RF after Ultherapy. Would it enhance results or have any negative effects?

Question

I wanted to know your thoughts on having an RF treatment after having Ultherapy. Would it enhance results or have any negative affects? I only had my forehead and jowls treated with Ultherapy. I am interested in having a series of RF treatments with the thermismooth device for my full face and neck. It will cover the areas where Ultherapy was performed. I want to make sure I don't negate any benefits of the Ultherapy. Thanks in advance.

Brian S. Biesman, MD · Answer

Without more information it is impossible to determine whether you are likely to experience clinically significant improvement from RF treatment.  While this may enhance your ultherqpy outcome (and certainly won't hurt your Ultherapy results), you should ask your physician what you may or may not experience after RF treatment.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

I have not seen, nor heard, of any problems treating the face and neck with Ultherapy and then waiting six months to treat the same area with external radiofrequency (ThermiSmooth or Pelleve).  The six months allows for the skin tightening to occur before performing a second treatment on the same area. Increased collagen production has been proven to occur for at least six months after the treatment. An exception would be to use the ThermiSmooth on the same area if the 1.5 mm transducer is not used in Ultherapy. If the 3mm. and 4.5 mm. transducers are used, their energy would be deeper than the heat delivered by the ThermiSmooth, so ThermiSmooth could be used to treat the crepy texture of the skin the same day as Ultherapy treats the deeper tissue planes for skin tightening.                                                                            The information provided in Dr. Shelton's
answer is for educational purposes only and is not intended
to constitute medical advice.  The information provided should
not be relied upon as a substitute for consultations with a qualified
health professional who may be familiar with your individual medical needs.

James Chan, MD · Answer

Adding RF to ultherapy can help increase collagen in your skin and is a good idea.There is no downside to doing both.We often combine treatment modalities to achieve the best results.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

we often combine treatments to get more lifting/improvement.  This is something you should do.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.There are some new devices but they are not time tested like Ultherapy. I would wait 90 days to 6 months before you sign up for another skin tightening procedure over the SAME areas. You could get treated in different areas on the same day. Ultherapy is FDA cleared to treat laxity of the skin in the lower face, jowls and neck.Read the Ultherapy ebook on the link below. BestDr. Karamanoukian

Sheryl D. Clark, MD, FAAD · Answer

Dear ritajwilson:Focused ultrasound and radiofrequency are complementary treatments and a wonderful way to enhance results. The mechanisms by which tightening and lifting occur with these treatments are different and therefore the benefits may be additive if not synergistic. A series of Pellevé or other RF treatments can be given before or after Ultherapy. I will sometimes provide an Ultherapy treatment beginning with the transducer that delivers TCPs (thermal coagulation points) at 4.5 mm in depth, and then finish with the Pellevé wands, delivering radiofrequency energy which causes bulk heating of all the tissues from 3.0 mm in depth to the surface without any discomfort, if a patient with a lower threshold for discomfort is having difficulty with the 3.0 mm Ultherapy transducer. This patient should understand that additional Pellevé treatments should follow to achieve similar (or better) results to the Ultherapy single treatment using both the 4.5 and 3.0 mm transducers. All the best, Dr. Clark

Manish Khanna, MD, FRCP(C) · Answer

Following an Ultherapy treatment on the forehead and jowl area radio frequency (RF) treatments can be carried out to enhance the results. My recommendations: wait until your skin has healed from the Ultherapy as you will be tender and sensitive in that area (1-2 months), have the same physician follow your RF treatments. It is not advised to have different treatments performed by different physicians as there should be 1 plan created for you by 1 trusted doctor so as to ensure that everything you have done is safe. If you had Ultherapy on your forehead to lift your brows than perhaps waiting 3-6 months to see the result of the 'lift' is a good idea so you avoid over-treating the area. Hope this has helped!

Michael H. Gold, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question, and I always recommend that you have a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to assure that you are getting the most appropriate recommendations on treatment. After having Ultherapy, there should be no real negatives in having RF treatments; just understanding that most Ultherapy treatments reach their maximum effect three months or so after the procedure. The RF will not be at the same depths as where the ultrasound is and therefore it is usually a safe and complimentary procedure in most instances.Find the right provider, learn the details, and you should be fine.

Lily Lee, MD · Answer

Without photos of your face, it is difficult to say what can be helped or hurt. All of these technologies are based on heat. When I explain it to my clients, I liken it to cooking. Applying 2 different (but similar thought process ideas) techniques to your face would be somewhat like taking a chicken breast, baking it in the oven and then pan searing it. Yes, there is a chance of burning! Are you planning on having the RF done at the same place that you had Ultherapy? This would probably be your safest bet as they know how many lines and at what depths the Ultherapy was applied. If you go somewhere else, please make sure the second practitioner knows exactly what was done with Ultherapy. best wishes to you!

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

Well, no, there will be no negative effects. If you are having the Microneedle-RF procedure, it may help. The others, such as Thermal, are garbage and offer no benefits. Ultherapy is an extremely safe
treatment that carries little to no real risk when the treatment is performed
by an experienced professional. Ultherapy is,
without question, the best collagen-inducing device for facial rejuvenation. RF
devices, such as Thermal, only heat the tissues up to 50-55 Celsius while a
minimum of 60C is necessary for new collagen growth (Neocollagenesis). Thermal
is, in my opinion, a very poor tool that has limited to no use in facial
aesthetic. There is no
other non-surgical device that does what Ultherapy does, despite their claims
otherwise. Furthermore, Ultherapy has the first, and the only, FDA approval for
non-surgical lifting. We feature Ultherapy as the basis for our Non-Surgical
Face-Lifting program and we have achieved amazing results by combining
Ultherapy with treatments such as toxins, fillers, fractional resurfacing,
modified phenol chemical peeling, stem cell rich fat transfers, micro-needle
radiofrequency treatments (the only useful RF based treatment available today),
and excellent skin care regimen management.

RF after Ultherapy. Would it enhance results or have any negative effects?

Answers (10)

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