When is Ultherapy an alternative to a facelift?

Ulthera on woman's chin

If you’re keen to firm, tighten and lift sagging skin but fearful of going under the knife or it’s not quite the right time for a facelift, then Ulthera ultrasound therapy may be the non-surgical alternative for you. Read more about ultherapy and the impressive results we’ve seen for the face, neck and jaw-line at Karidis…

We know a well-performed facelift can achieve impressive results – the story and video of Karen Hogan’s transforming facelift journey (featured in Mail on Sunday’s You Magazine) has moved us all – but we also know surgery isn’t for everyone. It may be hard to imagine a non-invasive treatment can achieve benefits such as tighter, more defined and firmer skin – as we would see in a surgical procedure – but the team of nurses at Karidis have seen some quite outstanding results with Ulthera.

“Ulthera – or ultherapy as it’s also known – can improve the tone, texture and laxity of the skin in any age-group and is currently the most effective non-surgical face-lifting treatment with no downtime. Some say it’s like a facelift minus the knife, however, it does have its limitations!

“We see fantastic results in people in their 30’s, 40’s and beyond with the Ulthera, providing the skin is of good quality. Typically, the less severe the sagging is the higher likelihood a non surgical procedure will benefit you .  This is because if sagging is quite advanced then you are probably a better candidate for surgery.” We recommend a consultation in which both non-surgical and surgical options are discussed in order to best suit your individual needs and expectations.

Sound interesting? Here’s the lowdown: Through concentrated ultrasound energy, the device can lift the muscle and tone the skin on specific areas such as neck, jaw-line and chin. This happens through a process of deep level injury which then stimulates the production of new collagen to revive and tone the skin from beneath. The results are tighter, more plumped skin on the outside.

We’ve seen particularly transformative results on drooping jowls and loose skin around jaw-lines, making Ulthera are an excellent choice if problem areas are on the lower part of the face and a full facelift is therefore not needed. Good results can also be achieved around the brow line where skin might sag so the options are not exclusive to the lower face.

A recent patient of Ulthera at Karidis, Carole Ann Rice, decided to have Ulthera after hearing about its results. “I wanted a natural look without downtime or obvious damage or recovery and I’d heard Ulthera gave amazing results that get better as the months go on – how amazing is that?”

Some mild to moderate pain and discomfort may be felt during the treatment (everyone’s pain thresholds vary) so our nurses administer some pain killers to prepare for this. Fortunately as Karidis’ clinic is based at St. John’s and Elizabeth Hospital in London, for those with high sensitivity (in our experience, it’s usually you men!), we can organise gas and air.

On the subject of pain, Carole Ann comments: “I would say it’s an irritating pain at the least and can go up to a hot burning sensation (about 7 out of 10) in some places where the skin is thinner. But it’s not as bad as root canal work at the dentist and you get instant wonderful results.”

Once the treatment is finished, there is no pain, recovery or downtime. “Instantly the face feels and looks tighter and I love that it just keeps getting better in a lovely fresh-looking way as the months go on,” says Carole Ann. In fact, you only need one treatment to see results and expect to see the best results in around three to six month – ideal if you have a big event later in the year, such as a wedding, that you need to look your best for.

Lead nurse at Karidis, Karolina Jendras, who was also pleased with Carole Ann’s results, says, “her skin responded so well to the treatment, and results have been continued to improve over the months. I’m already pencilling her in for another session, should she need it, in 18 months to two years time.”

So is Ulthera right for you? If you have a mild to moderate degree of skin laxity that you’d like to firm and tighten, but maybe it’s not enough for a full facelift, then you could be a good candidate for Ulthera. It’s also an option for early intervention, if a surgical facelift is something you might consider in later years. Some of our patients also use Ulthera as a post-surgery maintenance procedure to support the results of their surgery.

For more detailed information about Ultherapy and how to book, visit the Ultherapy Facial Treatments page.