POSTED UNDER Ultherapy REVIEWS
Ultherapy Truth and Lies - Encino, CA
ORIGINAL POST
Having Ultherapy done was a bad experience for me....
lea011February 9, 2017
$500
Having Ultherapy done was a bad experience for me. At the time of the intervention, It was a present to myself for my approaching 50th birthday.
I found a local doctor, Dr. Persky, who had all the right certifications, and promise of Ultherapy to be exactly what I was looking for...a bit of rejuvenation, without huge money spending, and no surgery. He assured me that there were no known side effects whatsoever. So, everything sounded wonderful...but, soon I learned that it was the worst cosmetic decision of my life. I had the treatment done for around the eyes area (including the cheek bones area).
It was done on Saturday, when this particular doctor usually doesn't work, so there was no one else in the office to assist to the doctor. Later I was even thinking that maybe lack of assistance was a culprit for bad result, or maybe not? There was a mild pain and discomfort during the treatment, but, I do not complain about it, that was expected and I was OK. But, constant tingling and burning of the treated area, continued for weeks afterward accompanied with constant sensation of electric snaps as well. After the procedure, I went for regular monthly check-ups with the doctor, who agreed during the consultations, that month after month the area around the eyes looked worst. He offered to do some fillers to remedy it, what I did not agree to, as I was not interested in a temp solution, that I would have to repeat every 3 months. I wrote email to the manufacturer describing the problem, and they put me in contact with their medical director for the West Coast, located in San Diego. He was a nice guy, and he agreed that my reaction to Ulthera was detrimental to my appearance, and suggested that I might require lower lids blepharoplasty. He also told me that the issue might be caused by my skin type, that was very fine/thin/north European type, and that Ulthera worked better on ticker skin. However, nothing like that was mentioned on Ultherapy web site. Anyway, I was told to try Domaboro compresses, then various creams....which I religiously applied as suggested, but nothing helped. For months I kept loosing the fat under my eyes, but also I do not know how and why, it impacted even parts of my face not treated by Ultherapy. Like if the procedure disrupted the fat metabolism of my face, and caused also wider area sagging of the cheeks/jawline. You can see on my photos, taken by the doctor, how it looked before the procedure, and how it was 6 months later.
I do not understand how the company can deny or not disclose that the fat loss is possible, or the doctors here can claim the same when there is a number of people here on Realself illustrating that fact (me included) by personal photo documented experiences. I wrote to the company in 2012, (the year when my procedure was done) about the issue. I was also seen at that time by their medical director (to whom they sent me), who noted and confirmed the difference.
In one stage I was so angry that I wanted to sue, bit could not find a doctor to confirm my case. For me that is like adding insult to injury. Like if your hands are tight, and you can't do anything to be properly treated of compensated for your multilevel suffering (financial, physical and emotional).
So, now I'm just writing this as a testament to my experience, and as a potential warning to other who are considering this procedure.
You might be lucky, and have great results, but please be warned.
I found a local doctor, Dr. Persky, who had all the right certifications, and promise of Ultherapy to be exactly what I was looking for...a bit of rejuvenation, without huge money spending, and no surgery. He assured me that there were no known side effects whatsoever. So, everything sounded wonderful...but, soon I learned that it was the worst cosmetic decision of my life. I had the treatment done for around the eyes area (including the cheek bones area).
