Pioneering the Global Medical Aesthetics Market with Innovative Solutions

Ultra V is a renowned South Korean company that develops, manufactures, and supplies medical devices and functional cosmetics to domestic and overseas markets. It also manufactures PDO-Polydioxanone and PCL-Poly-Caprolactone for use in dermatology and plastic surgery through its global distribution network in 60 countries.

"The combination of innovation and extensive experience enables us to provide safe, powerful and cutting-edge products in the field of medical aesthetics," says Dr. Kwon Han Jin, CEO of Ultra V. "Our focus is the constant development and improvement of treatment methods in thread-lifting, mesotherapy and dermal fillers. Due to our highly skilled team of medical doctors, instructors and employees, we can provide unique products of excellent quality and up-to-date hands-on training for doctors, natural practitioners, medical practices and clinics worldwide."

The lifting threads, dermal filler and mesotherapy boosters made by Ultra V are among the safest and most innovative products on the global market today, whilst the company's PDO, PCL, PLCL lifting-threads, fillers and boosters are used for applications such as facial and eyebrow lifting, wrinkle reduction, skin-tightening, skin-radiance and other corporeal aesthetic treatments.

Its new Ultracol product, the world's first microsphere bio-stimulator based on polydioxanone – commonly known as PDO – has quickly become most widely associated with Ultra V due to its unique, patented and certified technology.

1 of 2

"Ultracol is an effective collagen stimulator and highly suited for difficult indications such as the glabella, dark circles and wrinkles in the undereye area," says Dr. Kwon. "Despite the relatively short time in the market, Ultracol has already created a significant sensation, as doctors recognize its unique benefits. Our enhancement of this technology lies in the particle shape of Ultracol, a fine round shape that achieved a Korean patent for its production technology. Thanks to this shape, the side effect of this product is significantly lower than other fillers that have irregular-shaped particles. Fortunately, Ultracol was approved by the KFDA in 2016 and so far it has been approved by 19 countries, including China (in Hainan Province), and many European, South American and Asian countries."

Because PDO has been safely used for synthetic sutures for 60 years, doctors who have begun using Ultracol have provided positive feedback on its performance, says Dr. Kwon. The collagen created by the PDO microsphere of Ultracol remains unlike HA-based fillers, which are absorbed into the body. Instead of providing an instant plumping effect, these injections stimulate the body's own processes for longer-term smoothing and volumizing.

"PDO offers numerous advantages over threads as it eliminates the variability associated with the doctor's skill," explains the Ultra V CEO. "The powder form allows for simple puncturing and spreading, resulting in consistently visible results. It is truly an amazing product. Moreover, PDO has been extensively studied and proven to be safe. When foreign material is placed under the skin, it stimulates the surrounding tissues to produce collagen, leading to a natural filling effect. This aligns with the global trend of desiring natural-looking results rather than artificial enhancements."

While Korea has been utilizing thread lifting for various purposes such as collagen stimulation, body enhancements, and even hair follicle growth for over 20 years, the European market however has yet to fully embrace the versatility and potential of thread treatments. However, the landscape is changing with the rise of bio-stimulators and collagen stimulators in the market.

"Previously, hyaluronic acid fillers dominated the market, comprising approximately 90% of usage, while bio-stimulators accounted for only around 10%," says Dr. Kwon. "However, the trend has shifted significantly, with bio-stimulators experiencing exponential growth. Young Korean individuals, in particular, prefer thread treatments over fillers because fillers can create an unnatural appearance."

"The combination of innovation and extensive experience enables us to provide safe, powerful and cutting-edge products in the field of medical aesthetics."

Kwon Han Jin, CEO, Ultra V Co., Ltd.

Ultra V's strategy for the overseas market involves several key initiatives. Ultracol has recently been approved by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) for Hainan Province as the first PDO microsphere bio-stimulator. This will allow the company to expand its market to the mainland of China, which is the third biggest aesthetic market after the USA and Brazil. Meanwhile, Ultracol is currently at the final approval process of the ANVISA for the Brazilian market, and Ultra V is also looking for a competitive distributor to move it forward with the USA market.

"We are actively seeking partnerships in the U.S. with reliable and capable distributors to further penetrate the North American market. Having a substantial marketing budget plays a crucial role in these expansion efforts," says Dr. Kwon. "We anticipate that both PCL and PDO threads will continue to gain traction globally, as they are already widely used in clinics around the world. Mastery of thread techniques is essential for those aiming to excel in the beauty industry."

Whilst PDO threads are considered fundamental in Korea, PCL threads are slightly more expensive but offer additional benefits. As for PDO powder (Ultracol), its popularity has surged due to the issues experienced with Sculptra, which faced complications such as nodule and granuloma formation.

"The trend has shifted away from these complications, and PDO powder has emerged as a favored alternative," says Dr. Kwon. "We have hosted training sessions and workshops for international doctors all over the world, allowing us to showcase specialized techniques for challenging wrinkle treatments, emphasizing that technique is just as vital as the products themselves in the field of medical aesthetics."

Ultra V participates in conferences and congresses worldwide, including AMWC Monaco and IMCAS Paris every year. Dr. Kwon adds: "Through these endeavors, we aim to expand our global footprint and share our expertise with doctors and clinics around the world, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships and delivering exceptional results in the field of beauty and aesthetics."