Ultherapy Skin Tightening: What You Should Know
Let’s be real with ourselves, who doesn’t have some loose skin somewhere in our body?
For many, it’s not bothersome enough to undergo an invasive plastic surgery procedure. The surgery costs alone can be prohibitive to many but the pain, bruising, and surgery recovery timelines are often formidable as well.
What’s Ultherapy?
Ultherapy, or Ultrasound Therapy, is a non-invasive plastic surgery treatment aimed to tighten loose skin and wrinkles. It can be used in the face or other body parts and is rapidly becoming an alternative to treatment like Botox.
Ultherapy is now FDA-approved and is offered by many medical professionals. Today, tens of thousands of individuals have had the procedure since its the introduction.
But as with any medical procedure or treatment, you must learn as much as possible to determine whether it is right for you and worth your hard-earned money.
Major Benefit - You Only Have to Get it Once
Compared to many other procedures or injectables, Ultherapy clients typically only get the procedure done once.
The results will last for many years after a single visit, and it usually lasts for over 2-3 years depending on where it is done on the body.
Some individuals may opt for a secondary procedure after waiting the appropriate amount of time, but it is often not necessary since results are typically positive and effective after just one treatment.
This varies from person to person based on their body and their response to collagen building.
Ultherapy Aftercare is easy
As an outpatient procedure, you get to go home after your procedure and may go about your normal day very quickly.
Results Take Time
While the results can vary depending on the size of the procedure and the health of the individual, the average timeline is anywhere between 1-6 months to see the final outcome.
It is advised that you also take a before & after a set of photos since it’s possible that day to day you won’t quite notice the results.
From what we have seen, a typical procedure creates a few days of tenderness but no visible improvement.
Then a few weeks later the skin begins to soften and give a younger appearance. Within a couple of months, the skin will tighten further.
Ultherapy Treatment can be Painful
Of course, all of us experience pain differently, and our pain thresholds are different as well.
During the procedure, individuals report feeling tingling and sharp pains in the treated areas. If the procedure is done on the face, facial muscles will twitch but the pain will subside when the device is removed from the area.
It’s even common to receive local anesthesia to decrease the pain during the procedure, but it is likely that you will still feel “something”. That said, most that are not exquisitely sensitive to pain (you know who you are) tend to tolerate the procedure quite well.
It isn’t exactly “Cheap”
The costs of therapy depend largely on the extent of the treatment and where it’s being performed on your body.
Other items such as your geographic location, your practitioner, and his/her experience all have an impact on the final costs. Often times, patients can acquire financing for the procedure as well.
Many patients tend to do this treatment on the face, and costs fall somewhere between $1500, to $3,500 range for many practitioners.
Swelling is common
Some swelling is common and expected up to 10-14 days. Some won’t experience as much, while other patients may take a bit longer.
Swelling is typically worst in the first couple of days, and if present, consider an NSAID (such as Aleve), cold packs, and a supplement like bromelain.
Other Side Effects
Ultherapy side effects are quite rare and are typically mild. Common side effects include a sense of numbness in the treated areas that may last for a few days. Sometimes the can translate into difficulties with the muscular movement of the face, but it is typically mild and resolves quickly. Remember, swelling and bruising are expected.
On a more serious and long-term note, some side effects such as hyperpigmentation and hypo-pigmentation have been reported, but are rare.
Lastly, there is a slight risk of nerve injury, however, if the procedure is done correctly by an experienced, professional provider, this risk is almost non-existent.
Is Ultherapy right for you?
Of course, it’s up to you!
Generally speaking, younger individuals (in their late-30’s and mid-40’s) typically do not have the skin-laxity to get the most bang for their buck from the procedure.
Ultherapy is likely best suited for those patients that are above 50 years old with pronounced skin elasticity. However, these aren’t hard rules, and every patient is different.
Consider some of these stories for more information and good luck!
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Soon to come: My Ultherapy Before and After Photos! by Shannon Bradley-Colleary of TheWomanFormerlyKnownAsBeautiful.com
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I Took The Plunge & Got A Full Face Ultherapy Treatment by Ju Ann of NGJUANN.com
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90 Day Review; Is Ultherapy Worth It? by Becca of Narcissista. me
As always, if you have any questions be sure to email us at our mailbox: MedTeam@HealFastProducts.com, and sign up to our Facebook and Twitter for trusted and vetted medical information.
General Disclaimer: All information here is for educational purposes only and is not meant to cure, heal, diagnose, or treat. This information must not be used as a replacement for medical advice, nor can the writer take any responsibility for anyone using the information instead of consulting a healthcare professional. All serious disease needs a physician.
