Ultherapy in Korea: 2026 Prices, Process and How to Check It's Genuine

Ultherapy in Korea costs about ₩979,000 to ₩1,980,000 (roughly $730 to $1,480) for 300 shots of Ultherapy PRIME at Seoul clinics, with the 10% VAT included. That range comes from eight clinic price pages and booking-platform listings we checked on October 14, 2026, and three of those listings sit at exactly ₩1,089,000. A session takes 30 to 90 minutes. Merz Aesthetics, the manufacturer, says there's no downtime, although redness and swelling for a few hours to a few days are common. Budget for the VAT, too: since the start of 2026, foreign patients can no longer claim it back on cosmetic procedures.

How much does Ultherapy cost in Korea?

Korean clinics sell Ultherapy (Ulthera) by the "shot" (샷), in blocks of 100, 300 and 600. Merz's own instructions for use count "lines" instead, and each line is a row of tiny heat points. Seoul clinics and booking sites use the two words interchangeably, so ask which one a quote means.

Price pages don't agree on what's included. Some say "plus 10% VAT", others include it, and some booking listings leave out the anesthesia fee. To compare like with like, we added 10% to every price listed without VAT. Dollar figures use ₩1,341 per US$1, the cross rate from the European Central Bank reference rates for October 13, 2026.

Ultherapy PRIME prices in Seoul on October 14, 2026, with VAT included in every figure:

And this is where each number comes from:

Gangnam Unni is a Korean booking app for cosmetic procedures. Its listings are clinic promotions, so treat them as a snapshot.

What moves the price

• Discounts. VOS shows a 20% event price next to its list price, and one Gangnam Unni listing drops from ₩1,089,000 to ₩979,000 for a first visit only.
• Numbing and aftercare. Several platform listings mark the anesthesia fee as not included, while Reberry's page says its 300-shot price includes numbing cream. Ask before you compare.
• Bundles. Seoul clinics like to pair Ultherapy with other treatments. Cheongdam Peau Rêve, for example, lists 400 shots plus 600 shots of Thermage FLX at ₩3,390,000 before VAT. If you're weighing the two devices, our Thermage FLX cost guide has the numbers.
• The machine. The original Ultherapy is often cheaper where clinics still offer it. One Myeongdong listing charges ₩649,000 for 300 shots, with VAT and numbing included.
• Foreigner pricing. VOS, YAAN and Cheongdam Peau Rêve all say on their price pages that international patients pay the same as locals. Look for that line, or ask for it in writing.

Is Ultherapy cheaper in Korea than in the US?

Usually, yes. RealSelf puts the average US cost at $2,609, based on 847 member reviews, with a range of $1,000 to $5,000, though that page dates from June 2023.

US clinics quote per session or per area rather than per shot, so the comparison is rough. Still, the ₩1,089,000 that three Seoul listings charge for 300 shots works out to about $810 with VAT, and four of the five 600-shot prices we found, which cover the full face and neck, also come in under that US average. Add flights and a hotel before you count the savings.

Can foreigners still get a VAT refund on Ultherapy in Korea?

No, not as of October 20, 2026. From 2016, foreign patients could reclaim the 10% VAT on cosmetic and dermatology procedures, skin lifting included. The Ministry of Economy and Finance dropped the measure from its July 2025 tax plan and the National Assembly left it out of the December revision, so the program ended on December 31, 2025, as Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

Two bills to bring it back were filed in 2026, one running to the end of 2027 and the other to 2029. According to Hankyung, the first went to a National Assembly subcommittee on July 29, 2026. We found no report that either has passed. At the National Assembly's audit in early October 2026, one lawmaker said any move to reinstate it should weigh tax fairness for Korean patients and the cost to the budget (Medipana News).

Some English-language guides still describe the refund, so check the date on anything you read, and treat the 10% VAT as part of the price for now. A few booking platforms run their own points-back offers. Creatrip, for example, advertises 10% back in points. That's a marketing promotion, not a tax refund.

