Your body naturally produces collagen protein when you get a scrape or a cut. In youth, collagen production is consistently strong enough to ward off the appearance of lines and wrinkles. This slows down around age 25 and continues to decline with age. Studies have determined that collagen production can be stimulated in a few powerful ways. Ultherapy accomplishes this using micro-focused ultrasound energy. The energy of the targeted sound waves causes a thermal (heating) response in deep layers of tissue. The body sees this warming as an injury so sends collagen to the area to remodel "damaged" tissue. Because there is no true injury, the fresh new collagen that's produced works to firm and sculpt the skin and other superficial tissue.

Ultherapy was developed in the early 2000s. We've had nearly 20 years to study and evaluate the results that this treatment can achieve. It's known as one of the first and finest non-surgical facial contouring procedures in recent history. Unlike other energy-based treatments at that time, such as laser skin resurfacing, Ultherapy utilizes ultrasound technology to reach deeper layers of tissue for more profound remodeling.

Similar to other nonsurgical cosmetic treatments, Ultherapy is performed in the office without any systemic anesthesia. Your provider will apply a topical numbing medication prior to your procedure. This desensitizes the nerves in the area of focus but does not completely eliminate all sensation. Some areas of the face and neck can feel the absorption of the ultrasound energy more so than others. That said, there are no incisions, no needles, and no use of foreign objects or substances.

Ultherapy has been described by some as a non-surgical alternative for a facelift or neck lift. We should say that, although this treatment can achieve impressive results, it cannot be compared to the long-term effects of surgery.

A surgical facelift or neck lift will most likely require general anesthesia. During the procedure, the surgeon pulls the deep plane tissue into a more youthful shape. The new position is secured with special suturing techniques. The skin is laid back down over the secured subcutaneous tissue and muscle and the excess is trimmed. Incisions result in faint scarring around the ears and in other discreet areas. A few weeks of downtime is needed to overcome bruising, swelling, and pain, regardless of the type of face or neck lift you've had done. That said, the results of surgical facial rejuvenation are more dramatic, making you appear as much as a decade younger, and they last a decade or longer.

Ultherapy doesn't warrant any downtime. You may feel slightly sore or tender and may appear slightly flushed for a short time, but you should be able to go back to work and other light activities right away after your treatment. Due to the power of the focused ultrasound energy, you won't require follow-up treatment; one Ultherapy session is all it takes to achieve noticeable improvements. That said, the effects of Ultherapy last approximately two years, making it an efficient, yet shorter-lived, alternative to a surgical facelift or neck lift.