Sagging skin is one of the signs that you’re getting older. As you age, your body naturally begins to produce less and less collagen, a protein that helps to keep your skin firm. The result is skin that is less elastic and more likely to droop and sag.
The face is one area where sagging skin tends to be the most noticeable. When the skin starts to sag, you might develop jowls or a droopy brow. At one point in time, the only way to treat loose and sagging skin was through surgery, such as a facelift, or in the case of the upper part of the face, a brow lift.
Now, there are non-surgical options available for people who are interested in tightening their skin and getting a more youthful look. One of those options is Ultherapy, which is the first and only non-surgical treatment that uses ultrasound technology to tighten skin to get approval from the FDA.
If you’re starting to notice some sagging or drooping in your face and neck and you’re interested in your non-surgical options for facial rejuvenation, read on to learn more about Ultherapy and what it can do for you.
1. It Uses Ultrasound Energy to Tighten Skin
One of the ways that Ultherapy is different from other non-surgical treatments that focus on rejuvenating the skin is the type of energy it uses to treat the skin. Ultherapy isn’t a laser treatment. Instead, it uses ultrasound energy to tighten the skin.
During Ultherapy treatments, the ultrasound energy penetrates the top layer of the skin and reaches the dermis. There, it stimulates the production of collagen. As the body produces more collagen in the treatment area, the result is skin that is visibly lifted and firmer.
2. No Downtime is Needed
Ultherapy isn’t surgery and it doesn’t require any incisions. Since the treatment is non-invasive, there’s no need for you to take time off from work or from your other daily activities to heal and rest up.
Along with being able to go back to work and other activities right away, you’ll also be able to jump back into a workout or exercise routine immediately after Ultherapy. After surgery to lift and rejuvenate the skin, you’d usually need to stop any exercise routine for at least a month, if not six weeks.
3. You’ll Feel Something During Treatment
Treatment with Ultherapy usually takes between half an hour and one hour. During that time, you’re likely to feel some sensations as the ultrasound energy is directed at your skin. How comfortable you’ll feel during Ultherapy depends on your tolerance levels. Some people don’t note any discomfort at all while others describe the treatment as feeling like they are receiving a series of small electrical shocks.
If you’re concerned about what you’ll feel while undergoing Ultherapy, talk to your surgeon. They can apply numbing cream or ointment to the treatment area to help minimize any discomfort.
4. It Takes Time to Work
Ultherapy works by stimulating the body’s collagen production. This means that it doesn’t produce results that are instantly visible. The collagen needs time to work and lift the skin. While results might vary, it can take between three and four months before you notice a dramatic improvement.
That said, once the improvement appears, it might seem like it happened overnight. You might go to bed one evening, wake up the next day, look in the mirror and realize that you have a considerably more defined jawline or a less droopy brow.
Once the results do appear, it’s usually recommended that you have a touch-up treatment every year or so to help maintain them.
5. Ultherapy Isn’t Right for Everyone
If people can tighten their skin and get a more youthful look without surgery, you might be wondering why anyone would consider a more invasive procedure such as a facelift. The truth is that for some people, a facelift is the better option.
Ultherapy is usually best for people who are just beginning to notice some laxity in their skin. If a person has a considerable amount of laxity or sagging skin, they are likely to get better results from a surgical procedure. The best way to tell if Ultherapy or another treatment is right for you is to talk to a plastic surgeon and learn more about each option.
Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas offers Ultherapy as well as other rejuvenating treatments. If you’re interested in learning more about Ultherapy or want to see if you’re a good candidate for the procedure, call 281-810-9083 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Paul Vitenas at Mirror Mirror today!