Hongdae
Chief MD
Jae-wook Kim
I will give my best with the attentiveness to catch even the smallest change.
Patient question
Does Thermage FLX hurt? What you feel and what affects comfort
Thermage FLX works by heating tissue below the skin with monopolar radiofrequency while the skin surface is cooled, so warmth may be felt during the session. How intense it feels differs between people, areas and settings. Ask the clinic how it manages comfort for the tip and area planned, and tell the operator during the session if the heat becomes hard to tolerate.
- How it works
- Monopolar, capacitively coupled RF with a reverse thermal gradient: tissue below is heated while the surface is cooled
- Tips
- Total Tip 4.0 cm², Total Tip 3.0 cm², Eye Tip 0.25 cm², Body Tip 16.0 cm²
- Eye Tip
- Described by Solta Medical as delivering shallower heating for the periorbital area and eyelids
- Invasiveness
- Non-invasive: nothing is injected and the tip stays on the skin surface
Language support and contact channels
This branch lists KakaoTalk, WhatsApp for international enquiries. Channel availability and the language of the responding staff can vary, so confirm both when you contact the clinic.
- KakaoTalk: use the official contact link in the booking section below.
- WhatsApp: use the official contact link in the booking section below.
Does Thermage FLX hurt?
Thermage FLX delivers radiofrequency energy designed to heat tissue under a cooled skin surface, so warmth may be felt. How strong that heat feels varies from person to person and from one area to another, so comfort is something to plan with the clinic before the session, not after.
- The device is non-invasive: no needle, filler or thread goes into the skin.
- Say so during the session if the heat stops being tolerable.
Sources: Thermage official (Solta Medical)Solta Medical UK — professionals
Why do you feel heat if the surface is cooled?
Because the cooling and the heating happen at different depths. Solta Medical describes Thermage FLX as a monopolar, capacitively coupled radiofrequency system that uses a reverse thermal gradient: the skin surface where the tip makes contact is cooled while the RF energy is directed into tissue below it. Cooling is built into the design rather than added on, but the purpose of the treatment is still to heat tissue, so warmth may be felt.
Sources: Solta Medical UK — professionals
Does the area or tip change the experience?
The tip changes how the heat is delivered. Thermage FLX uses four tips separated by surface size: Total Tip 4.0 cm², Total Tip 3.0 cm², Eye Tip 0.25 cm² and Body Tip 16.0 cm². Solta Medical describes the Eye Tip as delivering shallower heating for the periorbital area and the eyelids.
- The manufacturer lists facial areas including the forehead, mid-face, lower face, jawline and under the chin, and body areas including the abdomen, thighs, above the knees and below the bra line.
- Different tips and areas describe different sessions, so ask what tip and how many shots your plan uses before comparing how others describe the feeling.
Sources: Thermage official (Solta Medical)Solta Medical UK — professionals
What should you ask about numbing and comfort?
Comfort measures are the clinic’s decision, so ask before the day rather than assuming. These questions cover what matters most for a session that relies on heat.
- Do you apply a numbing cream, and how early should I arrive for it?
- How is surface cooling handled, and what happens if one area feels much hotter than the rest?
- How do you respond if I say the heat is too strong: pause, adjust settings or change the order of areas?
- Which tip, which areas and how many shots are planned, and roughly how long will the session take?
- Topics to raise when you ask: implanted electronic devices, metal near the treatment area, pregnancy or breastfeeding, skin infection or inflammation in the area, healing or bleeding problems, medicines and recent procedures.
What can you feel afterwards, and when should you call?
Non-invasive describes how the energy is delivered, not an absence of risk. Temporary redness, swelling or tenderness can follow a session, and any heat-based device carries a possibility of skin injury such as a burn. The checklist below is general post-procedure safety guidance.
- Contact the clinic promptly for blistering, a suspected burn, pain that keeps increasing, drainage, spreading redness or warmth, fever, persistent or worsening numbness, or an unexpected indentation.
- Seek emergency help for breathing difficulty, fainting, or sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or throat.
- If you are travelling, give the clinic your departure date before booking so the session and any check fit your trip.
