Sofwave for Neck Wrinkles in Tokyo: What to Discuss at Your Consultation

Neck wrinkles can look similar in photos, but they do not all have the same cause. Fine creases in the skin, deeper horizontal lines, vertical bands that appear when you tense your neck, and loose skin beneath the chin each call for a different assessment.

Sofwave can be discussed for neck wrinkles that mainly involve the skin itself, but it is not the right fit for every neck concern. In Japan, the Sofwave system is approved for improving moderate to severe wrinkles of the face and neck by heating the dermis with ultrasound. Whether it suits you depends on the type of wrinkle, your skin condition, your treatment history, and the change you hope to see.

This guide explains what to discuss before Sofwave neck treatment at MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA in Tokyo, including how we assess your neck, how the treatment area is planned, what the treatment costs, and what Sofwave may not address.

Understanding Your Neck Wrinkles Before Choosing Treatment

The first step is to identify what kind of neck wrinkle you are concerned about. The answer affects whether Sofwave is worth discussing, whether another treatment should be considered, and how realistic your goals are.

Wrinkle Patterns, Skin Quality and Your Main Concern

Neck wrinkles usually fall into a few broad patterns. Many people have more than one.

What you notice	What may be involved	What to discuss with your physician
Fine creases and crepey texture	Thinning skin and reduced firmness in the dermis	Whether a dermal treatment such as Sofwave fits your skin condition
Horizontal lines that stay visible at rest	Skin aging, repeated neck movement and sun exposure	Which lines may soften and which are likely to remain
Vertical bands that appear when you tense your neck	The platysma muscle beneath the skin	Whether a skin treatment can address the concern or another approach is needed
Loose skin or fullness beneath the chin	Skin laxity, fat, or both	Whether under-chin treatment or a different option suits your goal

These patterns are not a diagnosis. They help you describe your concern clearly so that your physician can examine the area and explain the options in concrete terms.

What to Tell Your Doctor About Previous Treatments

Previous treatments on the neck and face affect both eligibility and treatment planning. Please tell us about any procedure you have received, including treatments performed outside Japan.

• Energy-based treatments: high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), radiofrequency (RF) or laser treatment, and when you received them.
• Injectable treatments: hyaluronic acid fillers, Botox or other injections in or near the treatment area.
• Surgery and threads: neck lifts, facelifts, thread lifts or other surgical procedures.
• Medical history: current medications, allergies, skin conditions, implanted devices and any history of keloids.

For safety, we are unable to provide treatment if you have received a skin treatment, including laser treatment, at another medical institution within the past month, HIFU or RF treatment within the past three months, or significant sun exposure or sunburn within the past month. Sofwave is also not performed if you have received hyaluronic acid injections in the treatment area within the past six months or Botox injections in the area within the past month. Even after these intervals, your physician may advise against treatment if your skin condition is not suitable on the day.

When to Discuss Sofwave for Neck Wrinkles

Sofwave is worth discussing when your main concern is the quality and firmness of the skin on your neck, such as fine creases, crepey texture or lines that are visible at rest. It is less likely to address concerns that come mainly from muscle activity or significant loose skin.

How Your Doctor Assesses Suitability

Sofwave uses SUPERB™ (Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam) technology. Rather than focusing ultrasound at points in deeper tissue, it delivers parallel ultrasound beams that heat the dermis, centered at a depth of about 1.5 mm. A contact cooling system, Sofcool™, cools the skin surface during treatment.

Because Sofwave mainly works on the dermis, your physician checks whether your concern is in the skin or in deeper structures. The examination includes:

• The direction, depth and location of the lines, at rest and when you move your neck
• Skin thickness, texture and current condition
• Whether vertical bands, under-chin fullness or loose skin are part of the concern
• Your medical history, medications and previous treatments

Sofwave is not applied over certain parts of the front of the neck, including the areas over the thyroid, the thyroid cartilage and the windpipe. Your physician plans the treatment area around these zones, which is one reason why some lines in the center of the neck may not be treated directly.

