Ultherapy: Stories

I had a great result. If your skin still has decent elasticity and the damage isn't so severe I think it is a great way to prevent going under the knife. I did it for under the chin but now feel like I have to do it again. The cost is a little prohibitive to do every year but that would probably be ideal.

mrsbns, I paid 900 for just the jaw, a tiny upper part of neck. That was the very cheapest ANYWHERE, except a few medispas out west. I have seen upwards of 4500, the lowest being usually around 3000. Now that is full face which I don't want to do since it will melt my radiesse. Thermage is also RF and some liked it, others not -- since I am terrified of dissolving fat, I say no to Thermage, but it's the same idea, hurting the skin to stimulate a reaction such as the shrinking around a scar. Many procedures use the human's own reaction like this, as you probably have gathered on so many of these sites. I cannot speak for Thermage, heard Titan is pretty weak but don't know that one either, and if it's arms and legs, I have heard tossed around the words Affirm and Accent -- but you can find that on here better than from me! Since Ulthera is so new many who have done lots of other treatments say the price is outlandish and taking advantage of the consumer, and I tend to agree. Since there is very little difference in tightening from ulthera, in my case, I don't know if this is a good choice for anyone. I mean, I am the ideal candidate --- almost 40, tight, no extra weight (and don't want to lose ANY in my face, for sure), just the teeniest beginning of sag -- which of course I want to ward off! Yet I saw no difference. I don't think it's a trick, per se....it's just too iffy to charge such a ridiculous amount. They say you won't see results three or more months, but by then your money and you are long gone! It's like paying for a car that you don't get to drive....or is that a good analogy? The theory behind this is little different from all the other lasers, rfs, peels -- basically, hurt the skin so it reacts, tightens and shrinks up in response. They say this ultherapy is better because (A) it goes DEEP to the SMAS layer (which is what convinced me, unfortunately) and (B) they can monitor each and every "hit" with the wand or whatever it is, on the ultrasound machine. But: here is the thing. It doesn't really do much at all (that's the big part) and people are fooled by initial swelling, as with many other procedures. The other thing I thought about is this: the RN who did mine was intelligent, but for any procedure you want someone who sees your face even "better": than you would ever see it. By this I mean, one side might be higher than the other, or one side needs far more and stronger pulses, and a really good plastic surgeon who does faces would see this and make sure to hit exactly the necessary parts, rather than do it by rote. It's the difference between a machine playing the piano and a brilliant musician playing the same piece (sorry, I play the piano.) I would say at all costs, but this procedure pushes it. It won't hurt you like some of the lasers, but this is actually one of those things that makes me think that doctors in the ps industry look at us and think, YAH! Let's get their money, the idiots! I don't think they all think like that, really not at all, but I say....wait til it gets cheaper, or something better comes up....sorry, but actually for arms and legs this isn't the one imo. I might need to look into that stuff too, soon, since I haven't properly exercised since I quit doing it obsessively to gain weight in the face -- damnit!

It's been a long time since anyone has posted here so I hope someone can give me an answer. Approximately how much have you people paid for Ulthera. Is it similar to Thermage or Titan? I'm getting very self-conscious about my sagging arms and legs, but my face is still ok (at 53). I'd sincerely appreciate any help. Thanks in advance!! (I'm also in CT)

Hmm good point, libby12! Maybe the unscrupulous docs and RNs promote it to make money, of course (new procedure, need to pay for that machine somehow) and the decent-minded ones must think that the patients over 50 have younger-type skin? I mean there are some people I know in their 50s who look younger than me at 38. Wish I knew

Then why do the doctors believe it will work ? They know the age of their patients. My sagging is not too bad, however if the optimum age is 35 then don't promote it to people who are older.

When I went to have it done on jaw area, and I am almost forty (just turned thirty-eight), the RN who did mine for about one thousand bucks said she had it done on her whole face. She is five years younger than me. She said the optimum time to have it done is about thirty-five to fifty, which makes sense to me, because if the sagging is extreme, you're gonna need more than just this minor procedure. If I had NEVER had anything done and saved my money from all the botox since five years ago and I were over fifty, I would just wait and get a lift. People on this site who had lifts and then later do ulthera seem to think that ulthera does not come close to what a lift can do, and that seems about right. It merely tightens, and if you are over fifty, you probably would need more than simple tightening. I mean, I can barely tell it did anything after three months. Maybe if I were saggier to begin with I would but I doubt it.

So happy I've followed this board. I was hoping someone would report that Ulthera was a worthwhile procedure. The option to get improvement without cutting is very alluring. Truthfully, I couldn't see much change in the before/after pictures provided by Ulthera. Does anyone have any?

I am at week 15 after Ulthera...honestly...I see small changes and in general my skin looks very nice but I can honestly say that no one has come up to me and said "Wow you look Great!" So that's the real story folks....and seriously, I'm 54 and am pretty well preserved without treatment...but after all the fuss and money...not any significant change that anyone who knows me notices. A bit disappointing and expensive for no significant change.

If I were rich like a celebrity I would certainly get this -- I hate how my ex-bf always says how hot Demi Moore is at her age when in fact she's had everything under the sun done and by the very best.....I think celebs should be forced to take lie detector tests about what they've had done! :)

I am at week 2, and I am not seeing any results. However, I had Sculptra done immediately following the Ultherapy. Has anyone done that?

Thanks for keeping us all informed.


My takeaway on this after 3 months is that it does NOTHING and is a bunch of hipe --it's painful and expensive and I have nothing to show for it.

I only did my lower face and I know now, that it was not worth it.

To my PS who performed the procedure: I would have considered coming to you for a future surgery on my face, but I now question your integrity.

My takeaway from this after 3 months is that the lower face works better than the upper and that there is not a dramatic change....very subtle but nice. So if you are looking for people to stop you on the street and say, Hey you look great! That's not going to happen. But I do see some subtle changes...worth the money...not sure...might have had better results spending same money on fillers and botox

I didn't realize my improvement till I saw my after photos.

I am also 2 months out and although I have not gone back to see my 'before' pictures, I am absolutely sure that I have little improvement. I am also 'older' but have little fat and just slight laxity under my chin, so I did expect that the little bit of loose skin would be tightened. Prior to the procedure, I measured certain areas of laxed skin and today, those areas are still the same - maybe having the slightest improvement.
That said, I am not ready to give this a thumbs down because I am still hoping that I need a few more weeks to see better results.

Am at the 10 week mark now...I also saw some pictures at my doctor's office...big changes in the lower portion of my face...jaw line, jowl, chin and cheek...Honestly, don't see much change in upper portion of face so that's interesting to note in case you are thinking of doing full face vs. lower face ..maybe you only do the lower portion from money perspective.