If you’ve been googling “non-surgical facelift” at 1am while aggressively lifting your jawline in the mirror, you’ve definitely come across Infini vs Ultherapy. They both claim to tighten, lift, smooth, and give you your pre-pandemic face back without cutting anything open.
But when you’re about to drop hundreds (or thousands) on something that literally pokes your face with needles or zaps it with ultrasound energy, you wanna know: What’s the real difference? Which one actually works? Is one better for certain things? Do I really have to suffer to look good? Let’s break it all down. No fluff. No sales pitch. Just real talk about what these two treatments do, how they feel, and which one’s worth it based on what you’re actually trying to fix and your individual needs.
First Up: What are Infini And Ultherapy?
Ultherapy is ultrasound. Not the baby kind. It uses focused ultrasound technology to heat the deeper layers of the skin (like, way deep) to boost collagen production. That collagen gives you lift and tightness over time. Not immediately. Over time. Clear?
Infini is microneedling… but with heat. Tiny needles go into your skin and deliver radiofrequency energy (a fancy way of saying “heat”) directly inside your dermis. It hits the middle layer of your skin and helps with texture, fine lines, and even acne scars. Infini treatments are also known to improve elasticity and smoothness in areas where skin starts to loosen up. Same goal (collagen), very different vibes.
Related: Can You Do Microneedling After Botox?
Infini VS Ultherapy: How They Work (In Plain English)
ULTHERAPY
Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound to heat up the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS layer, the same one surgeons lift during a facelift). This layer sits underneath your dermis and fat, right above the muscle. Heating it to about 60-70°C causes your body to freak out (in a good way) and start producing fresh collagen and elastin to “repair” the area. You don’t feel anything happening on the surface because the ultrasound passes straight through the skin. But underneath? Your collagen factory’s waking up. Over the next few months, that new collagen creates a gradual lift, especially around the jawline, brows, and neck. A single ultherapy session can already start that process, especially in people noticing early signs of skin laxity.
INFINI
Infini is more of a surface-to-mid-depth strategy. It uses gold-coated microneedles to physically create channels in the skin (aka controlled injuries). While the needles are inside, they emit bipolar radiofrequency heat, which stimulates collagen where it counts – in the dermis. Unlike Ultherapy, Infini hits multiple layers and also affects the skin’s surface, which is why it helps with surface-level concerns like fine lines, scarring, pore size, and uneven texture. The RF energy tightens things up, while the microneedling triggers cell turnover and healing. You get both short-term glow and long-lasting results with the added bonus of smoother texture.
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Do They Hurt?
No sugarcoating here. Neither give you just a mild discomfort. Ultherapy is not for the weak. People describe it as feeling like someone is snapping rubber bands on your bones or drilling hot needles into your skull. Some clinics offer laughing gas or actual painkillers. You’ll need them.
Infini is not fun, but it’s way more doable. You’ll feel hot pokes, maybe some pressure, but if they numb you well, you’ll mostly just be annoyed, not in agony. Unless you’re into pain or have a weirdly high threshold, you’ll prefer this one.
Related: Does Ultherapy Hurt?
Infini VS Ultherapy: What Results Can You Expect?
ULTHERAPY
- Best for lifting. Think sagging jawlines, loose skin, droopy necks, jowls, falling brows.
- Doesn’t really do much for fine lines or skin texture.
- No instant glow. Collagen takes time-2 to 3 months minimum to see anything.
- Results can last a year+ if your skin plays nice.
For people who want visible tightening without downtime or plastic surgery, Ultherapy delivers gradual but dramatic results overtime.
INFINI
- Texture queen. Helps with fine lines, crepey skin, acne scars, enlarged pores.
- Some lifting, yes, but not as dramatic as Ultherapy.
- You’ll see changes faster (within a few weeks) and results keep getting better for a few months.
- Needs a series (usually 2-3 sessions).
Infini is also great if you’re aiming for a smoother, more youthful appearance across your face and neck, not just lift.
So if your main issue is that things are starting to sag, Ultherapy has the edge. But if your skin’s looking rough, dull, or just generally bleh, Infini will give you more visible changes, sooner.
What About Downtime?
Ultherapy: Basically none. You might experience mild temporary redness or feel sore, but you can 100% go to brunch after and pretend nothing happened. You can resume normal activities right away.
Infini: You’re gonna look like a tomato. Red, puffy, maybe some tiny scabs or dots. Usually lasts 2-3 days. Not cute. But temporary. Compared to lasers or peels, the recovery time is still pretty minimal, but it’s not zero.
So if you’re trying to be sneaky and don’t want anyone to know you got something done? Ultherapy’s better. If you don’t care or you’re planning to hide for a couple days, Infini’s fine.
