Definitely a Cross-Fit Work out for Your Face. Be Prepared. - Winston Salem, NC

As any reputable practitioner will tell you, any procedure invasive or not, has what one MD called here, and expiration date. Two years ago @ the tune of $10K, I'd underwent lipo in NYC of my jowls and under-chin. While happy with the results, the genetics of the women in my family aren't exempt from the turtleneck. I'm 43, extremely fair-skinned & work in a highly visible industry (academia) and a more youthful appearance is important. While the fat was obliterated, the excessive skin from the invasive procedure began to show. I just had ultherapy done a few weeks ago. Painwise, I can't say utltherapy in office was excruciating, but it's no cake walk either. What hurts (or ultra-sensitive) now is the delicate neck area. What really helped was my practioner's assistant blowing cool air during each "pass." While the results are visibly mild, they are visible to me just a few weeks later, I'm feeling the tightening effects already & waiting with bated breath for the 2-3 month "full effect." It was not cheap, and as my P.A.-C explained, there are cheaper aestheticians out there, but she took the time to show/explain to me just how "deep" she'd planned to go. Pretty deep. I was one of those candidates eligible for the deepest cartridges on the first pass. Some aestheticians re-use their cartridges on multiple clients. My PA-C (med school solely on the facial structure) is going on 55 -- doesn't look a day older than 40, with 4 kids, and told me it would hurt like a mutha. But between her and her assistant (blowing cold air on each segment), yes: it did hurt, but now I'm re-considering having kids…au naturelle…Just kidding. But I do feel that first "deep pass" weeks later. It's like CrossFit or P90X for the face: you're gonna be sensitive & sore as hell a good week or two afterwards. Arnica Montana (by Boiron) pellets and cream (easily found in Whole Foods) will help with the swelling, pain & healing. I still feel numb places coming back to life ("zingers," if you will -- nerve regeneration) and if you do fillers, new research shows that ultherapy actually enhances the effect on a longer term. Cost-conscience, I'm not a fan of the price of ultherapy, but included in my ultherapy endurance was a consultation prize of about $200 of the Sweden-based Neocutis products to maintain and soothe the procedure. As a total cult LaMer fan since my 30's, I now only use LaMer at night in strategic places like my eyes. The complementary Neocutis that came with the "deal of pain": with much skepticism: I do have to say my skin is brighter. The Neocutis cleanser, an exfoliant, without all the pesky granules that end up in your eyes or hairline, (10% glycolic acid) is pretty awesome…And the Journee that follows is a crazy day CC. Final advice: find a PA or MD who knows their [RS bleep] in this major non-invasive and keeps on top of it, you and your progress. And of you as their patient. My PA-C is always busy, at one conference or another always with a truly vested interested in her client/patient progress, as topical as it may be. Find one who is interested in the latest and the safest, who knows your face like no other.