@doudouenyu, a Douyin and Xiaohongshu influencer who visits Korea once or twice a year, came this time for a skin procedure. The jawline and cheek contours that changed once she passed thirty, the part home care could not reach, and the one-to-one custom design consultation with Dr. Lee Dongyun — we have recorded what she said as she said it, the disappointments along with the good parts.
About this interview
Interviewee — @doudouenyu (Douyin · Xiaohongshu @野生兜) | Treated by — Dr. Lee Dongyun (board-certified plastic surgeon) | Procedure received — Ultherapy (non-surgical lifting)
Published with the interviewee’s own consent. Apart from tidying up the sentences, her answers are reproduced as spoken. The results of a procedure and the course of recovery vary with each person’s skin condition and circumstances, and the experience described here does not mean the same thing will happen for everyone.
Why she came all the way to Korea — not the food, not the shopping, but Ultherapy
Q. What was the main purpose of this trip to Korea? (Sightseeing, shopping, cosmetic procedures, and so on)
I enjoyed the food and the shopping too, but my main purpose was to have Ultherapy, a specialist skin procedure, in Korea. Korean lifting technique and know-how have a reputation for being extremely precise, so I wanted to take this chance to have it done properly.
Q. Do you visit Korea often? Have you had K-beauty or skin and cosmetic procedures before?
I come once or twice a year without fail. I used to stick mostly to toning and light skin care, but since passing thirty I have focused more on specialist lifting procedures that address the contours and the firmness that start to give way.
Q. Interest in Korean plastic surgery and skin procedures is high overseas as well. How do your friends and followers react?
Reviews of Korean skin clinics are a big topic on overseas social media too. The friend who came with me this time is so interested in K-beauty that she arranged her schedule to travel with me. When I said I was going to Korea, friends kept pressing me to tell them in detail which clinic I was going to and how it worked out once I got back.
At thirty-something the worry is not ‘size’ but ‘contours that have given way’
Q. What bothers you most about your appearance when you look in the mirror or take photos and videos?
Since entering my thirties, the feeling that my jawline was giving way and my cheeks were sagging downwards has been my biggest concern. It was stressful that when I took photos or videos on my phone, a double chin would stand out at certain angles, or shadows would fall around the nasolabial folds, and the camera caught all of it.
Q. Have you tried home care for this, or had treatments elsewhere? How did they work?
I tried expensive firming ampoules and microcurrent and radiofrequency beauty devices every day. There was a sense that my skin texture was temporarily smoother, but the fundamental lifting effect that pulls the skin up from the deeper layers was hard to achieve with home care.
Q. Was there a particular reason you decided to have a specialist procedure in Korea this time?
I had heard that Korean medical professionals have extensive experience with these procedures and outstanding know-how when it comes to authentic equipment and individually tailored design. Rather than repeating half-measures, I judged that having it done properly at a professional clinic in Korea was the right answer in terms of both time and cost.
A note on this
Home devices and clinic procedures are not a matter of ‘good’ versus ‘bad’. What differs is the depth of skin each one works on. Ultrasound lifting such as Ultherapy delivers energy not to the surface of the skin but down to the SMAS layer beneath it, and which approach suits your condition now is something to establish through a consultation.
Design fitted to one face, not a standardized approach — why she chose 1mm Plastic Surgery and Dr. Lee Dongyun
Q. Out of so many clinics, how did you first hear about 1mm Plastic Surgery? And what made you choose it in the end?
I found out about it through social media reviews and a recommendation from someone I know. What struck a chord was the idea, right there in the clinic’s name, that ‘even detail down to 1mm is handled with care’, and there were many comments that it does precise design fitted to the individual’s contours rather than treating everyone according to a standardized approach, so I chose it without hesitating.
Q. What was your first impression of the atmosphere, the facilities and the way the staff received you when you first walked in?
