Verifying Genuine Ultherapy: Why the Shot Count Matters Too

Hello. I am Dr Song Myeong-seung of NUWA Clinic Gangnam, where we assess the concern before the treatment. There is a question patients raise carefully during lifting consultations. “Is the Ultherapy here genuine?” Let me say this first. Asking whether something is genuine is not being difficult. Checking what goes into your own face is only natural.

Today, though, I would like to go one step further from that question. If you only check whether it is genuine, you may have seen only half the picture.

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What a refurbished Ultherapy tip is

A refurbished tip is one where the chip inside has been reset or bypassed so that it can continue to be used beyond its set shot count.

Ultherapy tips are not single-use items. Inside each tip is a chip that relates to the shot count, and once the set number of shots has been used, the device no longer recognises it. The lifespan is therefore fixed, and the rule is that a used-up tip is disposed of. A refurbished tip is one that has bypassed exactly this structure.

Why refurbished tips are a risk

A tip past its lifespan may not deliver ultrasound energy as designed.

The problem is that the device appears to operate normally even with such a tip. The machine switches on and the treatment proceeds as usual, so from the patient’s position there is no way of knowing. Yet a tip that has already passed its lifespan may fail to reach the intended depth, or conversely apply heat to a layer where it is not wanted.

So when you check, you should be looking not only at whether it is genuine but also at whether it is being used within the set shot count.

Why asking “is it genuine?” does not settle it

Because if there is no way to verify the clinic’s answer, all you can do in the end is take it on trust.

Even when you ask and are told it is genuine, there is no means of confirming that answer. On top of that, whether something is genuine is not visible to the eye, and even once the treatment is over it is hard to know what was used. This is also why unease around lifting does not easily go away.

How to verify genuine Ultherapy: the NFC check

If you hold your phone to the security NFC chip attached to the Ultherapy device, the authenticity verification page opens immediately, with no app to install.

The chip cannot be copied, so tapping it yourself is the most reliable method. And what matters here is that this verification was created by the manufacturer, not by the clinic. Rather than us telling you it is genuine, it is far more certain for you to check it directly. It takes a few seconds, and you can do it before treatment.

If the device is genuine, is the tip genuine too?

The device and the tip need to be checked separately.

With Ultherapy, the ultrasound energy is generated inside the tip and delivered to the deeper layers of the skin. What determines the energy that actually reaches the skin is the tip. So even if the device is genuine, if the tip is not, the energy may not be delivered as designed.

Fortunately, when you carry out the NFC verification, you can follow the on-screen guidance and also check the code assigned to the tip. In effect you are looking at both the device and the tip in one go.

Why does the price of Ultherapy differ between clinics?

Because the tip is a consumable with a set price, the cost of the tip is reflected directly in the price of the treatment.

As you look into lifting, you will have noticed that prices differ considerably between clinics. You will have wondered why the same Ultherapy varies so much. If a price is unusually low, it means something has been reduced somewhere. It is worth checking where. Rather than comparing price alone, it is better to also ask what is included in that price.

If you have already had Ultherapy

Differences in lifting results are not determined by the tip alone.

Some of you will have had a treatment, seen less change than expected, and been left with a nagging thought that perhaps the tip was the problem. But the result feels different depending on which layer was addressed and in which direction, how much volume there is in the face, and how long after treatment it was assessed.

So rather than worrying alone and guessing about a past treatment, it is better to check before you begin the next one. Having a treatment after checking, and having it without knowing, are not the same, even when the treatment itself is.

The Ultherapy we use at NUWA Clinic

NUWA Clinic Gangnam uses genuine Ultherapy Prime devices and genuine tips.

Not only for Ultherapy — every product we use is genuine.

Two things to check before Ultherapy

Whether it is genuine, and whether the tip is within its lifespan. Check these two before treatment and that is enough.

Lifting is a treatment that takes place in deep layers you cannot see. That is all the more reason, I believe, why you should be able to check. It is not a troublesome request; it is a check you are perfectly entitled to make. Wherever you have the treatment, it is also your right as a patient.

This has been Song Myeong-seung of NUWA Clinic Gangnam, where facial shape concerns are assessed first. NUWA Clinic Gangnam is directly in front of Exit 7 of Gangnam Station, on the 3rd and 4th floors of 385 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Is a tip used once and then thrown away?

A. Inside the tip is a chip that counts shots, and once the set number of shots has been used, the device does not recognise it. The rule is that a used-up tip is disposed of.

Q. What happens if a tip past its shot count is used?

A. A tip past its lifespan may not deliver ultrasound energy as it was originally designed to. It may fail to reach the intended depth, or apply heat to a layer where it is not wanted, so using it within the set shot count matters.

Q. How is genuine Ultherapy verified?

A. Hold your phone to the NFC chip attached to the device and the authenticity verification page opens with no app to install. Following the on-screen guidance from there, you can also check the code on the tip.

Q. If the device is genuine, is the tip genuine as well?

A. It is more accurate to check the device and the tip separately. The energy that actually reaches the skin is generated in the tip, so it is best to look at both together.

Q. Is it rude to ask whether it is genuine?

A. Not at all. Checking what goes into your own face is only natural. Please feel free to ask before treatment.

Q. Why does the price differ between clinics?

A. The tip is a consumable with a set price, so which tips are used and how many is reflected in the treatment price. When comparing prices, it is a good idea to also check what is included in that price.

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*Effects and results of this treatment may differ according to individual condition, and reactions such as redness, swelling, a sensation of heat or discomfort may occur after treatment. Accurate assessment and the decision on whether to proceed should always be made through consultation with a specialist.