Ultherapy - how long do results last? Other treatments out there with longer results?

Ulthera usually lasts for around 2 years, and while there are other skin tighteners available, it is generally considered the best non invasive skin tightener available currently.

Facial aging is continuous.  Any treatment, including a facelift, puts you ahead on the aging curve, but the results have to diminish as one ages.  Ultherapy is one of the most effective non-invasive facial tightening procedures and I have seen this more beneficial than Thermage.  However, it is not permanent, and some patients age so quickly, either from genetic, nutritional or sun exposure reasons, that Ultherapy's effect may only be seen for a year, whereas others will exhibit improvement for more than three years.  Aside from Ultherapy and eventually considering a facelift, one can consider ThermiTight, which is a minimally invasive procedure involving local anesthetic, and the introduction of a heat probe underneath the skin that delivers radio frequency energy that heats the tissue, can produce swelling for several days to more than a week. This is in contrast to Ultherapy that is considered not to have any downtime.

The tightening effects produced by Ultherapy or a facelift gradually fade away over time because the face continues to age.  The longevity of results can vary, but in general, results from a facelift will last longer and be more dramatic than those from Ultherapy or any non-surgical option.  Results from Ultherapy may last a couple of years, where results from a facelift can last as much as 5-10 years.    

Each person's results will vary with Ultherapy because it depends on the individual's response. Younger patients will generally achieve longer lasting results because they rebuild collagen better. For longest lasting results a surgical procedure might be the best option.

A good candidate for Ultherapy will generally get about 18-24 months of benefits. This can vary in either direction depending on the degree of aging changes that a patient has prior to the procedure. Non-surgical results are dependent on many factors and a board certified plastic surgeon should be able to provide you with a realistic expectation in your particular case.

It should be remembered that Ultherapy stimulates collagen growth and in this way reduces skin laxity. However, if your genetics is such that the turnover rate of collagen is altered dramatically in your body with aging (reduced half-life), then the effect will be shorter lasting. Also, if you abuse your body with sun exposure and smoking, the effects will be less longer in duration. It is oxidant injury to tissues that contributes to the destruction of the extracellular matrix which houses collagen, elastin and other structureal proteins. 'Touch up" Ultherapy procedures are recommended every 2 years. This does not involve the full face and neck procedure but vectors of treatment in areas where there is residual or recurrent laxity of the skin. 

How often patients go back for Ultherapy treatments to maintain their results depends on each individual and on factors such as the state of their skin before their initial treatment, the degree of results they achieved, as well as lifestyle habits such as smoking and UV exposure. Some people prefer to have their Ultherapy updated annually, while others see their doctors for maintenance treatments every 2 years. The cost also depends on the region.Nothing can quite compare with the fantastic results of a surgical lift. Non-surgical procedures have to be repeated to maintain the look you want - which means that in the end you'll likely end up spending as much as you would have on surgery, which is longer lasting.