Ultherapy® is an innovative skin tightening and lifting procedure from a private pharmaceutical company based in Germany. Although it has made waves during its initial introduction in 2008, a lot of people still wonder, “Is it right for me? Will it hurt? Is it costly?”
Below are the most common myths about Ultherapy® and why it is important to separate fact from fiction.
Ultherapy® Uses Radio frequency
Radio Frequency (RF) machines tap into electromagnetic waves between 1 km and 1 cm and primarily tighten skin by focusing on the more superficial tissue. Several procedures in a year are usually advised when it comes to RF because although the comfort level is high, the penetration is not as deep.
Ultherapy® uses ultrasound technology to smoothen and tighten the deeper layers of the skin focally. As a matter of fact, Ultherapy® goes as deep as 3 mm to 4.5 mm and uses the heat of up to about 70 degrees Celsius beneath the surface. Treating the deeper layers of the skin promotes tightening and lifting from the inside, and this results in dramatic and prolonged results.
This is also why Ultherapy® can be performed twice annually. The goal of this treatment, aside from stimulating collagen production, is to create better symmetry for the patient’s face by improving the appearance of large jowls, reducing a double chin and droopy brows.
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
Ultherapy® can be done anywhere between an hour to an hour and a half, and will be quick or could also take longer, depending on your comfort level. Some patients experience little to zero discomforts, and this allows the aesthetic doctor to proceed with the procedure without any delays whatsoever. However, if a patient feels some discomfort, the aesthetic doctor may stop and pause between pulses to allow the patient time to feel comfortable while the treatment is being performed.
There are also patients who opt to focus on areas like the jawline or neck and choose to forego other areas like the brow bone area, and this may influence the overall time it takes to complete the procedure.
There is absolutely no downtime, though one may feel slight discomfort or stinging along the cheeks or jowls. The discomfort may be compared to the feeling when you have chewed on something for a long time, but the sensation goes away pretty soon after.
The Procedure is Painful
The comfort level of a patient varies depending on his/her pain threshold. Nevertheless, since Ultherapy® uses various depth levels, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5mm, the patient has the choice to work with the most comfortable level. It is also important to note that the sensation felt is limited to the time when the ultrasound energy is being delivered and doesn’t linger long afterwards.
You Have to Repeat the Treatment Several Times a Year
There’s absolutely no need to repeat the procedure several times because, unlike treatments that work only on the skin’s surface, Ultherapy® works on the deeper layers of skin, and this stimulates collagen production that lasts up to a full year, and in some cases, up to three years even.
Using the original Ulthera® system, Ultherapy® is a noninvasive treatment that utilizes micro-focused ultrasound to lift and tighten the skin under the chin, on the brow, neck, and chest. It encourages the body’s own natural healing process which starts the production of fresh, new collagen.
HIFUs are Later “Generations” of Ultherapy
Ultherapy is the only one that has FDA approval of any Ultrasound-based devices. They are the originator of the technology and also the ones with the most clinical results and presentations at major conferences. Hence, all other “generations” of HIFU are just copy machines of the original.
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