost jawline, or nasolabial folds	Wanting intensive lifting across a wide area all at once — severe sagging throughout the face along with the area under the chin and neck wrinkles

300 shots — partial treatment

The 300-shot option is a partial treatment that focuses only on specific areas where sagging is noticeable, such as the under-eye or cheeks. Because the area covered is smaller than the full face, fewer shots are needed, and the SafeDoc price is ₩880,000.

👉 Want to focus on improving a specific area like the under-eye or cheeks? Check out the detailed information for the Ulthera 300-shot treatment

600 shots — full face

The 600-shot option improves sagging and loss of elasticity across the entire face from the inside, and is chosen when you want change across the whole face rather than just one area. The SafeDoc price is ₩3,080,000.

👉 Looking to improve elasticity across your entire face? Check out the detailed information for the Ulthera 600-shot treatment

1000 shots — face + neck

The 1000-shot option is considered when you want to address the neck along with the entire face. Because the treatment area is larger, the cost varies by individual and must be confirmed during consultation.

Additional considerations when choosing sedation

💡 If you're choosing sedation, check these points too

If you're sensitive to pain, you can choose sedation. This adds ₩110,000 for the face and ₩165,000 for the body, and for the 1000-shot treatment, the additional cost is confirmed during consultation. Sedation can also affect your recovery time, so be sure to ask during your consultation whether 8 hours of fasting before sedation is required, and about the 1–2 hours of in-clinic stay needed afterward for you to regain full consciousness and stability.

Things to consider: risks, side effects, contraindications, and exclusions

🚨 Be sure to check this before your treatment

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have metal implants in your face, you must consult with your doctor before getting Ulthera. In particular, people with implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators, metal stents or plates in the treatment area, open wounds, severe cystic acne, keloid-prone skin, or severe autoimmune disease should avoid this treatment for safety reasons.

Ulthera is a non-invasive treatment, but that doesn't mean it's entirely free of side effects. Temporary swelling, pain, and redness can occur at the treatment site, and nerve-related symptoms have rarely been reported. Most mild redness and swelling resolve naturally within 1–2 weeks, but excessive energy delivered to thin-skinned areas can cause fat atrophy (sunken cheeks), and if a nerve pathway is irritated, temporary numbness around the mouth or facial asymmetry — signs of nerve-related symptoms — can persist for several weeks or longer, which is why precise technique is essential. The results also tend to appear gradually rather than immediately, and how long they last varies from person to person. Collagen regenerates progressively between 1 and 3 months after treatment, making the lifting effect more noticeable, and depending on the individual's rate of skin aging and lifestyle habits, the effect generally lasts between about 1 year and 1 year and 6 months.

Exclusion criteria you must check before treatment.

Limitations and side effects of Ulthera

Reactions range from temporary effects like swelling and pain to rare nerve-related symptoms, so each deserves individual explanation. Redness, bruising, swelling, and a tender, achy feeling when pressed are normal reactions right after treatment that improve within a few days. However, be aware that rare complications can occur, including burns and blistering from incorrect energy-depth calibration, temporary facial paralysis (such as sluggish movement at the corner of the mouth) from injury to a branch of the facial nerve, and sunken cheeks from loss of subcutaneous fat.

When this treatment is not suitable for you

If sagging is severe or you have certain medical histories, other options may be more suitable than Ulthera. It is not recommended for people with very little subcutaneous fat in the face who are at high risk of cheek hollowing, for cases of severe sagging from aging where non-surgical devices have reached their limits (a facelift is recommended in such cases), or for those with a history of having non-absorbable fillers such as silicone injected into the treatment area, or who have a bleeding disorder.

Alternative lifting treatments

If Ulthera isn't the right fit, other energy-based lifting treatments such as Thermage or InMode may be worth considering. These three treatments differ somewhat in their mechanism of action, pain level, and downtime, so comparing them can help you decide.

👉 Wondering which treatment — Ulthera, Thermage, or InMode — is right for you? Read our comparison of Ulthera, Thermage, and InMode costs and recovery time in Korea

Getting Ulthera in Korea: cost, stay, and recovery

If you're considering Ulthera in Korea, it's a good idea to plan your budget and schedule together. Based on SafeDoc pricing, the 300-shot treatment is ₩880,000 and the 600-shot treatment is ₩3,080,000, while the price for the 1000-shot treatment is determined during consultation. If you'd like sedation, an additional ₩110,000 is charged for the face and ₩165,000 for the body. A single session, including numbing cream and the procedure itself, takes about 1 to 1.5 hours (around 2–3 hours including recovery time if you choose sedation). With 300 shots, you can return to your normal routine the same day; with 600–1000 shots, you may experience minor swelling and bruising for 2–3 days. You'll need to visit the clinic once on the day of treatment, and if you'd like a follow-up check, one additional visit before you leave Korea is recommended.

You'll receive specific guidance on your post-treatment recovery during your consultation.

