As we age, the lower layer of the skin, called the dermis, gets thinner. Elastin begins to break down, reducing the skin’s elasticity, or ability to “bounce back.” Collagen, which keeps the skin taut, also begins to diminish. As we lose elastin and collagen, the skin becomes looser, allowing gravity to cause sagging. In addition, the muscle and tissue layers change in composition, which leads to wrinkles.
Ultherapy is the only FDA cleared non-invasive procedure that has been proven effective at combatting the signs of aging by lifting and tightening the skin, leading to diminished lines and wrinkles.
It’s only natural that what took years to degenerate will also take time to regenerate. Because Ultherapy actually regenerates tissues, it does not provide an immediate best result. Instead, it provides patients with a gradual best result. This appears more natural and less dramatic than a surgical procedure. Most patients report that their results continue to improve within the 3-6 months immediately following their Ultherapy treatment. This is due to the continuing production of “new skin” in the underlying layers.
Ultherapy gets its name because it uses ultrasound to improve the signs of aging. The science behind ultrasound is tried and true, which supports the claims of Ultherapy’s amazing results. The procedure causes molecules in the skin to vibrate which generates heat. Ultrasound frequencies can reach up to 4.5mm below the surface of the skin – allowing stimulation of skin at depths not reachable with the use of other non-invasive cosmetic devices.
The Ultherapy process heats the targeted tissues, stimulating the skin’s natural regeneration process. As the skin is heated, the body goes into repair mode, gradually lifting and tightening the tissues that were treated. Ultherapy results in the maturation and remodeling of the skin cells in the dermis layer, including the all-important elastin and collagen.
Because Ultherapy treats the deep layers without disturbing the surface of the skin, patients are left with no visible evidence of treatment that may be experienced after other surgical and even non-surgical procedures (like bruising and scarring). Another benefit of Ultherapy is that it gives the practitioner the unique ability to view the deeper layers of the skin on screen in order to see exactly where it is working.
Typically, an Ultherapy procedure lasts between 75-90 minutes when performed on all areas of the face and neck. However, Ultherapy can also be performed on specific areas only like the neck, chin, or eyebrow – resulting in less procedure time and lower cost.
Every Ultherapy treatment is planned and performed specifically to the individual patient’s desired outcome combined with the practitioner’s evaluation results of the skin’s age and characteristics. One of the most exciting things about Ultherapy is that most patients experience the desired results after only one treatment. Although the desired results do take approximately 3-6 months to fully develop, they typically last 2-5 years depending on the patient’s age and the condition of their skin prior to their Ultherapy treatment.