Ultherapy™ - Related FAQ's

Q: If ten years ago I was able to get my forehead lines completely removed with Botox, why does my doctor in NYC now say that the forehead shouldn't be treated any longer? I was recommended to have Ulthera instead, why?

A: As we age, the forehead drops and with that, the upper eyelids can sag over the pupil and even obstruct our upper field of vision. We use the forehead muscle and start to contract it all the time, even without our knowing, to help lift the upper eyelid. If Botox relaxes the forehead muscle to eliminate the lines, then we can't help lift the eyelids. The eyes become smaller-appearing and the eyelids droop more. This is then fixed with either a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) or a combination of a brow lift and blepharoplasty. When the droop is not too excessive, some patients can get a lift from Ulthera or Thermage. Ultherapy uses a focused deep and strong ultrasound energy that heats up the tissue and causes the collagen to contract. Ulthera has obtained FDA clearance for lifting without surgery. It works well for some, but not all patients, and never will produce the same tightening that surgery does.

Q: If I had Restylane in NYC injected along my smile folds, can I still have Ulthera?

A: Yes, Ultherapy does not treat this area of the face. Ulthera is used on the mid cheeks, neck and forehead. If you had filler injected in the cheeks, within the path of Ultherapy, the Ulthera energy might affect the filler. Currently investigations are being done to determine if the longevity of certain fillers are affected by this energy.

Q: My mother wants a facelift but her doctor says her heart should not be traumatized by general anesthesia. If the plastic surgeon can't do a facelift with local anesthesia, is there an alternative method that can be done, such as Ultherapy in NYC?

A: Possibly, Ulthera may provide your mom with some improvement over six months after the treatment with Ultherapy but the older one is, the less the improvement is expected with Ulthera. This is because the surgery would physically cut away loose skin and sew together the skin tightening the face as it closes. Ulthera is different, as it relies on the physical properties of the collagen and connective tissues in the deep dermis to contract after the ultrasound energy. Older skin does not contract as well and terribly sun-damaged skin also does not respond as well.

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