Your questions answered

Ultherapy^® is a non-surgical ultrasound treatment that stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin deep within the skin. Ultherapy^® uses precise ultrasound energy to target the deep structural layers of the skin without disrupting the skin’s surface. After treatment, the body’s tissue repair process stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin, creating a lifting effect over time.

These are both important building blocks within our skin. Collagen is a protein that is abundant in our skin and is important in providing strength and stability. It is produced by special cells (called fibroblasts) but over time our skin loses some of its collagen, contributing to skin laxity and sagging. Elastin is a highly elastic protein in skin and allows many tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. Elastin helps skin to return to its original position when it is poked or pinched. Again, as we age, our skin loses some elastin which also contributes to sagging and laxity. Since our faces are constantly subjected to movement & pressure (when we smile, sleep, talk, shout, cry, laugh or sing) the loss of elastin and collagen really can take its toll.

Ultherapy^® uses two special types of ultrasound. The first emits ultrasound, just like in the maternity unit ultrasound machines. This is called DeepSEE™. These ultrasound waves allow your practitioner to see what is immediately under the treatment area. Once the practitioner is satisfied that he or she is in the right position (i.e. will not hit any blood vessels or bone) the Ultherapy^® machine is then able to start treatment, using ultrasound waves at very precise depths. The ultrasound treatment initiates the body’s natural response to stimulate the growth of fresh, new collagen and elastin.

The length of the treatment will depend on the area being treated and your individual treatment plan. A face and neck procedure takes 60–90 minutes, while a brow lift or décolletage treatment can take just 30 minutes.

After an Ultherapy^® procedure, you can normally resume your usual lifestyle and activities immediately without having to follow any special post-treatment measures.

You may see some initial lift, but the ultimate results will take place over 3 months, as the growth of new collagen and elastin replaces old tissue targeted by the treatment. A single Ultherapy^® treatment can give a lasting effect for over a year in some people and your practitioner will advise on the likely outcomes for you.

Most patients only need one treatment for results that can last over a year. However, based on the degree of skin laxity, the biological response to ultrasound energy and the individual’s collagen-building process, some patients benefit from additional treatments. Because skin continues to age, future touch-up treatments can help patients keep pace with the body’s natural ageing process.

Take a look at our RESULTS section on this website. This shows genuine photographs of patients who have been treated with Ultherapy^®.

As a result of the natural ageing process our skin becomes less elastic.  A good Ultherapy^® candidate has mild to moderate skin laxity where the skin begins to look less firm or tight. Examples include a lowered brow, loose skin on the neck, sagging under the chin, and lines or wrinkles on the chest. Ultherapy^® results in a gradual lift, leaving patients looking refreshed. However, Ultherapy^® will not have as drastic results as a surgical facelift. Ultherapy^® is a great alternative, however, especially for those not ready for surgery or for patients looking to extend the effects of cosmetic surgery. The only way to really know if you are a good candidate for Ultherapy^® is to discuss any concerns you have around skin laxity with your clinician/practitioner, who can advise on the most suitable treatment option for you.

Your practitioner will be able to advise you on whether you are likely to benefit from Ultherapy^® treatment. While most patients can expect to see a benefit from treatment, the degree of skin laxity you have at initial assessment will determine the outcome you are likely to achieve.

While Ultherapy^® does not duplicate the results of a facelift, it may be used before, or as an alternative to surgery and after surgery to maintain the effects. Unlike surgery, it usually has the added benefit of allowing you to resume your usual lifestyle and activities immediately.

Ultherapy^® uses ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production in the skin’s foundation, resulting in a clinically significant lift of tissue over 3 months. Lasers rely on light energy, which typically only treats superficial skin (around 1 mm in depth) and are not FDA-cleared or CE mark-certified to lift skin. Lasers often result in downtime after a procedure. The ultrasound energy of Ultherapy^® bypasses the surface of the skin (going to depths between 1.5 mm and 4.5 mm), with means that usually no downtime is required after the treatment. Since the two technologies often treat different types of skin issues, they can be compatible. Your aesthetic practitioner will advise you what is best for you.

The Ultherapy^® procedure has been used in over 2 million treatments worldwide. Every Ultherapy^® practitioner receives extensive procedural training and tools so you can feel confident choosing Ultherapy^®. Ultherapy^® is the only micro-focused ultrasound technology that has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (one of the world’s most stringent regulatory bodies for healthcare). In the European Union, Ultherapy^® is CE certified for non-invasive sculpting and lifting of the dermis on the upper and lower face, neck and décolletage (chest).

The skin might appear flushed at first, but the redness should disappear within a few hours or days. Some patients experience slight swelling, tingling or tenderness to the touch, but these are usually temporary in nature. Other, less common post-procedural effects may include temporary bruising or numbness on small areas of skin. As with any aesthetic medical procedure, there is the possibility for other rare side effects, which your practitioner will review with you.

Click here for important safety information.

There may be some momentary discomfort (which varies from person to person), but the sensation only lasts while ultrasound energy is being delivered. In order for Ultherapy^® to work, it has to heat the deep layers of the skin. Everybody will have different sensitivities to this heat and your aesthetic practitioner will advise you on how best to manage any discomfort.

In the European Union, Ultherapy^® is CE certified for non-invasive sculpting and lifting of the skin on the upper and lower face, neck and décolletage (chest). In the US, Ultherapy^® has gone through assessment by the Food and Drugs Administration, the agency regulating health, and is the only ultrasound therapy with visualisation cleared for use in the US for skin lifting.

Since Ultherapy^® has become so successful (and is used by some celebrities), a number of copycat versions have appeared. None of these enable your practitioner to see beneath the skin’s surface to select the correct depth and precise level of ultrasound energy needed for optimal treatment. The safety and effectiveness of these copycat versions are not known.

All practitioners who have purchased the genuine Ultherapy^® system have been provided with a Certificate of Authenticity which they should be able to show you in their clinic. In addition they will be included on the FIND AN ULTHERAPY^® CLINIC section of this website.