Changes to your face occur gradually over time. The face may begin to lose its tone and elasticity. For many men and women who are not ready for a face-lift, we have some exciting new technology you may wish to consider. Ulthera™ is an FDA approved, non-surgical system that can help lift and restore the facial tissues, including the brow, cheek, and neck. Dr. Ringler is the first board-certified plastic surgeon in Michigan to be able to offer this remarkable technology.
Ulthera™ uses safe and effective ultrasound technology to see below the surface of the skin, down to the area of the soft tissue, where Dr. Ringler is then able to safely and precisely direct ultrasound waves. The selective heating effect of the ultrasound stimulates your body’s own collagen production and over several months, results in a face and brow that is visibly lifted. The treatment takes only 30 minutes to an hour and there is no downtime after treatment.
While results are not as dramatic as a surgical facelift, Ultherapy™ may help you delay a facelift for several years and give you a natural, beautiful, subtly lifted appearance so your skin appears to “fit better”.
What is Ultherapy?
Ultherapy is a new ultrasound treatment, recently approved by the FDA, for counteracting the effects of time and gravity on your face. It is a 30 to 45-minute treatment that uses your body’s own regenerative response to gently and gradually restore memory to the skin and underlying tissue. Ulthera actually helps your tissue begin to reproduce collagen.
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How does Ultherapy Work?
As with other ultrasound procedures, a smooth applicator placed on your skin projects an image onto a screen that allows Dr. Ringler to plan where the energy should be directed. The same applicator is then used to deliver low levels of focused energy at just the right depth below the skin to achieve a positive effect, all the while leaving the surface of your skin undisturbed.
Who is a good candidate for Ultherapy?
A good candidate for Ultherapy is someone with skin that has relaxed to the point of looking and feeling less firm than desired. A lowered brow line or sagging skin of the eyelids, for instance, is often the first sign of maturing skin.
What does Ultherapy feel like?
Comfort levels vary from person to person. While many people do not feel the need for any pain medication during the procedure, Dr. Ringler will give you medication options for staying comfortable during treatment if you so choose. Many patients describe the sensation a momentary prickling or heat beneath the skin. This is the ultrasound energy being delivered to the tissue, which is how Ultherapy lifts and tightens the facial tissues.
Is there any downtime?
You are able to return to your normal activities right away, and there are no special measures you need to take. Your skin may appear a bit flushed immediately after the treatment, but any redness should disappear in a matter of hours.
Is Ultherapy safe?
Ultrasound energy has been used in the field of medicine for over 50 years, and clinical trials have demonstrated the safety of this latest application. As with any medical procedure, the safety and outcome are dependent upon the experience and the credentials of the physician providing the treatment.
What kind of results can I expect?
With just one treatment, the regenerative process is initiated, but the full effect will build gradually over the course of two to three months. In the FDA clinical trial, nine out of ten patients had a noticeable, significant lift of the brow line. This resulted in reduced skin laxity on the eyelid, and a more open, youthful look to the eye overall. Patients reported firmer, tighter, better-fitting skin in the other areas of the face and neck as well.
Can Ultherapy achieve the same result as a facelift?
No, there is not a non-surgical way to produce the dramatic results of facial surgery at this time, but Ultherapy provides a great non-invasive approach for significant skin tightening and actual lifting.
For more information about Ultherapy, please call 616.328.8800 or contact the office of Grand Rapids plastic surgeon Dr. Steven L. Ringler at the Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery.
Steven L. Ringler, MD, FACS
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