Comparing Wrinkle Treatment Options: Ultherapy, Thermage, Shurink, and Rejuran — What's the Difference?

Under the umbrella term 'wrinkle treatment,' there are actually several procedures with completely different mechanisms of action. When preparing for a dermatology consultation, encountering names like Ultherapy, Thermage, Shurink, and Rejuran all at once can make it confusing to figure out which suits your skin. In this article, we'll divide wrinkle treatments into two broad categories and compare their principles, how they feel on the day of treatment, and the recovery timeline.

Wrinkle Treatments: Two Main Directions

The first is the 'thermal energy lifting type.' This includes Ultherapy (high-intensity focused ultrasound), Thermage (radiofrequency), Shurink (ultrasound), and InMode/Ondaa (radiofrequency/microwave). These deliver heat to deeper layers of the skin to stimulate elastic fibers, and the sensation varies depending on the treatment area and depth settings, with changes generally known to appear gradually over several months.

The second is the 'skin booster type.' This method uses micro-injections like Rejuran, Juvelook, Revive, and Laetigen Collagen Booster to deliver hydration and conditioning ingredients into the skin. It tends to offer relatively immediate changes in skin texture and hydration, and is commonly performed through multiple repeated sessions.

Since the two approaches differ in the depth of action and the type of stimulation applied to the skin, the changes the skin experiences right after the procedure—and the corresponding care points—also differ.

How does post-procedure progress differ by stage?

With the thermal energy lifting type, warmth and redness may appear in the treated area right after the procedure, and this usually subsides within the same day to a few days. During this period, the skin is temporarily sensitive, so it's recommended to avoid UV exposure, excessive friction, and high-temperature environments.

With the skin booster type, redness or slight swelling from the tiny needle marks may remain for the day of the procedure to 2–3 days, and afterward you may feel tightness or dryness beneath the skin. Either way, there's a common pattern: 'soothing' takes priority in the first few days after the procedure, followed by 'deep hydration' afterward.

Try this step-by-step home care approach

The first 1–3 days right after the procedure are a period focused on calming redness and warmth and protecting the weakened skin barrier. Gentle cleansing, sufficient hydration, and sun protection are the basics, and rubbing motions during skincare should be avoided.

From day 4 onward, even though visible redness has subsided, the skin may still feel dry and tight underneath. At this stage, it helps to switch from lightweight formulas to deeply hydrating care that reaches further into the skin to refine texture.

Post-procedure home care becomes easier when divided into 2 steps

Regardless of the type of procedure, the two-stage care flow of 'immediate soothing' followed by 'subsequent deep hydration' commonly applies. ZXQMAGAZINETERMAbiju CreamZXQ is structured as a 2-STEP system aligned with this flow. ZXQMAGAZINETERMUltra Cera-Rich CreamZXQ is designed for use during the first 1–3 days after the procedure, when redness and warmth are present, while ZXQMAGAZINETERMHydro Re-Boosting CreamZXQ is designed for use from day 4 onward, when tightness and dryness remain. After lifting or thermal energy procedures, ZXQMAGAZINETERMUltra Cera-RichZXQ may be considered first, and after skin booster procedures, ZXQMAGAZINETERMHydro Re-BoostingZXQ may be considered first.

Post-procedure recovery depends on home care

Even though the procedure methods differ, the 'recovery' process tends to follow a similar flow. Managing the skin by distinguishing between the period requiring immediate soothing right after the procedure and the subsequent period requiring deep hydration can help maintain stable skin condition.