What is Ultherapy and how does it work?

Ultherapy is a nonsurgical skin-lifting treatment from Merz Aesthetics that uses micro-focused ultrasound with real-time imaging. The handpiece shows an ultrasound picture of the skin layers up to 8 mm deep, so the clinician can check skin contact and treatment depth (to avoid bone, for example). It then lays down lines of small heat points at a fixed depth of 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm or 4.5 mm, depending on the transducer.

Merz's FAQ says the heat prompts the body to build new collagen and elastin, which is why results take weeks to show.

In the US, the Ulthera System is FDA-cleared to lift the eyebrow and the skin on the neck and under the chin, and to improve lines and wrinkles on the décolleté. Merz added clearances for skin laxity on the abdomen and arms in November 2025 and on the knees in August 2026.

What's the difference between Ultherapy and Ultherapy PRIME?

Merz launched Ultherapy PRIME in September 2024. Its launch release claims 20% faster treatments, a 35% larger screen and a faster image refresh rate, while the treatment itself works the same way. Press reports of Seoul clinics installing PRIME units start in 2025, such as this Smart Today report from April that year. Korean clinics often call the device "Ulthera Prime" or 울쎄라피 프라임.

That last row matters if you're looking at a cheap quote. Merz's August 2026 release says it's moving away from the original device and will end full service and support on September 30, 2027. An original-device quote isn't a bad deal in itself, but you should know which machine you're paying for. To see how Ultherapy stacks up against Thermage FLX, Sofwave, Onda and other devices sold in Korea, read Korean lifting treatments compared.

How many shots of Ultherapy do you need?

There's no fixed number. Merz's manual sets a recommended number of lines for each 2.5 × 2.5 cm treatment square, so a larger face or a longer neck needs more lines. Seoul clinic pages give rough guides:

• 100 shots covers a small zone. Clinics such as VOS sell separate 100-shot "eye" packages.
• 300 shots goes to the lower face and jawline. YAAN describes its 300-shot price as "lower face focus".
• 500 to 600 shots covers the full face plus neck. Jivaka, a booking platform, suggests 300 to 500 for a full face and 500 to 600 or more once the neck is added.

More shots won't automatically give you a bigger lift. Ask the doctor to mark the zones on your face and write the shot count for each one on your quote.

Eye packages need a closer look. Merz's manual says treatment should avoid the eyes, the eyelids and the area inside the orbital rim, so if a clinic offers "eye Ultherapy", ask exactly where the lines will go.

Does Ultherapy hurt, and what numbing do Seoul clinics offer?

Most people feel it. Merz's FAQ says you may feel heat or tingling as the energy goes in, and that comfort levels vary. Its manual describes momentary discomfort during treatment, discomfort afterwards that usually fades within two hours to two days, and tenderness to the touch that can last two days to two weeks.

Numbing cream is the most common pain control in Seoul and is sometimes included in the price. VOS lists nitrous-oxide sedation, and Cheongdam Peau Rêve offers sleep sedation as an option in its 300-shot package. If you plan on sedation, ask about fasting rules, the extra fee and whether you'll need someone to take you back to your hotel.

What happens on the day, and how long is the downtime?

A typical visit starts with a consultation and skin assessment, then cleansing and numbing, then gel and the treatment itself. Merz puts the treatment at about 30 to 90 minutes depending on the area, plus time for numbing cream if you use it.

Merz says there's no downtime, and most people go straight back to their plans. Its manual lists what can happen afterwards on the face and neck:

When will you see results, and how long do they last?

According to Merz's FAQ, you may notice some lift early on, but the full result develops over two to three months as new collagen forms. Merz says a single treatment can give results that last up to a year or more on the face and up to six months on the body.

Korean booking guides such as Creatrip describe Ultherapy as something people commonly repeat about once a year. Results differ from person to person, and no clinic can promise a specific outcome.

