Guide · Ultherapy
Ultherapy in Singapore what it does, who it suits, and what you pay for
Ultherapy is the focused-ultrasound lift that shows the layers under your skin while it treats them. Here is what it is cleared for, how a session feels, when results appear and how long they last, who should avoid it, what sets the price, and how it compares with the lifting options in our network.
Quick answer
- Ultherapy in Singapore is a medical, non-surgical lift: a handpiece focuses ultrasound into tiny heated points at 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 mm under the skin while showing the tissue on screen, so the operator can see where the energy will land. The heat tightens collagen on the day and prompts new collagen over the following two to three months.
- Its US clearance covers lifting the brow and loose tissue under the chin and on the neck, smoothing lines on the décolletage and, more recently, improving skin laxity on the abdomen, arms and knees; doctors also commonly treat the lower face and jawline. Studies show a modest, real tightening for mild to moderate laxity, with improvement reported up to about a year, and the treatment is moderately painful.
- It suits mild to moderate laxity with some soft tissue over the bone, and works less well for heavy sagging or a BMI over 30. The maker lists open wounds, severe or cystic acne, and active or metal implants in the area as reasons not to treat, advises against treating directly over fillers, and has not evaluated it in pregnancy.
- SkinRev Lab does not offer Ultherapy, and IN Eternity Clinic's lifting page describes HIFU on the Ultraformer MPT, so ask the clinic whether Ultherapy is available. In our network, Dr Sin Yong performs medical HIFU at IN Eternity Clinic and VF Lift at SkinRev Lab, both priced at consultation; SKINLIFT® at SkinRev Lab is S$888 for the face and S$488 for the double chin per session, before GST.
What it is
What Ultherapy is, and what makes it different
Ultherapy is a brand of micro-focused ultrasound with visualisation, usually shortened to MFU-V in research. It is made by Ulthera, Inc., part of Merz Aesthetics. Like other focused-ultrasound devices, it concentrates sound energy into a small point beneath the skin, where tissue heats briefly to above 60 °C. Each heated point, smaller than a cubic millimetre, makes collagen in the deep dermis and in the SMAS, the fibrous layer a surgeon tightens in a facelift, contract, and then starts a healing response that lays down new collagen.
What sets Ultherapy apart is that the same handpiece images the tissue to a depth of about 8 mm. The maker states that the imaging is there to confirm the transducer is in full contact with the skin and that the treatment depth is right, for example to avoid bone. Interchangeable transducers treat at 1.5 mm (superficial dermis), 3.0 mm (deep dermis) and 4.5 mm (SMAS and platysma), with narrow versions for smaller areas.
HIFU is the wider technology; Ultherapy is one brand of it, and much of the published research on micro-focused ultrasound used this system. Imaging adds precision, but it does not by itself make the energy stronger. The assessment, the depths chosen and the number of lines matter as much as the logo.
Cleared uses
What Ultherapy is cleared for, and where it is used
In the United States, the Ulthera System is cleared as a non-invasive treatment to lift the eyebrow, lift loose tissue under the chin and on the neck, and improve lines and wrinkles of the décolletage. Its current clearance, updated in 2026, also covers the appearance of skin laxity on the abdomen, the front and back of the arms, and the knees. The regulatory wording describes the aim as a temporary change in the appearance of the skin, which is a fair summary: the face keeps ageing after treatment.
In practice, doctors also treat the lower face and jawline, and a study of the lower face treated 103 adults. Areas the maker says to avoid include the eyes, the eyelids and the area inside the bony rim of the eye socket, the thyroid and windpipe, and major vessels and nerves.
| Area | Typical aim | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brow | Lift a slightly low or heavy brow | Cleared use; the eyelids and the area inside the eye socket are not treated |
| Lower face and jawline | Firm early jowls and a softening jawline | Commonly treated; studied in 103 adults |
| Under the chin and neck | Tighten loose submental and neck tissue | Cleared use; the thyroid, windpipe and major vessels are avoided |
| Décolletage | Soften chest lines and wrinkles | Cleared use |
| Abdomen, arms, knees | Improve the look of loose skin | In the current US clearance; far less research than for the face |
The session
What an Ultherapy session involves, and how it feels
A visit usually starts with an assessment of where the laxity sits, how thick the skin is and how much fat lies over the bone. The skin is cleaned and marked, a thin layer of gel is applied, and the operator checks each area on screen before delivering lines of energy, often at two depths. How long it takes depends on the areas and the number of lines planned.
