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.