Key summary
Shurink is a lifting treatment that uses focused ultrasound (HIFU) to deliver heat to deep layers of the skin and refine a sagging contour. Clinics explain that you will still feel a prickling sensation and heat even if you receive it after applying numbing cream. Many clinics allow face washing and makeup from the same day, but for saunas and exercise the guidance varies by clinic, from 2 to 3 days up to 1 week. The duration of the effect also differs depending on clinic guidance: 6 to 12 months in some, and 12 to 18 months in others. Ask the clinic where you plan to be treated directly about the anesthesia method, the aftercare period, how long the effect lasts, and when to repeat the treatment.
01 What kind of treatment is Shurink, and how is Shurink Universe different?
Shurink is a treatment performed with a focused ultrasound device made by Classys Inc. In the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) database, the original Shurink is registered under Manufacturing permit 14-1422 and Shurink Universe under Manufacturing permit 21-831, and both are Class 3 focused ultrasound stimulation systems. A permit number means the device is a medical device that may be used in Korea; it does not guarantee the effect or the skill of a clinic.
The differences between Universe and the original that clinics describe are treatment speed and handpieces.
- S-Reborn Clinic Hongdae: With bidirectional treatment, the delivery speed becomes 2.5 times faster, and 300 shots are completed in 3 to 4 minutes.
- Angelmi Clinic: The speed is more than twice as fast, and it uses 2 types of handpieces and 7 types of cartridges.
- Evia Clinic: It combines gun-type and pen-type handpieces.
These are all descriptions of treatment time and device configuration, not evidence that the effect is better.
02 How painful is it, and how is anesthesia done?
Clinics describe the pain as follows.
- Link Plastic Surgery Clinic: Brief stinging and heat are expected, with a stronger sensation from the deeper 4.5mm cartridge. Topical numbing cream is standard, with pain medication or light sedation available as options.
- Reberry Clinic: Numbing cream is applied for 30~40 minutes. The clinic describes mild-to-moderate pain and discusses additional options for sensitive patients.
- S-Reborn Clinic Hongdae and Angelmi Clinic: Both describe less pain without specifying an anaesthetic method. This comparison is with the original Shurink.
- YOU&I Clinic Konkuk University: Pain depends on sensitivity, the treatment area and the energy settings.
What the reviews say
Among the first 120 Shurink reviews in the Gangnam Unni list, 46 mentioned pain.
- Painful: 28 reviews, including 10 describing severe pain.
- Tingling, aching or tolerable pain: 12 reviews.
- Almost painless: 5 reviews.
- Pain continuing after treatment: 1 review.
On Maypure's clinic-run review board, 39 of 52 Shurink posts mentioned pain, and none described severe pain. Read the different patterns together.
03 When can I wash my face, wear makeup, use a sauna or exercise?
Instructions for washing and makeup are similar, but the restrictions on saunas and exercise differ.
- [Reberry Clinic](/ko/clinics/clinic-eecb3be0f009): Face washing and makeup are allowed on the same day. Rest from saunas, jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouses), strenuous exercise, and alcohol for 2 to 3 days.
- [Link Plastic Surgery Clinic](/ko/clinics/clinic-e4ed8a05d72d): Makeup is allowed right after the procedure. The clinic advises avoiding alcohol and smoking for 2 to 3 days, and saunas and hot baths for 1 week.
- [S-Reborn Clinic Hongdae](https://www.s-reborn.com/brandings/13): Face washing and makeup are allowed right after the procedure, and lukewarm water is recommended for washing for 3 days. Rest from strenuous exercise, alcohol, saunas, and jjimjilbang for 1 week.
Looking at the instructions from other clinics as well reveals differences in the length of the restrictions.
- Evia Clinic: The precautions shown on the page say 3 to 4 days, while the procedure guidance data on the same page says 1 week (avoid saunas, alcohol, high-intensity exercise, and peeling).
- Reberry Clinic's Shurink Universe information page: Avoid saunas, jjimjilbang, and strenuous exercise for 3 days, and strong massage for 1 week.
- Angelmi Clinic: For about a week, avoid strong stimulation such as touching the skin or removing dead skin cells, and cut back on saunas, smoking, and alcohol.
Even within the same clinic, the periods differ, so when you book, ask separately about saunas, exercise, and alcohol.
