Skin Tightening for Foreigners in Tokyo: A Pre-Consultation Checklist

If you are an international patient considering skin tightening in Tokyo, a little preparation can make your consultation clearer and more useful. Explaining your goals, medical history and expectations in a second language can be harder than you expect, especially when you are also adjusting to a new clinic and a different medical system.

The most helpful preparation is to clarify what you want to change, gather your medical and treatment history, and decide which questions you need answered before you consent. These details help your physician judge whether skin tightening is appropriate, which treatment to discuss and what to avoid.

This checklist explains what to prepare before a skin tightening consultation at MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA in Ginza, Tokyo, including how we support communication in English and what to check about fees, recovery and follow-up.

Clarify Your Skin Tightening Goals Before the Consultation

Start by describing your concern in your own words. A clear description is more useful than the name of a treatment you have read about.

Your Main Concern and Treatment Area

Write down the area that bothers you most and what you notice there. For example:

• Loose or less firm skin on the cheeks
• A less defined jawline or fullness under the chin
• Fine lines or crepey texture on the face or neck
• Heaviness around the mouth or lower face

If you have more than one concern, rank them. Your physician can then focus on the area that matters most to you.

The Changes You Hope to See

Think about how much change you hope for. Some people want firmer-looking skin, while others want a more defined contour. Non-surgical skin tightening usually produces gradual, moderate changes and does not reproduce the result of a surgical facelift. Results vary by individual, so it helps to discuss expectations openly.

Photos of yourself from a few years ago can help explain how your face has changed. Choose photos with similar angles and lighting.

Prepare Your Medical and Treatment History

Your medical and treatment history affects whether a treatment is safe and suitable. Preparing it in advance, in English or Japanese, makes the consultation smoother.

Conditions, Medicines and Allergies to Report

Prepare a short list that includes:

• Medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, an autoimmune disease or a skin condition
• Implanted devices, such as a pacemaker, or metal in or near the treatment area
• All current medications, including anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, immunosuppressants, isotretinoin and topical products such as retinol or hydroquinone
• Allergies, including allergies to anesthetic agents or metals
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• A tendency toward keloids or raised scars

Write medication names as they appear on the package, because brand names differ from country to country.

Previous Treatments and Relevant Records

List cosmetic treatments you have received, including those performed outside Japan, with the approximate date, treatment area and, if you know it, the device or product name. This includes high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), radiofrequency (RF), laser treatments, fillers, Botox, thread lifts and surgery.

For safety, we are unable to provide treatment if any of the following apply:

• You have undergone a skin treatment, including laser treatment, at another medical institution within the past month.
• You have undergone HIFU or RF treatment within the past three months.
• You have experienced significant sun exposure or sunburn within the past month.

Even when these intervals have passed, your physician may advise against treatment if your skin condition is not suitable. Some treatments have additional restrictions, such as recent filler or Botox injections in the treatment area.

Plan Your Budget and Recovery Preferences

Knowing your budget and schedule before the consultation helps your physician suggest options that fit your situation.

Questions About the Total Cost

Cosmetic treatment at our clinic is self-pay and is not covered by Japanese public health insurance. Prices are in Japanese yen and include tax. Before you agree to treatment, ask:

• What is the total fee for the treatment area, shot count and provider in my plan?
• Are anesthesia or other options charged separately?
• Do any fees differ because I need language support?
• Which payment methods can I use?

Examples of our skin tightening fees are shown below.

Treatment	Area and quantity	Provider	Price (JPY, tax included)
Ultherapy PRIME	Full face including under the chin, 464 shots	Physician	¥347,270
Thermage FLX	Full face and under the chin, 300 shots	Physician	¥327,800
Sofwave	Full face + under the chin	Physician	¥308,000

Consultation and examination without treatment cost ¥11,000 (tax included). Because appointments requiring language support are scheduled for a longer consultation and treatment time, some fees differ from our standard pricing. Bookings made through partner services may also have different pricing. We accept cash and all major credit cards. Electronic payment services, such as PayPay and Alipay, are not accepted. See our English price list for all fees.

Work, Social Plans and Recovery Time

Tell your physician about upcoming events, work, flights and other travel plans. Skin tightening treatments can cause redness, swelling, tenderness, bruising, warmth or discomfort, and some treatments call for avoiding activities that raise your body temperature for a few days. Our medical team will consider your schedule when recommending when to have treatment and what follow-up may be needed.

Confirm How the Consultation Will Be Explained in English

Knowing in advance how communication will work helps you prepare and feel more confident during the consultation.

Booking With Language Support

We have English-speaking physicians and staff, and we can use translation tools to support communication in English and other languages. If you need language support, please book through the dedicated option for non-Japanese speakers on our online booking page, even if you live in Japan. We allocate a longer consultation time for these appointments.

Patients who do not speak English or Japanese are encouraged to attend with a professional medical interpreter. Please arrange the interpreter yourself. The interpreter should bring valid documentation of their professional qualifications, which we check on the day of the appointment.

To protect patient privacy, companions are generally not permitted inside the clinic, except for professional medical interpreters and essential caregivers. If two or more people wish to attend, each person needs a separate appointment.

