Sinnonhyeon Station Dermatology: When Do Shrink Effects Start to Show?

Cover: a woman touches her jawline. Text: 'Hesitating because you fear hollow cheeks? Shurink effects.'

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt that your jawline just isn't what it used to be? Sometimes your face even looks heavier in photos. When you start researching Shrink, you probably have more than a question or two, like when results begin to show and how many shots you need.

And if you're choosing based only on reviews, you may be even more worried about whether it will actually suit your face.

Hello, this is Dojagi Clinic in Sinnonhyeon Station. Today, we'll go over the Shrink questions we hear most often in consultations.

To start with the conclusion: in addition to the firmness you feel right after treatment, results tend to build over several weeks. And how the shots are distributed across different areas matters more than the number of shots.

Here are the points worth knowing before your consultation.

'Jawline not what it used to be?' Common Shurink questions: Will it change right away? How many shots? Could my cheeks hollow?

Will I see a difference right after treatment?

Shrink focuses ultrasound energy on a single point beneath the skin to create a tiny heat zone. It doesn't cause any wounds on the surface and only stimulates the deeper layers, so it's generally easy to return to your daily routine afterward.

It works on the same principle as Ulthera. The biggest difference is that during Ulthera treatment, the provider watches the deeper tissue on an ultrasound screen. Shrink is often chosen because it can be divided into lighter sessions, which makes consistent maintenance easier.

As the heated tissue contracts, many people feel their face become firmer right after treatment. New collagen then builds up over the following weeks, adding more elasticity.

Feels firmer right after as tissue contracts; more defined around one month as collagen builds. Book well ahead of big events. Results vary.

Most people start to notice a difference around weeks 3 to 4, and results tend to become clearer at about one month. Comparing photos taken from the same angle before and one month later makes changes much easier to see. So if you have an important event coming up, it's best to book your treatment with some breathing room rather than right before it.

How many shots do I need to see results?

The first question that usually comes up in consultations is how many shots you need. However, even with the same number of shots, results can vary quite a bit depending on which area they're placed in, at what depth, and how densely. Rather than simply filling in a number, the key is a plan that uses enough energy on sagging areas and conserves energy on areas that should be protected.

Distribution beats shot count: generous on heavy, sagging areas like under the chin and lower cheeks; sparing on thin areas prone to hollowing.

There's no need to be swayed by hearing that a friend had a certain number of shots. Face size, fat volume, and where sagging begins are all different from person to person. That's exactly why we look at your face in person during consultation and decide area by area.

Suited to those with folds under the chin, heavy lower cheeks or a blurred contour. Very slim faces can review alternatives at consultation.

Patients often see good results when there is a moderate amount of fat and sagging has already begun, such as a double chin where the skin folds under the chin, or a face where the lower cheeks look heavy. This is also a common reason people seek jawline lifting to refine a blurred facial contour.

Will my cheeks look hollow if I have little facial fat?

This is one of the most common concerns, especially for people who are bothered by shadows under the cheekbones. If a face with thin cheek fat, or one where the area under the cheekbones is already hollow, is treated broadly at the same intensity, the cheeks can end up looking sunken.

For faces like this, it's best to take a conservative approach to areas prone to hollowing, lowering the depth and energy or avoiding them altogether. We first separate the areas that need to be reduced from the areas that need to be protected.

If your face has very little fat overall, another lifting treatment may suit you better than ultrasound. In such cases, rather than pushing ahead, we discuss alternatives during the consultation. If there is already a hollow area, we may leave it out of the lifting plan and talk separately about ways to restore volume.

Thin cheeks? Plan by area: lower depth/energy or skip hollow-prone spots, treat the heavy jawline fully, and discuss volume for hollowed spots.

Curved areas such as the forehead and cheekbones also call for extra care. If the tip doesn't make proper contact with the skin, the surface can swell or, in rare cases, cause a burn. That's why we check the contact carefully throughout the procedure.

Does it hurt? How often do I need to have it done?

Because the energy reaches deeper, you may feel a tingling sensation. How Shrink feels depends on the energy level and the area being treated. Spots close to bone or with little fat tend to be more sensitive.

