Ultrasound Therapy
No matter how diligent you are with your skincare routine, protecting your skin from environmental damage and other items on the anti-aging checklist, age will always catch up. Thankfully, ultrasound therapy gives people who prefer a nonsurgical route the power to get serious results with considerably less downtime.
At the practice of Dr. Glenn Vallecillos in Beverly Hills, ultrasound treatments like Ultherapy offer patients a sophisticated solution for bringing the fullness, youthful texture and clarity back to their skin safely and effectively. Dr. Vallecillos combines his expertise in aesthetic medicine with advanced ultrasound platforms like Ultherapy to deliver precise, customized treatments.
What Is Ultrasound Therapy?
Ultrasound therapy is an advanced approach to nonsurgical skin tightening that uses focused ultrasound energy to improve the skin’s tightness and resilience. As opposed to skincare products that tend to work only on the surface level or injectable fillers that add immediate volume, ultrasound reaches the foundational level where collagen activity is highest.
As ultrasound energy is precisely delivered to these deeper tissue layers, it creates a heating effect that your body registers as an “injury.” This, in turn, stimulates a powerful healing response that includes laying down new collagen and elastin. These proteins are like the latticework of the skin, giving it fullness and structure that manifests as tighter, smoother skin on the surface.
Why Is Ultrasound Therapy So Popular?
What makes ultrasound therapy particularly popular among our patients at GVMD is its ability to treat areas that have historically been considered only treatable (at least effectively) by surgical options.
This includes areas like the:
- Brow line
- Under-eye area
- Mid-face
- Jawline
- Neck
- Chest
There are no incisions, general anesthesia or extended downtime required with ultrasound therapy, and progressively improving results allow for a more subtle improvement that contributes to a natural look.
How Ultherapy® Works
There are now several ultrasound therapy platforms being offered as nonsurgical aesthetic treatments, but Ultherapy stands out for its high degree of precision and proven track record.
Specifically, Ultherapy combines two components, therapeutic ultrasound energy delivery and real-time imaging, to deliver carefully tailored results that blend in seamlessly with surrounding areas. Before the ultrasound energy is delivered, the system provides highly detailed imaging of deep tissue layers. This allows Dr. Vallecillos to identify exactly where the treatment will be most effective.
Once the target areas are mapped out in detail, the Ultherapy handpiece delivers carefully concentrated ultrasound energy to the treatment areas. The depth of treatment can be adjusted based on the area(s) being addressed. As mentioned above, the heating effect stimulates healing processes that include collagen remodeling, resulting in firmer, tighter skin.
Am I a Candidate for Ultrasound Therapy?
Noninvasive ultrasound therapy treatments like Ultherapy work best for people who have mild to moderate skin laxity. If you notice that your skin doesn’t rebound as quickly as it used to, if your jawline contour has softened or if the skin on your neck has begun to sag, you may be an excellent candidate for ultrasound therapy.
Additional factors to consider when determining whether ultrasound therapy is right for you are:
- Age: There is no tightly defined age range when it comes to your candidacy for ultrasound therapy, but to provide a general frame of reference, most patients are between their late 30s and early 60s.
- Lifestyle: You should be at or near your ideal weight and able to maintain that for as long as possible, since strong weight fluctuations can compromise skin elasticity. Smoking interferes with collagen production and healing.
- Expectations: While ultrasound therapy can produce an impressive tightening and lifting effect, it won’t deliver results on par with a surgical facelift. Patients with more significant skin laxity may be better suited to a facelift and possible neck lift.
- Medical factors: Some conditions and circumstances can affect your candidacy for ultrasound therapy. If you have active skin infections, severe cystic acne, are pregnant, or have certain bleeding or immune disorders (among others), ultrasound therapy may not be an appropriate treatment option.
- Recent treatments: If you’ve had dermal fillers recently, you may be asked to wait before undergoing ultrasound therapy, since the thermal effect may negatively impact the filler.
The Treatment Process
Every patient at Dr. Vallecillos’ Beverly Hills practice receives a comprehensive consultation, during which Dr. Vallecillos will carefully assess your skin quality, the degree of laxity, your aesthetic goals and more to create a fully tailored treatment plan.
