Having Ultherapy treatment without topical numbing and pain medication is not recommended, and most providers also offer options to ease patient anxiety.Â
âMy patients typically get some pain medication, so we like them to come in an hour before the actual treatment,â Dr. Shelton says. Depending on a personâs pain threshold, that could be Percocet, Ativan for relaxation, a little nitrous oxide (laughing gas), or even numbing cream. âAll that certainly makes it more manageable for patients,â he says.Â
While the procedure is ultrasound-based, itâs very different from diagnostic ultrasound imaging: this cosmetic treatment uses heat energy, with temperatures reaching as high as 140°F in the deep subcutaneous tissue.
Even with pain medication, it's no walk in the park. Thankfully, the discomfort lasts only as long as the ultrasound energy is being delivered (usually only a second and a half or less per pulse), and any discomfort stops once the treatment is completed.
There have been clinical studies to measure patient comfort during treatment sessions, so doctors are well aware that pain management and setting the expectation of some level of discomfort is important for building trust and improving their patients' experience.
âWhat I tell my patients is, âIt hurts, but it works,ââ says Dallas-based dermatologist Dr. Mary Hurley. âMy patients have seen tremendous results in the face, neck, and chest from Ultherapy.â
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