How does the pain of Ultherapy compare to the pain of IPL at its highest setting?

Question

I've had IPL at its highest setting with topical lidocaine and it was tolerable, but not sure I'll do it again. I'm considering Ultherapy for tightening and lift, but I'm afraid of the pain.

Jeffrey B. Wise, MD, FACS · Answer

Ulthera is not as painful as it used to be. With the new treatment protocols and being able to identify how deep to treat each patient, there is mild discomfort. I would make sure you have an experienced technician treating you. This will ensure a good outcome and less discomfort. Our patients tolerate the treatment very well and continue to come back for re-treatments due to good outcomes. Best of luck!

Shehla Ebrahim, MD · Answer

There is a lot of concern regarding the pain of having an Ultherapy Treatment.  Dr. Ebrahim explains that  Ultherapy It is not painful – it is not comfortable – it is going deep but it is quite tolerable.  Using the combination of modalities a zimmer that blows cool air on the skin, a strong topical cream to numb the surface of the skin and Tylenol Extra strength makes the procedure tolerable. 
  
Yes it is uncomfortable but you are not jumping out of bed with pain.

Nasrin Mani, MD · Answer

Ultherapy can be pretty intense, so don't assume the procedure won't include some pain. Since you already know you are on the sensitive side, that's something to discuss fully with your treating nurse or doctor. (We often use the term "discomfort", but anyone who's had Ultherapy will typically use other descriptive terms.)You can choose a variety of pain control options, even up to medications that would require you to have a driver so you're not a danger on the road.Ultherapy acts very similarly to the way a magnifying glass can be used to focus sunlight to a very hot bright point. It's that intense heat that makes Ultherapy work, so there's no way to make it painless. At the same time, it's not something you have to fear.There are increasing options for facial tightening, some more tolerable than others; some more invasive and some less invasive. With nearly any treatment that gives discernible results, you'll have temporary post procedure tenderness, bruising or swelling to some degree. Doctors are well aware of treatment potential for pain, and most will make sure you are well taken care of, both in terms of pain control and allaying pre treatment anxiety.Even with the wide array of treatment technologies, not everyone is a good candidate for non surgical measures. A comprehensive assessment will factor in your age, skin elasticity, health, lifestyle and even medication use...and yes, your pain tolerance too!

Rafael Gottenger, MD · Answer

Good Morning and thank you for your inquiry. Pain levels during Ultherapy treatments varies patient to patient. Some of our patients say it doesn’t hurt at all, while others patients say it ranks from 4 to 8 on a pain scale of 1 to 10. In general, most of our patient tolerated the procedure very well using pain medication before. I recommend you to discuss all your concerns before treatment with your board certified physician.

James Mirabile, MD, FACOG · Answer

Because pain tolerance varies between individuals it is difficult to compare the two procedures Ultherapy and IPL to each other.  In light of this, you may experience some discomfort with Ultherapy but it should not be extremely painful if properly dosed with medications utilized for in-office procedures.  I recommend patients meet with their provider and discuss your personal pain tolerance and make sure you can be treated for pain during the procedure if necessary.

How does the pain of Ultherapy compare to the pain of IPL at its highest setting?

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