POSTED UNDER Ultherapy Reviews
2nd Ultherapy Treatment - Bay Area, CA
UPDATED FROM san jose 1
Went back today for photos once more, as I was not...
san jose 1February 7, 2012
$2,600
Went back today for photos once more, as I was not happy with results of 2nd treatment. I felt that I had seen improvement not there earlier. Now, bear in mind, I DID begin Retin A in between the time I had photos taken the last time and now. So, that makes a difference in skin texture, and, admittedly, I saw that. BUT, I really did see a significant difference, mostly on one side where I had mentioned true jowls seemed to have formed after the 2nd treatment. Today, when I compared the photos at the doc's office, I was surprised! The jowl had DEFINITELY diminished. It was pretty great! The other side was harder to tell, but it had not been as bad as the other either. So, bottom line, uneven response on my face. One side DID improve FINALLY - whew. And the other half of my face, at least, did not get worse :) , and slightly better in some others. So, was it worth it? Well, I did have quite a scare. But, in the end, it just took ME longer to experience the improvement. And, it got worse before it got better. So, I'm not certain. I would have to say I remain undecided.
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM san jose 1
I can't figure out how to edit the update I just...
san jose 1February 7, 2012
I can't figure out how to edit the update I just posted, so I have to make an additional comment, instead. Sorry folks. At the beginning of my last update, I typed, "Went back today for photos once more, as I was not happy with results of 2nd treatment. I felt that I had seen improvement not there earlier."
That doesn't seem very clear to me now. So, all I was trying to say is that, until recently, I had been unhappy with 2nd Ulthera. But that, recently, I had seen what I thought to be new improvements in the mirror, so I went to the doc to get one more set of photos to verify what I thought I was seeing. And, I see improvement past what the Retin A would be able to improve. Thanks for reading.
That doesn't seem very clear to me now. So, all I was trying to say is that, until recently, I had been unhappy with 2nd Ulthera. But that, recently, I had seen what I thought to be new improvements in the mirror, so I went to the doc to get one more set of photos to verify what I thought I was seeing. And, I see improvement past what the Retin A would be able to improve. Thanks for reading.
Replies (5)
February 13, 2012
FX: Dr. Kimberly Cockerham in Los Altos. I know she has another office somewhere else too. To be honest, I could not STAND her main assistant who was one of the snottiest people I've EVER met, but she may not be there anymore. That assistant was enough to keep me from going back. However, Dr. Cockerham has one of the most impressive CVs I've ever seen, being a top eye specialist, as well as, expert with FX. Only a few other things about the doctor. Make CERTAIN to get EVERYthing she says in writing. They have an AWFUL habit of making these flippant promises of giving you so much off a treatment and doing such and such for so much money. However, if you mention what they promised to them later, they act as if you're trying to steal something from them, and pull a guilt trip on you, with absolutely no recollection of what they told you. And the staff has 90% of time been exasperatingly disorganized - they're ALWAYS reorganizing, having turnover. But, if you get everything she promises in WRITING AND TAKE a copy WITH you (don't trust at ALL that it will be in your files, because that was MY mistake), then you'll be okay. Oh, and she has also slipped things on my bill that I did NOT approve, did not know about - such as a sunscreen that was $40 and also charged me for a biopsy she never did (she charged me ahead of time, then decided not to do it, and never refunded me, even though I talked to them about it - it was too tiring to fight them about it). I do recommend her, though, because of her serious expertise at FX and also because of her expertise with eyes - my eyes are so sensitive and she's one of the few drs who slip in metal eyeshields...and you don't feel it AND she won't scratch your eyes. Amazing. But, when you read her extensive CV with all her background, you'll see you can trust her ---medically speaking --- . So, you can trust you won't have any damage or scars from her - she's a perfectionist to the nth degree. And bottom line, it's good results without any mistakes that you want on your face.
February 13, 2012
Forgot to say: I have not really found any other doc to equal Dr. Cockerham, so I've not done FX again. In spite of the nasty assitant (no fun to deal with when you're recovering), I'm glad I had it done by her :) . But though my relationship with her office is sour, doesn't mean yours or anyone else's needs to be :) being forewarned is forearmed.
February 13, 2012
Wow San Jose- thanks for all the details and the prompt reply! This really helps - having this information may make the difference between having the experience that you did, and knowing navigating the turbulent waters of Dr. Cockerham's office.
I really appreciate the information - I love that you give lots of details. Thank you for taking the time!
I really appreciate the information - I love that you give lots of details. Thank you for taking the time!
