Gail Nield, MD, FRCPC

Hello. Sclerotherapy involves the injections of a solution that irritate the lining of the vessel walls. Reticular veins are larger than small spider veins so usually more solution is needed and may then have more inflammation. It also depends on the type of solution used. After such inflammation, hemosiderin deposition can stimulate pigment cells in the skin to produce superficial pigmentation, known as "Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation". This can occur in up to 30% of patients who have sclerotherapy. It may take up to a year to resolve. 99% pf patients do experience full resolution. Patients with darker skin types are more prone to having this occur as well. Avoid sunlight on this area and still a good idea to wear your support hose daily. Best of luck.

I have been personally doing Ultherapy treatments for 10 years. Pain management is very important.Certainly, different patients have different pain thresholds and this needs to be assessed prior to the treatment. Studies have been done that show pre -treatment narcotics do not really reduce discomfort prior to Ultherapy so I do not prescribe narcotics to my patients. Most of my patients take Tylenol ES x 2 tablets 1 hour before, then, Advil ES x 2 tablets 1/2 hour before. 85-90% of my patients find this is very helpful. I have always found the neck area to be the most sensitive region to be treated so, I apply a lidocaine/tetracaine topical mixture to the neck just before the treatment begins, and clean it off after the cheeks have been successfully treated. I am also a great believer in "talkaesthesia" and this helps distract my patients as well as using stress balls!I also am certain that patients feel very relaxed at the start of their treatment, knowing that an experienced dermatologist is actually doing the entire treatment. Due to my experience with Ultherapy, the actual treatment time for the entire face and upper neck is 45 minutes so this is relatively quick, which also helps. Less than 15% of my patients require Ativan 1-2 mg, SL, given 45 minutes prior to the ultherapy treatment, but they need a friend or family member to drive them to and from our office. Hope this helps.

I believe that Ultherapy can give good results, when actually done by a dermatologist or other qualified specialist.Of course, the results  will not be as dramatic as a neck lift but you are still young and if you are interested in a non surgical approach, then you may wish to pursue this option. I have patients in their 70's, who have had 3-4 face and neck lifts and yet continue to need ongoing Ultherapy treatments so remember, no procedure will last a lifetime!

Hello. Ultherapy, can cause some post treatment discomfort, including teeth or jaw sensitivity. It usually clears within a few weeks. It would be good to contact the doctor who performed the treatment to ensure all is well. I am a board certified dermatologist in Canada and the USA and yet I do all of the Ultherapy treatments in our office, ensuring each patient has the best results possible.

Hello. I have been doing Ultherapy treatments for almost 10 years in Canada. I actually do the treatments myself as I firmly believe that only qualified physicians can properly interpret the Ultrasound images on the screen to ensure each patient receives the best possible treatment with minimal chance of any significant side effects. Ultherapy is approved for skin tightening and lifting; Thermage, a radiofrequency device only causes some tightening,and no lifting.