It was done on Saturday, when this particular doctor usually doesn't work, so there was no one else in the office to assist to the doctor. Later I was even thinking that maybe lack of assistance was a culprit for bad result, or maybe not? There was a mild pain and discomfort during the treatment, but, I do not complain about it, that was expected and I was OK. But, constant tingling and burning of the treated area, continued for weeks afterward accompanied with constant sensation of electric snaps as well. After the procedure, I went for regular monthly check-ups with the doctor, who agreed during the consultations, that month after month the area around the eyes looked worst. He offered to do some fillers to remedy it, what I did not agree to, as I was not interested in a temp solution, that I would have to repeat every 3 months. I wrote email to the manufacturer describing the problem, and they put me in contact with their medical director for the West Coast, located in San Diego. He was a nice guy, and he agreed that my reaction to Ulthera was detrimental to my appearance, and suggested that I might require lower lids blepharoplasty. He also told me that the issue might be caused by my skin type, that was very fine/thin/north European type, and that Ulthera worked better on ticker skin. However, nothing like that was mentioned on Ultherapy web site. Anyway, I was told to try Domaboro compresses, then various creams....which I religiously applied as suggested, but nothing helped. For months I kept loosing the fat under my eyes, but also I do not know how and why, it impacted even parts of my face not treated by Ultherapy. Like if the procedure disrupted the fat metabolism of my face, and caused also wider area sagging of the cheeks/jawline. You can see on my photos, taken by the doctor, how it looked before the procedure, and how it was 6 months later.
I do not understand how the company can deny or not disclose that the fat loss is possible, or the doctors here can claim the same when there is a number of people here on Realself illustrating that fact (me included) by personal photo documented experiences. I wrote to the company in 2012, (the year when my procedure was done) about the issue. I was also seen at that time by their medical director (to whom they sent me), who noted and confirmed the difference.
In one stage I was so angry that I wanted to sue, bit could not find a doctor to confirm my case. For me that is like adding insult to injury. Like if your hands are tight, and you can't do anything to be properly treated of compensated for your multilevel suffering (financial, physical and emotional).
So, now I'm just writing this as a testament to my experience, and as a potential warning to other who are considering this procedure.
You might be lucky, and have great results, but please be warned.
lea011's provider
Replies (33)
Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope you find support here in the community.
There are two sides to every story. HIPPA rules forbid physicians to give the details of a patient's treatment. I personally treat all of my Ultherapy patients because I believe that my knowledge of facial anatomy as a facial plastic surgeon makes for the safest and most effective treatment and best outcomes. I have treated thousands of patients over the past 5 years with Ultherapy. Though there are "horror" stories about Ultherapy online, I personally have not had a serious complication or adverse event . Many of these "horror" stories may be related to improper use of the device, or sadly in many cases cheap foreign bought counterfeit machines or handpiece tips.
Four years after having treated this patient, this review was posted this week. Though I personally have not had patients with complications, all of our patients read, discuss, and then sign an informed consent prior to their treatment that includes all known possible adverse effects of the treatment. As it has been said, "No good deed goes unpunished!" Very rarely will I treat a patient on a weekend unless the patient has extenuating circumstances. In those cases, I sometimes will come in during off hours to help a patient. Ultherapy treatment around the eyes takes about 20 minutes and does not require any other staff. In some patients Ultherapy may not be the first or best choice of treatment for the particular problem. When a patient has malar bags and hollowness under the eyes I prefer to begin with precisely injected fillers. These fillers do not need to be repeated every 3 months, rather after a few treatments many patients do not need further injections for years. If a patient refuses fillers then they may be told that Ultherapy may help in many cases, without any guarantees of results, and they are told that they may also benefit from eyelid surgery. Before and after photos are always used for comparison. There are some patients who may have fat lipodystrophy where their condition causes fat loss everywhere, though it may first be noticed under the eyes. There is nothing in the many studies about Ultherapy in the medical literature that documents fat loss areas of the face that have not been treated. Fat loss can occur with excessive Ultherapy over an area which is why I do not delegate the treatment to staff and perform all treatments myself. I am very sorry that this patient has suffered from her treatment and have offered her treatments to correct the problem. She has chosen to pursue legal action against me, has been unable to find other physicians to support her perception of her claims, and now four years later has posted this to warn prospective patients away from a very safe and effective treatment as well as to defame my personal reputation online. Once again, thank you for sharing. Be well. Dr. Persky
The recommended number of lines over the eyebrow is 10 deep and 25 mid-level, some practices may add 15 more lines very superficial. If all three depths are used that would be a total of 50 lines. Generally we use about 35-40 lines per brow. There can be a 1 to 2 mm lift of the brow after Ultherapy.