Sofwave is not performed in some situations, including pregnancy or breastfeeding, infection or skin disease in the treatment area, an implanted pacemaker, a tendency toward keloids, a bleeding tendency, use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, and current or recent use of isotretinoin. Please disclose your full medical history and all current medications before treatment.

Setting Goals Without Assuming Every Wrinkle Will Improve

Before treatment, agree with your physician on which lines are the main focus. Some wrinkles may become less noticeable, while others, especially deep folds or lines related to muscle movement, may remain visible.

Collagen remodeling after Sofwave takes time, and changes are typically assessed over the following months. Results vary depending on skin condition, the treatment area and treatment settings. If your physician considers that Sofwave is unlikely to meet your goal, we will explain why and discuss other options.

Clarifying the Neck Treatment Plan

A clear treatment plan specifies the area, who performs the treatment, how pain is managed and the total cost. Confirming these points before treatment helps you compare quotes on equal terms.

Neck and Under-Chin Coverage

At MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA, Sofwave can be performed on the neck as part of a full-face plan or as an under-chin and neck plan. When Sofwave is the chosen treatment, our physician adjusts the treatment area, energy settings and priority areas to your skin condition and concerns.

We also offer other treatments for sagging skin, including Ultherapy PRIME and Thermage FLX. If your neck concern involves deeper laxity rather than the skin alone, your physician may discuss these options instead of, or in addition to, Sofwave.

Regulatory information: 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. Ultherapy PRIME and Thermage FLX are FDA-cleared in the United States for their respective cleared uses. FDA clearance does not mean that every treatment purpose has been cleared and does not constitute approval in Japan. The Ultherapy PRIME and Thermage FLX devices used at our clinic have not been approved under Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act. Ultherapy PRIME is obtained through Cynosure Japan / Syneron Candela K.K., and Thermage FLX through JMEC Co., Ltd.

Pain Management, Recovery and Fees

Sofwave heats the dermis, so you may feel heat or discomfort during treatment. Sensitivity differs from person to person and from area to area. We offer several pain management options:

• Topical anesthetic cream: available at no additional charge for Sofwave.
• Nerve block anesthesia: ¥5,000 (tax included).
• Cryo cooling and a massage gun: used to reduce discomfort during treatment.
• Painkillers: prescribed on request for an additional fee.

Treatment takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. You can wash your face, bathe and apply makeup after treatment, but avoid rubbing the treated skin. Activities that raise your body temperature or blood flow may make redness or swelling more noticeable, so we recommend avoiding them for 2–3 days. Moisturize and protect the area from the sun. If you plan to have light-based or laser treatment, wait 2 weeks after Sofwave.

Potential risks and side effects include redness, swelling, tenderness, mild bruising and temporary changes in sensation, such as numbness or tingling. Burns, blisters, changes in pigmentation and scarring are also possible with energy-based treatment. Redness usually settles within a few hours to a few days, and other symptoms usually settle within a few days to a few weeks.

Sofwave fees for treatment areas that include the neck are shown below. All prices are in Japanese yen and include tax.

Treatment area	Physician-performed	Nurse-performed
Full face + under the chin + neck	¥353,100	¥240,750
Under the chin + neck	¥192,500	¥131,250

For nurse-performed plans, a physician examines you first and decides the treatment area, and a nurse then performs the treatment. Topical anesthesia is included in these fees. Consultation and examination without treatment cost ¥11,000 (tax included). Some fees differ for appointments that require language support, and bookings made through partner services may have different pricing. Cosmetic treatment at our clinic is self-pay and is not covered by Japanese public health insurance. Please review our English price list and confirm the full estimate before you agree to treatment.

How to Read Neck Treatment Case Photos

Case photos can show what changed for one patient under specific conditions. They do not show the result you will have, so it helps to read the details next to each photo.