It was modern and neatly arranged throughout, which gave me a comfortable impression. From reception at the desk to being shown to the waiting area, the staff greeted me kindly and methodically, and the tension I felt before the procedure eased naturally. There were a great many people, so there was a little waiting, but perhaps because minor procedures wait less than surgery, I was able to have my treatment and head back sooner than other reviews had led me to expect.
Q. Was communicating in another language, and the process for receiving overseas patients, straightforward?
The way overseas patients are guided through the clinic, and the care taken over communication, were smooth and left an impression. They made sure my friend could ask questions as they came up and stay comfortable while she waited. The Chinese-speaking staff in particular were so kind and greeted me with such bright smiles that it put me in a good mood.
Q. How was the one-to-one custom consultation with the doctor? (Whether your concerns were properly reflected, whether the explanation was detailed, and so on)
This was the part I was most satisfied with. Rather than simply adding more shots, Dr. Lee Dongyun went carefully over my face on the ultrasound screen, pointing out the areas to avoid so that the cheeks would not lose volume and the parts of the jawline that needed to be lifted firmly. He understood exactly what concerned me and set out a tailored plan, which gave me confidence.
[From the interview]Rather than simply adding more shots, he pointed out on the screen the areas to avoid and the areas to lift.
Managing pain during the procedure, and the change she liked most afterwards
Q. How were pain management and the attentiveness of the care during the procedure?
I had worried a lot about how much Ultherapy hurts, but the anaesthesia was handled thoroughly, and during the procedure he would say “this area will feel a little heavy” — telling me in advance, stage by stage — so I was in a far calmer frame of mind and could take it comfortably.
Q. What change since the procedure do you like most? (Contours, firmness, how natural it looks, and so on)
My jawline has been tidied into a sharper line and my facial contours look far more composed. My skin feels firmer and more resilient from within, and I’m most satisfied that the firmness has been restored in a natural way, without changing my original facial shape.
Q. Have people around you reacted, or have you noticed specific changes through the camera?
The friend who came with me saw how I looked right after the procedure and again a few days later, and told me straight away that my facial contours had become much sharper. In particular I can feel that the lines hold up clearly on camera without my having to use a retouching app or a contour filter.
Q. What do you think is the greatest strength or point of difference at 1mm Plastic Surgery?
That they show you everything transparently, right in front of you — from the detailed one-to-one design matched to your facial features through to checking the authentic Ultherapy treatment tip. I think the honesty of not letting details slip is the biggest differentiator.
The honest disappointments — waiting time, and what she would like to see improved
Q. Was there any moment in the overall process (booking, waiting, consultation, procedure, after-care briefing) that was inconvenient or disappointing?
The process as a whole was very well organised. Other than the fact that at busy booking times there can be a little waiting before the consultation or the procedure, there was nothing inconvenient. It is not a high-volume clinic where everyone is treated according to a standardized approach and sent on their way; the doctor and the consultant each take patients one to one in turn before proceeding, so I also think this is simply unavoidable.
Q. Was the advance briefing on recovery (swelling, bruising, precautions and so on) easy to understand?
Yes. As well as explaining how to wash my face that day and the temporary stiffness and swelling, they explained in easy terms how long to avoid strenuous exercise or saunas. They also gave me a separate printed sheet, so I could check it at my accommodation without getting confused.
Q. Is there a service the clinic could add for overseas patients or first-time visitors? (Interpreting support, an after-care guide kit, a pick-up service, for example)
If there were more space and comfort for a companion waiting over a long period, or a multilingual mobile after-care guide that could easily be checked on a messenger app, I think it would make the experience even better for overseas patients.
Two suggestions the interview left behind
The interviewee named two things to improve — a waiting space where a companion can stay for a long time, and a multilingual after-care guide checked on a messenger app. On the waiting time, she added that “the doctor and the consultant each take patients one to one in turn before proceeding, so I also think this is simply unavoidable”.
To anyone with a similar concern
Q. Would you recommend 1mm Plastic Surgery to followers with similar concerns, or to overseas friends planning a trip to Korea?
