What is Ultherapy Treatment?
Ultherapy is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that uses focused ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen production and tighten the skin. It is often referred to as a “non-surgical facelift” because it aims to lift and firm sagging or loose skin on the face, neck, and décolletage without the need for surgery or downtime.
Ultherapy delivers focused ultrasound energy deep into the skin’s foundational layers, including the muscle and connective tissue layers known as the deep dermis and superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS). This energy heats the tissue and triggers the body’s natural collagen production process.The heat generated by Ultherapy stimulates the production of new collagen fibers, which helps to improve skin elasticity, firmness, and texture over time. Ultherapy is commonly used to address concerns such as sagging jowls, drooping eyebrows, loose skin on the neck, and lines or wrinkles on the décolletage. Ultherapy treatment is a great choice for early sagging, as well as alternative for those who prefer a non-invasive treatment over surgery. It can also be used in patients who have completed surgery and are keen to optimise or extend the results of a surgical face lift.
Who is suitable for Ultherapy Treatment?
A good Ultherapy candidate has mild to moderate skin laxity which shows as wrinkling, loss of tissues elasticity and folds. These include a lowered brow, loose skin on the cheeks and neck, sagging under the chin, and lines or wrinkles on the chest.
You are not a suitable candidate for Ultherapy treatment if you:
- Have open wounds or lesions on the face and/or neck.
- Have severe or cystic acne on the face and/or neck.
- Have pacemakers and electronic device implants in treated area.
- Have mechanical implants.
- Have implanted electrical devices in the face and/or neck.
- Have metal stents in the area of treatment (e.g. face, neck, décolletage, or centre of chest)).
You will require a consultation with your respective doctor at Yuchi Medical before having an Ultherapy Treatment if you:
- have received gold therapy on the treated area
- have had fillers or botulinum toxins injection on the treated area
- your skin is prone to acne
Defer Ultherapy treatment if:
- You have any open or surgical wound that has not healed on the treated area
- You have had lipofilling 3-6 months on the treated area
- If you have undergone laser treatment, you need to wait at least 2 weeks before your treatment
The Ultherapy® System has not been evaluated for use in the following patient populations:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
- And those with the following disease states:
- A haemorrhagic disorder or haemostatic dysfunction.
- An active systemic or local skin disease that may alter wound healing.
- Herpes Simplex.
- Autoimmune Disease.
- Diabetes.
- Epilepsy.
- Bell’s Palsy.
Best Practices
Before Treatment
- Avoid sun exposure 2 weeks before the treatment.
- Avoid exfoliation skincare routines such as acid scrubs, exfoliation, etc., for two weeks
- It is recommended to have HydraFacial or hydrating facial one week before the treatment or on the treatment day to boost the treatment results.
- Avoid having treatment during the menstruation period.
- Do not wear any jewellery during treatment
- To limit sun exposure on the day of treatment, we recommend bringing a cap/hat and a pair of sunglasses.
After Treatment
- Within 3 days after treatment, do not wash your face with hot water (water that does not exceed body temperature );
- Within one week after treatment, please do not bathe with hot water (water that does not exceed body temperature);
- Pay attention to hydration (pay attention to moderation), and it is recommended to apply the mask no more than 2 times a week;
- Avoid entering and leaving high-heat environments, such as hot springs, saunas, etc., so as not to affect the therapeutic effect;
- Slight redness, deep-seated edema, and small tingling may appear at the operation site after treatment, which are normal temporary reactions, which will generally disappear after 5-7 days;
- After the redness and swelling subside gradually, some people may experience a slight local numbness on the face after recovery, which is a normal phenomenon and will gradually disappear in about 2 weeks;
- One month after treatment, try to eat a light diet, do not drink alcohol, and eat less chili;
- Avoid sun exposure, especially sun exposure, and use sunscreen to protect the skin when going out;
- Avoid strenuous exercise;
- Within two weeks after treatment, facial massage cannot be done;
- The final effect is about 3 months after treatment.
Ultherapy Side Effects
Side effects reported in the clinical evaluation of the Ulthera System for brow and submental and neck treatments were mild and transient in nature. These were limited to:
- Erythema (redness): The treated area may exhibit erythema immediately following treatment. This typically resolves within a few hours of treatment.
