Volnewmer vs Thermage: How Two Radiofrequency Lifts Compare
Medical Director Dr Sin Yong compares the CLASSYS Volnewmer and Thermage FLX, both used at IN Eternity Clinic, and explains how the choice follows the face.
WhatsApp to Enquire →Key facts ↓Volnewmer vs Thermage: both are monopolar radiofrequency devices that heat the dermis to tighten skin. Volnewmer uses continuous water cooling and powers the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift; Thermage FLX uses single-use tips with cryogen cooling.
- Volnewmer, as its maker describes it: monopolar radiofrequency at 6.78 MHz through a single electrode, continuous water cooling, and four tips, including a 0.25 cm2 tip for the eyes and a 16 cm2 tip for the body [1].
- Thermage FLX, as its maker describes it: an FDA-cleared monopolar radiofrequency device with integrated cooling and vibration, given as a single treatment with results appearing over two to six months [2].
- Cooling changes comfort: in 22 Asian women treated split-face, monopolar radiofrequency with continuous water cooling caused significantly less pain than cryogen spray cooling, with comparable lifting and wrinkle results at eight weeks [3].
- Technique changed tolerability: in a survey of 5,700 facial monopolar radiofrequency treatments, the share of patients finding treatment too painful fell from 45 in 100 to 5 in 100 with a low-energy, multiple-pass technique [4].
- Side effects are usually brief: in 50 patients given one monopolar radiofrequency treatment, redness and swelling were common and short-lived, with no scarring or pigment change at six months [5].
What is the difference between Volnewmer and Thermage?
Both heat the deep dermis with monopolar radiofrequency to tighten skin and prompt new collagen. They differ mainly in cooling, tips, how sessions are planned, and, at IN Eternity Clinic, the protocol each is used for.
Volnewmer is made by CLASSYS; Thermage FLX by Solta Medical. Both are offered here. Volnewmer is the platform for the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift, Dr Sin Yong’s protocol with Lift, Sculpt and Restore modes; Thermage FLX is used on its own for the face, eyelids and body. Other options are compared under lifting and tightening.
| CLASSYS Volnewmer | Thermage FLX | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Monopolar radiofrequency, 6.78 MHz | Monopolar radiofrequency |
| Surface cooling | Continuous water cooling through the tip | Cryogen spray with vibration |
| Tips | Eye, face-contour, face and body tips | Single-use tips for face, eyes and body |
| How it feels | Steady, building warmth | Pulses of building heat |
| Usual plan here | Two to four VF Lift – Vertical Facelift sessions, then annual maintenance | One session, review at about six months, repeat at about a year |
| Downtime | Mild redness and warmth; same-day return | Pinkness for hours; tenderness for a day or two |
| At IN Eternity | Platform for the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift | Thermage FLX face, eyes and body |
Do Volnewmer and Thermage work the same way?
Yes, at the level of biology. Monopolar radiofrequency heats a volume of tissue in the dermis and the fibrous bands beneath it; collagen contracts, and new collagen forms over the following months.
Both cool the surface so heat can build below it. Volnewmer does this with continuous water cooling through the tip [1]; Thermage FLX with cryogen spray and vibration with each pulse [2]. Radiofrequency is not absorbed by skin colour the way many lasers are, which is one reason both are used across Asian skin types. In a split-face trial, monopolar radiofrequency and focused ultrasound with imaging performed similarly over six months [6].
Is Volnewmer less painful than Thermage?
Many people find water-cooled radiofrequency more comfortable. In a split-face study in Asian women, continuous water cooling caused significantly less pain than cryogen spray cooling, with similar results [3].
Thermage treatment itself has become more comfortable over the years. A large survey found far fewer patients found treatment too painful once a low-energy, multiple-pass technique guided by heat feedback was adopted [4]. Numbing cream is used for most Thermage areas here, and heat is adjusted to your feedback through either session. Areas over bone, such as the jawline, tend to feel strongest on both.
How is Volnewmer used in the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift?
Through three modes chosen zone by zone: Lift tightens along vertical vectors, Sculpt flattens areas that pouch or bulge, and Restore is customised to hollows to help the patient’s own fat regenerate.
| Mode | What it does | Typical areas |
|---|---|---|
| Lift | Tightens and lifts along vertical vectors against the direction the face has descended | Jawline, nasolabial folds, overall definition |
| Sculpt | Flattens areas that pouch or bulge; does not affect facial hair | Puffy lower face, the bulge beside the nasolabial fold, double chin |
| Restore | Customised to hollows, helping the patient’s own fat regenerate over weeks | Temples, forehead, under the eyes, lateral cheeks, prejowl sulcus |
Thermage FLX is used differently: a single full session with several passes across the area, set going and then left to remodel. Neither approach is a substitute for surgery where skin excess is marked.
“People ask me which machine is stronger. Both heat the same layer. What differs is the face: a lean face that is losing volume and a fuller face with crepey skin need different plans, and the device follows that, not the other way round.”
Which is better for my face, Volnewmer or Thermage?
