Ultherapy Skin Tightening

FAQ

• How much does Ultherapy cost?

  Ultherapy is priced per treatment area, so your total depends on how many areas you treat. Prices for each area are in the price list on this page. Your consultation is free, and your provider confirms your areas and total before you book.

• Which of your clinics offer Ultherapy?

  Our West Hollywood (375 N. La Cienega Blvd) and Santa Monica (902 Broadway) clinics. Choose the one closest to you when you book your free consultation.

• Where can Ultherapy be used?

  On the face and neck: the brow, the skin beside and under the eyes (staying outside the bony eye socket), upper lip lines, the cheeks, the jawline, under the chin and the neck. On the body: the chest, stomach, above the knees, under the buttocks, the hips and along the bra line. Ultherapy is FDA-cleared to lift the brow and loose skin under the chin and on the neck, and to improve lines and wrinkles on the chest. The other areas listed are off-label uses; your provider will explain this, and what results to expect, for your area. We don't treat the eyelids, inside the eye socket, breast tissue or over the thyroid.

• Who is a good candidate for Ultherapy?

  Ultherapy suits people with mild to moderate loose skin, like loose skin along the jawline, under the chin or on the neck, a heavy brow, or lines and wrinkles on the chest. It isn't a replacement for a surgical facelift, but it can give a natural-looking lift if you're not ready for surgery.

• How does the ultrasound imaging help?

  The system shows an ultrasound image of the layers under your skin on screen, so your provider can check the treatment depth as they go and avoid treating over bone.

• When will I see results from Ulthera?

  Results develop gradually over 2 to 3 months and can keep improving for up to 6 months. Results vary from person to person.

• What is an Ulthera treatment like?

  At your first visit, your provider looks at your skin, answers your questions and plans your treatment. During treatment, your provider uses ultrasound imaging to see the layers under your skin and choose the treatment depths, then delivers focused ultrasound at those depths. It heats tissue below the surface without breaking the skin. At Cienega Medical, Ultherapy is performed by experienced physician assistants and nurse practitioners, who work to keep you comfortable. Men should come clean shaven.

• Is there any downtime from Ulthera?

  Usually none. Most people go back to normal activities right after treatment. Redness usually fades within hours and swelling within a few days. Tenderness and bruising can last longer, depending on the area treated.

• Does Ulthera hurt?

  Comfort levels during the procedure vary from person to person. If your provider says it's safe for you, you can take Tylenol or ibuprofen 45 minutes before treatment, and we use numbing cream. Most of the discomfort is felt while the energy is being delivered, and the area can stay tender for a while afterward.

• How long does Ulthera take?

  The length of the treatment will depend on the area being treated and patient’s individual treatment plan. A face and neck treatment typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. A small treatment area may take 20 to 30 minutes.

• How do I get the best results from Ulthera?

  Follow your provider's aftercare instructions, including advice about pain relief. Never stop a prescribed medicine without asking your doctor.

• How does Ultherapy compare to Thermage?

  Both use heat to prompt new collagen. Ultherapy delivers it with focused ultrasound at set depths, with imaging that helps your provider check the depth; Thermage uses radiofrequency energy. Your provider can tell you whether Ultherapy fits your goals.

• When should I receive Ulthera?

  Plan ahead for a special event. Results develop over several months, and bruising or tenderness can take time to settle. Ask your provider when to schedule treatment.

• Who should not receive Ulthera?

  Ultherapy isn't right for you if you have open wounds or severe or cystic acne in the treatment area, or an active implant (such as a pacemaker) or a metal implant in the area to be treated. We also wait at least 3 months after filler and 2 weeks after Botox or Dysport in the same area. Your provider reviews your health history and decides whether and when treatment is right for you.

• Is this authentic Ulthera?

  Yes. We use the genuine Ulthera system, made by Ulthera, Inc. (Merz Aesthetics), and you can ask to see our authenticity certificate. Some clinics advertise similar-sounding treatments on other devices, so it's worth asking any provider which device they use.

• Is Ultherapy safe?

  Ultherapy is non-invasive. It's FDA-cleared to lift the brow and loose skin under the chin and on the neck, and to improve lines and wrinkles on the chest. Like any treatment, it has possible side effects: temporary redness, swelling, tenderness or bruising, and sometimes numbness, tingling or muscle weakness, which usually resolve within 2 to 6 weeks but can last longer. Burns or scarring can occur. Your provider reviews your health history at your consultation to decide whether it's right for you.

• Is Ulthera safe for all skin tones?

  Ultherapy is intended for adults of every skin type and tone (Fitzpatrick types I to VI). Your provider checks your skin at your consultation.