Procedures

Ultherapy

Sun exposure, the normal aging process, and gravity can take a toll on your appearance. But not everyone is eligible for skin-lifting surgery. If you’ve been told that you’re not a good candidate for surgery to correct the sagging in your face, neck, eyebrow, under-chin and decolletage areas, Ultherapy may be the ideal treatment for you.

Many patients think surgery is the only option to rejuvenate sagging skin, but we often recommend Ultherapy to patients looking to reduce sagging skin on the face and other areas on the body in lieu of surgical procedures. Ultherapy is the only FDA-cleared, non-invasive procedure that lifts the neck, chin and brow, and improves lines and wrinkles on the upper chest. However, we often use Ultherapy on nearly every part of the body. Through ultrasound imaging, we can deliver energy precisely to the place where it will benefit you most giving you natural-looking results that improve over time.

Ultherapy provides proven results in a single treatment to treat your loose skin without surgery, without impacting the surface of your skin, and without downtime. Ultherapy® uses microfocused ultrasound to generate a thermal effect under the skin. This effect essentially jump-starts your body’s own process to create fresh, new collagen.

How Ultherapy Works

Ultherapy is currently the only noninvasive skin lifting treatment that has been cleared by the FDA. Just one Ultherapy treatment can undo years of damage in as little as 30-90 minutes (depending on the area being treated), without any downtime for you. The Ultherapy system uses ultrasound technology to stimulate the natural production of collagen. This is known as neocollagenesis, and the new collagen that is created helps lift your skin and decrease wrinkles to give you a younger, smoother look.

Ultherapy procedures on the face, neck and under-chin areas generally take about 60-90 minutes, and treatments to remove lines and wrinkles from the decolletage takes only around 30 minutes. Many patients will only need one Ultherapy treatment to see the results they want, but others may benefit from additional sessions based on age or other factors. Also, as you age, you might benefit from occasional touch-up sessions.

Ultherapy Before & After
Individual results from procedures cannot be guaranteed, and may vary between patients.

There’s nothing you really need to do to get ready for your Ultherapy treatment, but you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever if you think you may need it. Side effects are generally temporary and mild, and may include redness, tingling or tenderness, and slight swelling.

How long does it take to see results?

You might or might not see an immediate effect from your Ultherapy procedure, but the majority of the improvement will come within 2-3 months after the treatment as that’s how long it takes to produce new collagen.

If you’re interested in a quick and noninvasive way to lift and tighten your skin, Ultherapy may be the ideal solution for you. Call us to schedule a one-on-one consultation so that we can assess your skin, give you more information and determine if you would be a good candidate for Ultherapy treatment.

What should I expect before treatment

The first thing you will want to do is schedule a one-on-one consultation. During this session, we will address your concerns, assess your skin and determine if you are a candidate for the treatment. Once you book your Ultherapy® procedure, you won’t need to follow any special preparations or skincare regimens in advance of the treatment. However, to enhance your comfort, we recommend that you take an over-the-counter or prescribed medication before the treatment.

What should I expect during treatment

After cleansing the skin and identifying the specific areas to be treated, ultrasound gel will be applied, and the smooth treatment applicator will be placed against your skin. Next, we use Ultherapy’s ultrasound imaging to determine optimal placement of the treatment energy, and then deliver the focused ultrasound energy beneath the skin’s surface.

During the treatment delivery, you will feel tiny amounts of energy being deposited to precise depths, indicating that the collagen-building process has been initiated. Comfort levels can vary from person to person, but the sensation only lasts while the energy is being delivered. The length of your treatment will depend on the area being treated and your individual treatment plan. A face and neck procedure typically takes 60-90 minutes, while a chest treatment takes approximately 30 minutes.

After treatment

After your Ultherapy® Treatment, you may see some initial effect, but the ultimate results will take place over 2-3 months, as your body naturally regenerates collagen. Since the procedure stimulates your own collagen production, how long the results last really depends on you. The treatment produces new collagen on the inside, but your natural aging process will dictate how long that translates into visible results on the outside. Most patients only need one treatment. However, based on the degree of skin laxity, the biological response to ultrasound energy and the individual’s collagen-building process, some patients benefit from additional treatments. Because skin continues to age, future touch-up treatments can help patients keep pace with the body’s natural aging process.

You can return to your normal activities immediately after your procedure without any post-treatment restrictions or requirements. Your skin might appear flushed at first, but the redness should disappear within a few hours. Some patients experience slight swelling, tingling or tenderness to the touch, but these are mild and temporary in nature.  As with any medical procedure, there is the possibility for other rare effects, which we will review with you.