2026-10-06
The Essence of Lifting ② Sofwave Edition
Explains how Sofwave lifts skin: parallel ultrasound beams form thermal columns in the mid-dermis that stimulate new collagen, with results typically visible in 1–2 months.
How does Sofwave lift the skin?
Hello, this is Dr. Cho Young-min.
In my practice, I hear one question a lot these days.
“Doctor, I hear Sofwave is really good, is that true?”
My usual response is to ask one question back.
“Do you know why it’s good?”
Most people smile and say,
“I came because I heard it works well.”
That’s completely understandable.
Not many people know the CPU architecture before they buy a phone, after all.
Skin treatments are a little different, though.
Understanding the principle also helps you see whether a treatment is really right for your skin.
Today, I’ll explain the principle behind Sofwave as simply as I can.
At its core, lifting is a technology that creates “heat.”
Ultherapy, Thermage, Sofwave.
Their names are all different, but they share one thing in common.
Ultimately, they are all devices that generate the right amount of heat at the intended depth in the skin.
“Why does applying heat to the skin make it look better?”
Our bodies are more hardworking than we think.
When they receive an appropriate stimulus, they try to repair themselves.
When you exercise, your muscles grow,
when you get a wound, new tissue forms,
and when the skin receives the right amount of heat stimulation, it starts producing new collagen.
So in lifting, what matters
is not how hot it gets, but where and how the heat is created.
The key to Sofwave is the “Thermal Column.”
Sofwave is a device that uses ultrasound.
However, it works a little differently from Ultherapy, which focuses ultrasound onto a single point.
Sofwave delivers several parallel ultrasound beams into the skin at the same time.
Each beam has little effect as it passes through the skin,
but where their energy overlaps at a certain depth, it forms a narrow thermal column.
This may sound a bit complicated, so let me use an analogy.
When you turn on a shower, the water comes out in several streams.
A single stream feels gentle,
but when several streams hit the same spot at once, the pressure feels much stronger.
Sofwave works in a similar way.
Each ultrasound beam is gentle on its own,
but when several of them work together at the same depth, they create a thermal column exactly where treatment is needed.
Ultrasound beams are quiet on their own, too.
Working together, they get quite a lot done.
People are like that as well, right?
Why the mid-dermis?
The thermal column Sofwave creates is aimed mainly at the mid-dermis.
This layer is rich in collagen and elastin.
When a thermal column forms, the body essentially recognizes,
“This area could use some reinforcement,”
and begins producing new collagen.
Over time, the skin becomes firmer,
its elasticity recovers,
and fine lines and skin texture improve as well.
In other words,
Sofwave is not a device that pulls the skin upward.
It is a device that helps the skin build the strength to hold itself up.
“So is it the same as Ultherapy 1.5TD?”
I get this question often.
It’s a good question.
Both treat the dermis, so that much is true.
However, the way they generate heat is different.
Ultherapy 1.5TD uses focused ultrasound (MFU-V) to create tiny thermal coagulation points at a target spot.
Sofwave, on the other hand, is designed so that parallel ultrasound beams overlap at a set depth to form a thermal column.
In short,
even when targeting the same dermis, the way energy is delivered to the tissue is different.
That’s why these two devices are less about competition,
and more about understanding the strengths of each and choosing accordingly.
For Sofwave,
unlike Ultherapy, it has a cooling system,
so it can stimulate the dermis without causing heat damage to the epidermis. Please keep that advantage in mind!
When do the effects appear?
Collagen is a fairly diligent companion.
Its pace, however, is a bit leisurely.
It won’t show results the next morning just because you had the treatment today.
New collagen needs time to form and realign,
so changes typically start to be noticed around 1–2 months,
and many people feel more satisfied after 2–3 months.
Gravity, on the other hand...
never takes a day off,
not even on weekends or public holidays.
Very dutiful... but it’s not on our skin’s side.
New devices keep coming out.
But the structure of the skin doesn’t change much.
That’s why I believe it’s more important to first understand
“which layer of the skin this device targets, and how it delivers heat,”
rather than focusing on the device’s name.
Once you understand the principle,
the way you look at devices changes.
And from that point on,
you can choose “the device that suits your skin best”
rather than “the most famous device.”
You can book an online consultation here.
#CheongdamAnzDermatology #DrChoYoungMin #CheongdamSanai #DrKwonYoungShin #DrLeeJinHyung #ApgujeongDermatology #CheongdamDermatology
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Sofwave lift the skin?
Sofwave overlaps several parallel ultrasound beams at a set depth beneath the skin to form a thermal column. This heat stimulus helps the body produce new collagen. The article explains that Sofwave is not a device that pulls the skin upward, but one that helps the skin build its own strength.
Is Sofwave the same device as Ultherapy 1.5TD?
No, they are not the same device. Both treat the dermis, but they generate heat differently. Ultherapy 1.5TD uses focused ultrasound to create tiny thermal coagulation points, while Sofwave forms thermal columns where parallel ultrasound beams overlap.
When do the effects of Sofwave appear?
Changes typically start to be noticed around 1–2 months, and many people feel more satisfied after 2–3 months. Results are not visible on the day of treatment because new collagen needs time to form and realign.
What is the role of Sofwave’s cooling system?
The article explains that the cooling system allows the dermis to be stimulated without causing heat damage to the epidermis. It is presented as one of the key differences from Ultherapy.
What is a thermal column?
A thermal column is a narrow heat zone that forms when the energy of multiple ultrasound beams overlaps at a set depth beneath the skin. Sofwave aims to create these thermal columns mainly in the mid-dermis.