How do you check that a Seoul clinic uses genuine Ultherapy tips?

The transducer, or "tip", is a consumable with a fixed line capacity, and it has to be replaced once it runs out. Back in 2018, Medigate News reported that illegal tips were a recurring problem in Korea as Ultherapy grew popular. You can check five things yourself:

1. Tap the device and scan the tip. Merz Aesthetics Korea launched "Touch Prime" in March 2026, as reported by Dailypharm. You touch your phone to a secure NFC chip on the device to confirm the device is genuine, with no app needed, then scan the QR code on the transducer to see the tip's authentication details. The article says this also works on original Ulthera machines.
2. Ask for the certificate. Under the older system, clinics using genuine tips attached certification stickers to a certificate to match the shots you received. A 2024 Doctornow article written by a doctor advises checking for it.
3. Watch the line counter. Merz's manual says the screen shows the lines remaining and the transducer's total line capacity, plus a running count of lines delivered. Ask to see it before and after your session.
4. Check the expiry date. The manual tells clinicians to check the expiry date on every transducer and not to use expired ones.
5. Get a shot map. At least one clinic in our price sample advertises a chart showing how many lines went into each zone, and there's no harm asking for one anywhere.

How do you choose a clinic for Ultherapy in Gangnam?

The same checklist works at any clinic:

• a written quote that states the shot count, PRIME or original device, VAT and the anesthesia fee
• a consultation with the doctor who will treat you (Merz says Ultherapy is available only through licensed physicians)
• both genuine checks above, done in front of you
• interpretation in your language, and a way to reach the clinic after you fly home

Several Gangnam clinics list Ultherapy PRIME and in-house interpreters. One is UH CELL Clinic, whose English site lists Ultherapy PRIME and says it has on-site Japanese, Chinese and English interpreters. Our disclosure page explains how we mark sponsored links. For a fuller checklist, read our guide to choosing a skin clinic in Gangnam, and see the Ultherapy Index for how we compare clinics.

How many days do you need in Seoul for Ultherapy?

The treatment fits into a single visit, and many clinics will consult and treat on the same day.

We'd book it early in the trip and leave at least two to three days before a long flight. Merz's manual says swelling usually settles within 3 to 72 hours, and the extra days give you time to go back to the clinic if something feels wrong. Neither Merz's patient FAQ nor its manual mentions a flying restriction, so ask your doctor what they recommend.

Before you go, write down your medications and any past filler injections. Merz's manual notes that the device hasn't been evaluated in people on anticoagulants and that treatment isn't recommended directly over dermal fillers. If you also want injectables or another energy device on the same trip, ask the doctor to plan the order and the gap between them.

What are the risks, and who should avoid Ultherapy?

According to Merz, the most common side effects in clinical trials were redness, swelling, pain and transient nerve effects, and the manual reports no permanent facial nerve injuries in those trials. The post-market list is longer. It includes burns or blisters, nodules, fat or volume loss, sagging or asymmetry, pigment changes, scarring, numbness, muscle weakness, headache and vision changes, and nerve effects lasting months have been described. Burns and scars can happen with incorrect technique, which is one more reason the operator's experience matters.

Merz's manual says Ultherapy should not be used on people with:

• open wounds or lesions in the treatment area
• severe or cystic acne in the treatment area
• active implants such as pacemakers or defibrillators, or metal implants in the treatment area

It hasn't been evaluated in people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, in children, or in people with bleeding disorders, active skin disease that may affect healing, herpes simplex, autoimmune disease, diabetes, epilepsy or Bell's palsy. Treatment isn't recommended directly over keloids, dermal fillers, breast implants or mechanical implants.

Merz describes a good candidate as someone with "some degree of laxity". If you're not sure where you fall, ask the doctor whether a nonsurgical lift suits your skin before you pay for a session.

Prices were checked on October 14, 2026 and change often, so confirm the final price with the clinic.