In our late 20s or early 30s, our skin begins to decrease its natural collagen production, which leads to less volume and fullness in the face, more sagging of the skin, as well as the emergence of fine lines and wrinkles. Even though ageing is a natural and unavoidable aspect of life, most people want to slow this process down as much as they can, while maintaining a youthful and radiant appearance. That is why anti-ageing treatments are increasingly growing in popularity, with ultrasound procedures being the most common and most effective options. If you want to learn more about these treatments, as well as their processes and results, here are some of the most important factors of ultrasound skin lifts:

What is an ultrasound treatment?

An ultrasound skin-lifting treatment, also known as Ultherapy, is a nonsurgical and non-invasive alternative to a traditional facelift. The procedure uses ultrasound energy to achieve a dual effect, causing slight muscle contractions that naturally tighten the skin, while simultaneously encouraging the production of new collagen, which helps to renew and even out the skin texture from the inside out. Therefore, Ultherapy efficiently reduces common signs of ageing, such as wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin, on the face, neck and décolletage, while leading to a firmer, more youthful and more radiant overall appearance.

When is the procedure carried out?

Ultrasound skin lift treatments are the best option for patients with light to moderate skin sagging issues who want to achieve a tighter and more youthful complexion. While it can also lift and firm the skin on the neck and under the chin to combat common issues such as wrinkles, fine lines and ‘double chins’, Ultherapy treatments might be particularly suitable for those patients who want to eliminate excess skin on the eyelids and lift the eyebrows, as this is the area at which the procedure truly excels.

Although ultrasound treatments aren’t a replacement for surgical facelifts, they are the most efficient alternative for patients who want to minimise the signs of ageing in a nonsurgical way, or even prolong the effects of cosmetic procedures without drastically altering their appearance.

What does the procedure involve?

During a professional ultherapy procedure, a doctor or a licensed esthetician will place a smooth applicator on a patient’s skin, while using an ultrasound viewer that will allow them to calibrate the device to the most appropriate settings. Low levels of focused ultrasound energy are then delivered to the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate the production of new collagen, while leaving the surface of the skin intact. The treatment can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the area of the skin that is being treated, and patients might experience intermittent feelings of discomfort, tingling and heat during the procedure.

The preparation for an Ultherapy treatment is quite minimal, and only involves removing makeup and skin care products from the skin before the procedure, as well as taking certain anti-inflammatory or pain-reducing medication, in case the patient is particularly sensitive or reactive.

What can be expected after the treatment?

There is usually no recovery period or downtime needed after an Ultherapy procedure. Requiring no special precautions or sick leave, patients are free to resume with their normal daily routines following an ultrasound treatment, including socializing, working and even exercising.

Even though the first signs of tightness, firmness and youthfulness can be noticed immediately or a few days after the first Ultherapy treatment, the real results typically take two to three months to appear on the treated area of the skin. This is due to the body’s natural regenerative processes, which take time to rebuild collagen and lead to new, more elastic skin. However, after this process is complete, the benefits can last up to a year, or even more, depending on the patient’s skin care routine and natural ageing process.

What are the risks and side effects?

Although ultrasound skin-tightening treatments are generally considered to be quite safe, sensations of tingling or heat might occur during the procedure, but they commonly subside soon after. On some occasions, the areas of the skin that have been treated can become irritated and inflamed, with minor side effects, such as tenderness, swelling and tingling, occasionally occurring. In rare cases, some short-term side effects, including numbness and bruising, may occur, although these symptoms are usually mild, and generally tend to calm down and disappear within a couple of days following the procedure.

All in all, as a non-invasive treatment with minimal to no side effects, Ultherapy is one of the best and most efficient procedures currently available for improving the tone and the texture of the skin, while delivering real and clearly visible results.