Ulthera/Ultherapy Non-surgical Face Lift

Depending on the area of treatment, Ulthera takes approximately 30 minutes to just over an hour to perform. Dr. Palm takes special measures to ensure patients at Art of Skin MD experience minimal discomfort during Ultherapy. Our unique approach to Ultherapy patients sets us apart from other clinics. Dr. Palm performs nerve blocks on patients to ensure patients are extremely comfortable during the procedure. Patients are also offered a mild anti-anxiety medication and pain reliever prior to treatment. This combination of comfort measures allows Ultherapy to be done with minimal to no pain. The mild discomfort experienced over the neck area during treatment feels like a dull ache, and a warm, prickly sensation. Patients leave the office with no downtime and or indication that a procedure was performed.

This treatment is FDA-cleared for skin toning and firming around the eyes and lower face, neck, and decollete. It is helpful in addressing brow droopiness and upper eyelid hooding. Ulthera lifts the jawline and improves jowling and neck sagging. Published medical reports have also used Ulthera to address sagging skin of the knees, buttocks, and the upper arms.

Skin tightening following Ulthera takes approximately three to six months to occur. Immediate skin toning is often visible immediately following treatment. A single treatment may yield significant results. Ultherapy results last at least one year, and often for longer period of times. Patients with significant skin sagging may consider a series of multiple treatments spaced at 6 month to yearly intervals to increase the effect of tissue tightening from Ulthera.

Patients with relatively good skin elasticity or “spring back” respond more readily to treatment. Younger patients may have more dramatic responses. The ideal candidate is a patient with good skin elasticity in their 40s to 50s with mild to moderate skin sagging of the neck or eye area. However, patients outside this age group or with more compromised skin quality may still benefit from Ulthera treatment. These patients often require multiple treatments and should expect more conservative outcomes.

Some clinics charge by the number of “lines” performed during treatment. Usually around 600 or more lines are done during a full face and neck treatment. Dr. Palm charges only for the areas of treatment. Combined treatment around the eye area and face/neck areas are provided at a discount. According to the Ulthera guidelines, the cost should be no less than $2,500. Typical prices are $3500-$4000 per treatment of the full face and neck.

Adverse effects from Ulthera are few and often avoided with proper treatment. Mild redness or a hive-like reaction is possible but rare. Bruising is possible but unlikely. Tenderness in the area of treatment is typical for up to 2 weeks following treatment but is mild and temporary in nature. Numbness in the area of treatment is possible but unlikely with proper technique.

Yes.  Skin tightening and “re-draping” performed is just one foundation of facial rejuvenation.  Combining other procedures to relax overactive facial muscles, revolumize sunken cheeks, temples, and around the mouth, and resurfacing sun-damaged skin create a more dramatic but natural looking ultimate result.  For example, Botox or Dysport could be used to further lift a drooping brow treated by Ulthera.  Facial re-volumization or a liquid facelift can be performed with Sculptra or Radiesse preceding or following Ultherapy.  Tear trough correction or lip augmentation can be performed with Restylane or Juvederm after the tightening effect of Ulthera has taken place.  Correction of broken blood vessels with IPL or brown spots and melasma with the Spectra laser can complement the lifting ability of ultrasound energy delivered by Ulthera.  Further tightening of skin can be accomplished by laser resurfacing such from the ECO2 fractionated carbon dioxide laser device by Lutronic.