Preparation for your ultrasonic facelifting procedure requires minimal effort on your part. You should avoid a sun burn, ASA/Aspirin and other blood thinning medications for 10-14 days before your treatment. For women, the face should be free of make up (makeup can be washed off just before and reapplied right after your treatment). For men, beards should be cleanly shaven to ensure good contact with the ultrasonic transducer.
Before your treatment, photographs are taken and any last minute questions are answered. Although most patients tolerate the procedure quite well, you will be offered some Tylenol to help minimize treatment discomfort. Guidelines are then drawn on your face, and ultrasound gel applied onto the area to be treated.
The ultrasonic transducer is placed onto the ultrasonic gel on your neck, face or brow. This hand piece provides a two-dimensional real time high resolution ultrasonic image of the layers of the skin, fat, muscle and bony structures on your face or neck, which can be scanned to a depth of up to 8 millimeters. This image is then used to determine the ideal depth at which to deposit the ultrasonic energy. The Ultheraź device gives Dr. Cole complete confidence in knowing exactly where the energy should be applied, and where the thermal injury that stimulates the collagen remodeling and tightening will occur within the tissue. As a result, the level of precision is unparalleled.
Ultrasonic Facelifting : How It Works
Each facial region is systematically imaged and treated as the lines of ultrasonic energy are laid down, first at the deeper layer of 4.5mm under the skin surface to target the muscle and fascia layer (the “SMAS” layer that plastic surgeons use to tighten skin during surgical face lifting procedures) to create deeper tightening and lifting of the facial structures. Then a second pass of ultrasonic energy is placed closer to the surface of the skin at a depth of 3.0mm, targeting the dermis. This adds additional skin lifting and tightening, and deposits more collagen and elastic tissue into the supporting layers to improve skin thickness and tone.
In 30 to 60 minutes, your treatment is finished. The ultrasonic gel is removed and your face is rinsed and moisturized. There may be a slight pinkness to your face that will last 30 minutes to a couple hours, but is usually not apparent as you leave the office.
There is virtually no downtime with ultrasonic facelifting. Patients can resume normal activity immediately after treatment. No anesthetic or cooling is required. Treatment is very well tolerated.
Less than 10% of patients will experience some minor or subtle bruising 3-5 days later in the lower facial areas, which is easily hidden with cover-up. Patients apply makeup right after treatment and go directly back to work, home, or play without any limitations to activity. Some facial achiness or tenderness of a mild nature may be experiences for several days after treatment. This is minor and fades quickly.
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Over the next several weeks a gradual improvement in skin tone, skin lifting, and tightening occurs. The results are most noticeable between 3 to 6 months after treatment.
Patients seeking further reduction in wrinkles, colour variations in redness or pigmentation, or deep facial lines around the lips or mouth, may benefit from red and brown spot laser/light treatments, resurfacing lasers, injectable dermal fillers, or BOTOX, for an even greater overall enhancement.
Dr. Cole uses ultrasonic facelifting for rejuvenation of the skin on the face, neck, and brow. This treatment may be followed with other treatments to handle deep lines or wrinkles, or variations in skin colour. Brown pigmentation (like age spots, melasma, and solar damage) reddish vascular issues (rosacea, telangietasias, hemangiomas, small blood vessels and veins) can be treated and reduced or removed with intense pulsed light or laser treatments. Botox and/or injectable dermal fillers (such as Juvederm, Voluma, Teosyal and Restylane) can be used to create fullness or to fill deeper lines around the mouth, nose or eyes to complete the aesthetic enhancements. Sun damaged skin, or superficial skin wrinkles can be treated with laser resurfacing or profractional, but this requires some down time.
Ulthera is appropriate for men and women who are looking to turn back the hands of time. Dr. Cole and his staff will spend time with you to understand your concerns and goals, help you to make the right choices for you, and ensure that your expectations are realistic. People wanting more dramatic results may desire a surgical facelift. Dr. Cole can help you with an appropriate referral to a plastic surgeon, if this is the case.
