Ultherapy™ is a new type of non-surgical cosmetic procedure for achieving skin reminiscent of an earlier time. The Ulthera System is used by physicians and their specially-certified staff to precisely deliver acoustic sound waves deep into the skin to thermally initiate the body’s own rejuvenative mechanisms. This is done with the help of acoustic imaging for seeing the layers of soft tissue before treating. This novel ultrasound combination promises to set a new standard in the aesthetics industry.
Contact us today to schedule your Ultherapy consultation. Our office is located in Northern Seattle, just outside the hustle of the city, for easy, convenient access.
Is Ultherapy For Me?
Clinical evaluation at Northwestern University has shown that one full-face Ultherapy treatment can produce significant and satisfying tightening and lift. Findings of three independent physician evaluators and quantitative assessment of photographs revealed that 9 of 10 treated subjects demonstrated clinically significant eyebrow lift at 90 days, resulting in less hooding and a more open look to the eyes. Subjects reported firmer, tighter skin in other areas of the face and an overall refreshed appearance as well.
Looking for Ulthera™ Facial Rejuvenation in the Seattle Area?
Dr. Richard Baxter is a nationally recognized plastic surgery expert providing Ulthera™ facial rejuvenationin an accredited, private surgical facility in the Seattle area. To schedule your Ulthera procedure, just use our consultation form to request a consultation or call us at (425) 776-0880.
Ultherapy FAQs
Ultherapy is the first FDA-approved device for non-invasive skin lifting. It uses pulses of microfocused ultrasound energy to promote collagen regeneration in the deep layers of the skin, after a single treatment. Areas targeted are the face, neck, and décolleté.
Because Ultherapy works by promoting collagen regeneration, results take up to 3 months to fully develop.
The “sweet spot” for best results with Ultherapy is someone who is seeing age-related changes but not enough to consider a facelift. Typically this is late 30’s to mid-50’s. As the skin loses its ability to generate collagen and elastin, the response to Ultherapy is reduced. For that reason we don’t think of Ultherapy as a non-surgical facelift, but perhaps a way to delay it.
All non-invasive devices designed to tighten skin deliver some form of heat into the skin at a high enough temperature to stimulate a healing response but not high enough to cause injury. The more precise this is the better the result. Ultherapy uses microfocused ultrasound at different depths into the skin, adjusted to the patient’s individual condition.
Like most anti-aging treatments, we think of Ultherapy as “setting back the clock” rather than a temporary result that goes away and reverts back. The benefit remains even though the clock keeps ticking, so to speak. Ultherapy can be repeated after 6-12 months to maintain or enhance the result.
Most of our patients find the treatment tolerable. It takes only 30-45 minutes, and afterward there may be some very mild aching for a day or two.
There is no down time with Ultherapy. You can go back to regular activities right away.
We have seen reports of this on various websites and social platforms, but have not seen it in any of our patients in the more than 10 years we have been proving Ultherapy.
The cost for Ultherapy depends on the areas being treated and the number of levels (the depth of the focused ultrasound pulses). Most areas do best with at least 2 levels. Range is $1000 to $5000.
Ultherapy is a non-invasive skin-lifting treatment using micro-focused ultrasound energy to stimulate a healing response in the deep layers of the skin to produce new collagen and a lifting effect. This takes about 3 months. Because the response to the treatment determines the final result, there is variability. The skin in older patients does not build collagen as well, so Ultherapy is not usually a substitute for a surgical facelift. However, it can be a good maintenance option after a facelift to support your results.
Ultherapy is safe on all skin types! One advantage of Ultherapy over laser treatments is that it can be used safely on all skin types. It uses focused ultrasound, which is precisely targeted in layers under the surface without affecting the pigment layer.
