Nonsurgical cosmetic treatments aren’t immune from the rumor mill. In fact, it seems as if every time a new treatment is available, people are ready with myths or misconceptions about it, perfect for confusing anyone who might be thinking about the treatment. Ultherapy is no different. If you’re considering the nonsurgical skin tightening procedure, it helps to know what’s true and what’s false about it. Here are a few of the more popular Ultherapy myths, as well as details about what’s actually true.
It Eliminates the Need for Surgery
Ultherapy helps to tighten loose and sagging skin in areas around the eyebrows, neck and chin without surgery. That said, the treatment itself doesn’t necessarily replace surgery for the right patient. If you’re just beginning to notice some signs of looseness or skin sagging in the upper or lower portion of your face (or in both areas), Ultherapy can be the right option for you.
But if you have significant sagging or loose skin, you might not get the results you were hoping for from Ultherapy. In that case, your surgeon might recommend a facelift or browlift (or both) to help you get more dramatic results.
You Need Several Treatments to Get Results
Although some nonsurgical cosmetic treatments require a series of treatment sessions to provide the type of results you are hoping for, that’s not the case with Ultherapy. Many patients see the results they want after just one treatment.
That said, it’s important to have reasonable expectations when it comes to the type of results you get from Ultherapy. You might see some improvement in the laxity of your skin right after the treatment. But it can take a few months before the final results from Ultherapy are fully visible.
While you usually only need a single treatment to get results from Ultherapy, some people find that getting a repeat treatment every year or so after their first session helps them maintain a more youthful looking appearance for longer.
Ultherapy Hurts Like Nothing Else
Ultherapy uses ultrasound energy to stimulate the production of collagen and to tighten the skin. The earliest form of Ultherapy was a bit painful, but the advancement of technology has helped to make it a considerably more comfortable procedure. Today, the feeling is often described as a tingling or mild burning sensation during treatment.
Your practitioner will most likely give you a number of options to help make sure your experience with Ultherapy is as comfortable as possible. One option is to use a topical or local anesthetic to numb the area before treating it. Another option is to preemptively give you a pain reliever to help reduce any discomfort. If you’re particularly concerned about pain from treatment, be sure to ask your doctor about your options.
Results from Ultherapy Only Last a Few Months
While the results from some types of nonsurgical cosmetic treatments, such as Botox or injectable fillers, last for a few months at most, the results from Ultherapy are a bit more durable. Technically speaking, the results from Ultherapy are permanent. Your skin will continue to age, but you’ll always look a bit more youthful than you would have otherwise.
You’ll Need a Lot of Time to Recover After Ultherapy
Like many other nonsurgical cosmetic treatments, the recovery time after Ultherapy is generally pretty short. You might want to take a full day or two off from work to give yourself time to rest up after the treatment and to give swelling a chance to diminish, but you don’t have to. Some people feel comfortable enough to return to work the day of their treatment. You won’t have to give up working out or any other strenuous activity for any length of time after Ultherapy.
The one thing you should know about the recovery from Ultherapy is that it’s pretty common for people to have some redness and swelling immediately afterwards. Usually, the swelling and redness are mild and fade quickly after the treatment. If you’re concerned about either, you can try icing the area or talk to your doctor about other options for camouflaging side effects.
Ultherapy is one of the nonsurgical treatments Dr. Paul Vitenas offers at Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique, in Houston, Texas. To learn more about the treatment and to see if it’s a good choice for you, call 281-810-9083 to schedule a consultation today.