Why Hongdae Dermatology Recommends Combining Lifting with Collagen Injections

Hello,

I am Dr. Go-eun Lee, Director of Nine Clinic in Hongdae 🙂

During lifting consultations,

there are questions I hear quite frequently.

“If I stop getting Ultherapy or Thermage, will my skin sag even faster?”

“How long do the results last?”

“Is lifting alone enough, or do I also need to restore volume?”

Today, I will explain and answer

the questions most commonly asked

by our patients at Hongdae Dermatology.

Will my skin sag more if I stop getting lifting treatments?

To give you the short answer,

stopping lifting procedures

does ‘not make your skin sag faster.’

However, there are clear reasons why it might feel that way.

🔸 You grew accustomed to your lifted skin

🔸 Over time, your skin returns to its natural aging rate

🔸 A perceived relative difference

In other words, your skin is not getting worse than before;

it is simply transitioning from “an improved state → back to its original state.”

Therefore, it is more accurate to understand lifting

not as ‘a loss if you stop,’

but rather as ‘a way to sustain a youthful state longer if maintained.’

Ultherapy Prime vs. Thermage: What is the duration of results?

Because these two procedures work differently,

their duration and clinical benefits also differ slightly.

🔸 Ultherapy Prime

→ Targets the SMAS layer for deep structural lifting

→ Gradually improves over 3 to 6 months

→ Duration: approximately 6 to 12 months

🔸 Thermage

→ Stimulates collagen regeneration in the dermal layer

→ Focuses on improving skin texture + tightness

→ Duration: approximately 6 to 12 months

The core difference is

“Lifting (tight pull) vs. Elasticity (firm tightness).”

In clinical practice, we often combine

both procedures or apply them selectively

based on each patient's individual condition.

When combined, their synergistic effects are significantly superior.

Why You Should Combine Lifting + Volume

Here is an aspect many people overlook:

Facial aging is not merely an issue of ‘sagging’;

it also involves a simultaneous ‘loss of volume.’

🔸 Lifting → Pulls up sagging structural tissues

🔸 Volume → Fills hollow areas to restore facial dimensions

Only when these two are addressed together

can a truly ‘youthful face’ be achieved.

In particular, collagen stimulators such as Mihee Injections

offer the following benefits:

🔸 Natural volume generation

🔸 Gradual, steady enhancement over time

🔸 Seamless contour improvement without looking unnatural

Therefore,

combining collagen injections in areas where hollowing becomes noticeable after lifting

creates a much more balanced, natural facial harmony.

Lifting Combinations: Rejuran vs. Collagen Injections

Patients frequently compare these two during consultations.

Here is a simple summary:

🔸 Rejuran

→ Focuses on skin regeneration and texture improvement

→ Improves fine lines, skin tone, and subtle elasticity

→ ‘A procedure that enhances the fundamental health of the skin’

🔸 Collagen Injections (Mihee Injection, etc.)

→ Simultaneously improves volume + elasticity

→ Enhances hollows, contours, and 3D facial projection

→ ‘A procedure that refines facial shape and structure’

In short:

✔ If your primary concern is skin texture → Rejuran

✔ If your primary concern is hollowing + facial contouring → Collagen Injections

This is the easiest way to understand the distinction.

In reality, we often combine both procedures

to achieve “skin texture + volume restoration” at the same time.

Why 1:1 Custom Designing is Crucial Before Lifting

When it comes to lifting,

‘facial design’ is far more important than the device itself.

This explains why the same Ultherapy or Thermage machine

produces vastly different outcomes in different hands.

🔸 Facial fat distribution

🔸 Vector and direction of sagging

🔸 Presence of hollowing

🔸 Skin thickness

If treatments are delivered strongly and excessively

without considering these factors,

it can lead to complications such as:

🔸 Cheek hollowing (sunken cheeks)

🔸 Unnatural contours

🔸 Decreased satisfaction relative to the treatment

This is why, before performing any lifting procedure,

I design a customized treatment plan based on three key pillars:

✔ Areas that need lifting

✔ Volume that must be preserved

✔ Hollows that need restoration

Conclusion

Lifting is not simply

“a procedure that pulls the skin up.”

✔ Lifting

✔ Volume

✔ Skin Texture

When these three elements are balanced in harmony,

the most natural and youthful outcome is achieved.

🔸 Those considering Ultherapy or Thermage

🔸 Those who felt lifting alone was not quite enough

🔸 Those looking to achieve a naturally youthful facial contour

For these individuals,

an integrated approach combining lifting + volume + regeneration

delivers far greater satisfaction.

Today, I shared brief explanatory videos

in place of standard photos.

I hope this post was informative and helpful to everyone reading 🙂

This has been Dr. Go-eun Lee

from Nine Clinic in Hongdae.

Thank you.

Also,

did you know we have a YouTube channel?

We regularly share short, insightful tips on various aesthetic treatments,

so please feel free to drop by 😊

Goeun Skin Go-eun Lee Share videos with friends, family, and the world www.youtube.com

#HongdaeDermatology #HongdaeStationDermatology #HapjeongDermatology #SinchonDermatology #MapoDermatology #HongdaeClinicRecommendation

#HongdaeLifting #LaserLifting #Ultherapy #UltherapyPrime #ThermageFLX #Thermage #CollagenInjection #SkinBooster #MiheeInjection #MiheeCollagenInjection #RejuranHealer

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my skin sag faster if I stop receiving lifting treatments?

No, your skin will not sag faster. You simply grew used to the lifted, rejuvenated appearance, and as time passes, the skin returns to its natural aging trajectory and original state, creating a perceived difference.

What is the expected duration of results for Ultherapy Prime and Thermage?

Both treatments typically last between 6 and 12 months. Ultherapy targets the SMAS layer for gradual lifting over 3 to 6 months, while Thermage stimulates collagen in the dermis to enhance overall skin texture and firmness.

Why is it recommended to combine lifting with collagen injections?

Facial aging involves both structural sagging and volume loss. Combining lifting treatments to pull up lax tissue with collagen injections to restore hollow contours creates a balanced, naturally youthful contour.

What is the difference between Rejuran and collagen injections?

They target different aesthetic concerns. Rejuran promotes cellular skin regeneration to improve texture, tone, and fine lines, whereas collagen injections replenish localized volume and restore 3D facial contours.

Why is a personalized 1:1 design essential prior to lifting procedures?

Every individual has unique fat distribution, sagging angles, and skin thickness. Treating without proper mapping can lead to sunken cheeks or unnatural lines. A tailored design ensures lifting occurs only where needed while preserving essential volume.