Ultherapy® is a completely noninvasive treatment that delivers heat to the skin using focused ultrasound to produce tightening and lift sagging skin. Ultherapy has been available in the United States since 2009 and Dr. Biesman has been a consultant to its manufacturer Ulthera® for several years prior to the product launch. Ultherapy is FDA-cleared for noninvasive lifting of the eyebrows, tightening of the chin and neck, and treatment of fine lines and wrinkling on the chest. As opposed to Thermage®, Ultherapy does not yet lend itself well to the treatment of the eyelids themselves or the body, although work is underway to help accomplish these goals. It is important to note that Ultherapy is the only treatment with FDA approval for non-invasive lifting of tissue.
What to Expect with Ultherapy
Ultherapy treatments are performed in the office without sedation or anesthesia. Ultherapy is “color blind” so patients of any skin color may benefit from this treatment. There is minimal to no recovery period or down time after treatment, although bruising can occur. While results are often apparent at the conclusion of a treatment, they continue to improve for many months.
Ultherapy from Dr. Biesman
Dr. Biesman is pleased to be one of the few locations in the United States and the first location in the mid-South to offer Ultherapy. Ultherapy can also be combined with other treatments to improve any skin discoloration should it need to be addressed. During your consultation, Dr. Biesman and our staff will determine which noninvasive skin tightening treatment is best for you.
Ultherapy vs. Thermage
Dr. Biesman and his staff consider a number of factors including your skin type, treatment goals, and expectations when deciding which noninvasive skin tightening method to recommend. There is a fundamental difference in the philosophy between Thermage and Ultherapy treatment. Ultherapy treats deeper beneath the skin’s surface and has been demonstrated to be more effective at lifting lax skin than Thermage in most cases. In contrast, a Thermage treatment session involves diffuse heating of the entire skin in a uniform manner which induces collagen production to help keep the skin looking tighter and more youthful.
Both Ultherapy and Thermage produce best results if a series of at least 2 or even 3 treatments are performed. Treatments ideally would be performed approximately 1 month apart. We do offer package pricing for several treatment sessions to encourage achievement of best outcomes.