Elizabeth Tanzi, MD

I saw Dr. Tanzi for tear trough fillers when I lived in DC, and was never disappointed. Her office is gorgeous and centrally located. She is a true expert at filler in the tear trough error. I went to her at least three times and the outcome was always positive. I highly recommend her for a tear trough treatment of you live in the DC area.

I'm 47 years old and despite working out and trying to eat right, I couldn't get rid of my love handles and back fat. I was very skeptical about getting a treatment since I think most of these things are a scam. Also, I have never had an aesthetic procedure before and was uncomfortable with the idea of going in to get a procedure done. However, I learned that two friends of mine had the procedure and were thrilled with it so that gave me a lot more confidence. So, I went in to see the Dr. they recommended and had a consult. They asked me about the areas that bothered me and I told that that I wanted to get rid of my love handles, back fat and some fat around my stomach. They recommended that I get 6 areas treated so that's what I did. They did two treatments at a time so the total treatment time was about 3 hours. The procedure itself was relatively straightforward though the process of sucking my skin and tissue into a suction cup was a little awkward. I was hesitant to breath too heavy as I was afraid that my tissue would pull out. They told me not to worry about it so once the procedure got going, I was able to relax. During the treatments, I worked on my iPad and made phone calls. It was really easy. However, after they removed the suction cups, they "massaged" the treated area which I found to be very uncomfortable. It lasted about 2 minutes for each site and I was very glad when it was over. After the treatment, I felt fine and went back to normal activity. I even worked out that evening with no issues. I did find that the skin around my waistline felt a little numb for a period of about 2 weeks and itched at times. However, it wasn't uncomfortable - just different. I was told that everything would return to normal in about 1 month and that the sensation change was a good sign and meant that things were working. I just came in for a one month follow up appointment and I have attached my photo below. I am thrilled with the results as my love handles have been significantly reduced and my lower abdomen is much flatter. Most significant is the improvement to my the love handles that extend towards my back. My wife noticed a significant change in the smoothness of my back and commented that the folds that used to be there have disappeared - almost as if there was some tightening of the skin as well. The great news is that the nurse told me that my results would likely still get better. At one month, she said the full effect hasn't occurred yet and that I should continue to see improvement out to 3 months - that would be fantastic! based on my experience, I considering coming back in to get more treatments to touch up a few other areas (ie. fat closer to my belly . Also, my wife, who was also a skeptic, is planning to come in for a consultation with the the nurse as well. Well worth the money!!

I've been thinking about Uthera for a while. At around 39, I started to notice that I was getting really jowly and my face was looking like someone let the air out if it (mouth corners sagging, chin dimpling, etc.). Then I turned 40 a few months ago and it was like someone pressed a fast forward button on the aging process. I'd been using fillers with great success, but the sagging was getting worse and I was starting to develop a but if a turkey neck, too. I am always worried about looking over-filled, so the last time I saw my derm for filler, about 8 or 10 months ago, I asked her about ultherapy. She'd had it done herself and their office does tons of it, so I decided that once this last round of filler wore off, I'd try it.

Though I'd read it can be pailful and cause bruising and swelling, by biggest fear was - and still is - that it doesn't work. I've seen enough reviews where I really don't any difference at all and, since It isn't cheap - I paid $2500 for the lower face and neck- I knew if I chose it I wouldn't be able to afford my usual filler and botox to fix the problem. But the deem told me they've had great success with it, so I decided to try it anyway. I also did not get filler, botox, or any other type of procedure done with it today because I want to see the full effect of what the ulthera does (and doesn't) do.

So I had the procedure this morning. They gave me 10 mg of Valium to relax me, then about 10 minutes or so before we started, they gave me an injection of Demerol and told me to let them know if I needed a booster toward the end (I didn't). So keep in mind that that's the condition I was in when they performed it. The pain situation is tricky to report on because everyone is different, and even the doctor told me some people aren't bothered at all, some find it excruciating, and there is everything in between. I was one of those in-between people. For me, it was unpleasant but not really painful. There were two or three spots on each cheek that I would describe as painful and not simply uncomfortable, but it's not unbearable pain and it's over quickly. She did some passes on a deeper level, and then a second round on a shallower level. It was the first, deeper round where I felt the pain in some spots on my cheeks. I barely felt the second round at all. The neck and chin passes didn't hurt at all at any point. It's a very difficult sensation to describe. It ranges from just a burst of pleasant warmth to a mildly uncomfortable stinging/tingling to a painful jolt of stinging. But, again, I had very few of those jolts and they are so short that by the time you really register them, they're over.

Immediately afterword I had a few bright pink patches, but they were gone by the time I arrived home about 20 minutes later. Some reviewers report seeing an immediate impact/tightening. I did not. I am maybe a little swollen, but otherwise look the same. If it wasn't for the Demerol shot, I could have gone back to work immediately with no problem. We'll see if there's any swelling or bruising tomorrow, but for now I look totally normal. The area under my chin is a bit numb and sore only if I press on it, the rest of the face has no numbness or soreness.

