Do you notice your skin losing its youthful appearance and elasticity? Skin laxity, lines, and wrinkles are all normal parts of the aging process, but you don’t need to live with these signs of aging thanks to ultherapy treatments This non-invasive thermal treatment uses ultrasound waves to target the separate layers of your skin and promote collagen production for a smoother, healthier exterior. Dr. James DeStephens proudly offers this treatment in Gainesville, FL.
What Is Ultherapy Treatment?
Ultherapy treatments is a revolutionary skin-rejuvenating treatment used to eliminate mild to moderate lines and wrinkles, correct skin laxity, and prevent further aging by stimulating collagen production to reinforce the skin’s framework. This treatment is FDA approved and uses ultrasound imaging to locate and precisely treat skin layers at 3 different depths. Our doctor personally performs each treatment session to ensure optimal results for each patient.
With every pulse emitted by the machine, waves of thermal energy travel deep into your skin and create a heating effect. This process involves virtually no discomfort and is completely non-invasive. There is no downtime associated with this treatment, which triggers new collagen production within days of your appointment and delivers long-lasting results for the vast majority of patients.
How Long Do Results Last?
Every patient’s experience and results will vary based on their aging concerns, skin type, and other factors. However, most patients see their results last 6 months after treatment, while some see results lasting up to 2 years. Follow-up sessions and additional anti-aging products and treatments could help enhance and prolong your final results. Our doctor can recommend the best treatment plan for your unique needs during your initial consultation.
Which Areas Can Be Treated?
This treatment is considered safe and effective for most of the body. Here are some of the most common areas we treat at our professional practice:
Neck and Jawline
Skin laxity can drastically change the appearance of your neck and jawline over time. Many people notice that their skin begins to sag in these areas in their late 30s or early 40s, making them appear older or heavier than they actually are. Traditionally, invasive surgery was the only way to correct skin laxity in the neck and jawline, but ultherapy treatments can deliver comparable results for some patients without the need for surgery.
In as little as one treatment session, you could see your skin become tighter and more lifted. This can correct the appearance of drooping skin on the neck and jawline and help you look younger. Even better, this treatment can pause the development of skin laxity by refreshing the supportive collagen structure in the skin.
Midface
Your midface includes the skin on your cheeks and under your eyes. These areas may begin to show signs of skin laxity in your late 20s or early 30s and are also prone to developing fine lines and wrinkles. With this treatment, we can rejuvenate the skin and restore a vibrant, youthful appearance. We can also build on the success of this treatment with a dermal filler like Juvederm, which can help restore lost facial volume in these key areas.
Forehead and Brows
The brow area and forehead are prone to fine lines, which can be difficult to fade with traditional anti-aging products. This treatment can smooth away lines by tightening the skin and may result in a long-term transformation. In addition, new collagen growth could help your skin remain smooth and line-free, giving you newfound confidence in your appearance.
Torso
Your stomach may show signs of skin laxity due to aging, pregnancy, or fluctuations in weight. In mild cases, this concern can be addressed with this easy treatment. While it is not designed to eliminate fat or correct severe skin laxity, a treatment plan created for you by our experienced doctor can firm loose skin and create a slimmer silhouette to flatter your figure.
Knees
Some patients experience sagging skin around the knees. There are few treatments that can effectively address this concern, but ultherapy treatments is a proven way to tighten the skin around the knees. This can help improve the overall appearance of your legs, boosting your self-esteem, and helping you feel more comfortable in every outfit and setting.
Hips and Buttocks
Loose skin on your hips and buttocks can dramatically change the shape of your body. While some patients may require more intensive treatment options to fully realize their ideal image, this treatment can help improve mild skin laxity in these areas by firming the skin and accentuating the shape of your hips, buttocks, and upper thighs. Continued treatment combined with a healthy diet and exercise regimen could help you maintain your desired results for years.
When Should I Start Treatments?
For most patients, the aging process begins in the mid to late 20s. From that point on, the collagen protein framework in the skin slowly deteriorates. This leads to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin throughout the body. Because aging is a progressive process, it’s important to begin taking anti-aging measures as soon as possible.