Dr. Vallecillos will explain exactly how ultrasound therapy works, including what sensations you might experience and what kind of results you can expect based on your circumstances.
You may be advised to pause the use of certain medications or supplements. This pre-treatment window is the ideal time for you to ask any other questions you may have.
Treatment Day
You’ll arrive at your session with clean skin free of makeup, lotions or other products. We will cleanse the treatment area and prepare you for treatment, including applying a numbing cream if you have any concerns about discomfort.
Once you’re prepared for treatment, we will apply ultrasound gel and begin working the handpiece across the treatment areas. The imaging guides where the treatment will be most effective. As the handpiece glides across the treatment area, you will feel a series of small and controlled pulses. Most patients describe a warming sensation. After the final pass is complete, the gel is removed, and your skin is cleansed.
What to Expect After Ultrasound Therapy
Unlike surgical alternatives that require weeks of recovery, ultrasound therapy allows you to carry on with your regular schedule immediately after treatment.
Potential Side Effects
Some patients experience mild swelling or tenderness in the treated areas for one to two days following the procedure. This reaction is normal, indicating that the thermal effect has reached the deeper tissue layers. Applying cold compresses can help reduce any swelling, and over-the-counter pain relievers can manage any lingering discomfort.
Redness typically fades within a few hours, though some people may notice slight flushing for up to 24 hours after treatment. Bruising is uncommon, but can occur, usually resolving on its own (topical arnica cream can help) within a few days. Some patients report temporary numbness in the treatment area, which also resolves within a few days to one or two weeks.
Gradual Improvement Over Instant Effect
Collagen takes time to mature and spread throughout the skin. While you may notice improvements within two to three weeks after your ultrasound therapy treatment, the most dramatic changes will unfold over a period of two to four months. Collagen production continues for up to six months after treatment.
Precisely how long your results last depends on your age, skin quality, lifestyle habits and how the natural aging process affects your body. Most patients can enjoy significant improvements for 12 to 18 months or longer.
Follow These Simple Steps to Protect Your Results
Maintain a consistent skincare routine that includes using sunscreen on a daily basis. UV exposure accelerates collagen breakdown and can diminish your results. Staying well-hydrated, eating a balanced diet rich in antioxidants and avoiding smoking all support healthy collagen production and skin quality.
If you’re considering additional aesthetic treatments after ultrasound therapy, discuss timing with Dr. Vallecillos. Injectable fillers, Botox and other procedures can complement your ultrasound therapy results, but proper sequencing matters to avoid complications and optimize outcomes.
Ready for Tighter, Smoother Skin?
If sagging skin has left you feeling disconnected from the confident person you know yourself to be, ultrasound therapy with Dr. Vallecillos offers a solution that works with your body’s natural healing abilities. Schedule your consultation at his Beverly Hills practice by calling (310) 273-3007 or contact us online to discover how targeted ultrasound energy can restore the firmness and definition your skin has been missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does ultrasound therapy differ from laser skin tightening?
While both technologies aim to tighten skin, they work in fundamentally different ways. Laser treatments use light energy to heat the skin’s surface and upper layers, stimulating collagen production primarily in the dermis. Ultrasound therapy penetrates deeper, reaching the foundational layers where surgical facelifts work.
Can I combine ultrasound therapy with other aesthetic treatments?
Ultrasound therapy pairs well with a number of other procedures, including fillers, Botox, laser treatments and more, to address a wider range of treatment depths and aesthetic concerns for more comprehensive results. Dr. Vallecillos will help you design a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses all your aesthetic concerns.
Will I need multiple ultrasound therapy sessions?
Most patients find a single session is enough to deliver the results they’re looking for, though some people with more advanced skin laxity may benefit from a second session spaced several months after the first.
Does ultrasound therapy hurt?
Sensation varies from person to person. Most patients describe feeling brief warmth or tingling as the ultrasound energy is delivered. Some areas are more sensitive than others, like the bony region of the jawline. Topical numbing cream is available for patients concerned about possible discomfort.
When can I exercise after ultrasound therapy?
You can return to light exercise the day after your ultrasound therapy treatment. However, activities that cause sweating and facial flushing may need to be paused for two to three days if you have initial swelling or tenderness.