If you go to South Korea for anti-aging treatments, how do you actually calculate the cost-effectiveness? I have a friend who had HIFU treatments in Gangnam for three years. Each treatment cost 9.2 million won, so in total, it amounted to 27.6 million won. Her face did indeed become tighter, but after stopping the treatments for half a year, it returned to its original state. The surgical options offered by LITING in Busan are more expensive per treatment, but the effects last for several years; in some cases, the results can even last up to ten years. You really need to do the math carefully to see how much difference there actually is.
💉 Photodynamic therapy versus surgical treatments: clarifying the fundamental differences at once
The working principle of photoelectric treatments such as HIFU, Thermage, and InMode is to stimulate the production of new Collagen through heat energy. These methods achieve indirect improvements; however, once the treatment is discontinued, Collagen will gradually be lost due to natural aging processes. Therefore, the effects usually last for one and a half to two years, and repeated treatments are required to maintain a stable outcome. Surgical procedures like facelifts, on the other hand, directly address loose skin and fascia, resulting in physical changes to the facial contours. The duration of these effects is significantly longer—LITING’s case studies show that surgical Lifting procedures typically last for 5 to 7 years, with some cases lasting up to 10 years.
If we only consider the initial cost, photovoltaic projects have relatively low entry barriers. However, when considered over the long term and with repeated investments, the overall cost can be quite substantial. If we calculate the total cost on a 10-year cycle, surgical procedures have a higher initial cost but do not require repeated expenses each year.
🔍 Neck sagging: Which is more effective, phototherapy or surgery?
A question that many people are concerned about: Do photothermal treatments have any effect on reducing neck sagging? According to LITING’s clinical observations, photothermal treatments have limited effects in improving neck sagging and are merely supplementary; they cannot fundamentally solve the problems of loose neck skin and blurred contours. Surgical Lifting procedures, on the other hand, yield more significant results in enhancing facial contours and firmness, especially in addressing the issue of drooping neck skin after Reduction surgery.
This is also the reason why LITING’s customer base mainly consists of those in need of surgical treatments. Once facial problems reach a stage where surgery is required for resolution, the cost-effectiveness of phototherapy treatments drops significantly.
📅 Post-treatment follow-up schedule: What should local customers in South Korea do?
LITING’s post-operative management process is the standard practice for local customers in South Korea: The first follow-up appointment is scheduled 2 months after the procedure, during which the director personally assesses the progress of wound healing and the stability of the results; the second follow-up takes place 6 months later to confirm the final outcome and provide recommendations for subsequent care. At these two critical stages, the director will determine whether additional treatments such as high-frequency therapy, Thermage, or ultrasound are necessary to enhance and maintain the surgical results.
For customers living abroad (such as those from Mainland China and Malaysia), it is recommended to schedule follow-up appointments at 2 months and 6 months after the procedure. The specific interval can be adjusted after consultation with the clinic director.
💰 Long-term cost-effectiveness: How much does glow treatment cost per year compared to the cost of a single surgical procedure?
Let’s do a rough calculation (please refer to BeautsGO’s latest prices for actual costs; the following is just an estimated calculation): For HIFU devices or Thermage treatments, the cost per session ranges from ¥15 million to ¥2.5 million, and the effect lasts for approximately 1.5 to 2 years. Therefore, over a 10-year period, 5 to 6 treatments would be needed, resulting in total costs of around ¥75 million to ¥15 million. LITING’s facelift surgery has a relatively higher initial cost (please check BeautsGO for specific details), but usually, no repeated treatments are required within 10 years, so the long-term cost may actually be lower.
Another aspect is the difference in the quality of the results: Photonic treatments offer limited and reversible improvements, while surgical Lifting procedures result in fundamental changes to facial contours. For those with more pronounced facial issues, the degree of improvement achieved through surgery is far beyond what photonic treatments can provide.