Ultherapy Recovery

Recovery time for Ultherapy averages zero time.

Redness sometimes occurs after Ultherapy, but is uncommon. Your skin may be red for a few hours after an Ultherapy treatment. "After your Ultherapy procedure you may experience minor skin redness, which will subside with a couple of hours," says Dr. Ariel Ostad, a New York dermatologic surgeon, in an Ultherapy Q&A.

Other side effects can last longer, but shouldn’t affect your ability to resume your normal daily activities. "Small areas of bruising, welts or numbness are also a normal side effect of this procedure and will resolve in a matter of days to weeks," says Dr. Anna Paré, an Atlanta dermatologist. "You can return to normal activity directly after the procedure."

This information has been medically reviewed for accuracy by board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Dilip Madnani.

Your Ultherapy provider may recommend changes to your skincare routine after treatment. "We recommend that our patients stay out of the sun immediately following the procedure to reduce skin irritation; therefore, if you exercise outdoors, it's best to apply sunscreen to the treated areas," says Dr. Jocelyn Leveque, a Pensacola, Florida, plastic surgeon, in an Ultherapy Q&A. "We allow our patients to wash with their normal facial cleansers using cold or warm water, but have them refrain from using products containing retinol, salicylic acid, or any other abrasive product."

"Patients treated with Ultherapy will see lifting gradually as the collagen builds over 2-3 months and can continue to improve up to 6 months," says Dr. Adam Wallach, a Danville, California dermatologic surgeon, in an Ultherapy Q&A.

Ultherapy results are permanent, although they don’t stop the aging process. "Once you achieve your full result, the normal aging process continues, your results will not wear off or suddenly disappear," says Dr. Wallach. "Think of it as turning the clock back a bit."