Ultherapy is the only FDA-approved technology for noninvasive skin lifting. The ideal candidate for this treatment is someone in their 40s to mid-50s, with some early sagging but not enough for a facelift, and realistic goals. Final Ultherapy results are based in large part on the ability of the patient’s skin to regenerate collagen, which decreases with age and menopause. Older patients with sagging skin will do much better with a facelift, younger patients with minimal laxity but early signs of aging can get a nice result with Ultherapy. Ultherapy, like other nonsurgical procedures, is not a nonsurgical facelift, but it can help postpone the need for one.
Ultherapy works best in patients in their 40s to early 50s who do not have enough skin laxity to justify a surgical facelift. For patients experiencing significant skin laxity, a surgical facelift may be the better option. It’s important to discuss your concerns during your consultation.
The Ultherapy device uses handpieces called ultrasound transducers that deliver the treatment. Each one has a focal depth with the newest one being the shallowest at 1.5 millimeters. In some areas, it is possible to treat all 3 depths for an enhanced effect. So, it is not the generation of the machine, but the availability of all 3 transducers that is the most up-to-date.
Ask for Ultherapy by name. Ultherapy is the only FDA-approved high-intensity microfocused ultrasound (HIFU) device for noninvasive skin lifting, so you should ask for it by name. Counterfeit machines will usually not say Ultherapy but refer to it as HIFU or something that sounds similar.
HIFU, a high-intensity microfocused ultrasound, is a specific technology that focuses sound waves similar to sunlight focused through a magnifying glass to a very small spot. When the applicator is on the surface of the skin, the focal point is underneath the skin.
There are no at-home alternatives to Ultherapy. Ultherapy is a specific type of microfocused ultrasound that is very different than devices that can be used without medical supervision. For that reason, it requires specific techniques and training for safe and effective use. Ultherapy is the only FDA-approved ultrasound technology proven to lift skin noninvasively.
While each state has regulations, Ultherapy is a medical procedure, so all states require that it be performed under the supervision of a physician. The differences are in who the doctor can delegate to and how the supervision is done, perhaps a nurse practitioner or physician assistant would be likely. There are no equivalent devices that could be used without physician supervision. Be sure to ask if there is a doctor on-site during your treatment.
It is important to understand that all drugs and devices that the FDA approves are not limited by specific indications. It is known as off-label use, and physicians may use their own judgment about what is safe and effective. The companies can only promote uses that have specific approval. Botox, for example, was used for facial wrinkles for many years before Allergan decided to fund studies and get approval for full cosmetic use.
Be wary—not all “HIFU” treatments are Ultherapy. Ultherapy is the only FDA-approved High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) device for noninvasive skin lifting. It usually requires one session, then it is best to wait a few months before determining if more are needed. If it is not Ultherapy, then it is probably not true HIFU but a non-focused ultrasound or a much lower energy device that will not deliver as effective results.
Ultherapy results typically depend on the degree of skin laxity. For significantly loose abdominal skin, the best option is typically a tummy tuck in Seattle.
Ultherapy is not a fat-reducing treatment, rather it uses microfocused ultrasound to lift and tone facial skin, not fat reduction. It may be used after buccal fat pad removal to ensure tightened skin.
The more lax skin you have, the LESS Ultherapy can do. Lax skin is a sign of decreasing collagen rebuilding, so the more laxity the less the response. The sweet spot for good results with Ultherapy is the patient with mild skin laxity, usually in their 40s to early 50s. The reason is that the skin-lifting effect depends on the body’s ability to build new collagen in response to the treatment. Of course, with minimum laxity, the response can be great but less obvious visually.
Ultherapy is a safe option for noninvasive skin lifting. While it will tighten sagging skin for patients in their 40s to 50s, it will not restore lost volume or fullness. For volume restoration, you might consider dermal fillers or fat transfer.
Think of Ultherapy as setting back the aging clock. In theory, your skin will go back to its original state at some point, but it will always be in a more youthful state than if you hadn’t had Ultherapy at all. While Ultherapy lets you set back the clock on aging, the clock keeps running.
