Are you finding that your face has started to show signs of aging? Are changes in your skin’s elasticity making you look tired or worn-out? Are you just ready for a change? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the experts at Persona Med Spa in Houston, TX are here to help. We can address the challenges of aging skin by using a revolutionary new nonsurgical treatment called Ultherapy.
What Is Ultherapy Treatment?
If you’ve heard of this treatment before, it might be because it’s a favorite choice of several Hollywood celebrities. It is non-invasive, which gives it a widespread appeal. In the last decade, hundreds of thousands of patients have had the treatment performed. Ultherapy tightens loose skin through the use of targeted ultrasound energy. In the hands of a skilled provider, this ultrasound energy is able to bypass the outer layers of your skin and effect the lower layers that stimulate collagen growth.
Collagen: The Key Element
Collagen is a protein that exists inside your skin, and it’s a main reason why your skin retains its shape. Unfortunately, we lose some of this collagen as we age, and this gradual decline is part of what leads to the eventual “loose skin” effect.
When our experts target the lower level of your skin with ultrasound energy, it leads to a rise in collagen production. As your body starts to make more, the old proteins are replaced with new and more effective collagen. Because the body needs time to grow more collagen, it is not an instantaneous process, but the results lead to a more youthful look. Your skin can regain this younger texture as it is treated “from the inside out.”
How Does This Work?
When we perform the treatment, we are able to target the energy in such a way that we bypass the outer layers of your skin and instead target a layer under the surface. This ability lets us stimulate collagen growth directly in a way that doesn’t damage the upper layers.
After this session, the lower layers of your skin will “wake up” and start to produce collagen at a heightened rate. The effects of this will continue for months, as the new collagen becomes introduced to your skin through your body’s natural growth process. In the end, you will have new collagen distributed throughout your skin, completely and totally generated by your own body, keeping your skin smooth, tight, and looking young.
How Soon Will I See Results?
There are a few ways to answer this, but a general rule is that you will probably start to notice at least some results in the first week. Some patients even report a change within the first few days, noting an increase in the lift of their skin. This is a good sign, as it means the process has begun; but it is not the entire journey.
Collagen growth is a long-term process, and full results will usually need about 2-3 months to come to fruition. After the third month, you will still continue to generate more collagen and might see even more improvement, but this is the point at which one really starts to notice the difference.
How Long Will My Results Last?
Most people want to know how long their newly-produced collagen will last. The answer is complicated, as it really depends on the overall biochemistry of the individual. Typically, the collagen will be noticeable for 2-3 years after your initial session and will help keep your skin tight during that time.
At the same time, the skin does continue to age. Some of the collagen will deplete as time goes by. The “best results” are typically achieved when a patient has a successful first session and then returns at intervals of one year in order to do follow-up treatments. These maintenance sessions can keep your look steady and continually rejuvenating your skin. Once the process starts, we will work with you to find a maintenance schedule that best fits your life and goals.
Why Do So Many People Get Ultherapy?
Ultherapy has many advantages that set it apart from other treatments. It is designed for maximum efficiency and effectiveness, with several key characteristics that make it so appealing.
A Quick, Convenient Treatment
At our spa, a typical session might last for 60-70 minutes. There is some variation based on how many treatment areas there are and what they are. On some occasions, a patient might need to schedule a second session as a way of encouraging additional collagen production. This is rare, however, as most patients only require one session, and any second sessions will be determined on an individual basis.
We do encourage follow-up sessions after an interval of one year in order to maintain ideal results. Despite the effectiveness of the treatment, the amount of collagen in your skin will always continue to decline somewhat, and periodic maintenance sessions will help keep everything looking its best.
Zero Downtime
Many people are surprised to learn that there isn’t a lengthy recovery period for this treatment. Although facelifts and laser surgeries can sometimes have people recovering for multiple days or weeks, Ultherapy manages to avoid all that by virtue of being non-invasive. You won’t need an extensive recovery, and you can even resume normal activities on the same day as the treatment.
