Of the two treatments, Radio frequency or & Ultherapy, which one is best for lifting and tightening sagging skin?

While both treatments are very effective we prefer to use Ultherapy to lift sagging and lax skin and use non-ablative 1540 fraxel laser to improve skin texture and stimulate collagen on the surface.  Ultherapy can target three different depths: the Dermis (deeper skin), Fat + Connective tissue (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System-SMAS) and Muscle. The Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) is located below the fat and is a strong tissue that envelops the face. It is made up of collagen, elastic fibers, muscle fibers and fat cells. The ultrasound energy produced during an Ulthera treatment, precisely and

consistently heats the targeted tissue to 60-70 degrees centigrade, which is the optimal temperature for contraction and denaturation of collagen. Other non-invasive devices like, Thermage, are radiofrequency devices which only heat the tissues to 40-50 degrees, which is suboptimal for neocollagenesis.  I recommend an in person consultation with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. 

Radiofrequency treatments and Ultherapy both work well to tone and tighten the skin in appropriate candidates. You would need an in-person consultation and evaluation to determine which treatment would be most appropriate for you. I'm not a fan of Thermage and believe that there are better RF devices out there. Ultherapy works best for those with mild to moderate skin laxity. Make sure you choose an experienced provider that has different treatment options available. Best wishes.

My recommendation for all my patients that are candidates for RF treatments is: Thermage (which I like better than Ultherapy). I suggest a formal evaluation with an expert to see what would be best for you. Best, Dr. Emer.

In a nutshell, Ultherapy targets a deeper layer (SMAZ layer) which will lift the deeper tissues, not necessarily targetting the very top epidermal layers of the skin. Radio Frequency targets the top layer for tightening and contouring of the skin. It would highly depend on the  severity of your skins laxity to establish which one would best suit. 

One thing to remember is always choose an FDA approved treatment which then allows you a piece of mind for its efficacy and safety. 

Why not take the best of both? At Key Laser we believe in both treatments for lifting and tightening the face. That’s why with we combine Ultherapy (micro focused ultrasound) and ThermiSmooth RF (Radio Frequency) on the same day of treatment. Results can be seen in as little as 3 months with best results in 6 to 10 months. 

Hi and thank you for your question!
We have both types of devices in our practice. We find Ultherapy to be most ideal for more precise delivery of energy at higher temperatures. However, we have patients who have had both technologies and feel RF works better for them, so it is patient dependent. Also, you will want to consider that Ultherapy is one treatment every 1-2 years to maintain, and RF devices require multiple treatments and often more maintenance.
An in person consultation is best to assure you the best recommendation. You would also provide us some photos for a more individualized assessment.
Best,
Dr. Grant Stevens

Your best advice of course will be with a face to face consultation examining the degree of skin laxity you have. Generally speaking, Radiofrequency stimulates collagen through bulk heating and cannot be focused in a way to "skip" the epidermis- as a result, the amount of heat that can be generated and the depth of penetration is limited (otherwise you burn the outer skin). The tightening achieved is more of a surface smoothing and tightening, not a deep tissue lift. For younger patients and those with mild laxity results can be good. Ultherapy uses ultrasound and this energy can be microfocused at precise depths. The heat achieved is higher, without harming surface layers, and the lift will be more pronounced due to the depths achieved and the greater collagen stimulation. This is a better option for those with moderate or higher laxity and it requires fewer treatments than RF, often just 1 or 2. 

Best,

Lisa Vuich, MD

Both treatments are effective in the treatment of tightening and lifting of the face on areas like eyebrows, jowls, and the neck. It is best to go in for an in-person consultation with plastic surgeon who can perform a skin analysis for you and provide you with options based on your desired goals.