Shurink Lifting Results: How Many mm by Area?

Shurink lifting results differ by area, and the jawline and neck rose more than the forehead. In a study of 50 people treated with Shurink Universe (sold outside Korea as Ultraformer MPT), a 3D scanner measured the face right after treatment: the forehead rose 1.2 mm, the jawline 3.1 mm, and the neck 3.5 mm.

Those numbers were taken immediately after the session, so they aren't the same as the change you'd keep months later. Below, we'll walk through what each area showed, why thin and thick areas respond differently, how to read the numbers, where it can hurt more, and which side effects need a call.

Quick summary

• Shurink results vary by area: right after treatment, the forehead rose 1.2 mm while the jawline and neck rose a little over 3 mm.

• Timing: the change that comes from new collagen tends to appear gradually over 2 to 6 months after one session.

• The immediate numbers compare the same people before and after, with no comparison group, so they can't be read as results months later.

• A stable weight and mild sagging point toward better results, while deep sagging calls for lower expectations.

Shurink Universe Lifting: How Many mm by Area?

The neck and the back of the cheek lifted the most, and the forehead lifted the least. All 50 people had 700 shots across the full face using the same approach, and seven areas were compared in 3D before and right after treatment.

The bigger numbers run along the lower border of the face, from the back of the cheek to the jawline and down to the neck. If sagging jowls have blurred your jawline, that's where you're more likely to notice a Shurink lift. If forehead lines are your main concern, it's hard to expect the same.

Individual results vary, and these are averages from one group. Your own change depends on your skin, the plan, and how much sagging you start with.

Why Does Shurink Lift the Jawline More Than the Forehead?

The forehead lifted less because its tissue is thin and it can't take strong energy. Strong shots at the 3 mm depth over the forehead bone were painful, so the energy there was kept low, and the deepest 4.5 mm tip wasn't used on the forehead or over the thyroid cartilage at the front of the neck.

Think of it as two different stacks. On the forehead, a thin layer of skin and fat sits almost directly on bone. Near the jawline, there's a thicker fat layer and, below it, the SMAS (a thin fibrous sheet over the facial muscles), which gives the heat more tissue to work with. That's why the safe energy and depth differ by area, and the lift follows.

Planning starts by sorting where your sagging sits: along the lower border of the face or in the middle. The doctor looks at your face from the front and the side, checks where the jawline has softened and how the two sides differ, and then decides where the deep tip goes and where it's avoided.

Do Shurink Results Right After Treatment Last?

No, the immediate number and the result months later shouldn't be read as the same thing. The 3D scans only compared before and right after treatment, and later values weren't measured. The change that comes from new collagen tends to appear gradually over 2 to 6 months after one session*.

*Based on American Academy of Dermatology patient guidance.

Here's how to read the study numbers for your own face:

That said, data from another ultrasound lifting device gives a hint about the months that follow. In 20 Korean patients who had one Ultherapy session, photos at 3 and 6 months showed the biggest effect along the jawline, then the cheeks, then the area around the mouth. The numbers can't be swapped between devices, but the pattern of more visible change along the lower border of the face was the same.

For a closer look at what changes and when, see our guide to Shurink immediate and delayed effects.

Who Tends to See Better Shurink Lifting Results?

Results from nonsurgical tightening like Shurink tend to be better when your weight is stable and your sagging is mild. Keeping a healthy weight after treatment matters too, because big swings in weight change the shape of the lower face along with it.

If you have a lot of loose skin, a nonsurgical tightening treatment may not help much. In that case, it's better to hear about other options before you commit to a plan built on Shurink alone.

Age matters less than sagging here. The 50 people in the 3D study ranged from 34 to 81, but results weren't broken down by age, so the amount of sagging is the more useful thing to look at.

Is Shurink Painful? Where It Can Hurt More

Shurink can feel more intense over the forehead bone and in the middle of the face. Strong shots at depth over bone hurt, so the energy is lowered there. In the midface, sensory and motor nerves run close to the surface, and a strong shot right over a nerve can cause sudden, sharp pain.

Repeating shots on the same spot over a nerve also carries a risk of nerve injury, which is why those areas are handled carefully. That's also why the energy and depth that can safely be used differ from one area to the next.

Numbing cream, local injection anesthesia, or sedation can be chosen at the visit based on how much of your face is treated and how sensitive you are. If you've found other treatments hard to tolerate, mention it before the session.

Shurink Side Effects: What Passes and When to Call

Redness and swelling are reactions that pass. In the 50 people, the reactions seen were redness, swelling, and some redness over the salivary gland area. Beyond redness and swelling, the risk of other side effects from nonsurgical tightening is generally low.

The changes below are rare, but if you notice any of them, contact your provider right away. Getting checked comes first.

• Blisters or raw patches where the device was used

• A dip or dent in that spot once the swelling goes down

• Facial muscles that keep twitching or jerking on their own

• One side of your face moving less than the other

Blisters, ulcers, and tissue loss have been gathered in a report of 5 people who had one session with a different ultrasound lifting device. They're rare, but taking a photo the day you first notice a change helps the doctor respond faster.

It's better to hold off on treatment if any of these apply:

• You're pregnant

• There's a skin infection in the area to be treated

• You take medication that affects your skin

Shurink on a Seoul Trip: Flights and Follow-Up

Unless you had sedation that day, there's no need to postpone your flight because of Shurink. Redness and swelling are the usual reactions, so plan your days around those rather than around the flight itself.

It also helps to know what one visit means. Some treatments, like fillers, change your shape the same day. Shurink works gradually instead, so rather than a big change at once, your face tends to move a little closer to how it used to look over the following months, most likely after you're home.

Once you're back home, you can send photos through the consultation button on this page if something concerns you. If a warning sign is significant, such as blistering or one side of your face moving less, see a local doctor first rather than waiting for a reply.

The Bottom Line: Choose One Area to Change First

Start by picking the one area you most want to change. Whether it's the jawline and neck, where the immediate numbers were larger, or the forehead, where they were smaller, changes what you should expect.

When you get a treatment plan, check that it lists three things: how the shots are split by area, which tip depths are used (1.5 mm, 3 mm, or 4.5 mm), and which spots are avoided. If any of those is missing, ask about it first. Beautystone is a clinic in Seoul's Hapjeong area. When you reach out, include the area that bothers you most and photos from the front and the side.

Sources

• Lift in seven face areas measured in 3D in 50 people after Ultraformer MPT: Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open, 2024

• Ultrasound lifting results at 3 and 6 months in 20 Korean patients: Ann Dermatol, 2015

• Cases of blisters, ulcers, and tissue loss after ultrasound lifting: Lasers Surg Med, 2018

• When nonsurgical tightening results appear and who sees the best results: American Academy of Dermatology