As a result, this treatment is especially popular with busy professionals, on-the-go parents, and anyone who doesn’t want to spend a ton of time in the doctor’s office. You won’t need to take hours out of your day for the session. Better yet, you won’t need to spend days “recovering.”
Approved By the FDA
For over 50 years, ultrasound energy has been used by medical professionals in treating everything from gallbladders to heart issues. The technology used for Ultherapy is essentially the same ultrasound science that lets us see a pregnancy in its early stages or allows us to monitor a person’s inner organs. It has a strong foundation when it comes to solving medical problems in ways that are less drastic or disruptive than surgery.
The FDA approved Ultherapy in 2009. The ease of the treatment has kept it a popular solution for the problem of aging skin. In the years since its approval, it has been used on hundreds of thousands of satisfied patients, many of whom are thrilled that they can avoid the surgeon’s knife.
A Wonderfully Non-Invasive Approach
Probably the single most popular feature of this treatment is that it is completely non-invasive. The ultrasound energy is able to revitalize your skin by directly working on the lower layers. This allows your skin to rejuvenate in a natural way without disrupting the upper layers or damaging the skin’s surface. Your practitioner can use ultrasound imaging to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment and make sure that correct layers of the skin are being targeted.
Unlike a facelift, this approach is not a “quick fix.” Although many patients notice a change within the first few days after their session, it usually takes a full three months in order for your results to become complete. However, many patients report that these results can last for two to three years, and without any surgery necessary.
Who Typically Seeks Treatment?
Most people who get this treatment will want to change the makeup of their skin by tightening and lifting what they already have. They are not looking for a change in pigment or coloring (Ultherapy is not the ideal solution for this). Rather, they are simple looking to change the consistency of their skin so that it has a more youthful and firmer texture.
Most of these patients will have noticed at least some loosening already occurring in the skin, usually as the natural result of aging. They hope to be able to regain their former vitality without resorting to surgery. The areas of treatment can vary from person to person, as there are many options. It is possible to treat the stomach and chest, but the most well-known uses are usually for the chin, cheeks, and neck.
What Is Involved in the Process?
Before the treatment session itself, the first step is a personal consultation between you and our staff. The in-person consultation is the best way for us to get to know each other. We will be able to confirm your medical history and also understand your concerns and objectives with treatment.
Your Personal Consultation
At this time, we encourage you to ask any and all questions about our treatments. The most important thing for us to do is to answer your questions and make sure you are completely satisfied with your decision. We will also make sure we can determine the best treatment specifics for you based on the level of laxity in the skin, your skin type, and any medications you may be taking.
Your Treatment Session
As previously states, treatment sessions usually last around an hour (maybe a little more). Sometimes a very extensive treatment can go longer, and if only the chest is being targeted, it may be less (as little as half an hour).
Our experts will channel ultrasound energy into the treatment areas. These will not affect the upper levels of your skin; only the lower levels responsible for collagen production. During this process, there is always a medical professional on hand to answer any questions or concerns with the treatment. You will always be able to let someone know if you are uncomfortable, or if you need to change the intensity of the treatment.
Are You an Ideal Candidate?
In addition to everything else, ideal candidates are patient. They know that this treatment will not deliver results right away in the same manner that a facelift will. They realize that it may be two to three months before they achieve the look they hope, but they are willing to do this because they want something that is minimally-invasive and works with their body’s natural process. In the long run, they will be able to reap the benefits and experience amazing changes: smoother, tighter, and healthier skin.
Does this sound like you? If so, then the next step is clear: calling for the initial consultation with our staff.
Your Consultation
Looser skin is a natural part of aging, but for many people, it can become a major concern. Fortunately, Ultherapy gives us a chance to change this without resorting to highly disruptive methods. If you’ve been meaning to make a change and tighten your skin, then this treatment can give you that youthful shape back. Just one session can lead to results that will last for years.
So get in touch with us! Our experts are here to help you at every step and make sure that you can achieve the look of your dreams. Call us at Persona Med Spa in Houston, TX and schedule your consultation today!
