You might consider having a facelift if you think that your face looks older than you feel, or if gravity, sun exposure, and the natural aging process have left you feeling like you no longer look like yourself. Having a facelift is the most direct and complete way to treat age-related facial wrinkling and sagging, improve your appearance, and give your confidence a boost. At Kalia Dermatology and Laser Center in Los Gatos, California, we offer Ultherapy®, a safe and effective non-invasive skin lifting treatment. We serve patients from across the San Francisco Bay area.

What is Ultherapy?

Ultherapy is a safe, non-surgical facelift treatment designed to remedy the visible effects that time and gravity can have on your skin. It involves advanced ultrasound technology, or sound energy, to stimulate the collagen in your skin’s deep foundational layers. Because ultrasound energy has unique properties that allow it to bypass the surface of your skin and reach depths that can’t be matched by any other non-invasive cosmetic technology, Ultherapy is one of the most effective non-surgical method for tightening skin and lifting the structures of your face. In fact, it’s the only non-invasive treatment cleared by the FDA to actually lift the skin on your brow, chin, neck, and chest.  

How Does Ultherapy Work?

Ultherapy technology allows physicians to see the layers of skin that they’re targeting during the treatment on an ultrasound imaging screen, which helps ensure that the technology’s energy is directed exactly where it will be most beneficial. Once that energy reaches the deepest layers of your skin, it creates a micro-thermal coagulation to precisely heat the tissue, causing the contraction and tightening of skin collagen. It is this tightening of the skin, which is part of your body’s own regenerative response to the treatment, that creates lift and restores a more youthful appearance.

What Does The Treatment Entail?

After an initial one-on-one consultation to discuss your goals, assess your skin, and see if you’re a candidate for the treatment, Kalia physicians can identify the specific treatment areas that will get you the results you want. Before beginning, your nurse provider will apply ultrasound gel to your skin and get the imagining screen ready. The screen allows your physician to see exactly where to direct the ultrasound energy, allowing for optimal applicator placement throughout the procedure. As the smooth applicator glides across your skin, you’ll feel tiny amounts of energy being deposited at precise depths, which means that the collagen-building process is underway.    

Although most patients only require one Ultherapy treatment, patients with more severe skin laxity may benefit from additional treatments. The length the procedure depends on the area being treated; a face and neck procedure typically takes 60-90 minutes, while a chest treatment takes about 30 minutes.  

When Will I See Results?

You may see a noticeable lift of facial tissue 8-12 weeks after your treatment, but most patients see full, optimal results about six months after the procedure.