Scars from Ultherapy permanent? (Photo)

Question

I had ultherapy done about 6 weeks ago. The doctor did half of my face and then told the nurse to take over. The half the nurse did swelled massively the next day and red welts appeared which stubbornly refused to go away. I got acne bumps on the welts as well so the doctor prescribed me Isotretinoin 10mg for 1 mth and it finally dried up but now I have a depressed scar that extends from the side of my nose to the lip where the skin is thin. Will this go away? Can nurse perform ultherapy?

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the pictures.Sorry to hear that you had a poor outcome and subsequent scar. I have done Ultherapy since 2010 and have never seen this problem.I recommend eMatrix to help heal these scars.Dr. Karamanoukian

Grant Stevens, MD · Answer

Hi there, so sorry to hear of your experience and subsequent scar. This is very unusual and we have not seen this in our clinic. Our Nurse Practitioner, has been performing this procedure for 4 years, and has never seen or experienced anything like this. Do you have metal implants in that area? Sometimes energy can bounce back from a metal implant and result in excess energy being deposited in areas where we do not intend. Otherwise, there are other theories as to how this can happen. I would suggest you return to the clinic where this happened. If they have any other laser &/or light based technologies, the scar can be improved and maybe even corrected. Fresh/new scars typically respond nicely to laser technologies. Best, Dr. Grant Stevens

Steven M. Gitt, MD, FACS (in memoriam) · Answer

Scar formation after Ultherapy is extremely rare because the HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) energy is applied deep to the skin, except when the 1.5mm depth transducer is used. Was there unusual pain and/or burning on that side during the treatment?  You have not posted any similar pictures from before treatment. If you have any, that would be very helpful. I was 1 of the first 30 Ulthera users in the entire USA. I have done multiple research studies involving this device and I have never seen a scar like yours. That does not mean that it cannot happen, but only that it is very rare. Please find out if the 1.5mm depth transducer was used. Also, I am concerned about the Retinoid that you used afterwards. Retinoids tend to worsen inflammation and that might have been part of the problem.

Scars from Ultherapy permanent? (Photo)

Answers (3)