Stacy Chimento, MD

Ulthera is a wonderful procedure but is not for everyone. I am very realistic and honest with my patients during consultation. For patients that can not undergo surgery or do not want invasive procedures done, then this is the best option for tightening. It does not replace a face or neck lift. It works by stimulating the body to create more collagen to lift and smoothen the skin. It is not instantaneous, although some of my patients think that they see immediate results which is from initial collagen contraction and swelling. Over a series of a few months, the body heals itself and the results become noticeable. My patients typically report improvement by month 3 however it can take up to 6 months to see the best results. Everyone's body is different so you may start noticing improvements earlier that that. You have to be patient with this procedure but is truly one of my favorites as I believe in the right person it can make a significant difference. 

Tear troughs can be very tough and unpredicatable. The skin under the eyes is thin and more sensitive and more vascular and thus has more potential for bruising during injections. I typically tell my patients during consultation that they should plan for at least one week of potential down time in case any bruising and swelling occurs. It is best not to do these injections at least 2 weeks before any big event as swelling can occasionally take a few weeks to settle. You may be one of the patients that does not experience any of these however it is best to plan for it. I use a blunt tip instrument to place the filler in the tear troughs to minimize these complications. I also use a laser after injections to further prevent and or treat any bruising if it does occur. So there are precautions that can be taken to minimize these effects. It is always best to follow up with your physician to ensure that corrections do not need to be made. 

Ultrashape is an ultrasound device that has been FDA approved to reduce fat, permanently. Velashape is an energy device that is used to temporarily improve the appearance of cellulite and to shrink fat cells, as well as tighten loose skin. Some patients do combine the treatments as they help each other to give the patient the best results. For instance, if you don't like your saddle bags on the thighs, we heat and tighten the skin first with Velashape and then perform the Ultrashape right after. It requires a few treatments but will target both issues. For the buttock area, I recommend the Velashape solely to improve the appearance. Just be aware that maintenance treatments are recommended with Velashape every 3-6 months to keep the great results!

I always start off by telling my patients that ultrashape is NOT a replacement for surgical liposuction. Liposuction will almost likely provide the best results, however the bottom line is that it is invasive and surgical. There is a high risk of infection, complications and the possibility of uneven fat removal which can leave you looking distorted. Having had the machine for almost 2 years, I can honestly say that Ultrashape is extremely effective and my patients have seen an overall range of 0.75-4.5 inches in abdominal fat reduction. It can be sued for thighs, love handles, abdominal pooches, arm fat, bra fat, knee fat etc... The good news about this procedure is that patients can see immediate results although it is recommended that the patient do three treatments spaced two weeks apart. The ultimate results are seen at the end of the three treatments but additional improvement can be seen up to 10 weeks. There is no discomfort at all and no side effects. Even better there is no downtime. It is much more effective and has a better side effect profile than coolsculpting. 

As far as lip augmentation there are temporary and permanent fillers. When I have a first time lip augmentation patient, I always recommend for them to start off with hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm. These particular fillers are very forgiving, soft, natural and malleable, and if there were any complications, it can be dissolved with a substance called hyaluronidase. These fillers typically last from 3-6 months and most people find that they do not need to touch up their lips as frequently over time. You always the run the risk with permanent fillers. As we age, so does our skin and many times permanent fillers can distort the lips. I would recommend to try one of the hyaluronic acid fillers first to see how you would look with a more plump full lip.