How Many Thermage FLX Shots Do You Need, and How Is It Decided?

Summary: The number of Thermage FLX shots is decided by the size of the treatment area, skin thickness and the degree of sagging. More shots are not automatically better; what matters is spreading the heat each area needs evenly. Before treatment, it is a good idea to check the unopened genuine tip and the number of shots used.

Written by: Lee Ji-seung, Medical Director (Korean Medicine Doctor, PhD in Eastern and Western Medicine) · Date: 2026.10.16

Hello, I am Lee Ji-seung, Medical Director of Medical Bloom Korean Medicine Clinic · COEX. In Thermage consultations, the first question is usually "How many shots do I need?" Some people think more shots are always better, but I look first at where and how the shots should be distributed, rather than the number itself. Today I will explain the criteria for deciding the number of Thermage FLX shots and what is worth checking before treatment.

What Is a Shot?

Thermage FLX delivers radiofrequency energy one pulse at a time through a tip placed on the skin. Each pulse is called one shot. When radiofrequency heat reaches the dermis, new collagen forms over time, which helps the skin look firmer (results vary from person to person).

Each tip has a fixed number of shots it can deliver, and the area one shot covers depends on the size of the tip. A face tip is used for the face, and a smaller eye tip is used around the eyes, where the skin is thin.

Even with the same number of shots, spreading them evenly over the whole face gives a different result from concentrating them on sagging areas. That is why, whenever I discuss the number of shots, I also explain the distribution plan.

How Shots Are Distributed by Area

• Full face (face tip) — We look at sagging in the cheeks and jawline and at skin thickness. More shots go where sagging is greater.
• Eye area (eye tip) — We look at fine lines around the eyes and drooping eyelids. Because the skin is thin, the intensity is lowered.
• Under the chin and neck — We look at laxity under the chin and neck lines. The tip is chosen according to the area and skin condition.

Shot counts are often quoted as numbers such as 600 or 900 shots for the full face, but even 600 shots can be distributed differently depending on face size and where the sagging is. I first look at the sagging areas and skin thickness, then divide the shots by area within that total.

More Important Than the Number of Shots: Tips and Intensity by Area

• Skin thickness — Intensity is lowered where the skin is thin, and more shots are concentrated where it is thicker.
• Areas close to bone — Over the cheekbones and jawbone, heat is felt more easily, so the intensity is adjusted.
• Pain response — We adjust the intensity while checking how you feel during treatment.

Thermage FLX has a function (AccuREP) that measures the skin before each shot and adjusts energy delivery. Apart from what the device adjusts automatically, however, how many shots go to which area has to be decided through consultation and examination.

✅ CHECK POINT: How to Check for a Genuine Tip

• You can ask to see the unopened tip before treatment.
• Each tip has a fixed number of shots, and the remaining shots can be checked on the device screen.
• After treatment, the number of shots used is checked together with you.

At Medical Bloom Korean Medicine Clinic · COEX, we check the tip and the number of shots with you before and after treatment. Please feel free to ask any questions before your treatment.

How Long Results Last and When to Have the Next Treatment

Changes from Thermage appear gradually over the months in which collagen is formed, rather than right after treatment. How long results last depends on age, skin condition and lifestyle (results vary from person to person). I take photos before treatment and compare them at the next visit, and we decide on the timing of the next treatment together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the difference between 600 shots and 900 shots?

More shots allow the same area to be treated more densely or a wider area to be covered. However, if your skin is thin or sagging is mild, planning the distribution well matters more than adding shots.

Q. Does the eye area need to be treated separately?

The skin around the eyes is thin, so a dedicated eye tip is used. If fine lines around the eyes or drooping eyelids concern you, we will consult with you about it separately.

Q. Do I need treatment every year?

You do not necessarily need treatment every year. We decide on the next timing based on the changes after your previous treatment and your skin condition.

After treatment, temporary redness, swelling, warmth or stiffness may occur, and blisters or burns may rarely occur. Results and side effects may vary from person to person. Please consult thoroughly with the medical staff before treatment.

At Medical Bloom Korean Medicine Clinic · COEX, we decide the number and distribution of Thermage FLX shots after looking at sagging areas and skin thickness. If you are curious about the shot plan that suits you, please feel free to contact us. Medical Bloom Korean Medicine Clinic · COEX is a 4-minute walk from Exits 9·10 of Seolleung Station.

References

• Solta Medical, Thermage FLX product information (manufacturer's public materials)