Are these results of Ultherapy really true?

Question

I was very interested until a plastic surgeon made a statement online (not Realself & without photos to go by) that, "the problem with Ultherapy is that the energy is NOT delivered & absorbed evenly and the long term results are far from good. There is hollowing of the face". Can this be true most of the time for the general population? Your input is greatly appreciated!

Rian A. Maercks, MD · Answer

This is absolutely true.  the only practitioners that will say it is not are #1 in bed with the company and #2 are usually outside of the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery so patients with complications never come back to them and they never know about the horrible results that they deliver.  Plastic surgeons like myself see problems all the time from ulthera thermage and several other energy modalities.  See a plastic surgeon that can understand your concerns and plan a safe and effective treatment.  Avoid doctors that are trying to sell you a brand name.

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi X,We have been using Ultherapy in our practice for the past 3 years.  The majority of our patients have had one treatment.  The patient satisfaction rate is very high.  Most of our patients have had only one treatment.  The patients who present for more treatment still look better than they did prior to their first treatment years later.  The newer guidelines of treatment use 33% more pulses during the treatment giving even better results.  We have not seen hollowing of the face in any of our patients.  I attribute that to the fact that I perform all of the treatments myself and pay a great deal of attention to the ultrasound image of the patient as we are treating to avoid treating fat.  We target the fibro-muscular layer deep and the skin superficially to get the best, most consistant results.  Good luck and be well.Michael Persky, MDEncino,CA

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

The online statement you read deserves a rebuttal"the problem with Ultherapy is that the energy is NOT delivered & 
absorbed evenly"This is false.  Ultrasound gel is applied to the skin and the contact between transducer and skin can be visualized on the skin.  In the treatment area, which include the jawline and neck, the ultrasound waves penetrate to 4.5 and 3.0 mm respectively. This absorption statement is more applicable to Thermage, which utilizes radiofrequency waves. "and the long term results are far from good."True and false.  Ultherapy is not a long term treatment; the results are expected to last about 2 years.  The results can be impressive assuming proper patient selection.  A patient in his/her late 40's to early 50's with lower facial aging changes is the ideal candidate.  A patient in his/her late 60's to mid 70's is not usually the best candidate.  A patient seeking a facelift result will most likely be underwhelmed by Ultherapy.  "There is 
hollowing of the face".False.  Ultherapy will not cause hollowing of the face.  At worst, the procedure won't produce dramatic results, but severe problems with Ultherapy are virtually unheard of (assuming you see a Surgeon familiar with facial anatomy).The biggest issue with Ultherapy is that it should not be oversold.  It is not the silver bullet for aging, and it is not a nonsurgical facelift. It is a reasonable soft tissue tightener for patients with early signs of aging in the brow, jawline, and neck.

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

Great question. I would have to respectfully disagree with the statement above. When done properly by an experienced Ultherapy provider the results can be very noticeable and satisfying. Each person will have a varying response based on the quality of their skin, so it's important to determine whether you are an ideal candidate for the procedure in order to get the most benefits.

Roy A. David, MD · Answer

Dear xz, thank you for your question. Ultherapy
is the only FDA approved  noninvasive
device for lifting the face and neck.  It
uses focused ultrasound to target the deep tissues above our muscles, as well
as more superficial layers.  Our San
Diego  facial plastic surgeon and nurses
are experts in Ultherapy and offer customized treatments for each client.

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