Which Lifting Treatment Should You Choose in Gangnam? XERF, Ulthera, and Thermage Compared

The choice comes down to what your skin needs and what your budget allows: XERF for deeper-reaching radiofrequency lifting, Thermage or Density for shallower tightening, and Ulthera as the ultrasound-based alternative with the lowest entry price. At Ode Clinic, a dermatology clinic near Gangnam Station that houses all of these devices, DEEP Mode XERF 300 shots costs ₩1,000,000 (about $720), Ulthera runs ₩350,000 per 100 shots, and Thermage 600 shots is ₩2,300,000 — all VAT excluded, USD approximate and exchange-rate dependent. Because one clinic operates the full lineup, a visiting patient can have the comparison made on their own face in a single English consultation rather than piecing it together from separate sales pitches.

Energy Type and Depth: The Real Difference Between the Devices

Marketing language blurs these machines together, but they divide cleanly by two variables: the kind of energy they emit and how deep that energy works. Understanding both makes the price differences easier to interpret.

Radiofrequency family: XERF, Thermage, Density

XERF is a monopolar radiofrequency device in the same family as Thermage and Density, yet it behaves differently in one decisive way: it delivers energy deeper, which is what produces a lifting effect rather than surface tightening. Its signature 6.78MHz + 2MHz dual-frequency energy is generated only in DEEP Mode, and Ode Clinic runs XERF exclusively in that mode despite the longer session time. Thermage and Density work at shallower depths and are therefore oriented toward tightening, with Density spreading bipolar RF evenly across that shallower layer.

The ultrasound alternative: Ulthera

Ulthera takes the ultrasound route instead of radiofrequency and is priced by much smaller shot units — ₩350,000 per 100 shots, with 300 to 600 shots typically recommended on average and effects lasting six to twelve months. For a traveler comparing options, this makes Ulthera the treatment with the lowest single-unit price, while a full recommended course lands in a similar bracket to a 300-shot XERF session.

Depth is the organizing principle: deeper energy delivery aligns with lifting, shallower delivery with tightening. Choosing by device name alone misses this, which is why the consultation should start from the skin, not the machine.

Price Comparison Across the Lifting Menu in Gangnam

Ode Clinic publishes prices for its whole device lineup, which allows a straightforward side-by-side. All figures below exclude VAT.

What each device costs at one Gangnam clinic

Device	Energy type	Representative price (VAT excluded)
XERF (DEEP Mode)	Monopolar RF, dual frequency	300 shots ₩1,000,000 · 600 shots ₩1,900,000 · 900 shots ₩2,750,000
Thermage	Monopolar RF	600 shots ₩2,300,000 · 900 shots ₩2,700,000
Density	Bipolar RF	Classic tip 300 shots ₩750,000 · Alpha tip 300 shots ₩950,000
Ulthera	Ultrasound	100 shots ₩350,000 (300–600 shots usually recommended)

Reading the table as a budget planner

At equal shot counts the contrast is stark: 600 shots of XERF at ₩1,900,000 versus 600 shots of Thermage at ₩2,300,000 means the deeper-working device is the less expensive of the two monopolar options at this clinic. Density offers the lowest-priced RF entry point at ₩750,000 for 300 classic-tip shots, suited to those whose concern is tightening rather than lifting. The clinic also lists Onda lifting at ₩700,000 per 100kJ and Coolsonic at ₩1,100,000 per 5,000 shots for patients whose consultation points elsewhere.

A single clinic pricing seven lifting devices side by side is itself useful information. It means the recommendation can follow the diagnosis, and the patient can see exactly what switching devices would cost before deciding.

Matching the Device to Your Concern — and Your Travel Window

For visitors fitting treatment into a Seoul trip, the deciding factors are usually the specific complaint, the tolerance for downtime, and how the results timeline lines up with the calendar back home.

Who tends toward XERF

XERF is recommended for nasolabial folds, sagging mouth corners, and a loosening jawline — cases where elasticity and sagging need improving together — and for people who prefer less pain and downtime. Shot counts between 300 and 900 are set by the doctor after a 1:1 consultation, supported by 2D/3D skin-diagnostic photography, and changes can begin soon after treatment with the maximum effect around two to three months. Occasional burns or blisters are possible, so follow-up care at the treating clinic matters to prevent pigmentation.

Deciding on the ground in Gangnam

Since Ode Clinic keeps Ulthera, Thermage, XERF, Density, Onda, and more in-house, the device question can stay open until the consultation itself — practical for a traveler who cannot attend multiple clinics. The clinic is on the 8th floor of the Kyungwon Building, 340 Gangnam-daero in Yeoksam-dong near Gangnam Station, open weekdays 11:30 AM–8:30 PM and weekends 10:00 AM–4:00 PM with no lunch closure, and foreigner-friendly English consultation can be arranged in advance through WhatsApp at +82 10-2609-4529.

The sensible sequence for a visitor is consultation first, device second. With every option under one roof and every price published, the comparison happens transparently in one appointment instead of across a week of clinic-hopping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.What is the practical difference between XERF and Thermage?

A.Both are monopolar RF devices, but XERF delivers energy deeper, producing a lifting effect, while Thermage works shallower and leans toward tightening. At Ode Clinic, XERF 600 shots costs ₩1,900,000 versus ₩2,300,000 for Thermage 600 shots.

Q.Which lifting option has the lowest starting price in Gangnam?

A.By unit price, Ulthera at ₩350,000 per 100 shots is the lowest entry, though 300–600 shots are usually recommended. Among RF devices, Density classic tip 300 shots at ₩750,000 starts lowest.

Q.Can I compare all these devices in English at one clinic?

A.Yes. Ode Clinic keeps Ulthera, Thermage, XERF, Density, and Onda in-house, receives international patients with English support, and can walk through the comparison in a single 1:1 doctor consultation.

Q.How is the final device and shot count decided?

A.The doctor who performs the treatment conducts the consultation, reviews your age and degree of sagging with 2D/3D diagnostic photography, and finalizes the plan in a re-consultation before the procedure begins in a private room.

Q.Where do I book a comparison consultation near Gangnam Station?

A.Message WhatsApp +82 10-2609-4529 or Instagram @odeclinic.global, or call +82 2-569-0222. The clinic sits at 8F, 340 Gangnam-daero (Kyungwon Building, Yeoksam-dong), a short walk from the Gangnam Station area.