04 How long do redness and swelling last, and which symptoms should I report?
Clinics say that redness, tenderness, and swelling subside within a few days. Link Plastic Surgery Clinic says they last 1 to 2 days and return to normal within 3 days, while Reberry Clinic says they last from several hours to several days.
In the reviews, recovery speed varies like this.
What to tell the clinic before the procedure
- Link Plastic Surgery Clinic does not perform the procedure if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a cardiac pacemaker or a metal implant in the treatment area.
- YOU&I Clinic Konkuk University explains that if the energy is set too high, the risk of temporary nerve irritation or hollowing of the cheeks increases.
What to contact the clinic about right after the procedure
If pain worsens, skin colour changes, blisters develop or sensation feels abnormal, contact the treating clinic without waiting. Reberry Clinic also advises contacting the clinic if abnormal symptoms persist.
05 When does the effect appear, and how long does it last?
[Reberry Clinic](/ko/clinics/clinic-eecb3be0f009) says changes begin after 1~2 weeks and last 6~12 months.
[Link Plastic Surgery Clinic](/ko/clinics/clinic-e4ed8a05d72d) says changes settle over 2~3 months and become clear at 6 months. It describes a duration of 12~18 months.
The same Link Plastic Surgery Clinic page recommends both 4~6-month and 12~18-month intervals. Because its own recommendations differ, ask about repeat-treatment timing at the first consultation.
A literature review described effects at 90 days that continued up to 1 year, but did not include longer follow-up, and most studies used Ultherapy. The clinics' stated 12~18 months are their own guidance.
06 When do reviews say the effect becomes noticeable?
Of the 8 reviews below, 4 described changes to their facial contour around 1 month. One said the contour began to improve at week 2. Another described a change after 1 week, while other posts described an improvement the next day that seemed to reverse after 1 week, or minimal change despite 600 shots. These 8 experiences are not interpreted as an effect rate or average onset for all users.
Maypure's review board is run on the clinic's own website. Of 52 Shurink posts, 18 still contained writing instructions and 8 left the branch as 'Maypure OO'. Read these separately from independent patient reviews.
07 How should I choose Shurink for my situation?
If your jawline and cheeks are sagging
Reberry Clinic offers 100 to 300 shots for partial areas and 300 to 600 shots for the whole face, while Link Plastic Surgery Clinic starts at 300 shots and increases to 600 or 1000 shots. What matters is whether the clinic explains how many shots it will use on which area.
If you are unsure whether more shots are better
YOU&I Clinic Konkuk University states that more shots do not necessarily improve the result, and that the depth and energy used for each area matter more. If your face has little fat, first ask which layer the sagging comes from and how the energy will be adjusted.
If you hesitate because you are worried about pain
Compare, clinic by clinic, whether only numbing cream is used or whether you can also choose pain medication or sedation options. Link Plastic Surgery Clinic describes a sedation option, and Reberry Clinic describes additional options. Before you book, also check whether the intensity can be lowered if it hurts.
If you are deciding between Ulthera and Thermage
Link Plastic Surgery Clinic explains that, compared with Ulthera, it allows more shots, is well suited to wider areas, and puts a relatively smaller burden of pain on the patient. Because this comparison is the clinic's own explanation, compare the pain and recovery period of each device on the same basis in the Ulthera article and the Thermage article.
Common misconceptions
The advertising phrase "less pain" does not mean it is painless. S-Reborn Clinic Hongdae and Angelmi Clinic say this in comparison with the existing Shrink treatment.
There is not enough evidence for the claim that "one session lasts more than a year." Clinic guidance varies, so decide the timing of a repeat treatment at a follow-up visit.
In summary
Shrink is a procedure to choose with three things in mind together: a stinging pain and a sensation of heat, 2 days to 1 week of activity restrictions, and changes that unfold over several months. Many items are explained differently from one clinic to another, so asking directly about anesthesia, when you can return to saunas and exercise, and when your follow-up visit is scheduled becomes the standard for comparison. Decide how long the effect lasts at a follow-up visit, where your own skin is examined, rather than from the numbers in advertisements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does applying numbing cream mean Shrink won't hurt?
Even with numbing cream applied, there are moments that hurt. Pain varies with the treatment area and the energy level, so ask beforehand whether the energy will be lowered if it hurts.
Can I put on makeup right after Shrink?
