Updated October 2026.
Lifting devices differ in which layer of tissue they act on. InMode is a radiofrequency platform used at two depths: the fat layer beneath the skin, and the dermis above it. That is why it comes up when the concern is a double chin, a soft jawline, or fullness in the lower cheeks, rather than laxity alone. This guide explains how it works, how it sits alongside the ultrasound and radiofrequency lifting you have already read about, and who it suits.
What InMode is
InMode is a radiofrequency contouring platform. At Dr. E-Laser Dermatology it is used in two depths. A deeper mode delivers energy into the fat layer, creating a selective thermal effect on fat cells, which the body then clears gradually over the following weeks. A superficial mode works on the dermis, stimulating collagen for firmness in the overlying skin.
In practice the two are often combined in one session: reduce the fullness, then tighten the envelope above it. The clinic’s FX handpiece focuses on fat reduction and the Forma handpiece on dermal tightening.
How InMode compares with other lifting treatments
The lifting field can be confusing because several devices sound alike. A simple way to sort them:
- Ultrasound lifting (Shurink, Ultherapy) targets the deeper support layers for lift. Our skin tightening overview covers this family.
- Radiofrequency tightening (Thermage FLX) heats a broad field of tissue for skin quality and firmness. See our Ultherapy vs Thermage comparison.
- InMode is the fat-and-contour specialist. It is chosen when fullness, not laxity, is the leading problem.
Many lower-face cases involve both fat and laxity, which is why our double chin guide treats the diagnosis, not the device, as the starting point. The doctor examines what is actually creating the contour before recommending a tool.
What a session is like
A session at the clinic follows the Dr. E Lifting Solution sequence: diagnosis first, then layer-specific energy delivery, then calming care. The treatment itself involves the handpiece working over the target area with a sensation of building warmth. Most patients find it tolerable without numbing, though comfort measures are available.
Afterwards, mild swelling, redness or minor bruising can occur and typically resolves within two to three days. On the treatment day, skip washing the area aggressively, makeup and saunas. Avoid alcohol for a few days and facial massage or high-heat treatments for a week. Any change builds gradually rather than appearing at once, and how much change occurs varies considerably from person to person.
If you are unsure whether your jawline concern is fat, laxity or both, that is precisely what the consultation determines. Message us on WhatsApp and our English-speaking coordination team will arrange a time that suits your schedule.
Double Chin or Soft Jawline: How FX and Forma Are Combined
The two InMode handpieces answer two different questions, and the consultation decides which applies to your lower face.
FX is the fat handpiece. Radiofrequency reaches the fat layer and creates a selective thermal effect on fat cells, which the body then clears over the following weeks. It is the handpiece that leads when the concern is a double chin, full lower cheeks or a thicker facial fat layer. Forma is the dermal handpiece. It heats the dermis evenly to stimulate collagen, tightening the skin that sits above the fat, and it leads when the concern is a jawline that has become less defined rather than fullness.
Many patients have both, which is why the usual plan at Dr. E-Laser Dermatology is to reduce the fullness with FX and then firm the skin above it with Forma in the same session. Where laxity dominates and there is little fat, InMode may add little and an ultrasound or radiofrequency lifting device is discussed instead. Fat under the chin is also the licensed indication for fat-dissolving injections in Korea, so for a chin-only concern both routes are set out at the consultation.
Who InMode suits, and who it does not
Energy-based devices are licensed in Korea with a stated intended use, and an intended use is not the same thing as a predicted result for your face. At consultation the doctor sets out what InMode is being used for in your case, what it is expected to change and what it is not, so you can tell the two apart before agreeing to anything.
Good candidates have localised facial fullness: under the chin, along the jaw, or in the lower cheeks, with reasonable skin quality above it.
Some cases call for a different plan. If laxity is the dominant problem, an ultrasound or radiofrequency lifting treatment is usually the better first step, and InMode may add little. Significant sagging is beyond any energy device, and the doctor will say so at consultation rather than sell a treatment that cannot deliver. InMode is also not a weight-loss method; it refines a contour, it does not change the scale.
Results build gradually and vary between patients. The practical point is that the full result appears well after your appointment, so the clinic follows up by WhatsApp with photo reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Does InMode hurt?
Most patients describe warmth that builds during the pass rather than pain. The sensation ends when the treatment does, and comfort measures are available for sensitive patients.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the amount of fullness and how your tissue responds. Some patients are treated in a single session, others benefit from a short series. The doctor sets expectations honestly at consultation.
How is InMode different from fat-dissolving injections?
The two work on the fat layer by different routes. InMode applies radiofrequency energy from outside the skin, while fat-dissolving injections use an injected solution. In Korea the licensed indication for injectable fat reduction is submental fat, the fullness under the chin, so the area involved is part of what determines which option is discussed with you, alongside your examination and your downtime tolerance.
Is there real downtime?
Little for most patients. Mild swelling or redness for two to three days is the common course, and normal routines resume quickly with heat and alcohol restrictions for the first days.
InMode at Dr. E-Laser Dermatology
Contour treatments succeed or fail at diagnosis, and that is where the clinic puts its emphasis. A doctor assesses whether fat, laxity or both are shaping your lower face, then builds the plan across the clinic’s full lifting lineup rather than around a single device. Costs for this category are covered in our treatment cost guide.
The clinic is located in Cheongdam, Seoul, a short walk from Apgujeong Rodeo Station, and English-speaking coordination is available by phone and WhatsApp from your first enquiry through to post-visit questions.
Many treatments can be completed in a single visit. We recommend booking in advance so a time can be secured that suits your schedule. Message us on WhatsApp to plan your visit.
About the Doctor
Dr. Kwangsuk Suh is a board-certified dermatologist and the medical director of Dr. E-Laser Dermatology. He is an adjunct clinical professor of dermatology at Kyung Hee University and Sungkyunkwan University colleges of medicine, and an active member of the Korean Association of Dermatologists, the Korean Association of Clinical Dermatologists, the Korean Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, and the Korean Society for Dermatologic and Cosmetic Surgery.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Outcomes vary between individuals, and a diagnosis and treatment plan are confirmed during an in-person consultation.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kwangsuk Suh, board-certified dermatologist.
