Ultherapysave ~45–60%
- Reaches SMAS
- Yes
- Discomfort
- Higher
- Korea · full face
- S$1,490–1,770
- Singapore
- S$3,200–4,800
- Best for
- Strongest evidence
Skin & Lifting · Singapore
Ultherapy vs Shurink vs Thermage vs XERF in Korea
A Singaporean's cost and comparison guide, 2026.
Short answer. A full face runs about S$1,490–1,770 for Ultherapy in Korea against S$3,200–4,800 in Singapore, and about S$1,600 for Thermage against S$2,500–3,200 — roughly 35–60% less. All four are bookable through MISOODA partner clinics.
✓ Same price as Korean locals✓ No foreigner mark-up✓ Interpreter included
Read this first
A naming trap that catches Singaporeans
“Shurink” is a Korea-only brand name.
The same device, from the same Korean manufacturer (Classys), is sold in Singapore as Ultraformer (MPT / III).
So if you read about Shurink and then search for it in Singapore, you will find nothing. Ask for Ultraformer. Same machine.
Quick pick
The four at a glance
If you only read one section, read this one.
Shurink = Ultraformerentry price
- Reaches SMAS
- Yes
- Discomfort
- Lower
- Korea · full face
- S$367–640
- Singapore
- from S$299
- Best for
- First-timers
Thermagesave ~35–50%
- Reaches SMAS
- Not established
- Discomfort
- Moderate heat
- Korea · face
- S$1,600
- Singapore
- S$2,500–3,200
- Best for
- Firmness, texture
XERFnewest, 2024
- Reaches SMAS
- Yes
- Discomfort
- Lower
- Korea · 600 shots
- S$1,540–2,370
- Singapore
- ~S$2,000/session
- Best for
- Latest RF, low pain
Full comparison
Everything side by side
Swipe the table sideways for all eleven points.
| Ultherapy | Shurink | Thermage | XERF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Ultrasound (HIFU) | Ultrasound (HIFU) | Monopolar RF | Monopolar RF, dual |
| Maker | Merz (US) | Classys (Korea) | Solta (US) | Cynosure Lutronic (Korea) |
| Reaches SMAS | Yes | Yes | Not established | Yes |
| Real-time imaging | Yes — only one | No | No | No |
| US FDA cleared | Yes (2009) | No | Yes (2017) | Yes (2025) |
| Discomfort | Higher | Lower | Moderate heat | Lower |
| Session time | 30–90 min | 20–40 min | 35–90 min | 15–60 min |
| Results last | 12–24 months | 6–12 months | 12–24 months | ~12 months |
| Downtime | None | None | None | None |
| Korea price | ₩1.67–1.99m | ₩400–700k | ₩1.79m promo | ₩1.6–2.5m |
| Book via MISOODA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Publicly listed clinic prices, August 2026. Korean aesthetic treatments are not insurance-covered, so there is no official price list and promotions are common — often near half of list price. Singapore clinics frequently quote “from” or per-session prices without shot counts, so some rows are not strictly like-for-like.
Depth
How deep does each one go?
The layer everyone mentions
What is the SMAS?
The SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) is a sheet of fibrous tissue and muscle sitting roughly 4.5 mm below the surface. It is the layer a surgeon lifts during a facelift.
That is why it matters: if a device cannot reach the SMAS, it cannot lift — only tighten. Tightening improves texture and mild laxity. Lifting repositions sagging tissue. Neither replaces surgery once sagging is advanced.
Device by device
Ultherapy
The original FDA-cleared HIFU device (2009). Its distinguishing feature is DeepSEE real-time ultrasound imaging — the doctor sees the tissue layers on screen while treating, rather than firing at a preset depth. None of the other three offer this.
It is also the only one of the four cleared by the US FDA to use the word “lift”. Treatment is usually the most uncomfortable of the four, and numbing cream is common. Results build over 2–3 months and generally last 12–24 months.
Shurink (Ultraformer)
Made by Classys in Korea. Same ultrasound principle as Ultherapy, with a wider cartridge range (1.5 / 2.0 / 3.0 / 4.5 mm for the face, plus body cartridges). Its MP mode fires about 2.5× faster per shot, which is why patients report it as noticeably less painful.
Two honest caveats: it has no real-time imaging, and it is not US FDA cleared (it holds Korean MFDS, CE, TGA and ANVISA approvals; a newer model is in US trials). It also needs repeating more often — every 6–12 months rather than 12–24.
Thermage
Radiofrequency rather than ultrasound. Instead of focused points at set depths, it heats dermal and subcutaneous tissue volumetrically. Patients describe heat rather than sharp pain. Numbing cream is often skipped — some clinicians argue it is actively unhelpful, because feeling the heat is part of how the operator avoids burns.
Before your Thermage session: check the tip serial
Thermage tips are single-use consumables with a limited window after opening. In Korea there have been documented cases of tips being re-used or supplied outside official channels.
You can verify this yourself in under a minute. Before the tip is opened, ask for its serial number and enter it at thermage.co.kr. Genuine tips return a confirmation.
Every MISOODA partner clinic uses genuine tips and will show you the packaging. We would rather you ask — at any clinic, including ours.
XERF
The newest of the four, developed in Korea by Lutronic (now Cynosure Lutronic) and launched here in 2024. Monopolar RF like Thermage, but running two frequencies — 6.78 MHz and 2 MHz — with the lower one reaching deeper, down to the SMAS. Impedance feedback adjusts energy in real time, and most patients need no numbing.
One correction, since some articles get this wrong: XERF is not Korea-only. Several Singapore clinics already offer it, and it holds US FDA and Health Canada clearance. What Korea offers is being the launch market — more clinics, more operator experience, more price competition.
