Head to head

Thermage FLX vs Ultherapy (2026)

The biggest practical difference is cost of entry: Ultherapy's new pricing is $130k–$175k, while Thermage FLX's is $100k–$145k. These are different technologies: Ultherapy is HIFU / Ultrasound, Thermage FLX is Radiofrequency — monopolar. They are used for different treatments (Ultherapy: HIFU/ultrasound lifting; Thermage FLX: monopolar RF skin tightening), so the right pick depends on which treatments you're building demand for.

Category group: Skin tightening & remodeling (RF microneedling, monopolar RF, HIFU)

Device A

Device B

Price comparison

Price comparison: Ulthera System (Ultherapy) vs Solta Medical Thermage FLX
Attribute	Ulthera System (Ultherapy)	Solta Medical Thermage FLX
New price range	$130k–$175k	$100k–$145k
Used asking range	$20k–$60k	$40k–$80k
Payback calculator	View ROI calculator	View ROI calculator
Next step

New price range

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): $130k–$175k
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: $100k–$145k

Used asking range

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): $20k–$60k
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: $40k–$80k

Payback calculator

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): View ROI calculator
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: View ROI calculator

Next step

Ulthera System (Ultherapy)

Solta Medical Thermage FLX

Consumable economics

Consumable economics: Ulthera System (Ultherapy) vs Solta Medical Thermage FLX
Attribute	Ulthera System (Ultherapy)	Solta Medical Thermage FLX
Consumable cost / lock-in	DeepSee transducers are serialised, chip-locked consumables. Reseller listings put a new transducer at $1,800–$2,965 (Starlight; MNML Aesthetics, September 2026). Merz does not publish transducer life, so no per-treatment cost is published here. A full-face protocol uses several depths.	One of the most consumable-heavy platforms in the market: the Total Tip is single-use and shot-limited, one patient per tip. Not published — Solta does not publish a US Total Tip list price (checked 4 Sep 2026); the figures previously shown mixed euro export pricing with undated reseller quotes.
Service cost	Not published	Not published

Consumable cost / lock-in

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): DeepSee transducers are serialised, chip-locked consumables. Reseller listings put a new transducer at $1,800–$2,965 (Starlight; MNML Aesthetics, September 2026). Merz does not publish transducer life, so no per-treatment cost is published here. A full-face protocol uses several depths.
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: One of the most consumable-heavy platforms in the market: the Total Tip is single-use and shot-limited, one patient per tip. Not published — Solta does not publish a US Total Tip list price (checked 4 Sep 2026); the figures previously shown mixed euro export pricing with undated reseller quotes.

Service cost

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): Not published
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: Not published

FDA clearance

FDA clearance: Ulthera System (Ultherapy) vs Solta Medical Thermage FLX
Attribute	Ulthera System (Ultherapy)	Solta Medical Thermage FLX
FDA status & indication	FDA ClearedDe Novo: DEN080006, K121700, K122528, K132028, K134032, K180623, K233996, K243035, K250418, K260618 “1064nm: The Cynosure Affirm Family laser is intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions, such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangiectasia, rosacea, venus lake, leg veins, spider veins and poikiloderma of civatte; and treatment of benign cutaneous lesions such as warts, scars, striae and psoriasis. The laser is also intended for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age spots), solar lentigos (sun spots), Caf6 au lait macules, seborrheic keratoses, nevi, chloasma, verrucea, skin tags, keratoses, tattoos (significant reduction in the intensity of black and/or blue/black tattoos) and plaques. The laser is also indicated for the treatment of wrinkles such as, but not limited to, periocular and perioral wrinkles. 1320nm: The Cynosure Affirm Family laser is indicated for use in general surgery and dermatology for the incision, excision, ablation, vaporization, coagulation and hemostasis of soft tissue. It is also indicated for the treatment of periorbital and perioral wrinkles. It is also indicated for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles. 1440nm: The Cynosure Affirm Family laser is indicated for use in general surgery and dermatology for the incision, excision, ablation, vaporization, coagulation and hemostasis of soft tissue. It is also indicated for the treatment of periorbital and perioral wrinkles and pigmented lesions. The XPL Pulsed Light System Handpiece is intended for permanent hair reduction and the treatment of dermatological vascular lesions, facial and leg veins, benign pigmented lesions, and inflammatory acne. The Affirm Family System Laser Attachment is intended for: Er:YAG 2,940 nm - for skin resurfacing and for the incision, excision, ablation or vaporization of soft bodily tissues.”	FDA ClearedK170758 “The radiofrequency-energy only delivery components of the Thermage FLX System are indicated for use in: • Dermatologic and general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis; • Non-invasive treatment of periorbital wrinkles and rhytids including upper and lower eyelids; • Non-invasive treatment of wrinkles and rhytids. The simultaneous application of radio frequency energy and skin vibration by the Thermage FLX System is indicated for use in: • Dermatologic and general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis; • Non-invasive treatment of periorbital wrinkles and rhytids; • Non-invasive treatment of wrinkles and rhytids; • Temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite; • Relief of minor muscle aches and pains; • Relief of muscle spasms; • Temporary improvement of local circulation (i.e., blood circulation).”