Updated on 21 Feb 2015:
It's been about 24 hours since the procedure. I woke up VERY swollen around the jawline area. I definitely notice and someone who knows me would probably notice, but I wouldn't get funny looks from strangers. The numbness and tenderness which was only below my chin last night has spread to my jawline and bottom half of my cheeks, but it isn't severe. There's no redness and no bruising.

Updated on 22 Feb 2015:
Still very swollen around the lower cheeks/jawline. I look like a chipmunk storing a winter's worth of nuts! And there's also a golf ball-sized lump under my chin. This is why I always do these "no downtime" procedures on a Friday! Hoping it improves before I head back to work tomorrow.

Updated on 28 Feb 2015:
I'm not going to update much, since this is a procedure that's supposed to take 6 months to see the full effect. But I wanted to give a one-week wrap up for those interested in downtime issues. Keeping in mind everyone will react differently, this was my experience: I did not bruise at all at any point. I had it done on a Friday morning and was fine all day Friday, only very mild swelling by the time I went to bed Friday night. When I woke up Saturday, I was very swollen (I noticed and friends noticed, but strangers probably wouldn't). That swelling remained on Sunday. By the time I went back to work Monday morning, I was only mildly swollen. I noticed it and friends noticed it when I pointed it out, but said they wouldn't have otherwise. The swelling went down a bit more each day and by the one week mark I remain only very mildly swollen. The numbness/tingling started the day after (Saturday) in my jawline and under my chin, remained severe for about two days, then gradually decreased day by day. I am not numb at all anymore, one week later. Same with the soreness except that, unlike the numbness, it is not yet entirely gone. I am still mildly sore under my neck and along the jawline, but only if I press on it and it has become less sore every day.

I do not notice any improvement (or any difference at all) anywhere on my face. Some people mention noticing it right away, and I envy those people! I'm trying not to be disheartened because I know it is supposed to take some time. But, right now, everything looks the same as it did before the procedure. I'll put up a photo if I see improvement, but right now I don't and its still very early, so I don't see any point. I'll put one up at the three and six month marks, regardless.

Updated on 9 Mar 2015:
I took a photo this morning, at about the 2.5 week mark, because this morning was the first time I felt like I saw a difference in my face. I did my best to replicate the conditions of the 'before' photo, took it in my (windowless, overhead fluorescent lights) office in as close to the same position as possible.

Updated on 12 May 2015:


Updated on 12 May 2015:

After coolsculpting to flatten my muffin top, which turned out really well, I decided to try liposonix to reduce my little bulge/saddlebag on each side of my thighs. At the time I also thought perhaps it could tighten my thighs and improve my appearance, but when I went in for a final confirmation I was told the procedure was unlikely to work well given my lack of fat, and smoothing the cellulite in my thighs would probably be more appropriate for velashape, but hat the liposonix would work for my flanks and the saddlebags.

I decided to go for it. I got the procedure done in early Dec. I was given a pain pill (Demerol) and a shot for pain. My doc reviewed the areas to be targeted, the esthetician marked my squares -- two squares on each flank and on each saddlebag area -- and then the procedure started. I had no pain, could feel the heat, and the experience was definitely tolerable. I was able to go back to work and have a normal day.

Post procedure I had minor bruising on my saddlebags that disappeared after 3 weeks. I was told the procedure would not show full effects for 3 months so I will post the results then. In the meanwhile, if I had to do I all over again I would.probably still give it a go.

Did entire face 3 years ago including eye area. Had brief general anesthesia for pain control at a surgi-center in a major metropolitan area, which probably accounts for the cost. Fraxel does for the skin what no plastic surgeon can do, and I estimate it makes me look about 5 years younger with those skin improvements. I wish I had done my neck and am thinking about repeating the treatment (including neck) later this year. I would say it is difficult to tell exactly what it has done, but since I have a twin it is a little easier. Also am maintaining with Retin A and sunblock.

First, I was shocked by the price, I was expecting it to be half that much! But I have been going to my derm for 5 years now and wouldn't see anyone else.

I am 36, had the full face and the chest in the hopes of getting rid of brown spots on the chest, and brown splotches, freckles, and fine lines on the face. I am very fair and have, as an adult, been very religious about sunblock so my skin is in ok shape. The doctor said she thought one treatment might be enough for me. My derm also uses Gentlewaves LED after Fraxel, she says in their experience it helps minimize redness.

I had the procedure yesterday (Friday) about 2 pm, derm said they call it Fraxel Friday around the office because so many do it on Friday and ready to return to work on Monday. We'll see about that!