It depends on the face, not on the device. In leaner faces, or where hollows sit alongside laxity, Dr Sin Yong often prefers the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift on Volnewmer; in crepey skin or hooded eyelids, Thermage FLX.
| If your main concern is | Often considered | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lean face with hollows and early laxity | VF Lift – Vertical Facelift (Lift plus Restore) | Tightens without removing volume; Restore targets hollows |
| Puffy lower face or double chin with laxity | VF Lift – Vertical Facelift (Lift plus Sculpt) | Sculpt flattens pouching areas alongside lifting |
| Crepey skin, fine laxity across the face | Thermage FLX | A single full session across the area |
| Hooded upper eyelids, crepey lower lids | Thermage FLX Eye Tip | A dedicated small eyelid tip |
| Body areas such as tummy or arms | Either, planned at assessment | Both have body tips; the plan follows the area |
Where deeper support has descended, focused ultrasound may fit; see HIFU and Thermage vs HIFU vs Ultherapy.
How many sessions, and how much downtime, does each need?
Usually two to four VF Lift – Vertical Facelift sessions with annual maintenance on Volnewmer, versus one Thermage FLX session reviewed at about six months. Both usually allow a same-day return to normal activities.
After VF Lift – Vertical Facelift, mild redness and warmth with a tightened feel are usual, and slight tenderness along the jawline can occur. After Thermage, the skin is pink and warm for a few hours and may be tender for a day or two; eyelids can be puffy for a day or two after an eye session. The full picture is in Thermage downtime. With both, change builds over months as collagen renews, and side effects in studies have mostly been brief redness and swelling [5].
Is Volnewmer cheaper than Thermage?
The cost depends on the plan rather than the device: how many areas, how many sessions, which tips and whether other treatments are combined. Prices are not compared here.
Thermage FLX uses a single-use tip with a set pulse count, which shapes its cost; a VF Lift – Vertical Facelift course is planned by zones and sessions. Both are quoted after assessment, and the consultation fee is explained on fees. How Thermage cost is built up is in Thermage cost in Singapore.
What Dr Sin Yong looks for
- Where laxity sits, and whether hollows, puffiness or heavy skin excess are part of the picture.
- How much fat covers the cheeks and jaw, because lean faces are planned to protect volume.
- The eyelids: crepey or hooded skin that may suit a dedicated eye tip.
- Implants, pacemakers, recent fillers or threads, and metal in the area.
- Your tolerance for heat and how many visits suit you, which can steer between a course and a single session.
- At review, how firmness and volume have changed against the first photographs.
General clinical observations used at consultation; they describe what is checked, not any individual result.
Frequently asked questions
Is Volnewmer the same as Thermage?
No. Both are monopolar radiofrequency devices, but they are made by different companies and differ in cooling, tips and how treatment is planned.
Is Volnewmer a Korean Thermage?
It is a Korean monopolar radiofrequency device from CLASSYS, and it is often compared with Thermage. It uses continuous water cooling rather than cryogen spray.
Does IN Eternity Clinic offer both Volnewmer and Thermage?
Yes. Volnewmer is the platform for the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift, and Thermage FLX is offered for the face, eyelids and body.
Which hurts less, Volnewmer or Thermage?
Many people find water-cooled radiofrequency more comfortable; a split-face study in Asian women found less pain with water cooling. Heat is adjusted to your feedback with either.
How long do Volnewmer and Thermage results take?
Some tightening may be felt on the day, but the main change builds over months as collagen renews. Both are reviewed over that time.
Can Volnewmer and Thermage be combined?
They work on the same layer, so they are not usually stacked on the same area at the same time. A plan may use one for the face and the other for the eyelids, decided at assessment.
Which is better for eyelids?
Thermage FLX has a dedicated Eye Tip often used for crepey or hooded lids. Volnewmer also has a small eye tip, used near the eyes within the VF Lift – Vertical Facelift protocol.
Book an assessment
IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008. At IN Eternity Clinic a consultation fee applies, and it is waived if you go ahead with any medical treatment; the fee is S$120.
International KOL — CLASSYS · HIRONIC · DEKA · ALMA · FOTONA · LUTRONIC
References
- CLASSYS. Volnewmer, product overview (classys.com). Read 28 October 2026. classys.com
- Solta Medical. Thermage FLX, official product site (thermage.com). Read 29 October 2026. thermage.com
- Roh H, Lee YI, Lee SG, et al. Comparative analysis on the efficacy of monopolar radiofrequency with continuous water cooling and conventional cryogen spray cooling in facial rejuvenation. Ann Dermatol 2025;37(6):397-407. doi:10.5021/ad.25.166
- Dover JS, Zelickson B; 14-Physician Multispecialty Consensus Panel. Results of a survey of 5,700 patient monopolar radiofrequency facial skin tightening treatments: assessment of a low-energy multiple-pass technique […]. Dermatol Surg 2007;33(8):900-907. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2007.33191.x
- Alster TS, Tanzi E. Improvement of neck and cheek laxity with a nonablative radiofrequency device: a lifting experience. Dermatol Surg 2004;30(4):503-507. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2004.30164.x
- Alhaddad M, Wu DC, Bolton J, et al. A randomized, split-face, evaluator-blind clinical trial comparing monopolar radiofrequency versus microfocused ultrasound with visualization for lifting and tightening of the face and upper neck. Dermatol Surg 2019;45(1):131-139 (online 2018). doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000001653
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.