I would recommend it. Anyone troubled by a sagging jawline or facial contours that have given way as they enter their thirties, and anyone who wants a detailed, tailored procedure rather than care delivered according to a standardized approach, will certainly be satisfied, I think.
What are the ‘1mm Lifting’ and ‘1mm Anti-Aging’ mentioned in the interview looking at?
The expression that came up again and again in the interview was not ‘how many shots’ but ‘where’. That is also how 1mm Plastic Surgery divides lifting from anti-aging.
| Two branches | What the options are |
|---|---|
| 1mm Lifting (surgical) | SMAS facelift · Mini facelift · Mid-face lift · Endoscopic forehead lift · Thread lift |
| 1mm Anti-Aging (non-surgical) | Ultherapy · Thermage FLX · Shurink · Rejuran · Juvelook · Fillers and botox |
Which direction suits your condition now is decided through a consultation. The table is there to explain how the procedures are grouped, not as a basis for guaranteeing a result.
The Ultherapy this interviewee received is one of the non-surgical anti-aging options. It is an FDA-cleared microfocused ultrasound device, and it works by delivering focused ultrasound energy at precise depths, including the SMAS/platysma layer, without damaging the surface, to draw up skin that has slackened. A collagen regeneration response occurs where the ultrasound was delivered, and the lifting effect follows from there.
Four ways 1mm Ultherapy works out the ‘where’
- Authentic equipment and treatment tip, checked — before the procedure, the authentic Ultherapy treatment tip fitted to the device is checked in person. This is the step the interviewee was describing when she said they “show you transparently, right in front of you”.
- DeepSEE® — lifting you can see — the tissue layers of the skin are checked on a live ultrasound screen while the intended area is treated. This is the function she meant when she said he “pointed things out while looking at the ultrasound screen” during the consultation.
- Different Areas, Different Approaches — Customized Ultherapy — for hollowed cheeks and nasolabial folds, we restore volume; for the outer cheeks and deep cheek area, we refine and define the facial contour; and for a double chin and jawline, we lift and tighten sagging skin. This is what we mean by identifying the areas that should be avoided to help prevent unwanted volume loss in the cheeks.
- By depth of skin — 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mm — the 1.5mm depth is used for more detailed treatment of superficial areas, the 3.0mm depth to treat the necessary areas decisively, and the 4.5mm depth for deep, pronounced neck lines and V-line lifting.
Ultherapy may be used on areas including the forehead, eye area, outer corners of the eyes, nasolabial folds, and double chin, along with overall skin firmness. That said, even where the concern is described the same way — ‘my jawline has given way’ — the suitable direction differs depending on whether the cause is a loss of firmness, sagging skin, or a shift in the position of fat. That distinction is made through a consultation.
Precautions after Ultherapy
This is what the interviewee was referring to when she said they “gave me a separate printed sheet so I did not get confused at my accommodation”. The basic precautions given at the clinic are as follows.
- For a few days after the procedure you may have temporary tightness in the skin and a throbbing sensation.
- Washing with lukewarm water for three days is recommended. This helps minimize irritation during the early recovery period.
- For about a week, avoid alcohol, smoking, jjimjilbang and saunas and the like.
- For about a week, avoid excessive pressure, meridian therapy or massage on the treated area.
If you are visiting from abroad
The precautions above include items best avoided for about a week. If you fly home soon after the procedure, check at the booking stage whether anything overlaps with the rest of your stay. Recovery differs from person to person; if you have symptoms you did not expect, please contact the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Ultherapy and Shurink?
The principle behind the two procedures is the same, but Ultherapy is carried out while viewing the skin layers on screen using DeepSEE® technology. It also tends to be somewhat more painful than Shurink, and the results tend to last longer after a single session. Which one suits you depends on your skin condition and the schedule you want, so it is established through a consultation.
Does strong lifting make the face lose volume?
