"The human face is curved — so why should lifting devices be flat?" NEWPONG Rewrites the Rules with the World's First Curved HIFU

■ Table of Contents

① Kwang-jae Lee, Head of Newpong Research Institute
② Dr.  Sin-hye Park, Miho Clinic
③ Dr. Geon-hong Lee, Hong's Skin Clinic
④ Dr. Bruno Vargas, CBV Clinic (Brazil)

"The human face is curved — so why should lifting devices be flat?"

The world's first curved HIFU device was born from this one simple question. The human face is a three-dimensional contoured surface, yet conventional device cartridges (the part that contacts the skin) were designed flat — creating an inherent limitation in achieving full contact during lifting treatments.

 To overcome this structural constraint, Newpong developed the world's first curved HIFU device — Lincurve Pro — ushering in a new era for the ultrasound lifting market. By reflecting the actual facial curvature of the human face, the company fundamentally redesigned the architecture of lifting equipment.

Health Kyunghyang sat down with Kwang-jae Lee, Head of Newpong Research Institute, to hear the full story behind its development.

HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) concentrates ultrasound energy at a single point to deliver thermal energy deep into tissue. By forming thermal coagulation points at specific depths within the skin, it generates a lifting effect — making it widely used for facial contouring and skin elasticity improvement.

However, the structural limitations of existing devices have been a persistent concern in clinical settings. Newpong identified this unmet need behind the ultrasound lifting market's rapid growth.

Addressing the discomfort experienced by clinicians and the structural shortcomings of existing HIFU devices became the starting point of our research.

The human face has curves and contours, yet the cartridge — the part that contacts the skin — is flat. This means it fails to fully adhere to the skin surface, creating gaps. Particularly in highly curved areas, the cartridge cannot achieve complete contact, resulting in uneven energy delivery. In some cases, clinicians must apply additional pressure just to maintain contact.

By conforming to the facial contour, the device maintains stable contact across the skin surface, allowing more uniform energy delivery to the target skin layer. Without any gap between the cartridge and skin, it forms consistent thermal coagulation points at a uniform depth — enabling more precise and accurate treatment. It also reduces the risk of facial injury from excessive pressure, and because energy can be delivered exactly where the clinician intends, it helps lower the risk of burns as well.

We analyzed facial curvature data from actual male and female subjects, derived an optimal standardized curvature value, and developed multiple cartridges based on that benchmark.

Coincidentally, researchers in academia were also studying injury risks associated with facial medical devices and were independently calculating facial curvature values for men and women. The values they derived were closely aligned with our own findings — providing further scientific validation for our curved design. That is why we can confidently say that Lincurve Pro is an ergonomic achievement grounded in optimal facial curvature data.

The feedback has been highly positive, particularly for the ability to deliver uniform energy to the intended area, enhancing treatment precision and the predictability of outcomes. International clinicians have shared the same perspective.

A prime example is Brazil, where Lincurve Pro was recently introduced. Many local specialists have been comparing the flat and curved cartridges side by side in real clinical settings. They particularly highlighted that the curved cartridge delivers energy to the precise target point, consistently producing uniform results regardless of the operator — making post-treatment outcomes predictable.

Brazil is the world's second-largest aesthetic medical device market after the United States. With competition among Korean companies especially fierce, it serves as a critical benchmark for validating technology and product quality.

We wanted the innovation of the curved HIFU device to reach more consumers beyond the clinical setting. Newpong's product philosophy is: "Think Creatively based on Why, to deliver Happiness." Lincurve was built on the technological foundation developed for the professional medical device, and clinical trials have confirmed its effectiveness across the forehead, eye area, nasolabial folds, double chin, neck wrinkles, and jawline.

We invest heavily in research — including maintaining a dedicated in-house research institute — and we actively pursue industry-academia collaboration, partnering with the scientific and medical communities from the earliest stages of development. The curved HIFU device itself is a product of constant dialogue and exchange with a wide range of experts.

Going forward, we aim to play a central role in building a new ecosystem in aesthetic medicine by connecting clinicians, academia, and industry.

We continue to raise awareness of Lincurve Pro's capabilities through academic conference presentations where specialists share clinical experiences, as well as clinician briefings. We also maintain ongoing dialogue with the clinical community, and are developing the next generation of products based on the diverse feedback and ideas gathered through this process.

Newpong's ultimate goal is not simply to follow market trends, but to develop products that address the fundamental challenges of clinical practice — grounded in scientific evidence and differentiated technology. We will continue to deepen our collaboration with the market, clinical settings, and academia to further solidify the values that define Newpong.