What Skin Types Can Use Them?
Good news: both are safe for all skin tones. Ultherapy goes so deep it doesn’t mess with pigment. Infini’s needles bypass the surface layer of skin, so it’s safe for darker skin types (unlike some lasers or old-school RF that could cause hyperpigmentation). They also both work well across different ages, whether you’re starting to notice skin’s deeper layers losing firmness, or just want to maintain what you’ve got. Just make sure you go to someone who knows what they’re doing. That part matters more than the device. Also, your skin condition going into treatment will affect how you respond. If your barrier’s already compromised or you’re dealing with active breakouts, you may want to wait.
Infini VS Ultherapy: How Much Do They Cost?
Ultherapy: One big session, big price tag. You’re looking at around $2,500-$4,000 depending on what areas you treat. Face and neck = most expensive.
Infini: Costs less per session (usually $600-$1,200), but you’ll need at least two sessions, maybe three.
So:
Want to do it once and be done for the year? Ultherapy.
Don’t mind coming back a few times and spreading out the cost? Infini.
If you’re working with a clinic that offers both, they can also help you figure out which gives the best results based on your skin goals.
Infini VS Ultherapy At A Glance
Okay, let’s compare side-by-side:
| ULTHERAPY | INFINI | |
|---|---|---|
| ENERGY TYPE | Ultrasound | Radiofrequency + Microneedling |
| TARGETS | Deep layers (SMAS) | Mid to upper dermis + texture |
| BEST FOR | Lifting, sagging skin | Texture, scars, fine lines, firmness |
| PAIN LEVEL | High (seriously) | Moderate (still not comfy) |
| DOWNTIME | Minimal | Red/swollen for 2-3 days |
| SESSIONS NEEDED | 1 session | 2-3 sessions |
| PRICE RANGE | $2.5K-$4K | $600-$1.2K per session |
| RESULTS TIMELINE | 2-3 months | Few weeks to 3 months |
| SKIN TONE SAFETY | All skin types | All skin types |
Infini vs Ultherapy: Which One Should You Choose?
Go with Ultherapy if:
- Your face is starting to slide down your neck.
- You want actual lift and tightness.
- You’re okay waiting a few months to see results.
- You can handle the pain or your clinic offers good meds.
Go with Infini if:
- You’re more worried about texture, pores, or scars.
- You want results that show up faster.
- You want a glow and some tightening.
- You don’t mind a few days of redness.
If you’re still unsure, some plastic surgeons recommend starting with Ultherapy for structural lift, and using Infini later to fine-tune texture.
Can You Use Them Both?
Yeah, and honestly? A lot of people do. Especially if you’re dealing with both sagging and texture because Ultherapy and Infini don’t compete, they just hit different layers of your face.
Ultherapy goes deep. Like, under the skin kind of deep. It targets the layer that holds everything up (the SMAS, if you care about the technical stuff), which is why it’s great for lifting the lower face, tightening the jawline, and basically giving your face some structure again. It’s considered one of the most effective non-invasive treatments for firming skin.
Infini’s more of a multitasker. It doesn’t go as deep, but it covers more layers (including the surface) so it helps with fine lines, uneven skin tone, large pores, scars, all the stuff that makes your skin look kind of tired even if it’s not sagging. It gives you that bouncier, smoother, skin rejuvenation effect.
So what some people do is: Ultherapy first to lift and firm, then Infini later to smooth and refine. But here’s the thing-don’t try to be clever and book them back-to-back. Both treatments trigger controlled damage (in a good way, that’s how collagen gets made), but your skin needs time to recover and rebuild. Doing them too close together is just going to stress your skin out and slow everything down.
Best bet? Wait at least 2-3 months between them. Let the Ultherapy results start kicking in before you go in with Infini. You want them to layer, not clash. Also: don’t just make this plan up on your own. Go to someone who has done this combo before. A decent provider will space it right, adjust the depth and settings for your skin, and tell you whether you actually need both or if one’s enough for what you want.
The Bottom Line
So which non-invasive treatment is best option for you? Honestly, it depends on your face.
If you’re pulling your jawline up in selfies and saying “why do I look tired all the time”, Ultherapy might be your thing.
If your skin looks rough up close, your pores are huge, and makeup settles into weird places, Infini will do more for you.
And if you’re dealing with both? You might end up doing both eventually. Just be strategic about it. Start with the one that tackles your biggest issue first.
One last thing: don’t cheap out. These aren’t the kind of treatments you want from a random med spa Groupon. Go to someone who does these all the time and knows how to adjust the settings based on your skin. Because no matter how good the machine is, it’s only as good as the person using it.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
