What percentage of the time is a nerve hit during an Ulthera treatment?

Question

How often is a nerve hit during Ulthera? I heard of a staff member in a doctor's office who's cheek was numb for a few months after having Ulthera. Are nerves and muscles damaged during an Ulthera treatment. Is it just collegen material that is damages and if so how is the treatment limited to just effecting (heating up/burning)collegen and leaving muscle tissue and nerves unaffected by the extreme heat?

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

nerve injury, although possible, with Ultherapy is very rare. Nerves traverse in different planes and they can be subject in a few areas to the heat generated by the ultrasound energy used in ultherapy. Sensivitivy, numbness and weakness of muscles controlled by a nerve are risks of the procedure, but I am not aware of any permanent complications. We have been informed by the company that these issues, to-date, have spontaneously recovered.

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Ultherapy can be done with very rare likelihood of injury to the marginal mandibular nerve.In all reported cses, this problem has resolved at follow up. Ultherapy has advantages as it uses imaging to deliver targeted high intensity 'focused' ultrasound.The results of skin tightening will be most apparent at 6 months.We have performed hundreds of Ultherapy procedures in our Williamsville, NY office.

What percentage of the time is a nerve hit during an Ulthera treatment?

Answers (2)