As we get older, fine lines, wrinkles, and loose skin become more and more pronounced on our face and neck. While this is a completely normal part of aging, it can make us feel insecure and less confident. Often even the most expensive creams and skincare products money can buy do nothing to turn back the clock. But with Ultherapy, you can tighten and lift the skin on the face and décolletage, reducing improving the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. At Radiant Divine Medical Spa in Avon, OH, we can get you looking more fresh and youthful in no time!
Can Collagen Tighten Skin? Taking a Closer Look at Ultherapy
You’ve probably heard of collagen by now. Whether it’s in face masks or supplements, it’s always advertised as a miracle worker for the skin that can restore youth. And, impressively, it is! But did you know that it’s actually a protein found naturally in the human body? It provides your skin with structure, keeping it toned and firm, and stops our skin from wrinkling when we use our facial muscles.
When we hit about 25, our production of collagen slows down, and by the time we enter our 30s, wrinkles and fine lines become more and more visible. That’s because our skin is weakening and losing elasticity without collagen to support it. But with Ultherapy, you can encourage your body to start producing collagen again, and dramatically rejuvenate your skin, making it tighter and more supple and leaving you looking younger and more gorgeous! Read on to understand exactly how this treatment restores collagen in the skin, and if it may be right for you.
What Can I Do to Slow Down the Aging Process on My Skin?
There are steps everyone can take to preserve their skin and the collagen under it as much as possible. Wearing sunscreen, not smoking, and avoiding refined carbs and sugars are all useful ways to combat collagen being destroyed. Unfortunately, however, collagen production slowing is a natural part of aging. That’s why more and more people are looking to Ultherapy as a method of remedying this and fighting back against wrinkles and fine lines.
What Is Ultherapy?
This is a non-invasive treatment that utilizes the power of ultrasound on the skin. It delivers focused pulses of energy to the skin’s surface, which triggers a natural response in the skin to produce collagen. Ultrasound has been an incredibly popular tool in the medical community for over 50 years, so it’s no wonder that this treatment is FDA-approved, is available in over 60 counties, and has been performed globally more than 1 million times. It’s a safe and effective alternative to surgery.
How Does This Treatment Work?
As hot pulses of energy are delivered to the skin, they penetrate the surface by between 1.5mm and 4mm. When this energy shocks the deeper layer of the skin, the body registers this as an injury and starts a healing process known as Neocollagenesis. This is when the body repairs damaged tissue and creates new collagen. Not only is the body busy producing new collagen, but any existing collagen in the skin is reorganized and strengthened, so your skin is more equipped to resist physical stress in the future.
Over the weeks following treatment, collagen proteins will grow and replace older collagen as the skin regenerates. In the case of this treatment, the skin commonly produces far more collagen than was damaged by the ultrasound, meaning the skin ends up incredibly supple and voluminous. By the time the process is complete, the skin looks tighter, more youthful, and has filled out lines and wrinkles.
Amazingly, this treatment further utilizes the power of ultrasound technology by incorporating traditional imagery. Practitioners can see on the screen exactly what areas they’re treating with energy, and closely examine those layers of tissue. This ensures treatment is applied to areas where it will be most effective.
What Will Treatment Be Like?
Before Treatment
The first step in the process is to come in for an initial one-on-one consultation. Here you’ll sit down with one of our expert Ultherapy practitioners and discuss your cosmetic concerns and goals. We’ll closely look at your skin type, plus your medical history, so we can effectively determine if this treatment will work for you. If we decide it is we’ll design a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Then you can book in your treatment session!
We won’t ask you to take any extra steps or new skincare regimes leading up to your session. We may recommend taking an over-the-counter or prescribed medication to aid in a patient’s comfort before treatment.
On the Day
This treatment is performed in-house by a member of our team. We’ll cleanse your skin and then apply ultrasound gel on to the target areas, then place the treatment applicator over the gel. Our practitioner then examines the area on the ultrasound image, which allows them to choose the most suitable areas to apply the energy pulses. When this is done, the energy pulses are applied.
Every position is only held for a few seconds – just long enough to be effective. The duration of the session varies depending on the individual and what their treatment plan is. Generally, sessions take between 60 and 90 minutes for the face and neck, and roughly 30 minutes for the chest.
How Long Is the Recovery Period?