Choosing
Which one suits you?
- Moderate sagging, want the strongest evidence base → Ultherapy
- New to lifting, or sensitive to pain → Shurink / Ultraformer
- Want firmness and texture more than repositioning → Thermage
- Want the newest RF with low discomfort → XERF
- Thin skin or little facial fat → discuss carefully; HIFU can cause volume loss
General information, not a diagnosis. Suitability depends on skin thickness, fat distribution and degree of laxity — a doctor needs to assess this in person or from clinical photographs.
Safety
Side effects and aftercare
Common, temporary, all four: redness, mild swelling, warmth, tenderness — usually settling within hours to a couple of days.
Less common: bruising; temporary numbness or tingling along the jawline with ultrasound devices, resolving over days to weeks; and rarely — usually linked to technique or excessive settings — burns, blistering or contour irregularity.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active skin infection or open wound in the area, carry an implanted electronic device such as a pacemaker, have had recent facial surgery, or have had fillers, fat grafting or thread lifts in the same area within the past month.
Afterwards: avoid saunas, hot yoga, intense exercise and alcohol for about a week. Normal cleansing and make-up are fine the same day.
Budget
Beyond the treatment
A realistic Korea budget includes return flights, 2–4 nights in Gangnam or Myeongdong, local transport, and a buffer for anything your doctor recommends after seeing your skin. Non-surgical lifting has no downtime, so most visitors fold it into a normal trip rather than booking recovery days.
Korea’s VAT refund for cosmetic procedures ended on 1 January 2026. Any page still promising a 7–10% airport refund on aesthetic treatments is out of date.
Booking
Where to get it in Seoul
Ultherapy, Shurink and Thermage are available at every MISOODA partner clinic, and XERF is available too. That is unusual — most agencies route you to whichever clinic happens to own the machine, which limits your choice of doctor.
Send your photos and what bothers you. You get an itemised quote across suitable clinics — same price a Korean local pays, no mark-up, interpreter included.
Want one specific device? Say so, and we will confirm which partner clinics offer it before anything is booked.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Shurink the same as Ultraformer?+
Yes. Both are made by Classys in Korea. "Shurink" is the domestic Korean brand name; the same device is sold internationally, including in Singapore, as Ultraformer MPT or III.
Which is better, Shurink or Ultherapy?+
They use the same underlying technology and both reach the SMAS at 4.5 mm. Ultherapy adds real-time ultrasound imaging and holds US FDA clearance including the word "lift", and results typically last 12–24 months. Shurink is more comfortable, faster and considerably cheaper, but generally needs repeating every 6–12 months.
How much cheaper is Ultherapy in Korea than in Singapore?+
Based on publicly listed clinic prices in August 2026: roughly S$1,490–1,770 in Korea for a full face at 600 lines, against S$3,200–4,800 in Singapore for full face and neck at 800–1,200 lines — about 45–60% less. The line counts differ, so treat this as a guide rather than a quote.
Is Thermage cheaper in Korea?+
Yes, particularly at promotional pricing — around S$1,600 in Korea for a 600-shot face treatment against S$2,500–3,200 in Singapore. Korean clinics run promotions frequently, often close to half of list price.
Is it worth flying to Korea just for Shurink?+
Honestly, no. Shurink/Ultraformer is inexpensive in both countries and the gap does not cover a flight. It makes more sense as an add-on to a trip you are already taking.
Can I get XERF in Singapore?+
Yes. Several Singapore clinics offer it, and it holds US FDA and Health Canada clearance. Korea's advantage is being the launch market — more clinics offering it and more price competition — not exclusivity.
Which treatments reach the SMAS layer?+
Ultherapy and Shurink both do, via 4.5 mm cartridges, and XERF's 2 MHz frequency is stated to reach it. For Thermage this is not established in the clinical literature, despite some marketing claims.
Which one hurts least?+
Generally Shurink and XERF. Shurink's MP mode fires much faster per shot, and XERF uses a pulse pattern designed to reduce discomfort. Ultherapy is usually the most uncomfortable. Thermage is described as intense heat rather than sharp pain.
Do I need numbing cream?+
Commonly used for Ultherapy, optional for Shurink, and usually skipped for Thermage and XERF. For Thermage some clinicians prefer you skip it, since feeling the heat helps the operator avoid overtreating.
How long do results last?+
Roughly 12–24 months for Ultherapy and Thermage, 6–12 months for Shurink, and around 12 months for XERF. Ageing continues regardless, so these are maintenance treatments rather than one-time fixes.
When will I see results?+
There is often some immediate tightening, but the real change comes from new collagen forming over 2–3 months. Thermage typically shows clear change from 6–12 weeks; XERF is reported earlier, around 4–6 weeks.
Is there any downtime?+
No. All four are non-surgical with no recovery period. You may have redness or mild swelling for a few hours to a couple of days, but you can travel, work and wear make-up the same day.
Can I combine these with other treatments on the same trip?+
Often yes, but sequencing matters — particularly around fillers, fat grafting and thread lifts, which generally need a gap. Tell us everything you are considering and the clinic will plan the order.
Can I still claim a Korean VAT refund on these treatments?+
No. Korea's VAT refund for cosmetic procedures ended on 1 January 2026. Any site still advertising a 7–10% airport refund on aesthetic treatments is out of date.
How do I know a Thermage tip is genuine?+
Ask for the serial number before the tip is opened and check it at thermage.co.kr. Tips are single-use with a limited window after opening, and re-used or unofficially supplied tips have been documented in Korea. Any reputable clinic will be happy to show you.
How do I get a price for my own face?+
Send photos and tell us what bothers you. You will get an itemised quote across suitable partner clinics, at the same price a Korean local pays.
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