FDA status & indication

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): FDA ClearedDe Novo: DEN080006, K121700, K122528, K132028, K134032, K180623, K233996, K243035, K250418, K260618
“1064nm: The Cynosure Affirm Family laser is intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions, such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangiectasia, rosacea, venus lake, leg veins, spider veins and poikiloderma of civatte; and treatment of benign cutaneous lesions such as warts, scars, striae and psoriasis. The laser is also intended for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age spots), solar lentigos (sun spots), Caf6 au lait macules, seborrheic keratoses, nevi, chloasma, verrucea, skin tags, keratoses, tattoos (significant reduction in the intensity of black and/or blue/black tattoos) and plaques. The laser is also indicated for the treatment of wrinkles such as, but not limited to, periocular and perioral wrinkles. 1320nm: The Cynosure Affirm Family laser is indicated for use in general surgery and dermatology for the incision, excision, ablation, vaporization, coagulation and hemostasis of soft tissue. It is also indicated for the treatment of periorbital and perioral wrinkles. It is also indicated for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles. 1440nm: The Cynosure Affirm Family laser is indicated for use in general surgery and dermatology for the incision, excision, ablation, vaporization, coagulation and hemostasis of soft tissue. It is also indicated for the treatment of periorbital and perioral wrinkles and pigmented lesions. The XPL Pulsed Light System Handpiece is intended for permanent hair reduction and the treatment of dermatological vascular lesions, facial and leg veins, benign pigmented lesions, and inflammatory acne. The Affirm Family System Laser Attachment is intended for: Er:YAG 2,940 nm - for skin resurfacing and for the incision, excision, ablation or vaporization of soft bodily tissues.”
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: FDA ClearedK170758
“The radiofrequency-energy only delivery components of the Thermage FLX System are indicated for use in: • Dermatologic and general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis; • Non-invasive treatment of periorbital wrinkles and rhytids including upper and lower eyelids; • Non-invasive treatment of wrinkles and rhytids. The simultaneous application of radio frequency energy and skin vibration by the Thermage FLX System is indicated for use in: • Dermatologic and general surgical procedures for electrocoagulation and hemostasis; • Non-invasive treatment of periorbital wrinkles and rhytids; • Non-invasive treatment of wrinkles and rhytids; • Temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite; • Relief of minor muscle aches and pains; • Relief of muscle spasms; • Temporary improvement of local circulation (i.e., blood circulation).”

Which chains run each

Which chains run each: Ulthera System (Ultherapy) vs Solta Medical Thermage FLX
Attribute	Ulthera System (Ultherapy)	Solta Medical Thermage FLX
Chain adoption	0 recorded pairings	1 recorded pairing
Chains using it	—	LaserAway(Confirmed)
Approved reviews	0	0

Chain adoption

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): 0 recorded pairings
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: 1 recorded pairing

Chains using it

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): —
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: LaserAway(Confirmed)

Approved reviews

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): 0
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: 0

Specs and platform

Specs and platform: Ulthera System (Ultherapy) vs Solta Medical Thermage FLX
Attribute	Ulthera System (Ultherapy)	Solta Medical Thermage FLX
Manufacturer	Ulthera	Solta Medical
Built by (OEM)	Ulthera Inc.	Solta Medical Inc.
Category	HIFU/Ultrasound Lifting	Monopolar RF skin tightening
Technology	Microfocused ultrasound + DeepSEE imaging (HIFU / Ultrasound)	4th-gen monopolar RF (Radiofrequency — monopolar)
Launch year	2009	2017
Status	Legacy-used-market	Current
OEM platform	—	—

Manufacturer

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): Ulthera
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: Solta Medical

Built by (OEM)

Ulthera System (Ultherapy): Ulthera Inc.
Solta Medical Thermage FLX: Solta Medical Inc.

Alternatives

Other devices in the same subcategory.

Jeisys ULTRAcel Zii

HIFU/Ultrasound Lifting

New: —

Jeisys ULTRAcel

HIFU/Ultrasound Lifting

New: —

Classys Shurink Universe

HIFU/Ultrasound Lifting

New: —

Classys Ultraformer MPT

HIFU/Ultrasound Lifting

New: $40k–$70k

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