Softwave and fine-line Botox

are truly different!

"Do I just need Botox for the wrinkles around my eyes?"

Quite a few friends ask me this..

"Botox is preventive, right..?

It only stops them from getting deeper"

Today, for those who looked into Softwave

because of fine lines,

and then hesitated after hearing

"It doesn’t have amazing effects on fine lines," this post is for you.

Before you read,

I’ll first go over three questions I get a lot.

Q. Is Softwave

only effective for skin firmness,

and meaningless for fine lines?

A. No.

Depending on the treatment depth and settings,

you can see proper results for fine lines.

I’ll explain in the main text why this misunderstanding happened.

Q. If I get it once,

will I see it right away?

A. Not immediately.

The effects start to appear around 2 weeks later.

I’ll summarize this once more below. haha

Q. For fine lines,

aren’t Botox or fillers

better?

A. It depends on the case.

Depending on the type of wrinkle,

there are cases where Softwave is more suitable.

I usually recommend doing it

together with Juvelook SB.

Why did people start saying

"it doesn’t work for fine lines"?

Softwave is a device that applies

shockwave (ESWT) technology to the skin.

Originally, this technology was used for musculoskeletal treatment,

but as its effects on skin regeneration and collagen stimulation were confirmed,

it entered the dermatology field.

When people first encounter Softwave,

it is often introduced as for "lifting" and "sagging improvement."

That happens quite often.

So naturally,

people come to think, "Isn’t this for sagging rather than fine lines?"

That perception formed.

There is one important point here.

Softwave’s mechanism

is not simple HIFU

like Shurink/Ulthera.

As shockwaves are delivered to skin tissue,

they stimulate fibroblasts (cells that make collagen),

and induce the recovery response

of damaged tissue.

Through this process,

the skin’s own elasticity improves.

Both improved sagging

and softened fine lines

come from the same mechanism.

Honestly,

saying it has no effect on fine lines is incorrect.

However, depending on "how the procedure is done,"

results can vary,

and that part simply wasn’t communicated properly.

When Softwave is effective

for fine lines

vs when other procedures are better

Not all wrinkles are the same.

If they are fine eye-area lines visible even at rest,

lip-area fine lines, or forehead fine lines,

and they come from reduced skin elasticity itself,

Softwave is quite effective.

On the other hand, lines that appear only when smiling,

such as crow’s feet (expression lines at the outer eye),

are not sufficiently treated by Softwave alone,

so Botox should be considered first.

This is usually how I assess it.

First, I check

whether the wrinkle is linked to facial expressions or not.

If a wrinkle is always present regardless of expression,

Softwave is a meaningful option.

Director Wi Young-jin’s practical note:

In my experience, among patients who come in for fine lines,

the cases with high satisfaction from Softwave

are mostly those who say, "My skin texture itself got rougher,

and I developed more fine creases."

Compared to people mainly concerned about sagging,

these patients often feel

a bigger noticeable change.

There is one thing I must emphasize:

Softwave effects increase

around 4–8 weeks after treatment, rather than immediately after.

If you don’t know this in advance,

it’s easy to conclude, "It didn’t work for me."

So during the first consultation,

I always explain this timeline first.

In terms of cost, there is a per-session fee,

and since we usually plan 2–3 sessions initially,

budget consideration is necessary.

Softwave treatment—

how is it actually done?

The term "shockwave" can sound scary,

so I’ll explain briefly.

With Softwave, the handpiece is placed against the skin surface

to deliver acoustic-wave energy

to the dermis (the middle skin layer).

Because it uses wave energy rather than heat,

the burn risk is low,

and there is generally little to no downtime.

Treatment time for the whole face

is about 20–30 minutes.

Many cases do not require separate anesthesia,

but if you are very sensitive,

the tapping sensation during treatment may feel uncomfortable.

However, in areas close to bone (temples, near the forehead bone),

some people may feel stronger vibration.

After treatment, slight redness

or mild swelling may occur,

but in most cases it subsides within the same day.

For most people, daily activities and makeup

are not affected the next day.

Can I get it together with

Botox or fillers?

Yes, combining them is fairly common.

For areas that Softwave alone cannot fully cover—

for example, expression lines with Botox,

and deeply sunken areas with filler—

while using Softwave to improve overall skin elasticity

and fine texture.

However, if the order or interval is set incorrectly,

the effects can interfere with each other.

If shockwaves are used immediately after filler injection,

it may affect filler placement,

so we generally keep an interval between procedures.

To be honest,

I also had some same-day combination cases early on,

but now I basically proceed with Softwave

after confirming the filler has stabilized.

Some patients come after getting filler at another clinic,

and in those cases, I first check when they had it done

before scheduling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. When do Softwave effects

start to appear?

A. Some people feel slight skin tightening

or minor changes right after treatment,

but because the real effect appears as collagen regenerates,

the peak is around 4–8 weeks after treatment.

You should evaluate

your results based on that timing.

Some people look in the mirror the next day

and feel disappointed,

but it is far too early to judge.

Q2. How many sessions do I need?

A. If the goal is improving fine lines,

in my experience we usually start with 2–3 sessions as the baseline.

Some people are satisfied with one session,

but if the goal is to improve skin elasticity itself,

multiple sessions spaced out are more effective.

Some people also come every 6 months to 1 year

for maintenance.

Q3. My skin is thin and sensitive—

is it still okay to get it?

A. Since it is not a heat-based device,

it is relatively less burdensome for thin skin.

However, depending on sensitivity,

the energy settings need adjustment,

so it’s best to tell us your skin condition in advance before visiting.

No matter how good the device is,

if settings are not adjusted to your skin condition,

it is hard to get good results.

If you have any questions,

feel free to contact us on KakaoTalk first.

You can ask before your visit as well.

I recommend having a full consultation before treatment

and then making your decision.

This was Wi Young-jin.

✦ Read together

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