If you're looking for a skin tightening procedure to give your face a bit of a lift, you may have heard about Ulthera and Thermage, two new options in the world of skin rejuvenation. Ulthera uses ultrasound waves to improve the texture and strength of the skin, while Thermage procedures use radiofrequency waves for this process.
Though these two procedures use different frequencies of energy, they operate in much the same way. During the procedure, the doctor uses a handheld device to send the energy into the skin, where it heats the deeper layers of skin, causing tightening and stimulating the body's production of collagen, a key structural element in the skin. Both are minimally-invasive procedures seen as an alternative to facelifts and other facial plastic surgery procedures, and associated with no downtime and no scarring.
Although both procedures are still considered new to the market, and therefore there is little data about their long-term success, it seems as though more patients are satisfied after Ulthera than after undergoing Thermage. According to RealSelf, 92% felt that Ulthera treatments were worth it, compared to 40% of Thermage patients. In addition, Ulthera patients tend to find treatment to take less time and be less uncomfortable than Thermage patients.
Which procedure is right for you? Although many patients can choose between Thermage and Ulthera when considering skin tightening procedures, some patients may be better suited to one procedure or the other. Ulthera delivers more energy, deeper into the skin. As a result, it is able to tighten deeper tissues, including improving deep facial folds, when compared with Thermage.