Abijou Medical Clinic Hongdae Thermage FLX menu (snapshot 2026-10-12)
| Menu line | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Thermage FLX 600 shots, 1 session | KRW 2,079,000 | See full details |
| Thermage FLX 900 shots, 1 session | KRW 3,069,000 | See full details |
| Thermage FLX Eye 225 shots, 1 session | KRW 1,100,000 | See full details |
| Thermage FLX Eye 450 shots, 1 session | KRW 1,980,000 | See full details |
| [Event] Ultherapy Prime 400 shots & Thermage FLX 600 shots, 1 sessionEvent package | KRW 3,245,000 | See full details |
| [Event] Ultherapy Prime 300 shots & Thermage FLX 900 shots, 1 sessionEvent package | KRW 3,949,000 | See full details |
| [Event] Ultherapy Prime 600 shots & Thermage FLX 900 shots, 1 sessionEvent package | KRW 4,840,000 | See full details |
A historical example from the booking-centre snapshot of 12 October 2026, not a current quote. VAT excluded; event items are promotional and can change or end.
Medical care at Abijou
Consultation and treatment are provided by the medical team at this branch. The clinician shown leads the branch; the doctor assigned to your visit may vary, so confirm the assignment when booking.
Listed branch medical team — not a medical-review byline for this article.
Frequently asked questions
Does Thermage FLX hurt?
The device is designed to heat tissue under a cooled skin surface, so warmth may be felt. How it feels varies between people and areas. Ask how the clinic manages comfort, and tell the operator during the session if the heat becomes hard to tolerate.
Is numbing cream used for Thermage?
That is the clinic’s decision. Ask before you book whether a numbing cream is applied and how early to arrive, so it fits your schedule on the day.
Does the eye area feel different?
The eye area uses its own tip. Solta Medical describes the Eye Tip (0.25 cm²) as delivering shallower heating for the periorbital area and eyelids. How it feels to you is individual, so ask the clinic how it handles comfort around the eyes.
Can the operator turn it down if it is too hot?
Tell the operator straight away if the heat stops being tolerable, and ask before the session how they respond: pausing, adjusting settings or changing the order of areas.
Will it be sore afterwards?
Temporary redness, swelling or tenderness can follow a session. Blistering, a suspected burn or pain that keeps increasing are reasons to contact the clinic promptly.
If it is non-invasive, is there no risk?
No. Non-invasive describes how the energy is delivered. Any heat-based device carries the possibility of skin injury such as a burn, so ask what the clinic does if it happens and how to reach it after you leave.
How much is Thermage FLX at Abijou Medical Clinic Hongdae?
As a historical example from the 12 October 2026 snapshot, Thermage FLX 600 shots was KRW 2,079,000 and 900 shots KRW 3,069,000; Thermage FLX Eye 225 shots was KRW 1,100,000 and 450 shots KRW 1,980,000, all VAT excluded. Event packages with Ultherapy Prime are listed in the table above.
Where Hongdae sits in the Abijou network
Abijou began in Gangnam in 2006 and the network now runs 17 branches across Korea. The line the group works to is skin transformation woven into everyday life. Hongdae sits at the station the airport train serves, so many of the people who come in are fitting a visit into a few days in Seoul — and most of the top bookings here are first-visit options.
- One of 17 Abijou branches nationwide
- On the AREX Airport Railroad — reachable from Incheon Airport without a transfer
- We quote the official published price list as it stands
- Across the 17 branches in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon and Busan: over 1,000 medical professionals and more than 350 certified medical devices
- Authentic products only, in appropriate amounts — the treatment is fitted to the condition, not to a package
Contact and location
- Address
- 3F, Ilex Tower, 147 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 03995, Republic of Korea
- Directions
- About 50 m from Exit 1 of Hongik Univ. Station — about a 1-minute walk. The station is served by the AREX Airport Railroad as well as Subway Line 2 and the Gyeongui–Jungang Line, so you can ride in from Incheon Airport without changing trains. Come out of Exit 1, keep walking straight past the 8Seconds store, and the building with MEGABOX in it is the one; Abijou Medical Clinic Hongdae is on the 3rd floor.
- Hours
- Mon–Fri, morning · 10:30 – 14:00 / Mon–Fri, afternoon · 15:00 – 20:30 / Saturday (no lunch break) · 10:00 – 16:30 / Sunday & public holidays · Closed
- Phone
- 1544-0377
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