Shurink (Ultraformer MPT)

What it is

Shurink Universe is the commercial trade name for the Ultraformer MPT device manufactured by Classys Inc. (클래시스), a Seoul-based medical device company listed on KOSDAQ under ticker 214150. The device is the successor to the Ultraformer III, which was marketed in Korea as Shurink and established Classys as the country's HIFU market leader.

The defining innovation in Ultraformer MPT is Micro-Pulsed Technology, which allows two distinct energy delivery modes from the same cartridge. Normal/Dot mode produces focal precision treatment. MP/Line mode delivers broader heated coagulation lines at approximately 2.5 times the speed of Normal mode without changing the cartridge.

The system supports ten cartridge types covering different treatment depths. Face cartridges include 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, 3.0 mm, and 4.5 mm. Body cartridges include 6.0 mm, 9.0 mm, and 13.0 mm. A booster pen-type covers 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm, and 4.5 mm. Energy output ranges from 0.1 J to 2.0 J per pulse.

By May 2023, Shurink Universe topped global sales in the Ultraformer series. Cumulative sales of the entire Ultraformer product family exceeded 13,000 units globally as of March 2023, per Classys' 2022 annual report.

How it works

Shurink Universe delivers high-intensity focused ultrasound that creates thermal coagulation points (TCPs) at precise depths within the dermis and subdermal layers. The 4.5 mm cartridge targets the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), the connective tissue plane responsible for facial structural support that surgeons release and reposition in a facelift. TCPs heat target tissue to roughly 65 to 70 degrees Celsius, producing immediate collagen contraction followed by a wound-healing cascade that drives neocollagenesis (new Type I and Type III collagen synthesis) over eight to twelve weeks.

The 1.5 mm cartridge targets the superficial dermis for wrinkle refinement. The 3.0 mm cartridge targets the deep dermis. The 4.5 mm cartridge targets the SMAS for lifting. The 6.0 to 13.0 mm cartridges reach subcutaneous and deeper body fat layers used in body contouring rather than facial work.

SMAS targeting distinguishes HIFU lifting from superficial radiofrequency treatments such as Thermage. It also makes anatomical knowledge of regional SMAS depth variation important for avoiding the marginal mandibular nerve and other facial nerve branches. A 2022 Dermatologic Surgery anatomical study by Korean authors documented the clinical implication of SMAS thickness variation across the lower face for HIFU treatment planning.

Origin and development

Classys Inc. was founded in January 2007 in Seoul. The first-generation Ultraformer received MFDS and Korean GMP approval in February 2012 and CE certification in March 2015. The Ultraformer III (Shurink) launched in August 2014 and made Classys the dominant Korean HIFU brand. Ultraformer MPT (Shurink Universe) received MFDS and Korean GMP approval in October 2021 with commercial launch in Korea in January 2022.

Classys listed on KOSDAQ in December 2017 and joined the KOSDAQ Global Segment in November 2022. In November 2023, Classys' separate body contouring device SCIZER received FDA 510(k) clearance K230100 for non-invasive waist circumference reduction. This clearance is specifically not for Shurink Universe and not for facial lifting.

In 2025 a US Investigational Device Exemption study (NCT07229430) was initiated for the next-generation ULTRAFORMER MPT PLUS, comparing it with Ultherapy for submental and neck lifting. This is the first regulatory pathway by Classys toward US clearance for an HIFU lifting indication.

Regulatory status

Typical protocol

A standard full-face Shurink Universe protocol uses the 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm, and 4.5 mm cartridges, with body cartridges added for neck and décolleté work.

• Total shots: 300 to 1,000 depending on target area and clinical goal
• Session duration: 30 to 60 minutes
• Anesthesia: topical numbing cream applied 30 minutes prior. High-shot-count protocols may add nerve blocks
• Downtime: mild redness and swelling for hours. Possible transient welt formation along treatment lines, typically resolving within 24 to 48 hours
• Onset of effect: immediate tightening from thermal contraction; full collagen remodeling at 8 to 12 weeks
• Frequency: a single annual or biannual session is typical
• Duration of result: 9 to 18 months

Commonly reported effects

Intended effects documented in published clinical studies and the manufacturer's clinical materials include skin lifting and tightening of the jowl, jawline, cheek, neck, and brow via SMAS-level ultrasound, progressive collagen remodeling visible at 8 to 12 weeks, and pore refinement from dermal-level cartridges.