Most people feel short, deep prickles or bursts of heat as each line is delivered, strongest over bone such as the jawline and forehead. In a study of 103 adults treated on the lower face, average pain scores were 5.7 to 6.5 out of 10, and a 2025 meta-analysis of 42 studies put the pooled score at about 4.9. In 49 Chinese patients treated with focused ultrasound and no numbing cream, pain was rated severe in 54% of sessions. Clinics use numbing cream, painkillers or lower energy settings to help, so ask what will be used.
The maker states that the system is intended for use only by trained physicians, or trained staff under a trained physician's supervision. Wherever you go, ask who will assess you and who will hold the handpiece.
Results timeline
When Ultherapy results show
The change comes in two stages. Some collagen contracts on the day, but swelling can make the face look tighter for a few days, and that early look is not the final result. Most of the change comes from new collagen laid down over the following weeks, which is why studies judge results at about three months.
In the lower-face study, blinded reviewers saw improvement in skin laxity in 58% of the 93 patients evaluated at 90 days, and 66% of patients felt their lower face or neck had improved. Results vary, and a review appointment with photographs is the place to judge yours.
| When | What is happening | What you may notice |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment day | Heat contracts collagen at each focal point | Redness that usually fades within hours; some warmth |
| First three days | Mild swelling settles | Puffiness that can briefly look like a lift; tenderness to touch |
| Up to two weeks | The healing response is under way | Tenderness and any bruising fade; tingling occasionally lasts longer |
| Weeks 4 to 12 | New collagen forms | Gradual firming along the brow, jawline or under the chin |
| About 3 months | The usual point of judgement | Compare photographs taken in the same light |
| 6 to 12 months | Studies that followed people this long | Improvement still reported in many, while ageing continues |
How long it lasts
How long Ultherapy results last
The honest answer is up to about a year in the studies that have looked, with little good data beyond that. In a study of 20 adults given one dual-depth treatment of the face and neck, 95% were rated improved by the physicians and by the patients themselves at one year, but blinded assessors judged only 6 of the 14 who could be assessed to be improved. Ratings by the treating team tend to be higher than those of independent judges, which is worth remembering when reading any result.
Across 42 studies of micro-focused ultrasound with visualisation, investigators rated 89% of patients improved, but the authors cautioned that counting neutral answers as positive may overstate the benefit. The treatment builds your own collagen, yet it does not stop ageing, sun damage or weight change, so most people who like the result plan a review and, when the effect has softened, a repeat.
There is no proven ideal interval. A sensible plan is a review at about three months, then a decision based on photographs rather than a fixed calendar, with extra caution in a thin face, where heat at certain depths can affect the fat layer.
Who it suits
Who Ultherapy suits, and who should not have it
Ultherapy suits adults with mild to moderate laxity: a slightly low brow, early jowls, a softening jawline or loose skin under the chin, with some soft tissue left over the bone. Severe laxity responds less well, and in the 103-person study no change was detected in 55% of people with a BMI over 30, against 12% of those at 30 or below. For older patients with severe laxity and marked neck bands, surgery is the more realistic comparison.
Skin colour is less of a barrier than with lasers: the maker intends the system for adults of all ethnicities and skin types, and ultrasound is not absorbed by skin pigment. Temporary darkening has still been reported in Asian patients, so mention any history of dark marks after treatments.
- Not to be treated (the maker's contraindications): open wounds or lesions, or severe or cystic acne, in the area; active implants such as pacemakers or defibrillators; metal implants in the area.
- Not recommended directly over dermal fillers, mechanical or breast implants, or an existing keloid.
