Multiple nonsurgical skin tightening treatments are available these days, but we believe Ultherapy offers the best results for our medical spa patients in Eugene, Oregon. It’s also one of the procedures that people ask about the most on the RealSelf website, where patients can get answers from board-certified specialists.
What Is Ultherapy?
Some of the most common aesthetic concerns women and men have are the early signs of aging that appear as skin loses its elasticity. The neck, chin, and décolletage (upper chest) are often where these signs first show up. Ultherapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses focused ultrasound energy to both tighten and lift skin by gently heating the tissue. This heat stimulates the body to create new collagen, one of the essential elements of smooth, tight skin. The FDA approved Ultherapy for these specific areas, but it may be used “off-label” to improve the skin’s appearance in other areas, too.
Common Ultherapy Questions
Because several nonsurgical treatments promise to create tighter skin, we’re often asked how Ultherapy compares to similar procedures, such as Thermage® or laser treatments. Thermage uses radiofrequency energy to heat the skin, but it isn’t as effective and can take longer to produce results than Ultherapy.
Some other common questions include:
What happens during an Ultherapy treatment?
The duration of each procedure depends on the targeted area or areas. For example, someone who is only concerned about the neck may have a 30-minute treatment session. But some procedures can last up to 90 minutes. The provider begins by applying a gel to the skin, which conducts the ultrasound energy. Then a handheld device is moved across the skin’s surface, delivering the energy to your skin with precision depth to boost the production of collagen. The depth can be adjusted during the treatment. You can read more about how Ultherapy works to tighten your skin in this previous blog post.
Does Ultherapy hurt?
Any discomfort experienced during an Ultherapy treatment varies from patient to patient. Because the procedure works by stimulating the production of collagen, temperatures can reach up to 140 degrees in the deep tissue targeted by the treatment. The discomfort occurs only when the ultrasound energy is being delivered. Some patients take medication to ease any pain (which requires coming in early for the procedure). We take the appropriate steps to ensure all patients are as comfortable as possible during the procedure.
Do I need time off after getting Ultherapy?
There is typically no downtime associated with Ultherapy treatments. Having said that, you may have some swelling and redness, along with a tingling sensation, after leaving our office. The tenderness is a sign that the body is producing collagen.
How long before I see results?
Inducing the production of collagen takes a bit of time, but the results are well worth the wait. Patients may start seeing initial results within 3 or 4 months of the procedure. Still, the body will continue producing additional collagen for up to a year, and the outcome will continue to improve.
What does Ultherapy cost?
The cost of Ultherapy treatments varies depending on the extent of the procedure, along with other factors. At our office, Ultherapy is between $1,200 and $4,000 depending on what areas are treated. After your consultation, we provide a detailed price quote that you can review before deciding on the procedure.
If you’re considering nonsurgical skin tightening and want to learn more about Ultherapy, we serve patients from Salem, Corvallis, and throughout Oregon. You can see the types of results Ultherapy produces in our gallery of before-and-after photos and then contact us using the online form to request a consultation. You can also give us a call at (541) 683-3234 to schedule an appointment.
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