You don’t have to settle for sagging face and neck skin, and you don’t have to undergo an invasive procedure to tighten loose skin. At Gold Skin Care Center in Nashville, TN, we offer Ultherapy to help our clients erase years of aging from their face and neck.
Is Ultherapy Really Effective?
Yes, Ultherapy really is effective. In fact, several independent clinical trials have tested the efficacy of this non-invasive skin tightening treatment and proven it to be effective. After reviewing the results of these clinical trials, the FDA approved this treatment for the safe, effective treatment of loose skin in 2009.
What Parts of My Body Can Benefit From This Treatment?
This treatment is most commonly used to tighten loose skin in regions of the body that are usually exposed to sunlight. For example, it is primarily used to tighten loose skin in the lower face and neck. However, it may also be used to tighten loose chest skin and smooth chest wrinkles.
Why Does Loose, Sagging Skin Occur?
Loose, sagging skin is most commonly associated with aging, but a number of factors can cause it in younger people. Here is a closer look at the factors that cause loose, sagging skin:
Your Collagen Levels
In your early 20s, your skin is able to produce plenty of collagen. However, by the time you reach the age of 30, your skin is producing significantly less collagen than it did when you were younger. Unfortunately, this results in skin that can no longer fight gravity and remain tight and firm. Additionally, collagen loss leads to significant volume loss which causes wrinkles.
Your Lifestyle
Your lifestyle also plays a significant role in how much collagen your skin produces. Certain habits weaken existing collagen and impede your skin’s ability to produce more of this essential protein. For example, nicotine and alcohol cause significant damage to the collagen present in the lowest layer of your skin. The chemical compounds become entangled in the mesh-like structure of the protein, causing it to sag and weaken.
Additionally, tobacco products and alcohol reduce the efficiency of your cardiovascular system, meaning hydration and nutrients struggle to flow to the areas of your skin that most need to produce more collagen. Furthermore, UV rays weaken existing collagen significantly. To keep your skin as young and healthy as possible, make an effort to apply sunscreen every four hours.
How Does This Treatment Work?
This non-invasive skin tightening treatment works thanks to ultrasound technology. At the start of your treatment, we will use the Ultherapy device to see the tissues in the areas of concern. Once we can see clearly where the root cause of your problems is, we will emit the appropriate level of ultrasound energy to problem areas. This energy penetrates your skin all the way to the foundational layer of your skin.
Collagen Level Boost
What makes this treatment so effective is the ultrasound energy emitted stimulates your skin’s collagen production process. Over the course of several weeks following your treatment, your skin will slowly and steadily produce more collagen than it otherwise would. As the level of collagen in your targeted area increases, your skin will tighten, lift, smooth, and firm up.
That said, it can take between two and three months to see the final results of your treatment. Additionally, some people struggle to see changes despite changes occurring. To help you see the changes being made in your skin elasticity, we recommend photographing your targeted area before your session and every two weeks after your session. Comparing these photographs will show you that, even if you can’t see the gradual improvements, your skin is tightening, firming, and smoothing.
How Long Will My Treatment Session Take?
Your treatment session may take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to complete. While the severity of localized collagen loss affects how long each session takes, each treatment usually takes 30 minutes per targeted area. Therefore, if you are only addressing loose facial skin, you can fit this treatment into your lunch break. If you are targeting your face, neck, and chest, your session will take closer to 90 minutes to complete.
How Many Sessions Are Required To Achieve Desirable Results?
You should expect to see a significant improvement in the health and appearance of your skin after your first treatment session. However, if your skin is incredibly lax, you may need two or three treatment sessions before you can enjoy desirable results. We will advise you on how many sessions will be necessary to achieve your desired appearance once we evaluate your skin during your initial consultation.
How Long Will the Results of My Treatment Last?
A great advantage of this skin tightening treatment is the results are incredibly durable. Most anti-wrinkle treatments that encourage collagen production provide results that last around six months. The results of this ultrasound-based treatment provide ideal results that last for 24 months. Additionally, your results won’t disappear overnight two years after they became apparent.
Rather, they will fade gradually over time. It may be 30 months or more before your results have faded to the point you feel you need a follow-up treatment. Additionally, there are things you can do to extend the longevity of your treatment results.
What Can I Do To Extend My Treatment Results?
Minimize UV Exposure
If you want to increase the results of your Ultherapy treatment, you need to minimize UV exposure. As stated previously, UV rays damage collagen significantly. To minimize your exposure to UV rays, wear sunscreen when you go outside. Reapply your sunscreen every four hours or as directed on the bottle.
Additionally, you should be aware that the sun’s UV rays are strongest between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM. If you enjoy going on outdoor walks, consider going outside the hours of 10 and 4 to mitigate the risk of collagen damage.
Eat More Protein
Another important step you can take to extend the longevity of your results is eating more protein. Collagen is a protein, and your skin can’t produce this protein without certain amino acids. These building blocks of protein can be found in such sources of protein as dairy products, nuts, legumes, seafood, poultry and red meat.
Eat More Fruits
You should also make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamin C in your diet. Vitamin C also plays a crucial role in the production of collagen. Great sources of vitamin C include tropical fruits, citrus fruits, and berries. You get the most nutrients out of produce when they are fresh. However, frozen fruits also retain micronutrients fairly well. If possible, avoid canned produce.
Drink More Water
Adequate hydration is also essential if you want your Ultherapy results to last as long as possible. Individual hydration needs vary, but most people need around three liters of water daily.
Who Is a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
You will probably be considered a good candidate for this treatment if you are a fairly healthy adult and concerned about moderate skin laxity. However, this non-invasive treatment isn’t appropriate for everyone. For instance, you may be considered a poor candidate for this treatment if you suffer from certain medical conditions, such as lupus or hemophilia.
To find out if you are a good candidate for this treatment, you need to come in for an initial evaluation. During this initial evaluation, we will review your aesthetic goals to ensure they can be achieved effectively with this skin tightening treatment. Then, we will discuss your health history and current health to ensure this treatment will be safe for you.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
You don’t need to undergo invasive procedures to tighten loose, sagging skin. Ultherapy is an effective, non-invasive skin tightening treatment that harnesses the power of ultrasound waves to induce collagen and restore youth. Contact us today at Gold Skin Care Center in Nashville, TN to schedule your initial consultation and find out if this treatment is right for you.
