Devastating Ultherapy Results

After years of reading Realself reviews and doctors’ comments about how Ultherapy does not or cannot cause nerve damage or facial atrophy, I’m sharing my experience and the damage I experienced after Ultherapy. As you can see from my photos, the damage is extensive. On Dec. 16, 2013, I had Ultherapy on my full face and neck at DMH Aesthetics under the supervision of Dr. Glenn Vallecillos. Sadly this was the day that would end my life as I once knew it. I would do anything to turn back time and to have never allowed Ultherapy anywhere near my face and neck. Before the Ultherapy treatment, I was healthy, happy, and had a thriving career. Now I am merely a shell of that person, just trying to survive this nightmare.
The treating nurse at DMH Aesthetics recommended Ultherapy to me as an “FDA approved, safe and gentle procedure that would maintain my youthful appearance”. The Ultherapy brochure which I retrieved from the DMH Aesthetics waiting area, stated on the very front: “The only non-invasive procedure FDA-approved to lift the neck, chin and brow.” I’ve attached a photo of that very brochure. I later learned that Ultherapy is ­not FDA approved and the Ultherapy marketing brochure was nothing short of misleading. Furthermore, I would never have had the procedure if I knew that the full face and neck treatment was actually off-label use. Further, I was not aware that Ultherapy heats to 165 degrees fahrenheit, which by the way is, according to the USDA, “the temperature of a well done steak”. Cooked like a piece of meat is exactly what happened to my face. As confirmed by multiple medical professionals, I was burned and scarred under my skin by the Ultherapy treatment. My muscles are scarred and incapable of proper function. The treatment has led to many painful issues and also left me with dense scar tissue which is present only where the Ultherapy device was applied. Had I known the associated risks, I never would’ve had Ultherapy. As you can see from my attached photographs, the Ultherapy treatment was a HUGE FAIL with devastating results! The Ultherapy procedure itself was very painful and the day after the procedure, I woke up to extreme dry mouth, all over facial and eye pain. Instead of improving, the pain instead increased over time. After the treatment, I immediately called DMH Aesthetics and complained. I also reported the adverse side effects to Ulthera and was told that they would follow up with my treating provider. Eventually, Dr. Vallecillos and DMH Aesthetics stopped returning my calls. It should be noted that apparently the nurse completed all of the Ulthera provided training and the Ultherapy machine was authentic, so contrary to some comments I have seen about other Ultherapy related negative reviews, my damage is not the result of a counterfeit machine.In the weeks following Ultherapy, there was a drastic decrease in facial volume as well as a significant increase in overall pain. My friends and family also noticed the drastic change and asked if I was “sick and had lost weight”. In fact, I had intentionally gained 10+ pounds in hopes of adding some fat back to my face. Within four months following Ultherapy, I could no longer properly close and align my jaw. My muscles had atrophied. My smile was noticeably uneven and the right side had weakened more than the left. Thus began my quest in seeking doctors who could diagnose and treat my pain and adverse side effects.To date, I have consulted with numerous doctors and have spent my entire life savings on trying to heal from all the damage caused by Ultherapy. Unfortunately, the initial Neurologist I saw immediately after the treatment was dismissive and did not perform any objective diagnostic nerve conduction tests. It was later that more than 1 Neurologist confirmed the nerve damage and performed the diagnostic test.One such Neurologist has documented the following in my medical records: “Ultherapy is cleared for the brow and neck but not the face and orbits. Focused ultrasound can clearly cause tissue atrophy which may even be progressive. The patient’s discomfort and cosmetic changes are clearly caused by this therapy to her face. The facial targeting is evidence sufficiently bad practice to explain the patient’s painful condition. The region of the masseter and perioral region was isonated using ultrasound with a 12 megahertz probe and I noted atrophic masseter muscles with significantly increased intramuscular fibrotic tissue. An excess of fibrotic tissue was also noted in the perioral region.”My electro-diagnostic tests are also attached which support the evidence of nerve damage. In short, my nerves were burned and the damage to my facial muscles is irreversible. In fact, multiple treating Neurologists have stated that “Ultherapy burned the underlying structures of my face, including fat, nerves, muscles and connective tissue”.Here is what another physician wrote after examining me:“It is my opinion, with a high degree of medical probability, that the Ultherapy caused permanent neurological damage to the nerves of the face, resulting in changes to the facial muscles that has caused the teeth to move out of alignment, misalign the jaw, caused an uneven smile and has the patient in tears, experiencing unrelenting facial, head and neck pain, unable to work and has caused chipping of the front teeth as they are the only teeth occluding (making contact).”As I write this today, I am in constant and unrelenting pain. I can’t fully close my crooked jaw and my upper and lower teeth do not connect. My muscles and jaw pull out of alignment, which has led to cascading issues such as chronic TMJ, facial and neck pain. all of my front teeth have chipped. I produce very little saliva. My eyes are severely dry and burn constantly. My face alternates between numbness and burning. I am in terrible discomfort all the time. Prior to Ultherapy, I had none of these medical issues and I also had no history of chronic depression. However, since Ultherapy and the subsequent associated medical issues, I have felt hopeless and depressed. Due to chronic pain, it’s difficult to perform everyday tasks such as brushing my teeth, eating, sleeping, going out socially and most importantly to me, working. Prior to Ultherapy, I was an accomplished Finance Director with the highest performance reviews and I always worked really hard as I was striving to be in a VP position. Due to the chronic pain following Ultherapy, I could no longer focus and perform well at my job. After 13 years of employment, my employer fired me. I could no longer perform at the level at which I previously performed.After a 2 hour Ultherapy procedure, my life is forever changed. I’ve seldom smiled since Ultherapy as I’m quite self-conscious of my uneven smile. At the current rate of my deterioration, I’m truly scared for what the future holds. The damage from a supposed “non-invasive” procedure is astounding and devastating. Ultherapy is touted as having “no down time”. I have to disagree. My life after Ultherapy has been full of down time. The pain is truly exhausting and very difficult to manage. Sadly, my injuries can’t be exaggerated. My intent is not to disparage but to share my experience and current situation which I hope you have found to be helpful and informative.