Reasons for choosing to have an ultrasound treatment
The best candidates for ultrasound skin tightening are those between the ages of 35 and 65 who have some level of skin looseness in the face and body and wish to postpone or avoid cosmetic surgery and invasive procedures.
People who smoke or have excessively sun-damaged skin are not good candidates for ultrasound face and body rejuvenation, because the ability of their skin to create new collagen may be compromised.
Ultrasound treatments should not be given to people with active infections, open wounds, or acne at treatment sites. Ultrasound skin tightening is not suitable for pregnant women or people with pacemakers and other electrical medical devices. People with medical conditions that impair wound healing and those on medications that alter or impair healing might also not see great results with this treatment. Often, people who are unsuitable for ultrasound treatments aren’t suitable for any other form of laser treatment either.
For most people, the key reasons for choosing ultrasound are convenience, safety, and its non-invasive skin tightening abilities. Unlike laser and radiofrequency treatments, ultrasound skin tightening focuses on the same deeper tissue layers that are addressed during a standard facelift. Although ultrasound cannot reproduce results similar to or even close to a facelift, it allows the user to buy time before surgery. It is also ideal for those who cannot undergo cosmetic surgery or are considered unsuitable for more invasive skin rejuvenation procedures.
The fact that ultrasound can bring about changes in the deep tissue layers of the face and body without damaging the outer skin makes these treatments attractive to consumers seeking non-invasive facial and body rejuvenation.
Many studies have shown that intense-focused ultrasound is capable of penetrating the superficial layers of the skin to create thermal and non-thermal effects in deeper tissue layers containing fiber and muscle. It is the same layer, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, better known as the SMAS, which a facial surgeon works on when performing a standard facelift. Besides surgery, few options offer such penetrating capacity to treat deep tissue. This is what makes ultrasound technology an exciting area of research in anti-ageing rejuvenation treatments.
Ultrasound therapy has been proven safe and effective in tightening the skin on the face and neck. Research studies show that the forehead, eyelids, cheeks, chin, and jaw areas can benefit from the treatment with ultrasound.
Ultrasound therapy has also been proven safe and effective in improving the texture and contour of the upper arms, knees, and mid-thighs.
The most widely known ultrasound skin tightening system is the Ulthera System. Originating in the US, the Ulthera System has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It has also received TGA approval in Australia.