How long does a Sofwave appointment take?
| Step | What happens | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival and forms | Medical history, current medicines, consent form, payment terms | Ask the clinic; bring your list ready |
| Consultation | The doctor examines the face and neck and confirms areas, applicator and plan | Varies; do not let it be rushed |
| Photographs | Standard views for later comparison | Short |
| Cleansing and numbing cream | Make-up removed; numbing cream applied, then removed and the skin prepared before treatment | Ask the clinic how long its numbing cream needs to work |
| Treatment | The applicator is passed across each planned zone | 30–45 minutes for most treatments, per the manufacturer |
| Check and aftercare | Skin checked and aftercare explained | Short |
The treatment time comes from the manufacturer’s patient FAQ (Sofwave patient FAQ, checked 18 October 2026). Numbing time varies with the cream and the clinic, so ask when you book.
What should you bring and tell the clinic?
- Your passport and the booking confirmation.
- A written list of medicines and supplements, plus allergies, especially to local anaesthetics.
- Recent treatments on the face or neck, such as fillers, threads, toxin injections or lasers, with approximate dates.
- Pregnancy, skin infections, open wounds or implants in or near the treatment area.
- Your flight date, so aftercare and follow-up can be planned around it.
Does Sofwave hurt?
Expect a sensation of heat with each pulse. The manufacturer describes a warm sensation and the use of a topical anaesthetic cream just before treatment. Studies give a more concrete picture of the range, on a 0 to 10 scale:
| Study | Area treated | Average pain (0–10) |
|---|---|---|
| 36 participants, Thailand (2023) | Lower face folds | 6.64 |
| 15 participants, United States (2023) | Brow, under the chin and neck | 5.6 |
| 14 participants, Thailand (2025) | Facial acne scars | 3.94 |
| 60 participants, United States (2025) | Thighs and buttocks (body handpiece) | 4.26 |
Sources, in table order[1][2][3][4]. For comparison, a meta-analysis of microfocused ultrasound (the Ultherapy type of HIFU) found a pooled average of 4.85[5]. In other words, expect moderate discomfort rather than a sensation-free hour; the published averages differ by area and by study.
What helps with the discomfort?
Numbing cream is standard. Cold air may add something with this device: in a randomised split-arm trial, adding forced cold air to numbing cream eased pain during parallel-beam ultrasound[6]. With microfocused ultrasound, which aims deeper, cold air made no significant difference, because surface cooling does not reach the target depth[7]. Before the first pass, agree how you will signal that a pass is too intense.
What happens during the treatment itself?
The doctor or operator moves the applicator across each planned zone in passes. The FDA 510(k) summary describes the applicator as an array of ultrasound transducers working at 10 to 12 MHz with an active cooling element that cools the skin it touches (FDA 510(k) summary K250146, checked 18 October 2026). For small, curved areas the manufacturer offers a compact applicator called Precise (manufacturer release, March 2023, checked 18 October 2026). If two applicators are planned, you may see a change partway through.
How will your skin look when you leave?
Expect pinkness and perhaps mild puffiness. The manufacturer says mild redness or swelling typically settles within a few hours and that normal activities can resume straight away. In the Hong Kong study of Asian patients, redness was noted in 50% and swelling in 7.2% right after treatment, and both had resolved by the follow-up visits[8].
What should you take home from the clinic?
- A short treatment record: device name, applicator, areas treated and amount of treatment. Article 21 of the Medical Service Act gives patients the right to see or copy their own records (Medical Service Act, checked 18 October 2026).
- The aftercare sheet, in a language you read.
- A named contact and channel for questions after you fly home.
- The date for your result review, and how to send photos for it.
Can I wear make-up after Sofwave?
Follow the clinic’s aftercare sheet. The manufacturer says no special post-treatment care is required, so the question is mostly about the redness: waiting until it settles is the simple choice.
Can I have the consultation and treatment on the same day?
Yes, if you book both in advance and the doctor agrees Sofwave suits you. Leave room in your schedule in case the doctor wants to change the plan.