I Saw Lee Min Ho And Jun Ji Hyun IRL Talk About Their Lifting Treatment—And Why You Might Want To Try It Too

Meet Ultherapy PRIME.

Published on Aug 14, 2025

ILLUSTRATION: Ica del Mundo

It may have been yesterday, a few months ago, or maybe a year from now—but we'll all get to the point where we notice how our skin has changed over time. Maybe your cheeks feel a little less plump, or your pores a little more noticeable. One of the first signs of aging is when the skin starts to sag, which also contributes to fine lines and more visible (dilated) pores. At first, it’s subtle, but over time it can show up as slight asymmetry in your facial shape, sometimes accompanied by jowls around your neck.

You can always slow things down with gua sha, facial exercises, and consistent skincare. But when your skin could use a little extra lift, there are treatments like Ultherapy PRIME that can help tighten and smooth areas that naturally start to sag.

So what is Ultherapy PRIME?

Ultherapy PRIME, developed by Merz Aesthetics®, is a non-invasive lifting and tightening treatment that uses ultrasound technology to target the deeper layers of the skin—the ones rich in collagen and elastin—helping stimulate natural production for long-lasting lifted results.

And fun fact: Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun are the faces of the brand's "See Skin, Lift My Way" campaign. On July 11 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Cosmopolitan Philippines got a front-row look at the treatment's official launch in the Asia-Pacific region—and even saw the regional ambassadors showing off its effects in real time.

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Ultherapy PRIME APAC ambassadors Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun. PHOTOS: Alyana Olivar

Lee Min Ho, who's known for his roles in The King: The Eternal Monarch (2020), The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), and Boys Over Flowers (2009), is already in his late 30s—but you'd never guess it if you saw him IRL. His chiseled appearance and smooth skin show that he's taken care of himself to keep that youthful appearance. It doesn't hurt that he's also been the face of Ultherapy for three years now.

"As we celebrate the confidence that comes from loving our prime, I feel empowered to evolve in a way that feels right for me through a personalized approach with Ultherapy PRIME that's tailored to my skin's specific needs," the actor said at the launch of Ultherapy PRIME.

His former Legend of the Blue Sea co-star Jun Ji Hyun also looked like she just came fresh from the set of their show—that's how youthful she appears, even after all these years. The 43-year-old actress, who officially joined the Ultherapy family in February, is the perfect example that you can't fake having great skin—you need to work hard to achieve and maintain it over the years.

During the launch, she said: "As I step into each phase of life with confidence and embark on an ongoing evolution to become my best self, I am empowered to trust the journey and Love My Prime."

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(L-R) Ultherapy PRIME APAC ambassadors Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun grace the launch of the treatment at Grand Hyatt Seoul on July 11. PHOTO: Courtesy of Merz Aesthetics®

What are the benefits of Ultherapy PRIME?

To sum it up: personalization. Since our skin and appearances are all unique, Ultherapy PRIME stands out as a hyper-personalized skin-lifting solution. It uses real-time imaging to design a treatment plan based on your skin's specific needs—so it's not your typical one-size-fits-all approach.

But there are other reported benefits too. For one thing, you only need one session of this treatment. Yep, you don't have to keep going back every few weeks before it takes effect.

Plus, Ultherapy PRIME is supposedly faster compared to Ultherapy (its previous iteration) and has zero downtime. More on that in a bit!

Who are the best candidates for Ultherapy PRIME?

Since it's a skin-lifting treatment, Ultherapy PRIME is ideal for anyone noticing sagging around the lower face, temples, or neck. It can also help smooth fine lines and wrinkles on the décolletage.

But since Ultherapy PRIME promises hyper-personalized treatments and lasting results, anyone in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond can enjoy the treatment's lifting effects—as long as you have an in-depth consult with your aesthetic doctor before you take the plunge, ofc!

What's the difference between the OG Ultherapy vs. Ultherapy PRIME?

TBH, it's all about the screen—and the machine! Ultherapy PRIME comes with a cool new device that lets aesthetic doctors see the different layers of your skin in real-time. That means they can target the collagen- and elastin-rich layers deep in your skin with pinpoint precision.

And this is where the hyper-personalization comes in. You can choose to focus on lifting your neck and jawline while leaving your cheeks alone. Want to tone your décolletage for strapless tops but keep everything above the neck untouched? You can totally do that too.

Plus, the new Ultherapy PRIME machine is quieter, faster, and more efficient than the previous version—so your session is smoother all around.

Minutes before we met Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun in person! PHOTO: Alyana Olivar

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One of the many(!) photos of Lee Min Ho around the event space. PHOTO: Courtesy of Merz Aesthetics®

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Singaporean TikTok content creator Darshen K. (and Ultherapy PRIME user!) graced the event with his bright smile. PHOTO: Courtesy of Courtesy of Merz Aesthetics®

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Everyone struck a pose in front of the photo wall! PHOTO: Courtesy of Courtesy of Merz Aesthetics®

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The AR Room at the Ultherapy PRIME event. PHOTO: Courtesy of Merz Aesthetics®

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Cosmopolitan Philippines' Asst. Managing Editor Alyana Olivar's AR Billboard at the Ultherapy PRIME event. PHOTO: Alyana Olivar

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Where can I get legit Ultherapy PRIME treatments in the Philippines?

Fun fact: Merz Aesthetics® issues an Ultherapy PRIME seal and certificate to providers who have undergone rigorous training! So if you see a clinic that has both, you can be at peace knowing you're in safe hands. You can also check the full list of Certified Ultherapy PRIME providers on their website.

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Alyana is the Asst. Managing Editor of Cosmopolitan Philippines. If she's not testing the latest beauty drops, she's playing with her two cats and three dogs.