Comparing Under-Eye Wrinkle Treatments: From Ultherapy and Thermage to Skin Boosters

The under-eye area has thin skin and fewer sebaceous glands, making it one of the first areas to develop wrinkles. That's why many people look into treatments for under-eye wrinkle concerns, but once they get a consultation, they're often confused by the range of options—from heat-energy lifting treatments like Ultherapy, Thermage, Shurink, and InMode, to skin boosters like Rejuran and Juvelook.

Why Do Under-Eye Wrinkles Form — Two Underlying Causes

Under-eye wrinkles largely stem from two mechanisms. The first is loss of elasticity due to reduced collagen and elastin in the dermis. As the skin's supporting structure weakens, repeated facial expressions can become fixed as creases. The second is a decline in the skin's own moisture-retention ability. When the stratum corneum becomes dry, shallow, fine lines (dryness wrinkles) become more noticeable—this is closer to a moisture deficiency than an elasticity issue.

Often both causes act together, but the starting point for choosing a treatment is identifying whether your under-eye wrinkles are closer to the elasticity-loss type or the dryness/fine-line type.

Comparing Treatment Options: Thermal Energy Lifting vs. Skin Boosters

Ultherapy, Thermage, Shurink, Oneda, Titanium, InMode, and similar treatments deliver thermal energy—via radiofrequency or ultrasound—into the dermis or fascia layer to stimulate the skin's elastic structure. In thin-skinned areas like the under-eye region, controlling the intensity and depth of energy is especially important, so the experience felt can vary depending on the practitioner's skill and device settings.

Skin boosters such as Rejuran, Juvelook, Rivive, and Laetigen Collagen Booster focus on filling the skin with moisture and hydrating ingredients to refine skin texture and condition. If dryness or fine lines are the main concern, skin boosters are often considered before lifting treatments, and the two are sometimes combined.

Regardless of the treatment type, the skin tends to become temporarily sensitive right after the procedure. Redness, warmth, and tightness are often within the normal range of reaction, but how this period is managed can affect the speed of recovery and the overall sense of skin condition.

Post-Treatment Progress: Recovery Flow Day by Day

In the first 1 to 3 days right after a lifting treatment, warmth and mild redness may remain. During this period, the skin becomes more sensitive to external stimuli, so it's best to avoid UV exposure, friction, and hot environments.

From around day 4 onward, acute irritation tends to subside, but many people begin to notice new dryness and tightness within the skin. Skin booster treatments follow a similar pattern—mild swelling or irritation in the early days gives way to a phase where deep hydration care becomes important.

In other words, regardless of the type of treatment, the common flow is to manage care in two stages: an initial soothing stage followed by a deep hydration stage.

Step-by-Step Home Care: What to Apply and When

During the first 1 to 3 days after treatment, the skin barrier is in a sensitive state, so it's best to keep care light, focusing on ingredients that are gentle and help soothe the skin. Applying a thin layer of products containing ingredients like ceramide, panthenol, and allantoin is recommended.

From day 4 onward, redness and warmth tend to decrease, but the skin may start to feel tight and flaky. At this stage, shifting the focus from soothing to deep hydration can help refine skin texture.

Because the care priorities change depending on the stage, it makes more sense to switch products according to the phase rather than relying on a single product throughout.

The 2-STEP Recovery Design of ABJU Cream

ABJU Cream is composed of two products tailored to these stage-specific skin changes. After thermal energy lifting treatments such as Ultherapy, Thermage, Shurink, Oneda, Titanium, and InMode, STEP1 Ultra Cera-Rich Cream provides initial soothing and barrier care, while after skin booster treatments such as Rejuran, Juvelook, Rivive, and Laetigen Collagen Booster, STEP2 Hydro Re-Boosting Cream continues the deep hydration care needed during the recovery phase.

Ultra Cera-Rich Cream is designed with a composition similar to skin lipids, including 5 types of ceramides, to help the skin right after irritation, while Hydro Re-Boosting Cream contains panthenol and niacinamide, focusing on deep hydration and skin texture care during the recovery period. Each is 50ml, priced at 59,000 KRW, and available on the official online store abijoushop.com.

Post-procedure recovery and home care make the difference

Whether it's a lifting procedure or a skin booster, what matters as much as the procedure itself is the care given in the following days. Abijou Cream is a 2-STEP home care solution designed for use according to need: the period right after the procedure when soothing is needed (STEP1 Ultra Cera-Rich), and the recovery period when deep hydration is needed (STEP2 Hydro Re-Boosting).