One of the reasons patients love this treatment is because there’s no downtime. Unlike following a surgical procedure, you can immediately carry on with your day, whether it’s heading back to work or running errands. Because there’s no anesthetic used, you can even drive yourself to and from the appointment!
What Are the Benefits of This Treatment?
The final results of this treatment leave patients with tighter, more voluminous skin. As collagen naturally plumps up the skin, patients notice that wrinkles and fine lines have been filled out and are now much smoother. The skin has also been strengthened and sits more structured on the face, making patients look more contoured with less loose skin. Overall, the skin looks more youthful, rejuvenated, and totally gorgeous. But patients still look like themselves!
Wrinkles and looser skin are tell-tale signs of aging and they can make you feel insecure or even unattractive. Aging can also be confronting if you find you’re not even recognizing the face looking back at you in the mirror thanks to new wrinkles and lines popping up every day. In the same way that makeup or dying your hair can give you a much-needed confidence boost, so can this treatment. Patients find that in feeling more beautiful and youthful, they sit comfortably in their skin and are happier the body they’re in.
This treatment is minimally invasive, which means it’s a great alternative to the surgical options out there like face lifts and neck lifts. If patients have any reservations about anesthesia or infections, they might be more inclined to stay away from surgery. It’s also helpful for those whose schedules are too hectic to fit in a long recovery period.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
As previously stated, this treatment is incredibly effective after one session. Some patients, however, may choose to come back for a follow-up. This will depend on skin laxity, how their body produces collagen, and how their body responds to the treatment overall.
How Long Will It Take to See Results?
Collagen usually takes between 4 and 10 days to form, so the skin will gradually start to look more supple and voluminous over this time. A more subtle, natural-looking reveal is ideal for many patients who don’t want to have an obvious overnight transformation – no one has to know you underwent treatment unless you want to tell them!
How Long Will the Results Last?
The results will depend on the individual, as collagen production is different for every person and their body. Many patients have found that the results last for as long as two years! It’s worth remembering that the natural forces of aging will continue to affect the skin over time, and this treatment rejuvenates the face without permanently freezing the aging process. Luckily, Radiant Divine Medical Spa will still be around for you to come back in for touch-up treatments whenever you feel you might need one, so you can continue to feel in control of your skin as you age.
Can Skin Creams Achieve the Same Results?
Skincare products, such as balms, creams, and topical treatments, can all be incredibly efficient in looking after and nourishing the skin. But they only really affect the skin’s surface and aren’t absorbed into the deeper layers. For this reason, they’ll unlikely to be as powerful as this treatment, which gets deep under the skin and works from the inside out.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Treatment?
Anyone over the age of 18 who finds wrinkles and fine lines becoming more pronounced, or are noticing looser skin on their face and neck, may be interested in this treatment. Our clientele is generally in their 30s and 40s, and are all genders. After all, loose skin affects men too!
Patients with some skin laxity are ideal candidates – those with skin that doesn’t feel as tight as it once did but hasn’t lost all its elasticity. Commonly, patients are noticing sagging on the neck and jawline, a lower brow line, and wrinkles. Occasionally patients are not yet noticing these signs, and still have quite tight skin, but are looking to get ahead of the game while they’re younger.
When we review your medical history during your consultation, we’ll ensure that you’re a healthy candidate and that no medication or pre-existing conditions will affect your ability to undergo this treatment.
What Are Some Alternatives to This Treatment?
If during your consultation, we decide this treatment isn’t right for you, we’re pleased to offer a variety of alternatives here at Radiant Divine Medical Spa. If you’re looking for another non-invasive option, we offer Venus Versa/Intense Pulsed Light treatments, which combats wrinkles and fine lines with infrared light. If you’re concerned specifically with your jawline, we can provide a jaw enhancement treatment using injectables. Whatever issues you’re looking to address, chat with us, and we’ll steer you in the right direction.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Are you ready to say goodbye to the wrinkles and fine lines that skin creams won’t get rid of? If you want striking, rejuvenated skin that is more youthful and supple, where wrinkles have been filled out and skin sits tighter on your face, then Ultherapy might be right for you. Contact Radiant Divine Medical Spa in Avon, OH today. We’ll discuss your options and get you feeling more happy and comfortable in your skin in no time!