February 13, 2012
No problem :) . Hope it helps. By the way, I found her CV link - wow, it's still unbelievable, how one person could do so much in one lifetime. Hope I'm allowed to post this link.
http://doctorbase.com/static/assets/E7/E765D4E0-ABF2-11DF-B6B9-FA3BB821830B.pdf
http://doctorbase.com/static/assets/E7/E765D4E0-ABF2-11DF-B6B9-FA3BB821830B.pdf
May 18, 2013
Thanks for the information. i had ultherapy 3 wks ago on my lower face/neck. my friend notices no difference me neither. i'm cheering for the 3 months mark
UPDATED FROM san jose 1
Okay, here's the unfortunate update and I think...
san jose 1November 21, 2011
Okay, here's the unfortunate update and I think folks had better listen. I got photos today. It has been 4 months after my 2nd Ulthera. The REALLY bad news is, I believe it is actually responsible for GIVING me jowls and now I have a somewhat turkey neck that was NOT there 4 months ago! And, it was pretty easy to see this in the mirror, as well, before I went to have photos taken and compared. But, here is the worst part of the news. You can say that I'm just a totally rare case. But, apparently, that is not so at all. The very nurse, who is incredibly intelligent and definitely knows how to use this thing, who did my 2nd Ulthera treatment, has had three on her, and REALLY focused on her chin, jowl, neck area. Guess what? Yep, after she saw my awful results, she showed me hers. Her photos were all stored in the same computer. The SAME THING. It is SO visible, hugely worse, not a little. I am not exaggerating. So, get this done at your own risk. I did see a good difference ---for the brows--- for sure the first time. But, even the first time, one side of my face got worse. And now, I think I've really done it. I'm going to have to think about what to do next, as, absolutely no exaggeration, I just added at least five years to my face.
Replies (5)
November 23, 2011
Ok....I have been reading and researching and your last post has me VERY concerned. If I am reading this correctly - you (and apparently your Ulthera nurse) are saying you believe that once time passes and the results diminish you look worse?? I am scheduled for a procedure next Thursday and I have had this little nagging feeling that I shouldn't go through with it. My biggest concern is the cost versus the result - but then I'll read some rave review and I get all pysched up again...only to come back in to the "review community" and see a post like yours....which once again has my gut telling me not to do it. I'm pretty sure I'll be cancelling tomorrow.
November 23, 2011
I just scrolled through your posts again....and I guess in read in you Sept 5 post that you said you think its hard to go wrong with Ulthera....is that the case? Having done this....are the results there? Is it worth the money? Do you recommend?
November 23, 2011
It sounds like you want a guarantee that it will work for you (wouldn't we all?) but it's not possible with this treatment as we've all had very different experiences and different results. So it comes down to taking a risk of wasting your money, no result or perhaps even making things worse. I wouldn't have done this treatment unless I could afford to waste the money - that's what helped me make the decision. Good luck!
November 23, 2011
Hello jlb1221,
So, I think for the top half of the face, that it seems to work - the brow in particular, which incidentally, is the exact place they always speak of when discussing the results of ulthera. However, I kid you not about the neck/jowls. I so wish I were. I am not exaggerating, whatsoever. In fact, I had wondered about the nurse, cuz she had told me she had done it multiple times on neck (had another nurse do it on her), and I didn't think it looked different. Then, when she showed me her side by side photos, wow. I don't know what the heck is going on. It doesn't make sense to me if the theory they are explaining is truly taking place. At the very least, it should NOT get worse, but that simply is not the case. Of course, everyone has their own individual response, but I think it highly likely this is not so isolated as, really, what are the chances that two people would have the exact same problem, four months after they have the procedure, where they have visibly aged? Yes, I believe it is a VERY real concern. And yes, I did say I thought it was hard to go wrong with Ulthera, but I also said that I would update. And, this is precisely why I am updating. The visible negative effects were not as much when I last wrote before this. But, they quickly became apparent after. Of course, I also did not know about the nurse either, until I went in a few days ago. So, as soon as I got back, I posted, as I believe this is critical info that everyone should have before doing this. Also, I don't know if you saw my previous post from my first ulthera treatment, but I went numb for about three months on my neck/jowls, even suspecting nerve damage, although I waited patiently to get feeling back. I had contacted Ulthera twice about that to try to get them to disclose that, as I saw someone else on the internet was absolutely terrified when she experienced the same thing. To date, I do not believe that Ulthera has disclosed that as one of the side effects of the procedure and they darned well should, so people like that woman do not freak out. Although, I'm not sure if it's ever a good thing to lose feeling for three months in any area of the body, regardless. You could get Ulthera done on the upper half of your face. I can't really see a difference from a 2nd treatment. But, I can tell you I definitely saw a great and good difference for the top half of my face, for which Ulthera is mainly indicated. I do recommend for that. Perhaps, modify what you are having done? I do not regret Ulthera for the top 1/2 of my face.
