Dr. Liu performs all of the procedures himself.

Ultherapy is the only non-surgical cosmetic procedure that uses ultrasound to specifically target the deep foundation below the skin – typically addressed in cosmetic surgery – without cutting or disrupting the surface of the skin.
It also is the only procedure to use ultrasound imaging, which allows us to actually see the layers of tissue we target during the treatment and ensure the energy is deposited precisely to where it will be most effective.

The patient is in a lying down.  There is a handheld device attached to the main device.  Gel is used in between the skin and the handheld probe which is then gently placed on the skin.  One single pass lasts a few seconds.  Dr. Liu is continuously looking at the real time ultrasound picture to make sure that the energy is being delivered to the correct depth under the skin.  A typical full face procedure can consist of 800 passes.

Comfort thresholds vary from patient to patient, but there can be some discomfort while the ultrasound energy is being delivered.   This is temporary and a positive signal that the collagen-building process has been initiated.

Pre-treatment regimens can be tailored based upon the patient’s pain threshold and technical aspects such as area(s) of the face to be treated and number of passes the physician plans to perform.  Most often 600-800 mg of over the counter Ibuprofen is enough and is taken 1 hour before the procedure.  Occasionally a patient may request other premedication with oral sedatives.  Once the procedure starts local anesthesia can be injected into the treatment areas as needed to provide additional pain relief if needed.

Patients tell us they leave comfortable and excited about the benefits to come.  For the next few days the face can feel “sore.”  Imagine you exercised and lifted weights and your muscles felt sore for a few days.  If you could “exercise” your facial muscles this is how you may feel.

There are no special precautions or restrictions after the treatment and therefore no downtime.

Patients may enjoy some initial effect but the ultimate lifting and toning will take place over 2-3 months, as tired collagen is replaced with new, more elastic collagen. As this collagen-building process continues, further improvements can appear up to 6 months following a procedure.

Patients treated with Ultherapy still have fresh young collagen after a year’s time following the procedure, but skin continues to age. Future touch-up treatments can help keep pace with the aging process, which varies by individual.

There may be slight redness for up to an hour or so following the treatment, and a small percentage of patients may have slight swelling, tingling or tenderness to touch, but these are mild and temporary in nature.  Bruising is not common but can occur.

The procedure has been cleared by the FDA after demonstrating safety in clinical studies, and tens of thousands of treatments have been performed safely worldwide. In addition, ultrasound energy has a proven track record, with use in the field of medicine for more than 50 years.

The majority of patients only need one treatment; however, some may benefit from more than one treatment (depending on how much laxity they have and their body’s own biological response to the ultrasound and the collagen-building process).

It depends upon the area to be treated – anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.

A good candidate for Ultherapy is someone with skin that has “relaxed” to the point of looking, and often feeling, less firm. A lowered eyebrow line or sagging skin on the eyelids, for instance, is often the first sign of “maturing” skin. Typically, those in their thirties and older who have mild to moderate skin laxity are candidates.

While Ultherapy is not a replacement for a surgical face lift, there are many people who want some lifting but are not ready for surgery, either mentally, financially or logistically. There also are younger people who want to “stay ahead of the game” as well as those looking to prolong the effects of cosmetic surgery.

Collagen is a natural protein that gives skin its youthfulness by keeping it firmed and toned. As we age, collagen loses its strength and its ability to stand up to the effects of gravity that pull the skin downward. Ultherapy jumpstarts a repair process that strengthens your existing collagen and produces fresh, new collagen.

Yes! Both women and men globally are receiving Ultherapy.

NO! Unlike lasers which cannot be done in patients who are exposed to sun, Ultherapy can be done any time of year including the summer since it is targeting the deeper tissues under the skin.