Profound Laser: Can you tell me the pros/cons compared to Ultherapy and also compared to a facelift? I'm 47 years old.

Hi Seneca,Profound RF and Ultherapy are both safe and effective skin lifting and tightening non-surgical procedures good for the face and neck.  Neither is a treatment of choice for eyelids, though both may help with crow's feet wrinkles and slight elevation of the eye brows.  Facelift and blepharoplasty are surgical options to treat facial sagging skin.  To decide the best option for you, it would be best to consult with a few facial plastic surgeons in person (or at least with photos.)  Profound RF and Ultherapy are different non-surgical device skin lifting and tightening treatments that are both safe and effective.  Profound RF uses paired micro-needles that emit radiofrequency energy while deployed 1 to 2 mm beneath the skin for 3 to 4 seconds creating a controlled temperature of 67 degrees C.  Ultherapy uses the topical application of micro-focused ultrasound energy at different skin depths (4.5, 3.0, 1.5mm) creating heat.  Both technologies work by stimulating new collagen over time.  Both continue to improve over a 6 to 9 month period and both are thought to last about 5 years, though you will look better for the rest of your life compared to how you would have looked without having the treatment.  The downtime for Profound RF is 7 to 10 days due to bruising and swelling.  There is little to no downtime with Ultherapy.  In some patients, the two procedures may be combined for even better ultimate results. The results of each treatment are dependent upon the individual patient (age, health, skin damage, smoking, etc.), they are both effective, but in general Profound RF is a more aggressive treatment. The discomfort of both procedures is controlled in my practice with local anesthesia.
As with any facial aesthetic treatment it is essential to make sure that you choose your treating physician carefully based upon their skill, knowledge, results, experience, and most importantly their natural artistic vision.  Good luck and be well!!!
Dr. P

These are merely tools at our disposal to prevent and repair aging. There is no best tool, just the tool(s) that suits you and your anatomy best. Sorry I could not be more helpful, however, photos would help. It is best to find a physician whose advice you trust and who aesthetics you agree with---not an easy task.

Profound is not indicated for your problems. Ultherapy can help, but a in-depth examination is needed as devices such as Profound, Ultherapy and Thermage can only give a realistic lifting in the correct candidate. Skin tightening is tricky, and having the correct exceptions in the select patient is the key. Dr Davin Lim. Brisbane. Australia.