HIFU stands for High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, and Ultherapy is one device/treatment that uses HIFU. The effect of HIFU depends on the depth at which the ultrasound is focused. Ultherapy places it fairly shallow, so it stimulates the dermis of the skin. Ulthera is the company that developed it. One note—not everything using HIFU is Ultherapy, and not everything using ultrasound is HIFU.
The many options available today for nonsurgical skin tightening can cause confusion. All nonsurgical treatments have variable results because the ultimate effect depends on the body’s response. There are many radiofrequency (RF) devices on the market for nonsurgical skin tightening and a lot of marketing effort is directed at trying to show the subtle differences between them.
Ultherapy is the only FDA-cleared device using focused ultrasound for noninvasive skin lifting and rejuvenation, which enables the treatment to be delivered precisely to the different layers under the skin.
Ultherapy is safe and effective under the guidance of highly trained physicians. Most doctors who perform Ultherapy have years of experience and do not see significant adverse effects.
Possible Ultherapy side effects may include:
- Overtreatment
- Treatment with an inferior device passed off as Ultherapy
- Combination treatments with outcomes erroneously attributed to Ultherapy
- Treatment by unqualified providers
Ultherapy results vary because it uses micro-focused ultrasound to place hundreds of tiny spots of heat under the skin to stimulate a healing response that builds collagen. It is this response that produces the tightening effect, and there are inherent variations due to age and other factors. Noticeably lax skin implies that it is not building new collagen as rapidly as it breaks it down, so the more lax the skin, the less response to Ultherapy. Newer protocols are less painful but still deliver the same total energy.
No, Ultherapy improves the skin. It uses precisely focused ultrasound to stimulate the production of new collagen in the skin, which makes skin healthier. It works best on patients in their 40s to 50s who do not have enough skin laxity to justify a surgical facelift.
Ultherapy is safe and effective for the right patient when performed by highly trained experts. At PHASE Plastic Surgery, we have been performing Ultherapy for many years and have never seen damage, such as fat loss or premature aging. The results are inherently variable because the lifting effect depends on the individual’s response to the treatment. In general, the older the patient and the thinner the skin, the less the response.
Customizing nonsurgical procedures to the individual patient is important to achieve optimal results safely and effectively. It can be confusing to choose with so many non-surgical options being hyped. Ultherapy, which uses microfocused ultrasound, is the only one FDA-approved for noninvasive facial skin lifting. Radiofrequency devices, such as Viora and Thermage, also place heat into the tissues to stimulate collagen production. Laser treatments have an effect closer to the surface of the skin. Coolsculpting and lipo reduce fat but do not tighten the skin much. None of these treatments do enough to be considered a non-surgical facelift and results vary. Discuss your needs and goals at your consultation with one of our experts to determine which non-surgical treatment is best for you.
Ultherapy is FDA-approved to treat the decolletage area, meaning its effectiveness has been validated through clinical studies. If you have sun damage, which is common in that area, you may also benefit from IPL Skin Rejuvenation. Of course, no nonsurgical treatment is magic, as they all rely on the body’s ability to rebuild collagen in response to the procedure.
With no downtime, Ultherapy is FDA-approved for skin lifting in the neck. Results vary based on the age and condition of your skin. Be aware that every nonsurgical treatment has a range of responses.
Ultherapy can provide a lifting effect on the skin while a liquid facelift with fillers restores volume. Often both are performed together to give the best result. During your in-person consultation, our experts help you determine the option best for your needs.
There are a few options for treating a double chin: Ultherapy, liposuction, or Kybella. However, you must consult with one of our expert surgeons to determine which option is best for your unique situation.
- Kybella is an injectable product that dissolves fat and is only approved for the fat pad under the chin. It does not address significant skin laxity.
- Liposuction can treat a double chin if the problem is caused by fat and the patient has a good skin tone.
- Ultherapy is a good option for treating loose skin without excess fat and lifting the cheek area above the jawline for better
Facial exercises likely won’t impact your Ultherapy results.
Ultherapy would not be the best choice for jawline enhancement in younger people. Ultimately, a chin implant with liposuction under the chin or dermal fillers may be the best option to create more definition in the jawline.
