Ultherapy: Q&A
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Ulthera - Are Welts a Normal Side Effect?
I made an appointment for two weeks from now and my provider says that welts that can take a couple of weeks to resolve are not uncommon. I would like to hear from providers who have experience with this new laser - is this true?
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14 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
MD
in Manteca
+3
Welts from Ultherapy
Our experience is that welts are the result of sound waves bouncing off of bone and depositing the ultrasound energy too superficially in the skin. Because Ultherapy allows us to see the level of the bone before we treat the area, we have found that this problem is completely avoidable.
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Ultherapy welts are short-lived (if you even get one)
Isolated welts (small discrete bumps) can develop after Ultherapy treatment, but it is by far the exception rather than the norm in the patients I have treated. They seem to appear when the treatment was delivered a little too superficially in the skin. In the handful of situations where I have had this happen, it has occurred when the patient moved a little bit during the delivery of the treatment. Regardless, if ice is applied immediately, the welts tend to resolve very quickly. The...
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Swelling / Welts after Ulthera can happen but go away quickly
Occasionally, a person which has Ulthera can have overall swelling which is very short lived. Sometimes bruising can occur and present with firmness under the skin. Visible dermal swelling/welts can occur if the ultrasonic skin injury occurs too superficial. It can occasional have a little fluid like a cyst or pimple, but will resolve within about 5 days.
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Welts after Ulthera
Welts can happen with Ultherapy, but is not a common occurance. It can happen if the ultrasound is applied to superficial in the skin. This happens if either the patient or practicioner moves during the treatment or if the sound waves bounce to more superficial layers of the skin. These should resolve in 5-7 days.
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Welts are a side effect of Ulthera, but usually due to poor technique
Welts related to Ulthera are usually the result of the ultrasound energy being inappropriately directed to a superficial part of the skin. This may be due to inappropriate gel use, or poor coupling (contact) of the Ulthera handpiece to the skin. Welts are described in the Ulthera consent as a possible side effect, but careful treatment can usually avoid the appearance of red marks.
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Welts can be seen
Welts can be seen commonly, specially in areas of thinner skin. Usually a self-resolving issue, but if they persist for days without resolution, you should be evaluated.
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Ultherapy
Welts can happen in a minority of patients and is normal unless it causes scabbing or blisters. If it lasts, there is probably the deposition of too much energy which can possible lead to scarring.
see video
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Welts and ultherapy
Welts after ultherapy are not commonly seen but can occur and should be gone within hours to a few days. Localized deeper swelling can settle for several days, very rarely, but this is different than welts.
In occasional spots, if there is not enough contact with the transducer, or if the ultrasound gel does not provide the right seal for the transducer against the skin, it may deliver more ultrasound energy to the superficial dermis and swelling in the form of a welt might...
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Ultherapy and Welts
Welts that arise after an Ultherapy treatment can occur even with with proper technique. I perform all of the Ulthera procedures myself and I am constantly looking at the screen to ensure that I am at the proper depth and have the proper amount of ultrasound gel to conduct the ultrasound energy. That being said a patient can develop a welt but fortunately these are usually short lived. Cool compresses are usually sufficient to treat these.
However, there is a newer, 1.5 mm...
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Welts are uncommon and resolve quickly
In the treatment of over 100 patients I have seen welts on the skin only twice. These occur from the ultrasound energy pulse being delivered too close to the surface of the skin. On the rare occasions I have seen this problem, they resolved easily over a couple of days with cool compresses.
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Welts After Ultherapy
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.
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Welts are not typical but do go away
Even though a random welt can occur, they are not typical. The appearance of many welps is probably technique dependent. Generally welts will occur from improper contact between the transducer and tissue where the heat from the ultrasound energy is deflected too superficially causing the welt. They will resolve over a little time.
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Ulthera Welts Quickly Resolve with Cool Compresses
Hi MD,
Ultherapy by Ulthera is not a laser treatment, but rather uses ultrasound energy to create it's lifting and tightening effect on the skin and muscle of the neck, face, and eye brows. The welts that you have heard about may occur from improper contact of the transducer with the skin. Fortunately, with cool compresses these welts usually disappear within an hour or two. Good luck and be well.
Dr. P
see video
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Side Effects of Ulthera
We have seen welts in a few isolated cases. Usually we treat these with cooling on the day of treatment and Aquaphor after that. Most of these resolve within a day or two with this regimen.
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