From the team at Awaken Aesthetics, serving Torrance, the South Bay, Rancho Palos Verdes, and greater Los Angeles
After performing Sofwave treatments at Awaken Aesthetics, the questions our patients ask most often are not about the technology itself, they are about what to expect. How much improvement will I actually see? Is it going to be uncomfortable? And is a second treatment worth it? In this post, we want to answer those questions directly, based on what we have seen in our own patients and what the published clinical evidence shows.
What Sofwave Is and Why We Offer It at Awaken Aesthetics
At Awaken Aesthetics, we specialize in surgical facial rejuvenation, facelifts, neck lifts, eyelid surgery, and reconstructive procedures. Sofwave fits into our practice as the non-surgical option for patients who want meaningful structural improvement without surgery, or who want to maintain and extend their surgical results over time.
Sofwave uses SUPERB (Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam) technology to deliver controlled heat at precisely 1.5mm below the skin surface, the mid-dermis, where collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid are produced. The integrated Sofcool system protects the skin surface throughout treatment. The result is new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid produced by your own tissue, structural improvement that builds gradually and looks entirely natural.
Sofwave is FDA-cleared for 7 specific aesthetic indications: facial lines and wrinkles, eyebrow lifting, submental and neck lifting, cellulite reduction, acne scar improvement, and arm skin laxity. These are structural lifting clearances backed by published biopsy data, not general approvals.
The Questions Our Patients Ask Most — Answered
| The Question We Hear | The Honest Answer |
|---|---|
| How much improvement can I actually expect? | Biopsy data shows a 68 percent average collagen increase and 33 percent average elastin increase (Suh et al., 2025). Results are structural and build gradually, most visible at 3 to 6 months and lasting 12 months or longer. |
| Is it going to be painful? | Sofwave is generally well tolerated, and patient comfort is prioritized throughout the treatment. Most patients describe the sensation as brief moments of warmth or intensity as the ultrasound energy is delivered. We also offer a customized comfort protocol, which may include options such as Journavx, to help make the treatment experience as comfortable as possible. |
| Will a second treatment help? | In our experience, yes. Many of our patients choose to return for a second treatment as part of their ongoing Sofwave maintenance plan. We’ve found that an additional session can help build upon and maintain their results over time. We’ll discuss the timing of your next treatment during your follow-up consultation. |
| Is there any downtime? | No. Patients return to their normal activities immediately after treatment. |
| How long before I see results? | Most patients notice early changes within the first few weeks. The most significant improvement appears between months 3 and 6 as new collagen matures. Results last 12 months or longer from a single session. |
| Is it safe for my skin tone? | Yes. Sofwave is safe for all skin types and tones, its ultrasound-based mechanism has no pigmentation risk. |
How We Prioritize Patient Comfort at Awaken Aesthetics
Patient comfort is an important part of the Sofwave experience at Awaken Aesthetics. Most patients find the treatment manageable, typically describing the sensation as brief periods of warmth or intensity as the ultrasound energy is delivered.
We tailor our comfort protocol to each patient and may incorporate topical numbing cream and additional comfort options, including Journavx. Our goal is to help patients feel comfortable and confident throughout their treatment while personalizing the experience to their individual needs.
Treatment takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes for facial areas. There is no downtime and patients return to their normal activities the same day. The warmth you feel during treatment is the ultrasound energy working at the dermis, that sensation is the collagen stimulation process beginning.
Is a Second Sofwave Treatment Worth It?
Many of our patients who have completed a second session have seen further improvement in their results. A second round of collagen stimulation builds on the foundation established by the first treatment, supporting continued results over time.
Here is how we think about it: Sofwave stimulates your body’s own collagen production, which builds over months. A second session adds another round of collagen stimulation on top of the foundation the first treatment created. Many of our patients find that the second session takes their results further than the first alone
At Awaken Aesthetics, we do not package treatments together upfront – we let patients experience their first results and decide from there
How Much Improvement Can You Actually Expect?
This is the first question almost every Sofwave patient asks, and it deserves a direct answer grounded in the published clinical evidence rather than vague reassurances.
Here is what the data shows:
- 68 percent average increase in collagen confirmed by biopsy (Suh et al., 2025)
- 33 percent average increase in elastin confirmed by biopsy (Suh et al., 2025)
- Documented stimulation of hyaluronic acid production in the dermis
- 40+ peer-reviewed publications supporting its mechanism and outcomes
- 865,000+ treatments worldwide — no fat atrophy events reported in published data
- Results lasting 12 months or longer from a single session
Results develop gradually as new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid mature, most noticeable between months 3 and 6, with improvement continuing to hold through 12 months and beyond. The degree of visible improvement varies by patient, which is why we encourage realistic expectations at consultation and why we find the second treatment so valuable for patients who want to push results further.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Sofwave at Awaken Aesthetics?
In our practice, Sofwave tends to be a strong fit for patients who:
- Are noticing early to moderate skin laxity in the face, jawline, neck, or brow
- Are not ready for surgical intervention or want to delay it
- Have had prior facial surgery and want to maintain or extend their results
- Want structural improvement with no downtime and no recovery
- Are interested in a treatment backed by published biopsy-level evidence
- Have any skin tone, Sofwave is safe for all complexions
A consultation at Awaken Aesthetics is the right starting point. We will assess your skin, talk through your goals, and give you an honest picture of what Sofwave can and cannot do for your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much improvement can I expect from Sofwave at Awaken Aesthetics?
A: Published biopsy data shows a 68 percent average collagen increase and 33 percent average elastin increase (Suh et al., 2025). Results build gradually — most visible at months 3 to 6 — and last 12 months or longer from a single session. A second treatment provides a meaningful additional boost in our experience.
Q: How do you manage discomfort during Sofwave?
A: Sofwave is generally well tolerated, and patient comfort is prioritized throughout the treatment. Most patients describe the sensation as brief moments of warmth or intensity as the ultrasound energy is delivered. We also offer a customized comfort protocol, which may include options such as Journavx and topical numbing, to help make the treatment experience as comfortable as possible.
Q: Is a second Sofwave treatment worth it?
A: In our experience, yes. Many of our patients choose to return for a second treatment as part of their ongoing Sofwave maintenance plan. We’ve found that an additional session can help build upon and maintain their results over time. We’ll discuss the timing of your next treatment during your follow-up consultation.
Q: Is Sofwave FDA-cleared for lifting?
A: Yes — 7 specific clearances including eyebrow lifting, submental lifting, and neck lifting, backed by biopsy data (Suh et al., 2025).
Q: Can Sofwave affect facial fat?
A: No fat atrophy events have been reported across 865,000+ treatments. Sofwave targets 1.5mm above the fat layer — collagen stimulation, not fat disruption.
Q: Is there downtime?
A: No. Patients return to normal activities immediately.
Interested in Sofwave at Awaken Aesthetics?
If you have questions about Sofwave or want to find out whether it is the right fit for your goals, we would love to talk with you. Every consultation at Awaken Aesthetics starts with an honest assessment of what is going to give you the best result — surgical or non-surgical.
Schedule your Sofwave consultation at Awaken Aesthetics today.
23441 Madison St, Suite 130, Torrance, CA 90505
(310) 791-2233 | awakenaesthetics.com