- Edema (swelling): The treated area may exhibit mild edema following treatment. This typically resolves within 3 hours to 72 hours of treatment.
- Welting: The treated area may exhibit a localized area of linear visible edema following treatment. This typically resolves within a week.
- Pain: Momentary discomfort may be experienced during the procedure while energy is being deposited. Post procedure discomfort typically resolves within 2 hours to 2 days. Tenderness to the touch is also possible and typically resolves within 2 days to 2 weeks of treatment.
- Bruising: Mild bruising, which is caused by damage to soft tissue blood vessels, may occur occasionally and typically resolves within 2 days to 2 weeks of treatment.
- Nerve effects:
- Transient local muscle weakness may result after treatment due to inflammation of a motor nerve. This typically resolves in 2 to 6 weeks of treatment.
- Transient numbness may result after treatment due to inflammation of a sensory nerve. This typically resolves in 2 to 6 weeks of treatment.
- Transient pain, paresthesia and/or tingling may be experienced. This typically resolves in 2 to 6 weeks of treatment
- No permanent injuries to facial nerves have been reported.
- Burns/Scarring: The possibility for burns, which may or may not result in permanent scar formation, may occur if incorrect treatment technique is used (e.g. tilting transducer, incorrect line spacing, gel pockets). Some scars may respond to medical treatment and resolve fully.
Frequent Q&A
Ultherapy treatment uses micro-focused ultrasound (MFU-V) energy to target the deep layers of skin without damaging the skin’s surface
Katy Young Beauty Editor at Harpers Bazaar says “the ultrasound works on the foundation of the skin, boosting natural collagen to result in firmer, fresher-looking skin. Celebrities have been known to use it as a new facelift alternative.”
Some patients might notice an initial lift right after the treatment. Some patients might observe gradual lift and improvements in the treated areas at 3-6 months after the treatment.
The Ultherapy results usually last from a year to 17 months. Every patient is different and a touch-up treatment every 12 months will allow the skin to keep rebuilding and produce collagen.
Ultherapy does not add volume to the skin. It works to tighten the tissues by stimulating collagen production, while dermal fillers replace volume in the skin. At the present, there are no actual studies performed where patients who received dermal fillers and then had an Ultherapy treatment, observed changes with their dermal fillers. However, intense heat on the skin can make dermal filler break down more quickly. We recommend to only have dermal fillers injection or top-up at least a month from your yearly Ultherapy session.
According to Ultherapy UK, no permanent nerve injuries have been reported. However, some patients observed:
- Transient local muscle weakness may result after treatment due to inflammation of a motor nerve. This typically resolves in 2 to 6 weeks of treatment.
- Transient numbness may result after treatment due to inflammation of a sensory nerve. This typically resolves in 2 to 6 weeks of treatment.
- Transient pain, paresthesia and/or tingling may be experienced. This typically resolves in 2 to 6 weeks of treatment
Which is better Ultherapy or HIFU is a constant debate in the aesthetic world. There are a lot of HIFU treatments available on the market. What makes Ultherapy stand out among the other HIFU machine is that the practitioner will be able to ‘see’ the layers of the skin, knowing which layer of the skin to target for the best results.
Which is better Ultherapy or Thermage is a constant debate in the aesthetic world.
Thermage uses radiofreuency energy to stimulates existing collagen proteins production to create a refreshed, lifted, and tightened look. Ultherapy uses ultrasound technology to lift the skin from deep inside. It reaches the same depths as a surgical facelift. When the deep tissues are heated, the skin responds by producing collagen.
Both treatments are the latest technology for a skin rejuvenation. Ultherapy is used for non-surgical face skin tightening, while Thermage focuses on contouring. By combining the both treatments, you can get a full-facial rejuvenation.
If you live in London or are planning a visit to London, it is extremely convenient and easy to find our clinic as we are located on Harley Street is situation right in the heart of central London. We are only 8 minutes walks away from Oxford Circus and Bond Street tube station, and 10 minutes walks away from Regents Park station.
According to MERZ Aesthetics, who founded Ultherapy, 95% of Ultherapy patients reported observing tighter and firmer skin after 1 year of having their Ultherapy treatment. It is an effective non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatment that can help you to look years younger and refreshed without a single incision or needle injection.
