inmode fx before after
InMode FX before and after: what the photographs show
InMode FX is a handpiece meant to reduce small areas of fat, such as under the chin, rather than to tighten skin. This page explains how it works, how it differs from Forma, Morpheus8 and FaceTite, and what to check in a before-and-after photo.
What InMode FX is, and how it works
Reading a before-and-after pair
What changes in the contour, and what does not
Why the jawline can look narrower
Safety, and the evidence behind it
During the session, and the days after
What can InMode FX change?
InMode FX is designed to reduce localized fat, for example under the chin or along the jaw. It heats the tissue with radiofrequency and then delivers very short high-voltage pulses aimed at fat-cell membranes. Change is gradual, and the published evidence comes mainly from a small study of the body version on the abdomen.
What InMode FX is, and how it works
InMode FX is a handpiece made by InMode. It comes as a larger body version (BodyFX) and a smaller version for the chin, jowls and small areas (MiniFX); Korean clinics usually market the facial use as “InMode FX” (인모드 FX). The handpiece draws skin and fat into a vacuum chamber, heats the tissue with bipolar radiofrequency, and then fires very short high-voltage pulses meant to damage fat-cell membranes (a process called electroporation), after which the damaged cells break down.
That makes it different from Forma, another InMode handpiece that heats the skin from the surface to tighten and firm it, and from Morpheus8, which delivers radiofrequency through fine needles. FaceTite is different again: a probe is passed under the skin through small incisions, with anaesthesia, so it is a minor surgical procedure rather than a surface treatment. Clinics sometimes sell all of these under the single name “InMode”, so ask which handpiece you are paying for.
FX is usually offered for the under-chin area, the jowls and small body areas. It is non-surgical and is given as a course of several sessions. Any radiofrequency heat can burn if settings or technique are wrong, so a claim that it suits every skin type and age is not one we can support.
The main published study of the body version enrolled 20 women, treated the abdomen with eight weekly sessions, and reported a mean fat-thickness reduction of 39.6% on ultrasound at three months in the 17 who completed follow-up. It had no control group and did not treat the face, so it shows the method can reduce fat, not what to expect under your chin.
Reading a before-and-after pair
Before-and-after photos are the main way clinics show FX results, and they are easy to misread. Check that both photos use the same angle, distance, lighting and head position, because tilting the chin down or changing the light can alter how the jawline looks without any treatment. Look for the date of each photo, the number of sessions in between, and whether the person’s weight changed.
Fat reduction, where it happens, shows over the weeks after a course as the damaged cells are cleared, so an “after” photo taken a few days after a session mostly shows swelling or its absence rather than the result. For when change tends to appear with InMode devices, see the inmode results timeline.
Sessions are generally short, and people usually describe heat and suction rather than pain. We found no study reporting a satisfaction rate for FX on the face, so figures such as “85% satisfied” on clinic pages should be read as provider claims.
We have not recorded a dated, sourced price for FX in Korea, so we do not quote one here. Our page on InMode treatment in Korea covers how local clinics list InMode prices; before comparing quotes, ask whether each one is for FX, Forma or another handpiece.
What changes in the contour, and what does not
What FX can change in the contour is the amount of fat in the treated area. It is not a volume treatment, and it does not lift sagging skin the way surgery does.
Radiofrequency heat can prompt some collagen remodelling, but that is the main purpose of Forma and Morpheus8 rather than FX. Where loose skin is the problem, a doctor may suggest one of those instead of FX, or alongside it.
In short, the change FX aims for is a smaller fat pad under the chin or along the jaw. Where the lower face looks full because of loose skin rather than fat, removing fat can leave the skin looser, so the doctor should first work out which one is causing the fullness. Where lost volume is the concern, the relevant options are volumizing treatments such as dermal fillers; Rejuran is not a volumizing product, and our page on InMode Results Timeline: When Changes Show and How Long They Last explains what it is used for.
How much changes depends on how much fat there is to start with, skin quality, age and whether weight stays stable. We did not find a published figure for how long FX results last on the face.
Why the jawline can look narrower
People usually ask about FX because of fullness under the chin. FX aims to reduce that fat without surgery. Other ways to reduce the same fat include deoxycholic acid injections, which in Korea are approved only for fat under the chin (see our page on fat-dissolving injections in Korea), fat freezing and liposuction.
Change is gradual and builds over the weeks after a course. We found no published face-specific measurement for FX, so figures such as “one to two centimetres slimmer” on clinic pages are provider claims rather than findings.
Compared with surface radiofrequency alone, FX adds vacuum and high-voltage pulses aimed at fat. That is the difference to understand when a clinic lists “InMode” on its menu: FX is the fat handpiece, Forma the skin-heating one.
This is why a consultation should start with the cause of the fullness. If it is mainly fat, FX or another fat-reduction option may be discussed; if it is mainly loose skin, a tightening treatment is more relevant. No single device reliably does both.
Which InMode handpiece is which
Safety, and what the evidence behind it looks like
Minimally Invasive
FX works from the skin surface without incisions, unlike FaceTite, which needs small incisions and anaesthesia.
Fat reduction, not tightening
Its target is fat. The evidence comes mainly from a small, uncontrolled study of the body version on the abdomen.
Recovery
Redness, warmth and tenderness are common afterwards. Clinics describe a same-day return to normal activities for most people.