Ultherapy works well in the right patient, but it is not a substitute for a facelift. Ultherapy can work well in many patients in their 40s to 50s, but it cannot address platysma bands as well as skin laxity in the neck area. A facelift and neck lift is clearly the best way to deal with those issues.
Deciding between nonsurgical treatments depends on the concern you’re looking to treat. Ultherapy helps lift sagging skin, depending on the degree of sagging and the initial condition of your skin. However, Halo laser treatments are more for improving the condition of the skin than for lifting and tightening.
Most patients are pleased with their results from Ultherapy. Many of those who are not satisfied may not have been good candidates because of age or the degree of skin laxity.
Ultherapy is safe when used properly by a trained professional. Our experts have used Ultherapy at PHASE Plastic Surgery for several years, and we were one of the first in the country to use it. We have found it to be very safe.
In qualified hands, Ultherapy is safe and effective. Ultherapy has safety features built-in, so the potential risks are small. It uses focused ultrasound energy coupled with imaging ultrasound, so the energy is delivered to the exact targeted layer. We have not seen any significant or lasting adverse effects in the several years we have used Ultherapy at PHASE Plastic Surgery.
In general, Voluma is placed at a deeper level than the focal depth of the Ultherapy so even closer together in terms of timing, there should be little reason for concern.
Ultherapy and fillers are not usually used in the same treatment area. While Ultherapy provides a lifting effect, fillers like Voluma and Juvéderm restore volume, so the combination makes sense. However, if they are going to be done in the same region (for example around the eye), then you should have Ultherapy first because the treatment could affect the filler.
While there may be some effect if Ultherapy is applied to an area with dermal fillers, wrinkle relaxers like Botox® should be unaffected by Ultherapy. They are commonly done in the same area, and it may even enhance the results.
thin. While Ultherapy and some other nonsurgical devices work well, someone with thin skin may experience better long-term results with a surgical approach. However, it’s important to discuss questions like this during your private consultation with one of our expert surgeons.
Collagen drinks are not necessarily helpful for Ultherapy. Ultherapy stimulates natural collagen regeneration, and the collagen in your diet is metabolized like any other protein. It is unlikely to make any difference.
The ultrasound used during Ultherapy is precisely focused at no more than 4 millimeters under the skin, so there is no conceivable way that it could affect the teeth or jaw.
Ultherapy should not cause more sagging. In all our years of using Ultherapy at PHASE Plastic Surgery, we have never seen skin sag more after Ultherapy, and there is no theoretical reason why it should. Depending on the initial condition of the skin, you may need multiple Ultherapy sessions to achieve your goals. Our experts may also recommend a surgical facelift to address severely sagging skin.
Often, volume loss and skin laxity create the same concerns. Facial fat transfer or dermal fillers like Sculptra or Voluma can address volume loss, and Ultherapy can be added later to tone and tighten the skin.
Because Ultherapy works by stimulating the production of new collagen, there is inherent variability in the final result. Age is one factor that influences the body’s ability to regenerate collagen, so Ultherapy works best on patients who are not at the point where they need a facelift (late 30s to early 50s.) During your consultation, your provider will examine your skin elasticity to determine if Ultherapy may be an ideal treatment for your concerns.
a couple of months. Both Ultherapy and radiofrequency technologies like ThermiTight work by heating the tissue enough to stimulate a healing response that remodels the collagen for a tightening effect. However, ThermiTight is not a noninvasive technique. Neither of these technologies offers results similar to a surgical facelift for patients with more skin laxity, so it’s important to discuss your expectations with your surgeon.
Wait 3 months after Ultherapy before considering other procedures. As Ultherapy uses precisely focused ultrasound delivered at 3 different levels, the response takes 3 months to manifest, so you should wait and assess at that time.
