One of the most common signs of aging is the loss of skin elasticity. As we become older our skin loses its useful appearance, starts sagging and developing wrinkles. This process is most noticeable on the face and neck area as the face is the first thing people notice when meeting someone new and the face is what we focus on in almost all of our day to day interactions. Common complaints of aging skin include loose skin and wrinkles around the chin, neck, brows and chest area. Our lifestyle also influences the way our skin looks. Sun exposure, a sedentary work environment as well as an unbalanced diet can all contribute to the premature aging of skin.

How to treat the signs of aging skin?

Unfortunately it is very difficult to reverse signs of aging using skin care products alone. Patients seeking a more dramatic, long lasting and instant result often turn to plastic surgery as a way to turn back the clock on their appearance. Though plastic surgery procedures can help in some cases, it is important to consider that any surgical solution holds its own set of risks and possible complications. Recovery time is always considerable and some patients are not able to undergo surgical procedures due to underlying medical conditions or a busy schedule that does not allow them to take a lot of time off from work or their usual daily activities. While adopting a more healthy and active lifestyle paired with a well-balanced diet and a consistent skin care routine will certainly help the appearance of skin, there is a non-surgical solution that can bring more dramatic and longer lasting results.

What is Ultherapy?

Ultherapy or ultrasound skin lifting is the only non-surgical FDA approved skin lifting procedure that offers a non-invasive lift to the neck, chin and eyebrows. Ultherapy relies on the healing and firming power of ultrasound. During an Ultherapy procedure, ultrasound therapy is used to boost the production of collagen in the skin making it plumper, fuller and tighter resulting in a glowing and youthful appearance.

Another advantage of Ultherapy is that the ultrasound can be used to map the treated areas in a process called ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound imaging allows the Ultherapy practitioner to see the exact layer of skin tissue that needs treating ensuring that the treatment is focused on layers of skin where it is most effective. Ultherapy allows the deeper layers of skin to be stimulated without causing any damage to the upper layer of skin. This results in a deep lifting action without the need for surgery and avoids any risks associated with surgical procedures. In essence, Ultherapy delivers ultrasound energy in deep layers of the skin triggering a completely natural response from the skin – the building of new collagen that restructures the skin at a deep level. As opposed to laser resurfacing, Ultherapy does not disturb the surface of the skin and most patients describe the treatment as an overall more pleasant and less painful experience.

What happens during an Ultherapy treatment session?

When preparing for an Ultherapy session patients first meet with their Ultherapy practitioner to determine which areas should be treated and any concerns they might have. In some cases, over the counter pain medicine is prescribed to make the procedure more comfortable for the patient. At the start of the procedure the practitioner will clean the treated areas and will apply ultrasound gel to help the smooth head of the treatment applicator glide over the skin. After that the practitioner maps out the skin using the ultrasound imaging technology to identify which areas and layers of skin the ultrasound energy needs to be delivered to and to what extent. The energy is then sent to the deep layers of the skin to trigger the skin’s natural collagen building response. Though most patients will feel some discomfort the feeling only lasts while the energy is actually delivered to the skin. The length of treatment will depend on the treated areas but an average Ultherapy procedure lasts around 60-90 minutes for a face and neck treatment and 30 minutes for chest treatment. After the treatment patients can go back to their daily routine immediately and there is no need to take time off work. Some redness or swelling may appear but in most cases disappears within a few hours of the procedure.

The results of Ultherapy

The results of Ultherapy procedure become apparent over a 2-3 month period as the skin produces collagen following treatment. It is difficult to predict exactly how long the results will last as this depends on each individual patient and their biological characteristics. Most patients will only need one Ultherapy session but touch up procedures can be advised as time goes on and the effects of the natural collagen boost wear off.