Who should not have it
Tell the clinic if you are pregnant, have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, or have metal implants in the treatment area. These are standard exclusions in radiofrequency device studies.
Side effects
Redness, swelling and tenderness are common and usually short-lived. Burns, blisters and small bleeding spots under the skin are possible; in the BodyFX study, one participant had pinpoint bleeding spots (petechiae) for 48 hours and no burns were reported.
Before treatment, the clinic should check whether fat or loose skin is the main issue and set the energy for your skin. Ask who performs the session and who you can contact if something goes wrong afterwards.
During the session, and the days after
Session timeline
- Initial Consultation: A thorough assessment evaluates skin laxity, facial anatomy, and treatment goals to customize the procedure.
- Treatment Preparation: The skin is cleansed, and a topical anesthetic may be applied to minimize discomfort.
- Procedure Execution: The FX handpiece is applied to the treatment area, combining suction, radiofrequency heat and short high-voltage pulses. Session length depends on the size of the area.
- Immediate Post-Treatment: Mild redness or warmth may be present but typically subsides within a few hours.
- Recovery Phase: Patients can resume daily activities immediately, with recommendations to avoid excessive sun exposure and use gentle skincare.
- Follow-Up Sessions: Courses usually involve several sessions. The published body study used eight weekly sessions; clinics set their own schedules for the face.
Understanding these steps helps patients prepare for the experience and set realistic expectations regarding the treatment timeline and gradual appearance improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do the results from InMode FX usually last?
a : We found no published figure for how long FX results last on the face. Fat-reduction results depend heavily on keeping a stable weight. If a clinic gives a duration, ask what it is based on.
Is the InMode FX procedure painful or uncomfortable?
a : Most people describe heat and suction rather than sharp pain. A topical anaesthetic may be applied. Most return to daily activities the same day.
What are the potential side effects or risks linked to InMode FX?
a : Redness, swelling, warmth and tenderness are common and usually settle within hours to days. Burns, blisters and bleeding spots under the skin are possible. Before treatment, tell the clinic about pregnancy, implanted electronic devices, metal implants and blood thinners.
How many InMode FX sessions are usually given?
a : The published body study used eight weekly sessions. For the face, clinics set their own number and interval, so ask how many sessions are planned and how the result will be measured.
Can InMode FX be combined with other facial aesthetic treatments?
a : Clinics often combine FX with other treatments, such as fillers for volume or Forma for skin tightening. Whether combining makes sense depends on your face, and the clinic should explain the order and timing. For how InMode devices are grouped and priced in Korea, see inmode treatment korea.
Related reading
InMode FX, condensed
InMode FX is a radiofrequency handpiece that uses suction, heat and high-voltage pulses to reduce small areas of fat, such as under the chin. It is not mainly a skin-tightening device; that is the role of Forma and, with needles, Morpheus8. The evidence for FX comes mainly from a small study on the abdomen, so facial results are less well documented, and before-and-after photos are illustrations rather than evidence.
FX combines vacuum suction, bipolar radiofrequency heating and very short high-voltage pulses aimed at fat-cell membranes.
MiniFX is used for the under-chin area and jowls; BodyFX for the abdomen and other body areas.
Any fat reduction shows over the weeks after a course; we found no face-specific data on how long it lasts.
It is non-surgical and usually allows a same-day return to activities, but burns and other side effects are possible.
If loose skin rather than fat is the main concern, a tightening treatment is more relevant than FX.
For a pigment treatment rather than a contouring one, see InMode Treatment in Korea: What It Costs and What It Does.
- InMode treatment in Korea
- InMode results timeline
- Fat-dissolving injections in Korea
- Contour injection side effects
- Lifting lasers used in Korean clinics
Sources & Verification Notes
Each figure on this page is listed below with its source. Figures we could not trace to a source were removed from the article.
- How FX works and the study figures (20 women enrolled, 17 followed up, eight weekly abdominal sessions, 39.6% mean fat-thickness reduction on ultrasound at three months, one case of petechiae lasting 48 hours, no burns, no control group) come from Duncan and colleagues, Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2016. (PMC4950457)
- FaceTite and similar subsurface radiofrequency treatments need incisions and anaesthesia, according to a systematic review in Annals of Plastic Surgery (2022). (PMC9415206)
- Pregnancy, implanted electronic devices and metal implants in the treatment area are listed as exclusions in registered radiofrequency device trials, for example NCT03776461.
- We could not confirm Korean MFDS registrations for the specific InMode handpieces named here (FX, Forma, Morpheus8, FaceTite). If this matters to you, ask the clinic to show the registration for the unit it uses.
- On photographs: no study we found publishes standardised before-and-after imaging protocols for this device family. Published outcomes are recorded on ultrasound, rating scales or three-dimensional imaging, not on the kind of paired photographs clinics display. Treat a gallery as illustration rather than evidence, and check whether the interval and the number of sessions are stated.
This guide is written for readers who are visiting or considering visiting Korea for dermatology treatment. It’s general information, not medical advice or a personal recommendation. See our Medical Disclaimer before making a treatment decision, and confirm specific details, current pricing, and suitability directly with a clinic.
How to Use This Page
We describe typical practice, not a guarantee. A dermatologist who examines you may recommend something different, and that advice should come first.