Although RF and Ultherapy are fundamentally different technologies, they both rely on the body’s response to heat to stimulate collagen regeneration, which causes tissue tightening. The difference is that Ultherapy is precisely focused on the target tissue, while RF treatments rely on heating by resistance to a current through the tissue. If you are concerned that you may need multiple treatments, perhaps nonsurgical treatments are not the best approach.
Nonsurgical options are very limited for hooding upper eyelids. Often, hooding of the upper eyelids is more likely an inherited trait rather than sagging skin from aging. Lasers would probably have minimal effect, Botox may offer a short-term but also limited effect, fillers no benefit, and both Ultherapy and Thermage probably limited benefit though longer lasting. Ultherapy would be better suited for treating that area. However, an in-person consultation is necessary to determine which procedure would deliver the best results.
Patients do not experience fat or volume loss with Ultherapy. Ultherapy uses microfocused ultrasound so the fat layer is not affected as it can be with radiofrequency devices. Sometimes the lifting effect may give the appearance of volume reduction. Dr. Baxter has been using Ultherapy for several years and has not seen fat or volume loss. However, aging is sometimes associated with fat loss in the face which is why fat grafting is commonly done with a facelift, and why Ultherapy is not a nonsurgical facelift.
Ultherapy is not an alternative to a facelift. The advantage is that it can deliver the energy to specific depths under the skin where it stimulates collagen regeneration and lifting with no downtime. Non-surgical procedures will not deliver the same results as a facelift or eyelid surgery, so Ultherapy isn’t an alternative for patients who would be best served by a facelift. However, this depends on the age of the patient and other factors.
Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound for noninvasive skin lifting, and more elastic skin responds better. This is usually patients in their 40s to mid-50s. Laser resurfacing targets the surface qualities of the skin and involves some downtime for recovery. Thicker, heavier skin may not respond as well to either procedure.
Ultherapy will stimulate collagen remodeling for a smoothing and lifting effect, but Seattle Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) will treat pigmentation and redness issues. IPL is similar to laser but does not involve any peeling. The Ultherapy will be done in one session, but most patients probably need 3 to 5 IPL sessions.
The healing time for Ultherapy to treat the undereye area is usually quick. Each patient will experience a unique recovery time. The full response of tightening and lifting can take up to 3 months, but usually, recovery after the treatment is short. Be sure to ask about your estimated recovery timeframe during your consultation and keep your follow-up appointments.
Dr. Baxter had Thermage in the office for several years and replaced it with Ultherapy. Both technologies have continued to improve, both are based on the concept of thermally stimulating collagen under the skin to regenerate, and both are typically done in a single treatment session. Ultherapy has precise focus at the desired depth because it uses microfocused ultrasound, while Thermage uses radiofrequency which is non-focused. Ultherapy is the only FDA-approved non-invasive technology for skin lifting.
It is okay to have Ultherapy before diving and other activities. Actually, Ultherapy is safe before diving and other sports activities because ultrasound energy is focused under the skin. This means no downtime.
Having it done overseas may save some money, but follow-up appointments may be difficult since the final results of your Ultherapy treatment will not be seen for a few months.
There’s no reason to have “HIFU” after Ultherapy. The term HIFU means High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, which is what Ultherapy is. There are no other HIFU technologies approved for facial skin lifting, so other treatments may not do much anyway.
Focused ultrasound with Ultherapy is not the same as unfocused. Ultherapy focuses the ultrasound to create tiny, very hot points that stimulate a healing response, producing collagen regeneration. Unfocused ultrasound, such as you get with physical therapy, is gentle warming and not the same.
Ultherapy is safe. Ultherapy uses microfocused ultrasound at depths of no more than 4 millimeters in the skin. There is no possibility of it affecting the brain. With nearly 10 years of experience providing Ultherapy, Dr. Baxter has not seen a single case of serious complications.
Ultherapy is a safe treatment option. In the many years Dr. Baxter has been performing Ultherapy treatments, he has never seen it “melt” facial fat. Determining whether Ultherapy is the best choice for your concerns depends on an in-person consultation.