Understanding Consent and Asking Follow-Up Questions

Before treatment, your physician explains the treatment plan, expected changes, limitations, potential risks and aftercare. If anything is unclear, ask for it to be explained again or in simpler terms. Do not agree to treatment until you understand:

• Which treatment, area, depth or shot count is planned
• What the treatment may and may not change
• The potential risks and side effects
• The total cost and the cancellation rules
• What to do after treatment and how to contact us

Some devices used for skin tightening have not been approved in Japan. For example, the Ultherapy PRIME and Thermage FLX devices used at our clinic have not been approved under Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act. They are FDA-cleared in the United States for their respective cleared uses, but FDA clearance does not constitute approval in Japan. The ULTRAcel Zi device has also not been approved under this Act; it is approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea. Ultherapy PRIME is obtained through Cynosure Japan / Syneron Candela K.K., Thermage FLX through JMEC Co., Ltd., and ULTRAcel Zi through Jeisys Medical Japan, Inc. Sofwave is approved in Japan for improving moderate to severe wrinkles of the face and neck by heating the dermis; this approval does not cover every lifting purpose or guarantee results. Ask your physician about the regulatory status of the device in your plan.

Your Pre-Consultation Checklist

Use this checklist to prepare for your appointment.

What to Bring and What to Ask

• A short description of your main concern and the areas you want to treat
• Photos of yourself from the past, if they help explain the change
• A list of medical conditions, medications and allergies
• A list of previous cosmetic treatments, with dates and product or device names
• Your travel dates and upcoming events
• Your budget and preferred payment method
• Questions about the plan, risks, total cost and aftercare
• Your interpreter’s qualification documents, if an interpreter is attending

Please cancel or change your appointment by 12 p.m. (noon) Japan Standard Time on the day before. Cancellations or changes on the day, or after noon on the day before, incur a fee of ¥5,500.

What If You Are Unsure Which Treatment You Need?

You do not need to choose a treatment before booking. After a consultation and examination, our medical team suggests options for your concerns and skin condition. At MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA, we offer several skin tightening treatments, including Ultherapy PRIME, Thermage FLX, Sofwave and ULTRAcel Zi, and we explain why one option may fit you better than another.

Questions About Preparing for Skin Tightening in Tokyo

These answers cover common questions from international patients.

1. Do I need to speak Japanese to have skin tightening at your clinic?

No. We have English-speaking physicians and staff, and we use translation tools to support communication in English and other languages. Patients who do not speak English or Japanese are encouraged to attend with a professional medical interpreter.

2. What should I tell the doctor about treatments I had in my home country?

Tell us the type of treatment, the date, the area treated and, if possible, the device or product name. Our safety intervals also apply to treatments received outside Japan, such as three months after HIFU or RF treatment.

3. How much does skin tightening cost, and is it covered by insurance?

Cosmetic skin tightening is self-pay and is not covered by Japanese public health insurance. For example, physician-performed Sofwave for the full face and under the chin costs ¥308,000, and physician-performed Thermage FLX for the full face and under the chin with 300 shots costs ¥327,800, both including tax. Some fees differ for appointments requiring language support.

4. Can I bring a friend or family member to the consultation?

Generally, no. Companions are not permitted inside the clinic, except for professional medical interpreters and essential caregivers. If a friend also wants a consultation, please make a separate appointment for each person.

5. What if I have concerns after I return home?

If you have questions or concerns after returning home, you can contact MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA by email or LINE. If you have symptoms that may need urgent care, such as severe pain, sudden swelling, bleeding, fever or signs of an allergic reaction, seek medical care promptly at a local healthcare facility.

Summary: Preparing for Skin Tightening Consultation in Tokyo

A productive skin tightening consultation starts with a clear description of your concern, a complete medical and treatment history, a realistic sense of the change you hope for, and questions about cost, recovery and consent.

At MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA, our physicians review this information, examine your skin and explain the options that fit your situation, including when a treatment may not be suitable. All treatments take place in fully private rooms.

We are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Japan Standard Time and closed on Sundays. You can reach us by phone at +81-3-6278-7073. Our clinic is on the 10th floor of the Maniera Ginza Building, 2-10-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, a 4-minute walk from Ginza Station Exit A13, a 2-minute walk from Ginza-itchome Station Exit A11 and a 3-minute walk from Higashi-Ginza Station Exit A2. Please review our information for international patients before booking.

To discuss skin tightening with our physicians, book a consultation with MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA.

References and Official Sources

• MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA Information for International Patients: language support, interpreters, eligibility criteria and payment
• MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA English price list: fees, anesthesia options and consultation fee as of October 2026
• MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA Ultherapy PRIME (HIFU): device features, precautions and regulatory disclosure
• MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA Thermage FLX: device features, precautions and regulatory disclosure
• MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA Sofwave (SUPERB): treatment areas, pain management, precautions and case information
• Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). Guide for when you are feeling ill: language support and costs at medical institutions in Japan
• American Academy of Dermatology. Many ways to firm sagging skin: what non-surgical tightening can and cannot do