So, I think for the top half of the face, that it seems to work - the brow in particular, which incidentally, is the exact place they always speak of when discussing the results of ulthera. However, I kid you not about the neck/jowls. I so wish I were. I am not exaggerating, whatsoever. In fact, I had wondered about the nurse, cuz she had told me she had done it multiple times on neck (had another nurse do it on her), and I didn't think it looked different. Then, when she showed me her side by side photos, wow. I don't know what the heck is going on. It doesn't make sense to me if the theory they are explaining is truly taking place. At the very least, it should NOT get worse, but that simply is not the case. Of course, everyone has their own individual response, but I think it highly likely this is not so isolated as, really, what are the chances that two people would have the exact same problem, four months after they have the procedure, where they have visibly aged? Yes, I believe it is a VERY real concern. And yes, I did say I thought it was hard to go wrong with Ulthera, but I also said that I would update. And, this is precisely why I am updating. The visible negative effects were not as much when I last wrote before this. But, they quickly became apparent after. Of course, I also did not know about the nurse either, until I went in a few days ago. So, as soon as I got back, I posted, as I believe this is critical info that everyone should have before doing this. Also, I don't know if you saw my previous post from my first ulthera treatment, but I went numb for about three months on my neck/jowls, even suspecting nerve damage, although I waited patiently to get feeling back. I had contacted Ulthera twice about that to try to get them to disclose that, as I saw someone else on the internet was absolutely terrified when she experienced the same thing. To date, I do not believe that Ulthera has disclosed that as one of the side effects of the procedure and they darned well should, so people like that woman do not freak out. Although, I'm not sure if it's ever a good thing to lose feeling for three months in any area of the body, regardless. You could get Ulthera done on the upper half of your face. I can't really see a difference from a 2nd treatment. But, I can tell you I definitely saw a great and good difference for the top half of my face, for which Ulthera is mainly indicated. I do recommend for that. Perhaps, modify what you are having done? I do not regret Ulthera for the top 1/2 of my face.
November 23, 2011
That's a great way of looking at it Cate.
Thanks for being such a great part of the community!
-Britt
November 23, 2011
ps: Clarification of the bottom part of my last post. I saw a great and good difference to the top 1/2 of my face after the FIRST treatment, but nothing different after the 2nd treatment. Also, with regard to the numbness, I did not experience too much after the 2nd treatment. I only went numb on the neck after the 1st treatment. Anyway, as I said, Ulthera needs to list that as a possible side effect.
November 23, 2011
pps: I am posting a link to a doc who posted here about Ulthera, rather related. I just saw it. It is mildly addressing the claims put out by Ulthera.
http://www.realself.com/question/amount-fat-loss-ultherapy
Also, in the end, when you're trying to lift skin of the neck/jowls (which granted, wasn't really a prob before this for me :( ), you need a neck lift. In fact, you owe it to yourself to access the 'face lift' portion of this site under the worth it ratings. The photos of the women who have posted are astounding and I am now considering this possibility, where I never would have before. Also, in the past months, reading SO many docs evaluation of how to get rid of jowls/neck droop/crepe prob, they have ALL agreed on one thing. You can laser or whatever as much as you want, but the only thing that is going to lift that is a facelift/necklift. Do go read and look at some of the facelift stories. Really and truly amazing with recommendations on who to go to and all sorts of details about what they went through and so many just in the recent past months! Good luck to you in your decision. I sure as heck know it isn't easy to sift through all this info, sometimes trying to evaluate who to believe, if someone is being hypercritical or a hypochondriac or if they are not. Or, are they legit? And, not wanting to be taken to the cleaners, yet not being a cheapskate either, cuz you get what you pay for. Whew.
http://www.realself.com/question/amount-fat-loss-ultherapy
Also, in the end, when you're trying to lift skin of the neck/jowls (which granted, wasn't really a prob before this for me :( ), you need a neck lift. In fact, you owe it to yourself to access the 'face lift' portion of this site under the worth it ratings. The photos of the women who have posted are astounding and I am now considering this possibility, where I never would have before. Also, in the past months, reading SO many docs evaluation of how to get rid of jowls/neck droop/crepe prob, they have ALL agreed on one thing. You can laser or whatever as much as you want, but the only thing that is going to lift that is a facelift/necklift. Do go read and look at some of the facelift stories. Really and truly amazing with recommendations on who to go to and all sorts of details about what they went through and so many just in the recent past months! Good luck to you in your decision. I sure as heck know it isn't easy to sift through all this info, sometimes trying to evaluate who to believe, if someone is being hypercritical or a hypochondriac or if they are not. Or, are they legit? And, not wanting to be taken to the cleaners, yet not being a cheapskate either, cuz you get what you pay for. Whew.
November 23, 2011
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond.....I really appreciate your perspective and comments!!
November 24, 2011
Well, I hope my comments help, jlb1221. If I may suggest what I always suggest, the best procedure I've had by FAR and wish I could find a whole week for the downtime it takes, is Total FX (a combo of Active and Deep FX CO2). I posted, I believe, about mine. I had face/neck can't recall how many years ago. But, I would do THAT again for sure. But, it is a whole week down. It is different from the other fractionated lasers, in that, a significantly higher % of your face is lasered (thus the addtl. downtime). I will recommend an amazing doc for that if you're interested (she has such over the top credentials, and in more than one field, that one is mystified how one person could do all of what she has achieved in one lifetime - it's seriously mind boggling). However, I could not stand her nurse - she was simply awful (rude, sarcastic, and completely offensive does not beGIN to describe her, let me just say that, but then, thank goodness, the nurse doesn't do the procedure). Yes, I thought it odd that such a great dr would have such a horrible person in there. But, that nurse does treat the dr 'differently' lol, as you might imagine. Anyway, it's just that if I had a choice, I'd much rather do the FX than the Ulthera, but simply do not have the 1 week for it at this time.
What doctor would you recommend for Total FX? I'm in San Jose as well.