the non-invasive facelift procedure explained
In the last year the number of facelifts declined by 41 per cent for women and 46 per cent for men, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), with non-surgical alternatives becoming ever-more sophisticated.
Among the no-knife options include technologies harnessing regenerative lasers, ultrasound, and radiofrequency energy, which either stimulate a mega boost of our own collagen production, or work on the facial muscles themselves to lift the features. One of the leading procedures that is both safe and effective is Ultherapy, which–experts tells Bazaar–is considered the gold standard in non-surgical skin tightening and lifting.
Below, consultant dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite and Dr Stefanie Williams, dermatologist and author of Look great, not done!, explain everything you need to know:
What exactly is Ultherapy?
"Ultherapy is a non-invasive procedure that lifts and tightens the skin of your face, neck and décolletage – with minimal downtime. The use of ultrasound energy boosts your own natural production of collagen and elastin for natural looking results,” Dr Williams explains.
What concerns is Ultherapy designed to improve?
“Ultherapy is a great non-surgical treatment option for sagging and loss of elasticity along the lower face and jawline, as well as under the chin and over the neck. Ultherapy can also help give a subtle lift to the brow and improve skin texture and puffiness around the eyes,” says Dr Granite.
Who is best suited to the treatment?
"The treatment is best suited to somebody with early skin sagging or skin laxity. Examples include a lowered brow, loose skin on the neck, sagging under the chin and jawline and lines or wrinkles forming on the chest. It’s perfect for prevention and early intervention,” says Dr Williams.
“For the right type of candidate – that is, someone with mild-to-moderate sagging – the results are excellent in our clinic. However, it takes considerate technical skill to provide the treatment at its best, not every treatment is the same. The specialists I work with slightly modify the standard energy distribution regime to tailor the treatment to individual needs," she adds.
How does Ultherapy differ to other skin-tightening treatments like laser or radiofrequency?
Dr Williams says: "The difference between treatments such as radiofrequency is that Ultherapy delivers defined columns of higher temperature to the skin. This then has stronger clinical outcomes. So, while with radiofrequency (and non-ablative, regenerative lasers) the patient will need a course of treatments, Ultherapy is a one-off treatment, which patients travelling in from abroad to see us, really welcome."
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What does a treatment entail, and how does it feel?
"An Ultherapy treatment consists of non-invasive skin tightening and lifting with micro-focused ultrasound and simultaneous high-resolution ultrasound visualisation (MFU-V), an advanced corrective and regenerative treatment to stimulate collagen production,” explains Dr Williams.
"There may be some momentary discomfort, but the sensation only lasts while the MFU-V energy is being delivered. Everybody will have different sensitivities to this heat and your practitioner will advise you on how best to manage the discomfort. Generally, there is no real downtime, only a mild puffiness for a few days and tenderness for up to a couple of weeks. In very few patients with severely sun damaged skin there may be temporary bruising."
Is there anything you should do before and after having a treatment?
“One of the nice things about Ultherapy is it has little-to-no downtime as the treatment is bypassing the surface of the skin. So patients really do not need to alter their routine much before or after Ultherapy. If you are particularly prone to bruising, I would suggest taking Arnica tablets three-to-five days prior to treatment. On the day of treatment, we counsel patients to pre-treat with Nurofen and paracetamol and we also apply topical numbing cream to help make Ultherapy as comfortable as possible,” Dr Granite explains.
Why is the visualisation aspect of Ultherapy so important?
"The visualisation aspect of Ultherapy is a key differentiator from other treatments as it allows us to see the areas being treated, and thus help to avoid areas which may cause discomfort – like delivering energy to bone,” says Dr Williams.
Dr Granite adds: “This is one of the benefits of Ultherapy machines compared to other ultrasound-based tightening technologies. The visualisation enables us to know precisely where we are delivering the energy, optimising results, and limiting potential side effects. Each person’s skin and subcutaneous tissue is slightly different so proper patient selection and visualisation is key to a successful outcome.”
When do you see results and how long do they last?
"The best results appear after about three-to-six months and we recommend repeating the treatment after about two years to maintain the results,” says Dr Williams.
“Using high quality skincare and doing other regular treatments such as skin boosters can help increase the longevity of Ultherapy results,” adds Dr Granite.
What risks are involved with Ultherapy?
"Clinical studies have established ultrasound skin tightening as safe and effective in over half a million treatments worldwide – and counting,” reveals Dr Williams.
“Ultherapy is the only aesthetic MFU-V technology, which in my experience helps to increase safety. I strongly advise a treatment that incorporates simultaneous ultrasound visualisation (as explained above), as this allows the practitioner to visualise the exact tissue layers they’re treating as they are treating, ensuring the energy is delivered precisely where it’s supposed to go."
Are there any treatments that work well alongside Ultherapy?
“Ultherapy can be combined with a range of treatments to help amplify results and to also give the skin a little boost while waiting for results to ‘kick in’,” Dr Granite says. “I especially like combining Ultherapy with injectable skin boosters such as Belotero Revive and Profhilo as well as PRP (platelet rich plasma) treatments. Aquagold mesotherapy can also be done following Ultherapy to help improve skin texture and radiance. It’s always best to perform Ultherapy first to target the deeper layers of the skin followed by injectable and/or more superficial treatments afterwards.”
Find a UK clinic offering Ultherapy here. Prices will vary due to the area(s) being treated and will be confirmed following an initial consultation. Only visit highly trained practitioners, and ask to see examples of their work during your consultation.
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