How does Alma's Laser Clearlift compare to Ultherapy?

Ultherapy is clearly the leader in non surgical face and neck lifting. We use Ultherapy exclusively and continue to see very positive results. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian Los Angeles

ClearLift is a 1064 nm Q switcched laser. ClearLift and Ultherapy can be used on all skin types, namely Fitzpatrick I - VI. ClearLift and Ultherapy are nearly painless. Both procedures have no procedure related down time. ClearLift is a 20 minute procedure but requires 3-6 treatments. Ultherapy is a single application procedure in most cases. Ultherapy takes between 70-90 minutes. It is reported that ClearLift causes some skin tightening. Ultherapy is FDA approved to tighten skin laxity.  Ultherapy does this very well and has a proven track record in over 10,000 patients. Finally Ultherapy uses high frequency ultrasound (HIFU) energy and as mentioned above, ClearLift uses laser energy. Read the Ultherapy book provided on the link below. 

From my experience, Laser Clearlift and Ultherapy promote anti-aging but address different issues, which is why they are frequently used to complement each other. Laser Clearlift is a resurfacing protocol that relies on fractional laser technology to smooth skin and improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots and hyperpigmentation. The results, however, do give the appearance of skin tightening. Multiple treatments are necessary to achieve best results (4-6), and there is a recovery time after each treatment. On the other hand, Ultherapy is a procedure designed exclusively for skin lifting, tightening, and toning. Only one 90-minute treatment is required, and there is no recovery time. You can return immediately to your normal routine, including work and exercise. The treatment relies on ultrasound energy, which can be used to target the whole face or specific areas, such as the forehead, mid face, lower face, and/or jawline and neck. It takes up to 3 months to see optimal results, and these results will last up to 2 years. Hence, the best choice for anti-aging depends upon what issues you want addressed, how many treatments you're willing to undergo, and the comparative costs of each protocol. 

Both of
these procedures work well; in fact, I have done clinical studies with both of
these companies so I can give you some opinions here. ClearLift uses what we
call fractional Q-Switched 1064 nm laser energy, which has been shown in the
studies to be a very nice way to rejuvenate the skin over time – usually 4-6
treatments are needed, about one month apart. Results can usually be seen after
the first or second treatment, but more treatments are needed for optimal
results. Some tightening is definitely achieved with ClearLift. Ulthera
tightens the skin, and in almost everyone treated, only one treatment is needed
and results will be noticed over a three-month period of time. So the decision
is how many times do you want to be treated, what are the cost differences, and
how experienced your provider is. We always recommend having a consultation
with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to assure you are
getting the best available advice and technologies.

These are both great procedures, so it matters more what your specific goals are.  Ultherapy, using high intensity focused ultrasound, is able to penetrate to a depth of 4.5mm.  This allows for lifting of the skin as well as tightening.  ClearLift, a 1064 Q-Switched laser technology, penetrates up to 3mm deep, so in this regard I believe Ultherapy to be a superior treatment.  That being said, ClearLift is perfect for maintenance, prevention, and mild correction, but can also do so much more.  This laser is virtually painless, non-ablative approach to laser skin resurfacing for superficial correction of pigmentation and texture, reducing pore size, and stimulating more collagen.When treating patients at our office, we like to take a multiple modality approach to optimize outcome.  Sometimes this means combining Ultherapy with ClearLift, and/or Alma's iPixel ER, a 2940nm ablative resurfacing fractional laser, or Dye-VL (IPL).  The beauty of the Alma Harmony XL Pro's multi-platform device with Ultherapy, is truly being able to custom tailor each treatment to the individual.  Sometimes that even means combining surgical measures with noninvasive approaches.  As always, it is best to start with a consultation to determine the best approach to help you reach your goals.