What is the range of number "pulses" that are optimal for lower face Ultherapy treatment?

Question

It would be helpful in evaluating providers if the patient is armed with this kind of information. I know that each face is different, but a range would be helpful. So far, the only reference is see is a NY doctor who said "hundreds" of pulses are needed for the right result in a full face treatment. I had the jawline done, with no painkillers needed, and no pain. Three weeks later, I see no results. So having that kind of reference in mind would be an important when choosing a provider.

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

Ultherapy treatment is tracked by the number of lines given. Each line contains a series of pulses. A typical full face treatment consists of 800 lines. A lower face is around 700 lines. However, everyone's face is different and will require a different number of lines. If patients or practices get hung up on charging per line or treating per line then that's a recipe for suboptimal results in my opinion. At our practice we concentrate on providing the extent of treatment necessary to cover the entire area of concern and give the most likelihood for an optimal result. It is impossible to predict how many lines an individual will need prior to performing the treatment. Anyone that does is likely providing a one-size-fits-all cookie cutter treatment. Make sure you are under the care of an experienced physician provider. Best wishes.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

What make a better result in skin tightening using Ultherapy is not only the number of lines, but which depth transducers are used, and the energy used per transducer. When the company redesigned its protocol realizing that the treatment was considered painful by many patients, it increased the number of lines suggested for the physician to treat while reducing the energy per line. For those physicians such as I who still use the higher energy, we may get better results even if using less lines. Many times, I exceed the number of lines suggested. It depends on the patient's inelasticity, wrinkles, age, smoking history and pain tolerance. I strive to make my patients more comfortable while providing the best results and that's why I now offer Ultherapy along with nitrous oxide gas analgesia (laughing gas).

Grant Stevens, MD · Answer

Hi and thank you for your question! I know its frustrating as a patient to not understand or be able to predict the skill of the provider and of the value and effectiveness of the treatment they are to receive. That said, the provider really does have to base their decision on how much to treat on each patient individually. One patient may have very thick SMAS or SQ and based on the ultrasound that patient may need more of the 4.5 mm. Or if its a thinner patient, that patient may need very little of the 4.5 and more of the 3.0 and 1.5. We also base it on how the patients skin is reacting, as well as how advanced is their laxity. We always go over the "standard" pulses and block out a certain amount of time for "lower face" vs "full face" vs "full neck" and we maximize the patients treatment during that time based on what they need, what we see on the Ultrasound and how their skin is tolerating the treatment. Hope that helps. Best, Dr. Grant Stevens

What is the range of number "pulses" that are optimal for lower face Ultherapy treatment?

Answers (3)

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