If you’re concerned about the appearance of your skin, visiting our office to meet with our doctor could help you find a treatment option that can prevent many signs of aging before they appear. This treatment is ideal for patients who are in their late 20s or early 30s, but it can be successfully used to correct mild to moderate skin laxity in most patients. An initial consultation could help you decide when to begin treatments based on your specific needs and goals.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
While every patient’s situation is different, most of our patients see their desired results develop just 2-3 months after their first session. These results could last between 6 months to 2 years, which means that you could need one simple follow-up appointment per year to maintain your ideal image. In some cases, more frequent treatments may be recommended to correct your concerns.
Am I an Ideal Candidate?
If you are an adult man or woman who is beginning to notice loose or sagging skin in various areas of your body, you could be a perfect candidate for this treatment. You should be in good overall health and experience mild to moderate skin laxity to receive treatment. In addition, you should have realistic, informed expectations about the results you could achieve with this treatment.
Patients who wish to correct severe skin laxity or patients who are seeking to reduce fat or excess skin are not ideal candidates for this treatment. During your initial consultation, our doctor can examine your areas of concern and recommend the best treatment option to address your needs.
What Should I Expect?
If you’re considering this treatment to tighten and smooth loose skin, here is a general summary of what you can expect from a normal treatment process at our office.
Consultation
Before your first treatment session, you will meet with our skilled doctor to determine whether you’re an ideal candidate. During this evaluation, we will examine your skin in your areas of concern, review your medical history, and ask you about your goals for treatment. If we approve you for treatment, you will be provided with a recommended treatment plan and instructions for how to prepare for your first session.
Preparation
Beginning 1 week before your appointment, we recommend that you avoid harmful sun exposure. This will prevent your skin from developing sunburn and may help prevent more serious sun damage such as discoloration, accelerated aging, and skin cancer. In addition, you should stop taking anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin or ibuprofen. You may also be asked to stop taking certain herbal remedies or supplements with blood-thinning properties.
2-3 days before your appointment, you should pay careful attention to your skincare regimen. We recommend that you use a gentle cleanser daily and avoid any harsh exfoliants or resurfacing treatments prior to your appointment. You should also avoid skincare products that contain retinoids and glycolic or salicylic acids, which could dry out and irritate the skin.
Finally, we suggest that our patients avoid alcohol for 24 hours before treatment to reduce their risk of bruising during the recovery process. You may take Tylenol before your appointment and you also have the option of a numbing agent administered by our doctor to ensure your comfort during treatment. You should not apply makeup to the target skin before your treatment.
Treatment
Our doctor will examine your skin before the treatment to ensure that it is free from inflammation or irritation that could be exacerbated by the thermal energy. Once you are ready, our doctor will use the specialized applicator to image the layers of your skin with ultrasound technology and deliver thermal energy with 1.5-2 times the pulse frequency than traditional treatments.
Most patients report that the treatment process is painless. A normal appointment takes between 30 minutes-1.5 hours, depending on the areas being treated. You can lie back and relax for the entirety of your appointment, after which our doctor will provide you with instructions for your recovery. After this, you are free to return to your normal daily activities with zero downtime required.
Recovery
The recovery process for this treatment is fairly easy for most patients. You should continue to protect treated skin from sun exposure for at least 1 week as your skin heals. We also recommend avoiding any irritating skincare treatments in the facial region for 1-2 weeks. Your skin should feel completely back to normal within 2 weeks of treatment, and you should notice your skin becoming smoother and firmer over the next 2-3 months.
Results
Once new collagen growth has rejuvenated your skin, you can enjoy your final results. In general, you should notice that the treated skin is more lifted and toned. Fine lines and wrinkles should be noticeably smoother, and sagging skin should be tighter. In addition to a refreshed appearance, many patients report experiencing a boost in their confidence due to the anti-aging results of this treatment.
Approximately 6-12 months after treatment, you may begin to notice that the continuing aging process begins to impact your final results. Some patients experience results lasting up to 2 years. Once you notice skin laxity and other aging concerns return, you can schedule a follow-up appointment to maintain your ideal results. For many patients, only 1 treatment each year is able to preserve your skin’s collagen framework and prevent many signs of aging.
Contact Us to Learn More!
Don’t let your confidence in your appearance decrease as you grow older. With ultherapy treatments, you could see your skin transformed in a matter of months and maintain a youthful image for years to come. If you’re ready to learn more about this non-invasive treatment, contact our team of experts at the office of Dr. James DeStephens in Gainesville, FL, to schedule your initial consultation today!