Documented adverse events from Korean real-world clinical surveys include the following.

• Lipoatrophy is the most frequently reported adverse event for HIFU treatments. It occurs when deep cartridges inadvertently target the subcutaneous fat layer in thin-skinned persons.
• Welt formation (transient linear wheals along treatment lines) is reported and typically resolves within hours to days.
• Perioral asymmetry is rare but documented, indicating possible marginal mandibular nerve involvement from 4.5 mm SMAS-depth shots in incorrect anatomical positions.

Findings from a 2024 PMC review of real-world clinical practice on skin rejuvenation among Korean physicians inform the adverse event profile above. The published evidence base for HIFU at SMAS depth is supportive of efficacy with a favorable safety profile when treatment is delivered with appropriate anatomical knowledge.

Korea vs US availability

Per 모두닥 (Modoodoc) 2026 platform data, Shurink Universe sessions vary widely by shot count and clinic tier. A 300-shot session ranges from approximately ₩99,000 to ₩198,000 at event pricing. Higher-tier clinics in Cheongdam and Apgujeong charge correspondingly more, particularly for higher shot counts and combined-modality protocols.

There is no US brand equivalent of Shurink Universe. Generic HIFU sessions in the United States typically run $500 to $2,000 per session. Shurink Universe is not widely available in US clinics and lacks FDA clearance for facial lifting, which limits the claims a US clinic can make about it.

International clients seek Shurink Universe in Korea for three reasons. First, the price differential versus comparable Ultherapy treatment in the United States is substantial. Second, Korean clinics have built procedural fluency in HIFU treatment planning that has not transferred at scale to other markets. Third, Korean clinics commonly bundle HIFU with skin boosters, exosomes, or microneedling as combined-modality packages.

What to research before

Before booking Shurink Universe in Korea:

• Verify the clinic and operator. SMAS-depth ultrasound treatment depends on operator knowledge of facial nerve anatomy. Our credential verification guide covers KSPRS and dermatology specialty registries.
• Confirm the device generation. Shurink Universe (Ultraformer MPT) is the current generation. Older Ultraformer III machines are still in service at some clinics. The cartridge mode and dose ranges differ.
• Confirm shot count and cartridge plan up front. Pricing is shot-count driven. A 300-shot session is materially different from a 600- or 1,000-shot session. Ask which cartridges will be used and how many shots per cartridge.
• Be cautious of "FDA-approved Shurink" claims. Shurink Universe is not FDA-cleared for facial lifting. Ultherapy is the only HIFU device with that specific US clearance.
• Understand the timeline. Lifting effect develops over 8 to 12 weeks, not immediately. Expect a single annual or biannual session rather than a recurring monthly schedule.
• See also: our Korean Surgery Safety Guide and red flags guide.

Related procedures

• Ultherapy — competing HIFU device, FDA-cleared for facial lifting
• Thermage — radiofrequency-based skin tightening; superficial mechanism, complementary use
• Thread lifts — mechanical lifting via PDO/PLLA/PCL filaments; different mechanism
• Facelift surgery — surgical SMAS repositioning when non-invasive lift is insufficient
• Skin boosters and HIFU combined protocols — common Korean clinical pairing

Sources

1. Classys Inc. Annual Report 2022. https://eclassys.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/460/2024/02/CLASSYS-2022-Annual-Report_Eng_vF.pdf
2. Classys Inc. ULTRAFORMER MPT official product page. https://classys.com/product/ultraformer-mpt/
3. Lee H et al. Clinical Implication of the Regional Thickness of the Lower Facial SMAS for HIFU Treatment. Dermatologic Surgery 2022;48(5):527–531. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35093961/
4. Real-World Clinical Practice on Skin Rejuvenation Among Korean Physicians. PMC 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12117550/
5. FDA 510(k) K230100, SCIZER (Classys Inc.), cleared November 3, 2023. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf23/K230100.pdf
6. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07229430. ULTRAFORMER MPT PLUS Safety and Effectiveness Study (IDE #G250041). https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07229430
7. Classys Sustainability Report 2023. https://classys.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/CLASSYS_Sustainability_Report_2023_ENG_vF.pdf
8. 모두닥 (Modoodoc), 슈링크 가격정보 2026. https://www.modoodoc.com/blog/price-detail