This was the first thing this interviewee checked in her consultation. Ultherapy treats precisely the areas that need it while viewing the skin layers, and the treated layer sets off a regeneration response that produces collagen and firms the skin. That is exactly why the areas to fill for volume and the areas to lift are planned separately at the consultation stage.
Is lifting difficult to achieve with home beauty devices?
The interviewee used expensive firming ampoules and microcurrent and radiofrequency devices every day, but said “there was a sense that my skin texture was temporarily smoother, but the effect of drawing things up from the deeper layers was hard to achieve”. Home care and clinic procedures work on different depths of skin, and what your condition needs now is best established through a consultation.
I am from overseas — is a consultation with guidance possible?
The interviewee said the way overseas patients are guided through the clinic and the care taken over communication were smooth, and that her friend was looked after so she could stay comfortably while waiting. Please get in touch before your visit at global@1mmps.com or on KakaoTalk.
Can I go about my day as usual right after the procedure?
Ultherapy is a non-invasive treatment, but for a few days afterwards there may be temporary tightness or a throbbing sensation. Washing with lukewarm water is advised for three days, and for about a week it is best to avoid alcohol, smoking, saunas and jjimjilbang, and excessive massage of the treated area. Recovery and reactions differ from person to person, so please go by the precautions you were given.
Who will carry out my consultation?
This interviewee’s consultation and procedure were carried out by Dr. Lee Dongyun, a board-certified plastic surgeon. At the clinic the doctor and the consultant each hold a one-to-one consultation in turn, and it is because of this that waiting can occur when bookings are concentrated.
What a 1mm lifting consultation does
Instead of adding shots,
we decide first where to lift and where to leave alone
- Seen by a board-certified plastic surgeon
- Skin layers checked on an ultrasound screen
- Authentic equipment · authentic tip checked
- One-to-one design, area by area
We look at your facial contours and skin condition and work out a suitable direction with you. Whether it applies to you, and the result, may differ from person to person.
The people who took part in this interview
The accounts of this interviewee and of Dr. Lee Dongyun.
Instagram · Dr. Lee Dongyun — Visit →
@dy_lee7
Douyin · Chinese TikTok — Visit →
@doudouenyu
Xiaohongshu · RED — Visit →
@野生兜
Worth reading alongside this
- 8 Eyelid Surgery Terms to Know Before Your Double Eyelid Consultation — the words that come up most often in the consulting room.
- Ptosis correction — should I have it, or shouldn’t I? — including a self-check for ptosis you can try at home. (Korean)
Consultation and booking
| Enquiries | global@1mmps.com Getting in touch in advance helps reduce your waiting time. |
|---|---|
| +82 10-9451-1171 | |
| Telephone | +82-2-552-1171 |
| Opening hours | Weekdays 10:00 – 19:00 Saturday 10:00 – 16:00 Closed Sundays and public holidays — for holiday opening, please check the monthly schedule notice. |
| Address | 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th floors, Youngshin Building, 449 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul |
| Website | 1mmpsglobal.com |
#Ultherapy #1mmLifting #1mmAntiAging #DrLeeDongyun #UltherapyReview #JawlineLifting #DoubleChinLifting #UltrasoundLifting #NonSurgicalLifting #SMASLifting #ThermageFLX #AntiAgingInYour30s #GangnamPlasticSurgery #InternationalPatients #1mmPlasticSurgery #1mmps
This post was written by the founder of a medical institution for the purpose of conveying information, in accordance with Article 56(1) of the Medical Service Act of the Republic of Korea. What it contains is one individual’s experience, published with the interviewee’s own consent, and does not guarantee the same result for anyone else. For every procedure, whether it applies to you, the result and the course of recovery may differ according to your skin condition and circumstances, and side effects may occur. The photographs in this post were provided together with the interview; they are not photographs for comparing before and after surgery or a procedure, and the impression they give may vary with the lighting and angle at the time they were taken. Please establish the details through a consultation.
