Ulthera - Are Welts a Normal Side Effect?

Although "welts" can occur after Ultherapy, they generally resolve within several days.  More commonly, patients have described a tenderness and a feeling of relative swelling along the jawline and neck which can last for up to a week after treatment.  The more aggressive the treatment, the more likely this sensation is afterward.

Hi MD, thanks for inquiring about side effects of Ultherapy. It is possible for welts to occur after an Ultherapy treatment, however on the face and neck they typically don't last more than 24 hours. This may vary from patient to patient. When doing an Ultherapy treatment on the deccolletage (chest area) any welting is more likely to last up to 3 weeks. Keep in mind it is very important to choose an experienced and certified Ultherapy provider. 

Welts can happen, especially with the more superficial treatments (1.5 mm and 3.0 mm).  They are temporary, usually lasting < 1-2 days, but can take even several weeks to go away.  

Hello,

Thank you for your question. In our experience the welts are most commonly seen when you are treated with the most superficial hand piece. However, welts are not the norm, it usually means there isn't proper contact. That can be caused by holding the hand piece incorrectly or by the patient moving during the treatment. That being said, if you do experience welting, they usually subside within a day or two. Good luck!

Hi and thanks for your question.  I rarely see welts after Ultherapy.  If they do appear, I give the patient an ice pack to place over the welt and it resolves quickly without any longterm issue. 

The occurrence of welts following Ultherapy is heat related but very uncommon. However, even if they do appear they generally resolve within a short period of time. This can be as little as a few hours to several days.