subject: Ulthera: The New Age Facelift [print this page] For many years, women who wanted to clear their face from the signs of aging had to undergo facial procedures such as a facelift or Botox injection. In September of 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new technology that allowed women to get facelift results without having surgery called Ulthera. By using this system, physicians are able to view and treat the aging areas of the skin using ultrasound technology. After each procedure, the patient should see firmer and tighter skin as the end results.
In order to perform this procedure, the physician will use an Ulthera machine, which has a control panel, a handheld device and transducers called DeepSEE. It is very compact and can be placed on a mobile cart if needed. Before beginning the procedure, most physicians will apply a topical anesthesia so the patient will not feel any pain. Applying the anesthesia is very important when treating the more sensitive non-fat areas of the face such as the temples and jaw line.
The Ulthera handheld device is placed against the patient face, which allows the physician to view the facial muscles and tissues on the control panel. This image is similar to a sonogram performed on a pregnant woman. The physician will use the handheld device to delivered waves of energy into the trouble spots of the skin to tighten it. The energy waves also increase the production of new collagen in that area. The procedure should last no more than 30 to 40 minutes.
A patient may experience some redness or mild irritation after the procedure has been done. It should fade within a half hour to an hour. One of the benefits of this procedure is that the patient doesn't have to take any time off from work and they can return to their normal daily routine without any restrictions. Most patients are able to see some improvement after the first treatment but it may take up to six months to see the full benefit of the Ulthera system.
The cost of this procedure can vary based on the amount of treatment needed in the facial area and the city location of physician. In most cases, the cost is less for patients who are only getting certain areas of their face done instead of their entire face. Physicians in areas where the cost of living is higher such as Beverly Hills and New York City often charge more for each session.
