Skip the scalpel: Growing preference for non-surgical aesthetic treatment drives Ultherapy sales
Its next-generation upgrade, Ultherapy Prime, is positioned as a tool for enhanced personalisation
[SEOUL] Increasing demand for personalised and non-surgical approaches to skin tightening will drive sustained growth across the region for Merz Aesthetics, the company behind non-invasive skin-lifting device, Ultherapy.
The maker of both energy-based devices and injectables for skin rejuvenation is also working on combination solutions, which bridge the gap between non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments that can deliver more tailored, natural-looking results.
This comes as the global aesthetics market is estimated to exceed US$100 billion by 2030, says Dr Owen Sunga, Merz Aesthetics’ senior vice-president of regional scientific and clinical services, Asia-Pacific.
“The local market is projected to grow steadily, supported by high consumer demands and technological advancements,” he tells The Business Times in an e-mail following the official launch in July of Ultherapy Prime in Seoul.
Ultherapy Prime is the evolution of Ultherapy, a US Food and Drug Administration-cleared, non-invasive ultrasound device that delivers localised heating to stimulate collagen formation for skin tightening and lifting.
The latest version comes with enhancements including a 35 per cent larger screen and an ultrasound field that’s twice as big, allowing for more precise targeting of collagen-rich tissue layers. The upgrades are supposed to reduce treatment time and unnecessary discomfort, with the real-time visualisation supporting better personalisation by optimising energy delivery.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm
Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
Ultherapy Prime was launched in Singapore in late 2024, the first market in the Asia-Pacific region to use the next-generation technology. The new upgrade has also accelerated adoption of Ultherapy in key markets, with Merz Aesthetics notching consistent year-on-year sales growth, says Dr Sunga.
The device’s biggest markets are the US, South Korea and South-east Asia, with the Asia-Pacific emerging as one of its fastest-growing regions due to rising demand for non-invasive aesthetic solutions and a growing middle-class consumer base. To date, Ultherapy has been adopted by “thousands of clinics” globally, with over three million treatments performed worldwide, adds Dr Sunga.
The world’s largest dedicated medical aesthetics business, Merz Aesthetics is part of the family-owned Merz Group, which was founded in 1908 and based in Frankfurt, Germany.
Apart from Ultherapy, its portfolio of skin care treatments includes Belotero hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, calcium hydroxylapatite-based filler Radiesse and purified botulinum toxin Xeomin for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe lines.
The Seoul event was attended by Ultherapy Prime Asia-Pacific brand ambassadors South Korean actors Lee Min-ho and Jun Ji-hyun, as well as aesthetic doctors and the media.
Merz Aesthetics also released the results of a survey it completed in November 2024. Insights from more than 1,500 consumers across the Asia-Pacific showed 80 per cent are willing to pay more for personalised treatments, while over 70 per cent of the 107 aesthetic healthcare professionals polled see treatment personalisation as a key selling point.
“With personalisation at the heart of aesthetics treatments today, our research underscores the critical role that tailored treatments play in both patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes,” says Dr Sunga.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
