Treatment time: 45 – 90 minutes
What is Ultherapy? – The Non-invasive Lift
Ultherapy is the ONLY non-invasive procedure FDA-cleared to lift skin on the neck, under the chin and on the eyebrow. Now also FDA-cleared to improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the décolletage, Ultherapy can help you achieve a fresher look from your brow to your chest! Ultherapy uses time-tested ultrasound energy to lift and tighten the skin naturally—without surgery or downtime.
Ultrasound Imaging Allows Doctors To See Where The Treatment Energy Will Be Delivered
Focused Ultrasound. No Surgery!
Ultherapy harnesses the power of ultrasound to transform the brow, chin, neck and chest. Ultrasound, of course, has been used throughout the medical field for more than 50 years—and Ultherapy has been established as effective in clinical studies* and in over a million treatments worldwide.
Ultherapy relies on ultrasound therapy to deliver its collagen-boosting treatment. It also incorporates traditional ultrasound imaging, which allows practitioners to see the layers of tissue they are treating, ensuring the treatment energy is delivered to where it will be most beneficial.
How It works
- Just a Single Treatment
Just one non-invasive Ultherapy® treatment helps counteract the effects of gravity and sun exposure without downtime.
- Builds New Collagen
The Ultherapy®procedure stimulates collagen production by delivering focused ultrasound energy to the skin’s foundational layer typically addressed in cosmetic surgery—without cutting or disrupting the surface of the skin.
- No Toxins or Needles
Unlike lasers, radio frequency, surgery and other technologies, non-surgical Ultherapy bypasses the surface of the skin to deliver the right amount of ultrasound energy at the right depths and the right temperature. This energy triggers a natural response under the skin, jumpstarting the regenerative process that produces fresh, new collagen.
- No Downtime. Natural Results.
Some patients see an initial effect right after their treatment, but the real results appear over 2−3 months* as new collagen works to lift and tighten skin on the neck, chin and brow as well as smooth skin on the chest. While Ultherapy won’t duplicate the results of a facelift, it’s a clinically proven non-invasive alternative for those not ready for surgery—and can even be an option for patients who wish to extend the effects of cosmetic surgery.
Before Your Treatment
The first thing you will want to do is schedule a one-on-one consultation with an Ultherapy provider. During this session, your practitioner 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.
To enhance your comfort, your practitioner may recommend that you take an over-the-counter or prescribed medication before the treatment.
Your provider will help you feel comfortable during your treatment
During Your Treatment
After cleansing the skin and identifying the specific areas to be treated, your Ultherapy practitioner will apply the ultrasound gel and place the smooth treatment applicator against your skin. Next, your provider will use Ultherapy’s ultrasound imaging to first see deep within the skin 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 Your Treatment
With Ultherapy, there is no downtime! 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.
Other, less common post-procedural effects may include temporary bruising or numbness on small areas of skin. As with any medical procedure, there is the possibility for other rare effects, which your practitioner will review with you.
Ultherapy FAQ
Who is a good candidate for Ultherapy?
A good candidate for Ultherapy is someone with some degree of laxity, to the point of looking, and often feeling, less firm. Loose skin under the neck and under the chin, or lines and wrinkles on the chest, are signals a patient might be a candidate. Typically, those in their 30s and older who have mild to moderate skin laxity are candidates. While Ultherapy is not a replacement for a surgical facelift, there are many people who want some facial lifting but are not ready for surgery, whether mentally, physically or financially. There also are younger people who want to “stay ahead of the game,” as well as patients wanting an aesthetic maintenance option.
Are there any side effects?
There may be slight redness that typically resolves within a few hours following the treatment. Some patients may have slight swelling, tingling or tenderness to the touch, but these are mild and temporary in nature.
How many treatments does it take?
The majority of patients only need one treatment; however, some may benefit from more than one treatment, depending on how much skin laxity they have and their body’s own biological response to the ultrasound and the collagen-building process.
How long does it last?
Since the procedure stimulates a person’s own collagen production, how long the results last depends on the individual. The treatment produces new collagen on the inside, but the individual’s natural aging process will dictate how long that translates into visible results on the outside. Future touch-up treatments can help provide more control over the aging process, which varies by individual.
What does the Ultherapy treatment feel like?
As the ultrasound energy is delivered, you may feel tiny amounts of energy being deposited to precise depths, stimulating the collagen-building process. Comfort levels vary from person to person, but the sensation only lasts while the ultrasound energy is being delivered.
Will I need to take time off?
With Ultherapy, there is no downtime. After your procedure, you can resume your normal activities immediately, without having to follow any post-treatment measures.
Is Ultherapy safe?
The Ulthera® System is currently marketed worldwide in more than 60 countries, and over 1 million treatments have been performed globally. In addition, ultrasound energy has a proven track record, with use in the field of medicine for more than 50 years.
What does collagen do? How does Ultherapy stimulate the creation of collagen?
Collagen is a natural protein that gives skin its youthfulness by keeping it firm and toned. As we age, collagen breaks down, and the result is a loss of skin strength and elasticity. Ultherapy uses microfocused ultrasound to generate a thermal effect under the skin. The thermal effect essentially jump-starts a process that produces fresh, new collagen.
How does Ultherapy differ from laser treatments?
Ultherapy uses sound energy — tried-and-true ultrasound — which has unique properties that allow it to bypass the surface of the skin to treat depths not matched by any other non-invasive cosmetic device. Ultherapy ultrasound stimulates collagen production in the skin’s foundation, resulting in a clinically significant lift of tissue over two to three months. Some lasers rely on light energy, which cannot reach deeper skin layers. Typically, laser treatments also only treat superficial skin and are not FDA-cleared to lift skin.
Can Ultherapy replace a facelift?
Ultherapy treats the deep foundational layer addressed in cosmetic surgery, but won’t duplicate the results of a surgical facelift. Ultherapy is a great alternative, however, especially for those not ready for surgery or for patients looking to extend the effects of cosmetic surgery.
How is Ultherapy different from other cosmetic procedures?
Ultherapy is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that uses focused ultrasound to stimulate the formation of new collagen deep below the skin’s surface.The production of new collagen takes time, so results can become more apparent over two to three months, even up to six months. The procedure takes about 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the area treated, and there is no downtime afterward. It also is the only procedure to use ultrasound imaging, which allows practitioners to actually see the layers of tissue targeted during the treatment and ensure the energy is deposited precisely to where it will be most beneficial.