Matching the Treatment Area and Photo Conditions

Check whether the case actually included the neck, and compare the photos under similar conditions. Our Sofwave treatment page lists the procedure, age group, follow-up timing, risks and cost for each case. For example, it includes a case of Sofwave on the full face, under the chin and neck for a woman in her 60s, photographed 3 months after treatment, and a case of Sofwave on the full face and neck for a man in his 40s, photographed immediately after treatment.

When you look at neck photos, check:

• The exact treatment area and whether the neck was included
• The head position, angle, lighting and whether the neck is relaxed or tensed
• The listed risks and side effects

Checking the Follow-Up Period and Other Treatments

A photo taken immediately after treatment may reflect temporary swelling as well as early changes. A photo taken several months later reflects a different stage. Also check whether other treatments were performed during the same period. The fees shown with past cases reflect the fees at the time and may differ from current prices. Results vary by individual.

Questions to Ask Before Sofwave Neck Treatment

These questions can help you decide whether Sofwave fits your neck concern and what to expect.

1. Can Sofwave treat all types of neck wrinkles?

No. Sofwave mainly heats the dermis, so it is most relevant to lines and crepey texture in the skin itself. Vertical bands caused by the neck muscle, deep folds and significant loose skin may not respond in the same way. Your physician will examine your neck and explain which lines may improve and which may remain.

2. What if my neck wrinkles are not suitable for Sofwave?

If your concern involves deeper laxity, your physician may discuss other energy-based treatments we offer, such as Ultherapy PRIME or Thermage FLX. If the main issue is muscle activity or substantial excess skin, another approach, including a surgical consultation, may better match your goal. We will explain the reasons for our recommendation rather than suggest Sofwave by default.

3. Is Sofwave on the neck painful?

Many patients feel heat or discomfort during treatment, and the level differs from person to person. For Sofwave, we provide topical anesthetic cream at no additional charge and can use Cryo cooling and a massage gun. Nerve block anesthesia (¥5,000, tax included) and prescription painkillers are available for an additional fee. Tell the treatment team during the procedure if the discomfort becomes difficult to tolerate.

4. How much does Sofwave neck treatment cost?

Physician-performed Sofwave costs ¥192,500 for under the chin and neck, and ¥353,100 for the full face, under the chin and neck. Nurse-performed plans cost ¥131,250 and ¥240,750 for the same areas. All prices include tax and topical anesthesia. Some fees differ for appointments requiring language support, so please confirm your estimate before treatment.

5. When should I contact the clinic after treatment?

Contact us if you have symptoms that concern you, such as redness or swelling that does not settle, blistering, or changes in skin color or sensation. 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: Discussing Sofwave for Neck Wrinkles

Sofwave may be an option for neck wrinkles that mainly involve the skin, such as fine creases and crepey texture. Vertical muscle bands, deep folds and significant loose skin often need a different assessment, and some areas of the front of the neck are not treated with Sofwave.

Before treatment, clarify which lines concern you most, share your treatment and medical history, and confirm the treatment area, provider, pain management and total cost. At MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA, our physicians examine your neck, explain whether Sofwave is appropriate, and discuss Ultherapy PRIME, Thermage FLX or other approaches when they better match your goal.

We have English-speaking physicians and staff, and we can use translation tools to support communication. Patients who do not speak English or Japanese are encouraged to attend with a professional medical interpreter, who should bring documentation of their credentials. If you need language support, please book through the dedicated option for non-Japanese speakers. We allocate additional consultation time for these appointments. If you are visiting Tokyo, please tell us your travel plans during the consultation.

To discuss your neck concerns and review a treatment plan, book a consultation with MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA.

References and Official Sources

• MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA Sofwave (SUPERB): treatment areas, pain management, precautions and case information
• MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA English price list: fees, anesthesia options and consultation fee as of October 2026
• MATSURIKA CLINIC GINZA Information for International Patients: language support, interpreters, eligibility criteria and payment
• Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). Sofwave System package insert: approved use in Japan, contraindicated areas and adverse events
• American Academy of Dermatology. Many ways to firm sagging skin: what non-surgical tightening can and cannot do