jennip

Thermage - 2nd Time's the Charm - La Jolla, California

Ultherapy May Not Be for Us -Orange County, CA

Why do you say that? These are my personal photos. I got great results because I had a great doctor.

Sounds like you had a rough time and are really unhappy. I'll cross my fingers that at the 6 month mark you'll see a better outcome. That is the time mark I was told I should see a decent comparison between before and after. I was never told to expect to see changes at the first, 2nd or 3rd month....but if they appear early, I'm fine with that!

I was also told it was painful - so I went in with the "no pain/no gain" mindset. Nothing has ever come close to childbirth so I wasn't particularly worried about getting through it.

I decided to have Ultherapy after a ton of research. Because of my age (I'm in my 60's) I know I may not see the same results as someone younger, but surgery is off the radar, and my neck just kept on getting lazier and lazier and one brow droopier than the other.

The treatment was pretty zippy. I did take medication. Initially I took ibuprofen, 2 tylenol and a valium. At half time I added a vicodin - but honestly, it didn't make any difference. I did not have numbing cream.

There were only certain areas that were zippy enough to take my breath away. But again, I was not expecting a pain free experience so maybe I was in a better place psychologically. The nurse who treated me had had Ultherapy herself so she described how it would feel pretty accurately and I was forewarned when she was getting to a sensitive location.

I had my trusty mp3 player so when the zips got zippier, I turned up the volume. Between "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" I was able to handle the next zip and the next until they were all done.

(I'm a "be prepared" junkie, so I had a pillow to hold on to, my music player and the nurse gave me a little vibrator to buzz when I felt the need - they all helped)

I was told I would feel sore and potentially have some numb areas. I did bruise, but I think because I had a fairly aggressive treatment. It was easy to cover with some CoverFX that I got at Sephora.

I have an area under my chin that is a bit numb (2 weeks out) but that same area is where I see some actual early tightening. Kind of a nice early bonus since I wasn't expecting anything yet.

From everything I've read, I think if people are told they will see immediate lifting, they are being misled. Maybe some will, but the tightness I felt the first three days was from some swelling ( again, nothing major and I was told that if I did feel tighter, most of it was the result of probable swelling).

I studied a LOT about how the treatment works and can fully understand why it takes time. I am also really patient.

Also, my studies made it clear Ultherapy is not an alternative to liposuction and if someone has seriously loose skin, it probably won't be that effective.

Once I reach my 6 month mark, I absolutely intend to post my befores and afters.

I've been investigating this too. But what I read and am told is that it takes 6 months to see the changes. Also, I was told (by an Ulthera training nurse) that taking ibuprofen along with other pain meds makes a big difference.

I'm hoping in a few monre months you will have a different opinion, because I want some lift in my neck, but don't want surgery and this looks like it could be a worthwhile alternative.