Tighten and Lift Lax Skin with Ultrasound Therapy in the Denver Area

Youthful skin has plentiful collagen and elastin, two proteins that provide structure and stability. Aging causes these elements to diminish, which leads to the development of tissue laxity, especially in the lower face. While some people turn to facelift surgery to address these changes, not everyone wants or needs a procedure that involves incisions and a significant recovery period. For women and men who want to avoid scalpels and sutures as they restore collagen and elastin for a more youthful-looking appearance, Ultherapy at the Denver area’s AboutSkin Dermatology and DermSurgery is an ideal option.

Numerous clinical studies have proven the efficacy and safety of Ultherapy. Dr. Joel Cohen and the AboutSkin team have participated in multiple clinical Ultherapy trials and are extremely experienced with the treatment. They explain to patients that Ultherapy is not a replacement for surgery, but it is an effective non-invasive treatment that can deliver significant but more modest results. Ultherapy is the best nonsurgical option available for skin lifting.

How Does Ultherapy Work?

Because collagen is key to a youthful appearance, Ultherapy focuses on activating natural processes that produce this vital protein. The device administers microfocused ultrasound energy, which passes through the surface of the skin and creates a thermal effect in deeper layers. This heat prompts cells to begin creating new collagen, and subsequent tightening and lifting of lax skin.

Skin in the treated area may appear slightly red for a few hours after a session. This may be sometimes accompanied by mild swelling, tenderness, or tingling lasting an average of one to two days. It is safe to use on darker skin types.

Over the course of several months, as collagen levels rise in the skin, the result is a tighter, more lifted appearance.

The results can last up to a year or longer, with the specific duration depending on an individual’s natural aging processes. Newly created collagen breaks down over time. Follow-up Ultherapy sessions can help patients to maintain their desired appearance. Maintenance treatments are scheduled 12 to 18 months apart (24 months if for younger patients aged 30 to 45). It can be particularly useful in patients who have previously undergone a facelift and want to preserve their results.

What Areas Can Ultherapy Treat?

Sagging skin develops most prominently on the neck (including laxity under chin), jawline, lower face, and brow. The FDA has cleared Ultherapy to treat all of these areas, as well as to smooth out lines and wrinkles that appear on the décolletage. The upper chest is often an area where early signs of aging first appear. Independent studies show it can be effective on laxity of the knees, thighs, buttocks, elbows, and upper arms.

What Other Treatments Can Address Laxity and Related Problems?

In addition to Ultherapy, AboutSkin Dermatology offers Genius RF, a microneedling device that uses radiofrequency energy to induce collagen production in layers superficial to those treated by Ultherapy. Each option has unique benefits, and a member of the AboutSkin team can help to determine which is best for a specific patient. Combined treatment is even possible when there is deeper laxity and more superficial wrinkling, for example, on the neck.

Certain dermal fillers are also effective solutions to the problem of mild facial laxity due to volume loss. Collagen and fat depletion in the mid-face can cause skin to sag, leading to the development of jowls and a soft, poorly defined jawline. Restoring volume in the “apple” of the cheeks and along the jawline creates structural support that lifts the skin and reveals the smoothened jawline contours again.

While “turkey neck” is a laxity-related cosmetic issue, many patients also find that excess fat creates the undesirable look of a double chin. Injectable Kybella^® addresses this by dissolving fat cells for a slimmer look.