Ultherapy for skin tightening after weightloss? Or do I need a buccal fat removal? (Photo)

Question

I'm 29 and I lost about 50 lbs over the last 5 years. And while the majority of my face has slimmed down, my lower cheeks still appear "chubby", especially when I smile. When I touch and pinch this area, it feels like loose skin. I've been looking into buccal fat removal/reduction but again, the chubbiness feels more fleshy than it does fatty. So I was wondering if Ultherapy would be a good option for me at this point (or if buccal fat reduction is the right way to go...).

Elham Jafari, MD · Answer

Hi and thank you for your question! Ultherapy is a great skin tightening treatment but given its mode of action (collagen stimulation), it is not expected to help much with further slimming down the cheeks/jaws. It does help with tightening the skin in those areas, but we rarely see patients in their 20s that are candidates. You should still discuss it with your provider to get their recommendation of course.
As for other treatment options, it really boils down to the underlying cause: If it is indeed the fat tissue that is responsible, you can consider buccal fat removal. Commonly, it can also be caused by bulky masseter muscles that can be treated effectively with Botox jaw slimming. Your doctor will be able to determine this and provide you with accurate recommendations after examining your face. I hope it helps and good luck!

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Ultherapy  is a non-invasive procedure that lifts the neck, chin and brow, and improves lines and wrinkles on the upper chest. As we age, collagen breaks down, resulting in loss of skin strength and elasticity. For tissue tightening, Ultherapy  is ideal for the lower face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Morpheus8 to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Alejandro Mendez Sashida, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi good morning
In your case with the pure Ultherapy session we could obtain a good result, it would not be necessary to perform surgery for this case, since you are still young and do not have so much loose skin, Ultherapy is the best option for you to obtain the results of a facelift without the need for surgery

Ultherapy for skin tightening after weightloss? Or do I need a buccal fat removal? (Photo)

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Ultherapy for skin tightening after weightloss? Or do I need a buccal fat removal? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Ultherapy

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.