Ultherapy® Non-Surgical Facelift

Ultherapy is known to have very few side effects and fewer potential risks to patients. The most common side effects from Ultherapy include mild bruising following procedure and some reduced sensitivity in the treated area, followed by a mild tingling sensation. These side effects will typically resolve themselves within a few days.

Although visible results from Ultherapy usually begin to appear 2-3 months after the procedure, how long they last depend in large part on the response of an individual patient’s skin condition. Age and lifestyle are therefore factors that ultimately determine the results and duration of such a treatment.
You can prolong the effects by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, using UV protection and incorporating a daily skincare routine. Touch-up treatments will depend on your individual response to initial treatment and specific skin goals. Consult with your practitioner for recommended post-treatment maintenance.

Most patients will only require a single treatment to see results. However, based on the degree of skin laxity, an individual's unique skin cell renewal process, and the response to ultrasound energy, some patients benefit from additional treatments. An experienced practitioner is the best person to determine the number of Ultherapy treatments needed to achieve specific goals.

The process to develop new collagen doesn't happen immediately, and takes place over a period of 2-3 months (and even up to 6 months) after treatment. Visible skin lifting and tightening will develop over that time, so the 6-month mark can be a good time to compare 'before-and-after' pictures.

Ultherapy is approved in Australia to lift sagging, lax skin on the upper face and eyebrow, under the chin and on the neck, and smooth lines and wrinkles on the décolletage.

Ultherapy and Thermage FLX are similar—both are non-invasive treatments used to smooth, tighten and contour skin by promoting collagen production. However, Thermage FLX utilises radiofrequency energy while Ultherapy utilises ultrasound energy.
Ultherapy technology can target deeper layers within the skin to promote collagen production, improving the appearance of lines and wrinkles across the face and neck. Generally speaking, good candidates for Ultherapy tend to be in their 40s and above.
Thermage FLX is recommended if you're looking to tighten your skin—particularly if you have a thinner skin type and are in your 20s-40s. If you're concerned about ageing around the eye area, then Thermage FLX may be the better option. The Thermage FLX can target the eyelids and under-eye area, which Ultherapy cannot. Thermage FLX can also be used to target some additional areas of the body across the abdomen, arms, legs, and buttocks, as well as the face, eyebrows and neck.

Ultherapy has not been evaluated for use directly over dermal fillers. Ultherapy may be complementary to other cosmetic procedures depending on the outcomes you're trying to achieve.

No significant preparations are required prior to treatment but you should discuss with your practitioner prior to treatment any current medications or supplements you're taking. There's also no downtime after your procedure, so you can resume normal activities immediately without having to follow any special post-treatment measures. Using a daily antioxidant (such as vitamin C and/or resveratrol) serum before and after Ultherapy may encourage optimal skin response to the ultrasound skin tightening procedure.

The focused ultrasound energy and imaging capabilities of the treatment allow the energy to be delivered precisely to the layers of the skin which produce collagen, helping to tighten and strengthen existing collagen and promote new collagen production for a firmer, more lifted appearance. The combined effect of greater firmness and reduced laxity of the skin around the brow may indirectly improve the appearance of eye bags. However, direct treatment of the area under the eye is not currently approved for treatment in Australia.

The delivery of heat deep into your skin during an ultrasound skin tightening procedure may produce some temporary, localised visible redness. If this occurs, you should avoid hot water when showering until redness has subsided, which is usually within an hour or so. Avoid harsh ingredients in your skincare products for one week after treatment.

Cosmetic procedures are a personal choice and should be decided on following consultation with your healthcare practitioner. The most common age for Ultherapy is typically someone in their 30s or older with mild to moderate skin laxity where skin has begun to appear less firm. Loose skin under the neck and under the chin, lines and wrinkles on the chest, sagging beneath the skin, or a less well-defined jawline are signals a patient might be a good candidate.
*Always consult your physician before undergoing this procedure.