Cost range by shot count

Item	KRW
300 shots	₩880,000
600 shots	₩3,080,000
1000 shots	Consultation required
Sedation (face)	+₩110,000
Sedation (body)	+₩165,000

Recommended length of stay

A stay of 2 to 3 days (1–2 nights) is recommended for the 300- or 600-shot treatment, and a stay of 4 days (3 nights) or more is recommended for the 1000-shot treatment or if you choose sedation.

Recovery timeline

Immediately after treatment: Redness, warmth, and mild swelling may occur but typically settle within a few hours; you can wash your face, apply makeup, and fly the same day.
2–3 days: You may feel a dull, tight sensation beneath the skin, slight residual swelling, or in rare cases faint bruising, but this won't interfere with daily activities or sightseeing in Korea.
1 week: Swelling and redness fully disappear and the skin's surface looks smooth, while collagen regeneration and tissue tightening gradually begin in the SMAS layer beneath the skin.
After 1 month: Visible improvements in elasticity, such as a more defined jawline and lifted cheeks, become more pronounced, with the most noticeable peak lifting effect typically seen at 2–3 months.

Precautions before leaving Korea

To reduce the risk of bruising and bleeding, stop taking anticoagulants such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and warfarin, as well as circulation supplements (omega-3, ginkgo biloba extract), 1–2 weeks before your treatment after consulting your physician. To prevent inflammation and support faster recovery, it's recommended to avoid alcohol and smoking for at least 1 week before and after treatment. Bring your passport for identity verification and a copy of your prescriptions for any medications you're currently taking when you visit the clinic.

For exact pricing, scheduling, and whether English-language consultation is available, it's best to confirm directly during your consultation, as this depends on SafeDoc's dedicated 1:1 multilingual coordinators and each partner clinic's official foreign-language interpretation support.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is the Ulthera shot count determined?

It's chosen from among 300, 600, and 1000 shots based on your desired scope of improvement and degree of sagging, and the precise decision is made during a consultation.

Partial improvement calls for 300 shots, full face for 600 shots, and face plus neck for 1000 shots
How it works: the shot count increases in proportion to the treatment area and depth
It's determined not only by age and stage of aging, but also by skin thickness, the amount of fat in the cheeks and under the chin, and the area of sagging (a localized area versus the whole face and neck). Your medical team examines your individual condition directly and designs the safest, most effective shot count for you on a one-to-one basis.

Q2: What exactly is the difference between 300 and 600 shots?

300 shots is a partial treatment applied to only part of the face, while 600 shots improves sagging and loss of elasticity across the entire face from the inside.

SafeDoc price for 300 shots: ₩880,000
SafeDoc price for 600 shots: ₩3,080,000
Both treatments are completed in a single same-day visit, so international patients on a tight schedule can get them without hassle. There's no mandatory follow-up treatment, but one additional visit before you leave Korea is recommended if you'd like a follow-up check.

Q3: Who needs 1000 shots?

This is considered when you need to improve sagging not only in the face but in the neck as well, and the cost is confirmed through an individual consultation.

Coverage: Full face + neck
Cost: Confirmed during consultation
Best for: Wanting intensive lifting across a wide area all at once — severe sagging throughout the face along with the area under the chin and neck wrinkles

Q4: Are there side effects after Ulthera, or cases where you shouldn't get it?

Ulthera is an FDA-approved ultrasound lifting treatment with an established safety record, but performing it without accounting for a patient's skin thickness and anatomy can lead to side effects such as nerve damage or sunken cheeks, and it is strictly off-limits for patients with certain health conditions or implanted devices.

Range of temporary swelling/pain: temporary redness and swelling right after treatment, a tingling pain, an achy feeling when the treatment area is pressed (usually resolves within 1–2 weeks), rare bruising, temporary nerve-related numbness, and sunken cheeks from excessive fat atrophy
Exclusions: pregnant and breastfeeding women; patients with implanted electronic medical devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators; patients with metal stents/plates implanted in the treatment area; patients with keloid-prone skin; and patients with severe acute skin inflammation or open wounds in the treatment area

Q5: How much extra does sedation cost?

If you choose it, an additional ₩110,000 is charged for the face and ₩165,000 for the body.

Facial sedation add-on: ₩110,000
Body sedation add-on: ₩165,000
Things to confirm: whether 8 hours of fasting before sedation is required, and the 1–2 hours of in-clinic stay needed afterward for recovery of consciousness and stability

Next steps

Pre-consultation checklist

Note down the areas where you notice sagging (jawline, cheeks, neck, etc.)
Decide your desired scope of improvement (partial / full face / full face + neck)
Check your health status in advance, including any medications you're taking and whether you're pregnant or breastfeeding
Decide whether you want sedation

Compare related treatments

If you're curious whether Ulthera is the right fit for you, or whether Thermage or InMode might be a better option, check out our comparison article, and reach out directly using the button below for specific shot counts and pricing.

Request a SafeDoc Consultation