Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
Via Unsplash
Another non-invasive facial rejuvenation option is gathering momentum in the marketplace. The device, marketed by an Arizona company, is called Ulthera, and the treatment is called Ultherapy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the equipment for treating saggy forehead skin in 2009, and today cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists and other doctors use it for tightening skin all over the face and neck.
What makes Ultherapy different than other non-invasive facial treatments on the market today—notably, Thermage and fractional laser technology—is it employs ultrasound to do its work. Whereas the Thermage system uses heat to penetrate the skin’s surface and Fraxel and similar devices use laser technology, Ulthera relies on sound waves to penetrate surface skin. As explained in the manufacturer’s press release, the sound waves trigger the body’s healing response, producing more collagen to support surface tissues. The skin is essentially lifted from underneath, as a firmer foundation builds 3-6 months following treatment.
Another innovation Ulthera employs is imaging. Ultrasound enables doctors to see under surface skin and precisely target the treatment area. According to the manufacturer, this results in increased safety and effectiveness.
Should You Try Ulthera?
The device has been on the market and in doctors’ offices for just over a year now, and most reviews are enthusiastic. In fact, on www.realself.com, 94 percent of the 24 patients who gave a review gave their treatment a thumbs up. You can’t get much better than that.
In comparison, on the same website, 40 percent of 175 RealSelf patients who tried Thermage found treatment to be worth the cost, and only 54 percent of 372 Fraxel patients rated that option highly. Even allowing for a smaller range of experiences based on the limited patient pool, the Ulthera results are impressive.
Should You Wait?
Still, there are reasons to stop and think before rushing out to find an Ultherapy provider near you.
The first and most obvious is the fact that the technology is so new. There’s much to learn about patient results as more people try the system, particularly when it comes to how long the results last. Plastic surgeons gave the Ulthera system mixed reviews. Research will show you that many are enthusiastic--naturally these are the ones who have purchased the new technology. Others said they believe the results are modest and perhaps not worth the cost of treatment, compared to cosmetic surgery.
And what about the cost? For the 24 patients who reported Ultherapy results on RealSelf, the average outlay was about $2,300. Depending on which and how many areas of the face you're looking to treat, you may not may realize a tremendous return on your investment compared to cosmetic surgery. For instance, if you're looking to lift saggy skin on your forehead, the alternative is a brow lift. This surgical procedure normally yields very noticeable results that last for years, if not for the rest of your life. The average cost of a brow lift, according to RealSelf? Seventy-three hundred dollars.
There are other factors to consider as well, just as there are with any treatment. Some patients say Ultherapy is painful, and a few have reported temporary welts. To date, none of the potential side effects seem terribly dramatic. But keep the possibilities in mind when deciding, especially as the manufacturer says the equipment works “without damaging the superficial layers of skin,” and “patients experience no down time.”
If you should choose to give Ultherapy a try, consider reporting your results here on www.empowher.com and on www.realself.com.
References:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf7/K072505.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/fashion/23Neck.html?hpw
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/ulthera/38500/
Add a Comment5 Comments
I will be 60 in February and I have had ultherapy for the past three Decembers. I suppose you can say I was a pioneer. I had tried thermage and thought it was a total waste of money.
There is no question that ulthera works for me. My goal is not to look 25, but to keep a jawline and not to have jowls. I just want to age gracefully. The results are amazing. Many people think I look like I'm in my 40s (probably puffery), but even I know I don't look 60.
But, in all honesty, it's painful. I had natural childbirth many moons ago, so I can handle pain. And I do keep coming back for more. My dermatologist gives serious pain meds before the procedure which helps.
I do swell and bruise a bit after the procedure -- I tend to do that even though most people don't. So I schedule a couple of days of downtime afterward. But most people don't have to do that. The results improve over a couple of months and last a good while. But aging does continue, so I have the procedure once a year.
I had been doing just my lower and mid face, but added my brow area this last time. My eyes already deem more open.
Good luck. I highly recommend the procedure.
December 28, 2013 - 8:08amThis Comment
That's great news! Would you mind sharing how much the procedure cost?
Cathy
February 25, 2011 - 1:09pmThis Comment
At 52, I had the procedure done. The physician used nerve blocking agent so the pain was minimal. Two hours after the procedure, I was at a business affair and no one noticed a thing.
February 25, 2011 - 12:32pm4 months later, I can say I am very satisfied with the results. Would reccomend to anyone wanting to firm the jowels and under the chin.
This Comment
Thanks for the review! Lots of what I've read does make Ultherapy sound promising...
Cathy
February 2, 2011 - 9:07pmThis Comment
I will be 51 this month and for my birthday, I had the treatment Ulthera all over my face and neck about a month ago. They gave me a pain killer prior to the precedure and I could feel like hot needles going through my skin, and although some were painful, they were tolerable. They say I can see the full results in about 2-3 months but I can already say I love the way my face looks! I was having sagging skin from my cheeks and neck, wrinkles on my forehead and smile lines, but now my skin has already tightened quite a bit; and it will only get better! The procedure lasted a little over an hour I think, and there was no down time; in fact I didn't have bruising and only mild swelling, but nothing noticeable. I recommend this procedure a hundred percent!
February 2, 2011 - 8:47pmThis Comment