Reberry Clinic, Link Plastic Surgery Clinic, and S-Reborn Clinic Hongdae advise that makeup is allowed on the same day or right after treatment. S-Reborn Clinic Hongdae also allows washing your face, but recommends using lukewarm water for 3 days.
How many days should I avoid saunas and exercise after Shrink?
Reberry Clinic advises avoiding saunas and strenuous exercise for 2 to 3 days, and S-Reborn Clinic Hongdae advises 1 week. Link Plastic Surgery Clinic also advises avoiding saunas and hot baths for 1 week.
How long do swelling and redness last after Shrink?
Link Plastic Surgery Clinic explains that redness and tenderness continue for 1 to 2 days and settle within 3 days. If you have blisters, abnormal sensation, or pain that keeps getting worse, do not wait; tell the clinic that performed the treatment.
How many months does the effect of Shrink last, and when should I have it done again?
Reberry Clinic advises that the effect lasts 6 to 12 months, and Link Plastic Surgery Clinic advises 12 to 18 months. The interval between repeat treatments is separate from how long the effect lasts. Link Plastic Surgery Clinic's guidance also lists both 4 to 6 months and 12 to 18 months, so ask for a specific plan when you make your appointment.
Is Shrink Universe less painful than the original Shrink?
S-Reborn Clinic Hongdae and Angelmi Clinic state that the shorter treatment time reduces pain. This is the clinics' own explanation, and the sources cited in this article include no study that compared the two devices under the same conditions.
Pre-consultation checklist
- □ Did they explain the number of shots and the cartridge depth to be used on your area of concern?
- □ Did you ask whether pain relievers or sedation options are available in addition to numbing cream?
- □ Were you told how many days afterward you can resume sauna use, exercise, and alcohol, each separately?
- □ Did you tell them if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a pacemaker, or have a metal implant?
- □ Were you told, based on the clinic's standards, when follow-up visits and repeat treatment would occur?
- □ Were you told whom to contact if any abnormal symptoms occur?
Sources and verification date
Data as of: 2026-10-22.
- Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Medical Device UDI Search. This is material confirming the domestic approval registration of Shurink (manufacturing permit 14-1422) and Shurink Universe (manufacturing permit 21-831). It does not guarantee effectiveness or safety.
- PMID 36674277, Public full text. A 2023 literature review of ultrasound lifting that analyzed 16 studies. It is used only as evidence for how long the effect lasts; most of the studies are on Ulthera, and the results are not specific to Shurink alone.
- Reberry Clinic Shurink guide, Shurink Universe guide. This is the clinic's information on anesthesia, aftercare, number of shots, and duration of effect. Both the guide page common to all 6 branches and the Yeongjong Island branch page were read.
- Link Plastic Surgery Clinic Shurink Universe guide. This is the clinic's information on pain, aftercare, duration of effect, and people who are excluded from the treatment.
- S-Reborn Clinic Hongdae guide, Angelmi Clinic guide, Evia Clinic Shurink Universe guide. This is information on the Universe device configuration and aftercare.
- Gangnam Unni Shurink reviews. After logging in, the first 120 reviews in the list were classified by how they described pain, and the original text was quoted. These are users' personal experiences and are not evidence of effectiveness.
- Babitalk Shurink Procedure Reviews. Read while logged in; from the 183 reviews labeled as Shurink, I quoted the posts that described pain, recovery, and when the effect appeared.
- Maypure Lifting Review Board. This is a patient review board that the clinic runs on its own website. From the 52 posts with Shurink in the title, I quoted 4 original texts about pain, anesthesia, recovery, and when the effect appeared. Because the clinic runs the board and uses a writing template, it is hard to regard these as independent reviews.
- YOU&I Clinic Konkuk University Shurink Universe Guide Post. This is a guide post on the clinic's official domain, not a procedure menu page.
Editorial responsibility and interests
The Korea Beauty Report editorial team handled the writing and editing. No medical professional directly reviewed this article, and there is no contract, advertising, or financial relationship with the clinics introduced.
The clinic information is organized as each clinic published it and does not guarantee the clinic's skill or treatment results. Where figures differ between clinics, they are presented side by side without interpretation or averaging. Review texts are quoted word for word with nicknames and photos removed, and they were not used as evidence of effectiveness or of clinic rankings. Gangnam Unni and Babitalk were read while logged in. First published: 2026-10-22. Last source check: 2026-10-22.