Thermage vs Ultherapy vs Oligio vs Ultraformer — how the choice is actually made
All four devices share one goal — tightening skin without surgery — but the physics differ, the depth the energy reaches differs, and the prices differ a lot. This is the comparison as a doctor actually makes it: by tissue and goal, not by whichever machine a clinic wants to fill.
The 30-second table
| Program | Technology | Where the energy works | Feel / cadence | Price at VERZO | Typically suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Thermage FLX | Monopolar radiofrequency (Solta, USA) | Bulk-heats the dermis and upper fat layer in one pass | Warm pulses; one session, once a year for most | eye ฿18,000 · face ฿35,000 · face+neck ฿55,000 · body ฿45,000 | Skin laxity and texture across the whole face; patients who want a single annual session |
| Program Ultherapy / Ulthera Prime | Micro-focused ultrasound with visualisation (Merz, USA) | Focused points down to the SMAS — the layer surgeons lift | Deep, brief heat points; the screen lets the doctor aim at the right layer | single zone ฿26,999 · full face ฿39,999 · face+neck ฿55,000 | Jawline and mid-face sagging where depth matters most |
| Program Oligio X | Monopolar radiofrequency (Wontech, Korea) | Same class as Thermage — dermal bulk heating | Warm pulses with contact cooling; generally well tolerated | small area ฿15,000 · full face ฿20,000 · face+neck ฿25,000 | The Korean alternative in the Thermage class at a lower session price |
| Program Ultraformer III / MPT | Micro-focused ultrasound (Classys, Korea) | 7 cartridge depths from superficial dermis to subcutaneous fat | Similar physics to Ultherapy without the imaging screen | ฿2,499 per 100 shots (single zone) · from ฿15,000 for larger programs | The accessible entry to ultrasound lifting; single zones and budget-planned full-face work |
Two physics families — understand this and the rest follows
The first family is monopolar radiofrequency (Thermage FLX, Oligio X): it bulk-heats the dermis, contracting existing collagen immediately and stimulating new collagen for months afterward — suited to diffuse laxity and texture. The second family is micro-focused ultrasound (Ultherapy, Ultraformer): it places small thermal points at selected depths, down to the SMAS — the same layer a surgical facelift pulls — which suits positional sagging such as the jawline and mid-face.
Within each family the differences are practical: Ultherapy adds a live ultrasound screen, so the doctor sees the exact layer being treated and can match energy to your individual anatomy; Ultraformer delivers similar physics at a more accessible price without the screen. On the radiofrequency side, Oligio X is the Korean device in the Thermage class at a lighter per-session price.
On duration — plainly
Every one of these devices works through collagen remodelling, so the visible result builds over 2 to 6 months, and most patients maintain it with roughly one session a year. Individual response varies — age, skin quality, sleep, sun and weight all matter. A clinic promising a fixed number of years is promising something the device does not.
Combining with threads and injectables
Yes, and it is common: a device tightens tissue, threads reposition it, and biostimulators such as Sculptra, Radiesse or Profhilo rebuild collagen and skin quality. Sequence matters, though — heat-based devices over an area with recent absorbable threads accelerate how the threads break down — so the combined plan is designed by the doctor at consultation, which at VERZO CLINIC is free.
Questions patients actually ask
What is the difference between Thermage, Ultherapy, Oligio and Ultraformer?
They split into two physics families. Thermage FLX and Oligio X are monopolar radiofrequency: they bulk-heat the dermis to tighten skin and improve texture. Ultherapy (Ulthera) and Ultraformer are micro-focused ultrasound: they place small heat points at chosen depths, down to the SMAS layer, which suits sagging along the jawline and mid-face. Ultherapy adds real-time visualisation so the doctor sees the layer being treated; Ultraformer offers similar physics at a lower price without the screen.
Which lifting device should I choose?
It depends on where the laxity sits, not on which machine is newest. Loose skin texture across the face points to the radiofrequency family (Thermage FLX, Oligio X); sagging at the jawline or mid-face points to the ultrasound family (Ultherapy, Ultraformer). Budget matters too: Ultraformer starts far lower per session, while Thermage and Ultherapy are single-session-per-year devices. At VERZO CLINIC the doctor examines your face at a free consultation and recommends one — sometimes a combination — rather than selling whichever machine is available.
How long do results from skin-lifting devices last?
Collagen remodelling develops over 2 to 6 months after a session, and most patients maintain the result with roughly one session a year. Individual response varies with age, skin quality and lifestyle, so the honest answer is a range, not a promise — the doctor gives a realistic expectation for your own face at consultation.
How much do Thermage, Ultherapy, Oligio and Ultraformer cost in Bangkok?
At VERZO CLINIC per the current service pages: Program Thermage FLX from ฿18,000 (face ฿35,000); Program Ultherapy from ฿26,999 (full face ฿39,999); Program Oligio X from ฿15,000 (full face ฿20,000); Program Ultraformer III from ฿2,499 per 100 shots on a single zone. The price shown is the real price, and a doctor consultation before any of them is free.
Do lifting devices hurt, and is there downtime?
Radiofrequency sessions feel like strong warm pulses with contact cooling; ultrasound sessions feel like brief deep heat points, and the doctor adjusts energy to what you tolerate. Mild redness or swelling typically settles within hours to a few days, and most patients return to normal activities the same day, avoiding sauna and vigorous heat for 24 to 48 hours.
Can a lifting device be combined with thread lifts or biostimulators?
Yes, and it is common: a device tightens tissue while threads reposition it and biostimulators such as Sculptra or Profhilo rebuild collagen and skin quality. Sequence and spacing matter — heat-based devices over an area with recent threads are planned by the doctor, since heat affects how absorbable threads break down — so combinations are designed at consultation rather than booked separately.
All prices above come from the clinic’s current synchronized price list and may change; the pricing page always carries the latest figures. Doctor consultations are free via LINE @verzo — VERZO CLINIC, Sukhumvit Road near BTS Ekkamai, open daily 10:00–19:00.