I sat with numbing cream on for about 45 minutes; I jokingly asked if I could have a valium (I was nervous), and to my surprise they said yes, as long as I wasn't driving! I would describe the procedure as uncomfortable rather than painful, with the exception of -- for me, I'm sure everyone is different -- around the eye socket and top of my cheekbone. That was painful, but over quickly. It didn't feel hot, it felt more like someone had a small tool with a piece of rough sandpaper on it and was scraping my skin with it. Uncomfortable, but tolerable except for the aforementioned areas (but even with those, it's over fairly quickly).

Immediately after the procedure and last night, I was a little swollen and bright red, as though I had a very bad sunburn. I could also see a sort of grid pattern on my face, as though I'd pressed it against a screen door for a while. My face felt very hot and was stinging for about an hour, then mellowed to warm and tingly, which lasted another couple hours. Since then, I have felt nothing except a little tightness.

It's Saturday and I am now about 24 hours post procedure. I am not red at all, I would say I am just slightly pink. However, my face is swollen to about twice its normal size (and I followed their instructions to sleep with my head elevated)! This has me a little freaked out, as I have to go to work on Monday, so we shall see. I am following their instructions about ice and am hoping that helps! Will update as I go.



Updated on 14 Mar 2011:
A few hours after I wrote this review, I had a very unpleasant development. The entire bottom half of my face became covered in whitehead pimples. Most of them were small, but not all of them were. This was Saturday late afternoon/early evening, and here I am Monday morning and it's just as bad (I stayed home from work today). My face is also still quite swollen, though the swelling has improved since Saturday.

I am, right now, deeply regretting this. My face is a complete mess and I don't want to go out of the house. I am really hoping this breakout clears up soon!

Updated on 16 Mar 2011:
It's now the following Wednesday (March 16, I had the procedure Friday, March 11). I finally went back to work today, though reluctantly (I'm trying to keep to myself, luckily I have no meetings). The entire bottom 1/3 of my face is still covered in remnants of the horrific breakout that occurred the day after my fraxel procedure. I am really hoping this goes away and doesn't leave any long term red markings on my face or, worse, scars.

On the positive side, the top 2/3 of my face looks pretty great. The fine lines/crow's feet around my eyes are GONE, as is the crepiness that was starting to show on the tops of my cheekbones cheeks when I smiled. If the bottom 1/3 of my face clears up, I will be very happy with the results!

I would suggest to anyone getting this for the first time that, if possible, you take a week off from work. From my experience and from everything I've read, it seems it is rare that someone can have the procedure on Friday and comfortably go back to work Monday. Taking some time off will allow you to heal and allow you some wiggle room in case you have an unexpected reaction, like I did.

I will update again when some more time has passed, hoping the bottom part of my face improves!

Updated on 18 Mar 2011:
The area that was broken out is still peeling (I just read another "fraxel side/after effects" article that stated the peeling would last 3-5 days, my whole face is still peeling at day 7). I could deal with peeling; HOWEVER, the area that was broken out (which was perfectly smooth before the treatment, I did not have acne scars) now seems to have an orange peel texture. This has me REALLY worried.

Updated on 26 Mar 2011:
Ok, so here we are two weeks + 1 day post (I had it on the 11th). The grid pattern is gone, and it was maybe yesterday that I finally felt confident that the marks on my chin/jawline/corner-of-mouth area were going away for good. So at this point, I would finally say worth it, though just barely. Do I see an improvement? Definitely. Do I see $2750 worth of improvement? No. I do see a big improvement in my crow's feet, but don't see an improvement in the rest of my face and see no improvement at all in my decollete.

I am relived that that red marks and orange peel quality I saw in my skin are gone! My only warning to people getting this for this first time is not to assume that you will be one of the people who has 2-3 days of downtime. Again, maybe you will, but I think it's risky to count on it. I did not feel truly comfortable returning to normal social activities and work until a full week after, and now at just over two weeks I would feel comfortable going to an important event or out on a date.

Would I do it again? Meh, I don't know. Maybe, though I would take a lot more time off of work and get my doc to give me antibiotics beforehand to prevent the horrendous breakout I experienced. I don't think I've seen nearly $3,00 worth of improvement, so I will have to discuss with the doc how much more of an improvement I can expect to see with a second treatment.

Updated on 13 Jun 2011:
At three months post, I think I am finally ready to say it was not worth it. I am happy to report that the orange peel texture is gone from the area of my face that had the bumps. But what I thought had been an improvement to the crow's feet turned out to be residual swelling that went awy, and the fine lines/crow's feet have returned.

I see no damage to my skin at this point. However, I also see no improvement. I realize one typically needs more than one session for the full results, but for three thousand dollars and the hellish recovery period, I expect to see SOME improvement, even if slight. I see no improvement in texture, fine lines, and redness or brown spots. I have started a course of IPL (not at my derm) and after one session (with no down time and at 1/7 of the cost!) I see more of an improvement than I did with the fraxel.