- Not evaluated in pregnancy or breastfeeding, in people on anticoagulants or with bleeding disorders, or with active skin disease, cold sores, autoimmune disease, diabetes, epilepsy or Bell's palsy; tell the doctor about any of these.
- A very thin face needs care, because over-treatment can make hollows look deeper; volume loss is better treated with volume than with heat.
- A brow or eyelid that has dropped suddenly, a large or one-sided swelling under the chin, or numbness in the face needs a doctor's assessment first.
Price
Ultherapy Singapore price: what you are paying for
Ultherapy prices are set by each clinic, and we do not quote other clinics' prices. What you pay for is easier to compare than a headline figure, so ask for a written plan that names the device and lists the areas, depths and lines.
Do not compare Ultherapy lines with the shots of other HIFU brands, because the energy, depth and spacing differ. For reference within our network, SKINLIFT® at SkinRev Lab is S$888 for the face and S$488 for the double chin per session, before GST, planned as a short course; medical HIFU and VF Lift are priced at consultation.
- Lines: each transducer carries a fixed total of treatment lines, and the system counts down as they are used, so more lines and more areas cost more. Ask how many lines go to each area.
- Depths: a dual-depth plan uses lines from more than one transducer; a single-depth plan uses fewer.
- Genuine, in-date transducers: the maker says expired transducers should not be used. Ask to see the system and the transducer.
- Who performs it: a doctor's assessment and time are part of the price.
- Comfort and follow-up: whether numbing, painkillers and a review at about three months are included.
- Tax and terms: whether the price is per session, includes GST and carries any package conditions.
Compared
Ultherapy compared with SKINLIFT®, HIFU and VF Lift
These are the lifting options our site lists, set against Ultherapy as it is usually delivered elsewhere. Details for Ultherapy vary by clinic, so confirm them with the provider.
Ultherapy may suit you better if you want imaging-guided treatment at SMAS depth on the brow, under the chin, on the neck or on the décolletage, from the device with much of the published research behind it. HIFU at IN Eternity Clinic gives doctor-led focused ultrasound at similar depths, with the depth set by the cartridge. VF Lift adds radiofrequency for the skin and fibrous septa when both skin quality and support have loosened. SKINLIFT® suits early laxity and maintenance without numbing; no published trial has tested SKINLIFT® itself.
| Ultherapy | HIFU (IN Eternity Clinic) | VF Lift | SKINLIFT® | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | Micro-focused ultrasound with on-screen imaging | Micro-focused ultrasound on the Ultraformer MPT | Volnewmer 6.78 MHz monopolar radiofrequency along vertical vectors, with focused ultrasound where planned | Non-medical multi-sequential pulsed ultrasound |
| Depth | 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm | Face cartridges commonly at 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mm | Dermis and fibrous septa; the SMAS when ultrasound is added | Dermis and subdermal connective tissue |
| Who and where | Other clinics; ask IN Eternity Clinic whether it is available | Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic, Pacific Plaza | Dr Sin Yong, SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall | Aesthetic Specialist, SkinRev Lab |
| Session | Depends on the areas and lines | About 30 to 60 minutes | Around 60 to 90 minutes for face and neck | About 30 minutes, no numbing |
| Usual plan | Often one treatment, judged at about three months | Often one treatment, reviewed, then maintenance | A course planned at consultation, with review visits | A short course planned at assessment |
| Price | Set by each clinic | Priced at consultation | Priced at consultation | Face S$888; Double Chin S$488 per session, before GST |
In our network
Where Ultherapy fits in our network, and what to ask
SkinRev Lab, at #B1-28 CityLink Mall on the underground link between City Hall and Esplanade MRT, does not offer Ultherapy or Thermage; its non-medical ultrasound option is SKINLIFT®, and Dr Sin Yong, SkinRev Lab's medical adviser, performs VF Lift himself at the centre. WhatsApp +65 8266 9585; open daily, 11am to 8pm.
At IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, beside Orchard MRT, Dr Sin Yong performs HIFU on the Ultraformer MPT after assessing skin thickness, fat and where the sagging sits; it is priced at consultation. If you want Ultherapy specifically, ask the clinic whether it is available before you book. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008, Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. Wherever you go, these questions help:
- Is it Ultherapy itself? Ask for the device by name and to see the transducer.
- Which areas, which depths and how many lines per area, and why for my face?
- Who assesses me, and who performs the treatment?
- How will discomfort be managed, and is a review at about three months included?
- What is the total price per session, including GST?
Sources
References & sources
- Ulthera, Inc. Ulthera® System instructions for use (US), Ultherapy PRIME®. Document 1015390IFU Rev 02. Raleigh (NC): Ulthera, Inc.; 2025.
- US Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) summary K260618: Ulthera® System, expanded indications. Cleared 21 May 2026.
- Fabi SG. Noninvasive skin tightening: focus on new ultrasound techniques. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2015;8:47-52.
- Oni G, Hoxworth R, Teotia S, Brown S, Kenkel JM. Evaluation of a microfocused ultrasound system for improving skin laxity and tightening in the lower face. Aesthet Surg J. 2014;34(7):1099-1110.
- Werschler WP, Werschler PS. Long-term efficacy of micro-focused ultrasound with visualization for lifting and tightening lax facial and neck skin using a customized vectoring treatment method. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2016;9(2):27-33.
- Amiri M, Ajasllari G, Llane A, et al. Microfocused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V) effectiveness and safety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aesthet Surg J. 2025;45(3):NP86-NP94.
- Chan NP, Shek SY, Yu CS, Ho SG, Yeung CK, Chan HH. Safety study of transcutaneous focused ultrasound for non-invasive skin tightening in Asians. Lasers Surg Med. 2011;43(5):366-375.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
What is Ultherapy?
Ultherapy is a brand of micro-focused ultrasound with visualisation, made by Ulthera, Inc., part of Merz Aesthetics. It heats tiny points at 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 mm under the skin while showing the tissue on screen, tightening collagen and prompting new collagen over about three months.
How much is Ultherapy in Singapore?
It varies by clinic, and we do not quote other clinics' prices. The main drivers are the number of lines and areas, the transducers used, who performs it, whether numbing and a review are included, and GST. Ask for a written plan that names the device.
Is Ultherapy painful?
It is usually moderately uncomfortable. Studies report average pain scores of about 5 to 6.5 out of 10, higher over bone and when no numbing is used. Clinics use numbing cream, painkillers or lower energy to help, and tenderness to touch can last up to two weeks.
When will I see Ultherapy results?
Some tightening may be felt early, but swelling flatters the first few days. Most of the change develops over two to three months as new collagen forms, which is when studies and review appointments judge the result.
How long does Ultherapy last?
Improvement has been reported up to about a year after one treatment, but longer-term data are limited, and in one study blinded assessors saw improvement in fewer people at a year than the patients and doctors did. The face keeps ageing, so most people plan a review and a repeat when needed.
Is Ultherapy safe for Asian skin?
The maker intends it for all skin types, and ultrasound is not absorbed by skin pigment the way laser light is. In a safety study of 49 Chinese patients, side effects were mild and temporary, though bruising appeared in up to a quarter of sessions and two people had temporary darkening on the forehead.
Who should not have Ultherapy?
The maker lists open wounds, severe or cystic acne, and active or metal implants in the area as contraindications. It is not recommended directly over fillers, breast or mechanical implants or keloids, and it has not been evaluated in pregnancy, breastfeeding or people on anticoagulants.
Is Ultherapy FDA-approved?
It is FDA-cleared, the usual route for devices like this, rather than approved. The clearance covers lifting the brow and loose tissue under the chin and on the neck, improving décolletage lines and, more recently, skin laxity on the abdomen, arms and knees.
Does SkinRev Lab or IN Eternity Clinic offer Ultherapy?
SkinRev Lab does not. IN Eternity Clinic's lifting page describes HIFU on the Ultraformer MPT, performed by Dr Sin Yong and priced at consultation; if you want Ultherapy specifically, ask the clinic whether it is available. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008.