Had Shurink today. Need a special cream?
No. Like after Ultherapy: sunscreen, plain moisturiser, patience.
My face is pink and warm.
Common after heat. It usually settles within a day.
Can I use retinol tonight?
Wait a few days. Calm skin first, actives later.
The most honest aftercare sheet for a lifting machine is almost blank.
Short answer:
- You don’t need a special cream. Thermage’s maker says no special aftercare is required [1].
- I still give three steps: daily sunscreen, a plain moisturiser, and a calming pad if skin feels hot and tight.
- And a few quiet days: no retinol, acids, scrubs or sauna until your skin feels normal again.
What do the device makers actually say?
Thermage (radiofrequency): “no special aftercare is required”, beyond “basic skin maintenance and broad-spectrum sunscreens” [1].
Ultherapy (focused ultrasound, HIFU): back to normal activities right away, “following the instructions of your practitioner”. Redness “should disappear within a few hours” [2, 3].
Shurink, Oligio and 10Therma are Korean versions of those two ideas (Ulthera vs Shurink, Oligio vs Thermage). I found no patient aftercare from their makers; clinic sheets range from one day to two weeks.
Titanium is a hair removal diode laser (what it really does). It warms the skin too, so I give the same routine.
Why do I still give patients a routine?
Heat can leave skin pink, dry or tender. Thermage’s safety list says redness typically clears within 24 hours and swelling within 5 days, sometimes weeks; burns and blisters are infrequent [1].
Keep the skin quiet, so you can tell if something is wrong. With three new products, you cannot tell treatment redness from a product reaction. That is clinical judgement, not a proven fact.
Sunscreen and moisturiser every day; strong actives come back last.
1. Sunscreen, every day
On care after acne-scar treatments, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says: “After treatment, the sun can darken treated skin” [4]. Not a lifting-device page, but I use the same logic, especially on darker skin.
If sunscreen stings, the AAD suggests only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, no fragrance [5]. See my sunscreen label guide.
2. A plain moisturiser
Oily skin, or a humid day?
Photo: the maker’s official store.
Water and glycerin set into a light gel. No fragrance on the maker’s Japanese ingredient list. Enough on its own for oily skin.
Skin feels tight?
Photo: the brand’s official store.
Choose the “for Sensitive Skin” version: no alcohol or fragrance listed. Pat it in, then add a cream.
3. Hot and tight? A calming pad
Photo: the brand’s official store.
Korea’s best-known calming pad: water-holding ingredients, no exfoliating acid. Lay it on warm, pink areas for 5 to 10 minutes.
One caution: it lists carrot seed oil and other scented plant oils. If your skin reacts easily, test a small area first (full review).
Very sensitive skin? A centella bottle
Photo: the brand’s official store.
Seven ingredients, centella extract among them. No fragrance, plant oil, alcohol or acid on the brand’s list. A few drops, then moisturiser.
Approved means I read the full label and would be fine with a patient using it. It is not a guarantee.
4. What should I pause for a few days?
- Retinol and other retinoids
- Acids: AHA, BHA and acid toner pads
- Scrubs and peel-off masks
- Sauna, hot baths and hard workouts
I usually say about a week. My clinical habit, not a maker’s rule.
What I tell my patients
- No cream makes the lift bigger. Products only keep skin comfortable.
- Worsening pain, blisters, a dent or a dark patch: call your clinic. Not a skincare question.
- Your clinic’s sheet comes first. More in Korean clinics, honestly.
Have a question about your own case? Ask me on LINE or by email — details on the Contact page.
FAQ
What should I put on my face after HIFU?
Sunscreen and a plain, fragrance-free moisturiser. Ultherapy’s maker says normal activities can resume right away [2]. I add a few days off retinol, acids and scrubs.
What can I use after Thermage?
Gentle skincare plus broad-spectrum sunscreen; the maker says no special aftercare is required [1]. If skin feels hot and tight, a calming pad is enough.
Can you wash your face after HIFU?
Neither maker restricts it. I tell patients a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water that evening is fine; skip hot water and scrubbing for a few days.
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References
- Solta Medical. Thermage FLX patient website: after treatment, and important safety information. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Merz Aesthetics. Ultherapy PRIME: frequently asked questions. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Merz Aesthetics. What to expect from a non-invasive ultrasound treatment (Ultherapy). Accessed 2026-10-02.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Acne scars: how to care for your skin after treatment (last updated 8 Dec 2023). aad.org
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to choose the right sunscreen. aad.org
Disclaimer: This article explains treatments in general terms and is not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. What happens varies from person to person, and no article can tell you what to expect. Please discuss your own case with a licensed medical professional where you live. I do not endorse specific clinics or device brands.
14 years in practice · replies to messages herselfPhysician in non-surgical aesthetic medicine, practising in Ansan, South Korea. Every article here is written from clinical practice and the published literature.
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