If it becomes hard to bear, let us know right away during the procedure, and we can adjust the intensity as we go. If you're sensitive to pain, it's also helpful to mention it before treatment, so we can adjust based on the area and how you feel that day.

After treatment, you may rarely feel numbness or a dulled sensation in the skin. If this discomfort continues, please tell the clinic rather than waiting it out.

Rather than following a fixed number, it's best to set the interval based on the changes you see after the first session and how your skin responds. Plan the timing with your medical team according to your current skin condition.

Pain is stronger on thin areas near bone—say so if it's too much. The treatment interval is set with your doctor after the first session.

How long results last also varies from person to person. Significant weight fluctuations or changes in lifestyle habits can affect how long you feel the benefits. Rather than feeling pressure to get everything done at once, it's often more reassuring to plan gradually while watching how your face changes.

How does Dojagi Clinic proceed?

Before treatment, Dojagi Clinic first examines sagging and volume distribution with Metaview 3D AI skin analysis. Seeing it with the naked eye alone doesn't show as clearly where sagging is and where volume has been lost. We review the analysis screen together and walk you through, step by step, why each area is divided the way it is.

Next, we plan each area with different depths and shot counts using Shrink Universe, and post-treatment swelling is managed together with a hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

From analysis to recovery: 1) 3D skin analysis of sagging and volume, 2) per-area depth and shots with Shurink Universe, 3) aftercare for swelling.

Here are some questions worth asking at your consultation. Which areas will be treated, and how many shots will each receive? How do you avoid areas that are prone to hollowing? At what depth will the treatment be done? If you've had lifting or filler treatments before, let us know what you had and when, as it greatly helps with planning.

Even with the same device, results can vary depending on who designs the treatment and how. Ultimately, with Shrink, satisfaction depends less on how many shots you receive and more on delivering the right depth to the areas your face needs.

If your jawline has started to blur, feel free to first check what type of face you have. Even just clarifying whether your concern is sagging or hollowing will make your consultation much smoother.

※ Redness, swelling, and warmth may appear after treatment, and in rare cases burns or sensory changes can occur. Results and recovery vary from person to person.

DOJAGI CLINIC banner: 'From skin to contour' with a Naver booking button, beside a phone showing the clinic's booking page.

This post is a medical advertisement written by the clinic for the purpose of providing medical information. It complies with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act. Results may vary depending on individual constitution and health condition, so please make treatment decisions after thorough consultation with your medical team.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Shrink results start to appear?

Many people notice a difference from around weeks 3 to 4, and results tend to become clearer at about one month. You may feel some tightening right after treatment, and comparing photos taken from the same angle one month later makes changes easier to see.

How many Shrink shots do I need to see results?

The number of shots matters less than which areas are treated, at what depth, and how densely. Face size, fat volume, and where sagging begins differ from person to person, so it's better to have each area planned individually during a consultation than to use a friend's shot count as a reference.

Will my cheeks look hollow after Shrink if I have little facial fat?

Broad treatment at the same intensity on a face with thin cheek fat, or with an already hollow area beneath the cheekbones, can make the cheeks look sunken. For areas prone to hollowing, the depth and energy should be lowered or the area avoided in the plan. If your face has very little fat overall, another lifting treatment may be a better fit than ultrasound.

Does Shrink hurt a lot?

Pain varies with energy level and area. Because the energy reaches deeper layers, you may feel a tingling sensation. Areas close to bone or with little fat tend to be more sensitive. If it becomes hard to bear, tell the provider during the procedure so the intensity can be adjusted.

Can redness or swelling occur after treatment?

Yes, redness, swelling, and warmth may appear after treatment. In rare cases, burns or sensory changes can occur. If your skin continues to feel numb or dull, don't wait it out. Let the clinic know.

How often should I get Shrink?

Rather than following a fixed number, it's better to decide the interval based on the changes you see after your first session and how your skin responds. How long results last also varies from person to person, and significant weight changes or lifestyle changes can affect how long you feel the benefits.