What is Ultherapy and How Does it Work?
With non-surgical alternatives becoming ever-more sophisticated, it’s now easier than ever to smooth, lift and tighten the face, neck and decolletage, without the downtime of surgery. Ultherapy has now become a gold-standard in non-surgical skin tightening and lifting, thanks to its unique ability to deliver powerful collagen-boosting and skin tightening effects in both the skin and the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) – the deep layer of muscle typically addressed in a surgical facelift.
If you’re wondering whether Ultherapy could be a good option for your concerns, we have outlined everything you need to know below.
How does Ultherapy work?
We’ve all heard of ultrasound as the technology used for looking at babies in the womb, but the one used here is a different sort of ultrasound. It’s a focused, high-intensity ultrasound, which narrows its sound-energy waves into a single point. These sound-energy waves strike deep into the skin (up to 4.5mm beneath the surface) to stimulate new collagen and elastin over the next few months, which further tightens the facial tissues.
At 4.5mm below the skin’s surface, the ultrasound can reach the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) which is the layer of muscular tissue that surgeons manipulate when they’re performing a face lift.
Because Ultherapy targets the skin so deeply, it can be used to tighten and lift the face – or the eyebrow, or the neck, or even the skin under the jaw.
How does it differ from radiofrequency?
The difference between treatments such as radiofrequency is that Ultherapy delivers defined columns of higher temperature to the skin and deeper facial tissues, producing more significant results.
Most radiofrequency devices require a course of treatments for optimum results, whereas Ultherapy is a one-off treatment. The only exception to this is the Profound RF, a radiofrequency microneedling device that, like Ultherapy, only requires a single treatment and penetrates deeper than typical RF devices.
Ultherapy is particularly effective if more tightening is required or if a patient has thinner or more sun-damaged skin, as it targets multiple levels of the deeper tissues.
What results should I expect?
You may notice a subtle immediate result – from the way the collagen is forced to contract during treatment – but three to six months on, you will see the full results. At this point, you’ll notice a tighter, more defined jawline, reduced jowls, fewer lines and wrinkles and a complexion that’s smoother overall.
In a study called out by Merz Aesthetics, who developed the technology, 95% of Ultherapy patients reported witnessing tighter and firmer skin after one year of having their treatment.
We recommend repeating the treatment every eighteen months to maintain the results.
Am I a good candidate?
If your skin is starting to look less firm, leading to a lowered eyebrow line, sagging neck skin, or jowling, you are a good candidate for Ultherapy. Typically, people with mild to moderate skin laxity find Ultherapy most beneficial.
At Illuminate, we believe in combining treatments for best results. Combining Ultherapy with Profhilo, dermal fillers, or even skin treatments, such as the HydraFacial is usually the best way to go.
One size doesn’t fit all, so book a consultation with one of our expert practitioners to discuss your concerns and whether Ultherapy is suitable for you.
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Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.
