Full Face and Neck - United Kingdom, GB
I am 46 and had ultherapy - full face and neck -...
I am 46 and had ultherapy - full face and neck - in May. I had a very strong reaction to the treatment - swelling, welts, swollen lumps for up to 10 days after. Also one burn. It was also extremely painful and I generally have a high pain threshold. I have uploaded a photo so that others can see that this is not a no down time treatment for everyone. I had to teach two days after and my face was like a football - embarrassing!
Having said that, I have had good results. Many people have asked me what I've done although I haven't told people about the treatment. Good result on forehead with eyebrows raised, lessening of nasolabial lines, but the most noticeable thing is fuller cheeks and much improved skin tone. I started to notice the positive effects about a month after the treatment. I'm particularly happy about the fullness in my cheeks as I felt that I was starting to look drawn and a big haggard.
Downside is that I have two indented scars, one on my forehead and one on my neck. I haven't heard of anyone else who has had this side effect so it's obviously not common. I still think it was worth it despite this.
Replies (47)
Thanks very much for asking your Dr - I'm glad that I've got some explanation for a) the burn and b) the scars. I will go and have a follow up appointment soon to have some before and after photos and also to discuss this.
Hi Cate,
I'm glad that although you had some side effects and two scars you still considered it worth it. Your review will be important for the community to know.
Thanks so much,
-Britt
Called the clinic and the Dr. Cheng was nice enough to call me back. He said he needed more information in order to give a more specific answer. He did mention that most of these will settle with time. If after a month, you still have raised bumpy red scars, he called it hypertrophic scarring. He said there is a high risk for keloid especially in patients with darker skin. If that is the case, he highly recommend that you get steroid injected in the scar and make sure the doctor is experienced. Hope your scars have settled nicely and you do not need to do the nasty injections. Hope this helped.
Happy about your good results but sorry about your scars. I asked my doctor to look at this photo and he commented that the Ulthera was likely too shallow due to the technician holding the treatment head incorrectly. He said it was a burn because the Ulthera was heating up the upper layer of the skin and shouldn't do this if the depth of treatment was accurately placed 3.5-4.5 mm below your skin.