Available at our Hayes Valley and Larkspur locations.
Hayes Valley Medical is proud to have earned Ultra Premiere status from Ultherapy.
Ultherapy stimulates the body’s own production of collagen and elastin leading to skin tightening and lifting for results that are natural and long-lasting. It is the only FDA-cleared, non-invasive lift that may also reduce lines and wrinkles on the décolletage, neck and brows. All with little or no downtime.
Ultherapy was a winner of the coveted NEWBEAUTY Best-of Awards four years in a row, and again in 2023!
2021 – “Best Non-Surgical Skin Tightener”
2020 – “Best Non-Surgical Skin Tightener”
2019 – “Best Non-Surgical Skin Tightener”
2018 – “Tried And True Skin Tightener”
What is Ultherapy?
The Ulthera® System uses micro-focused ultrasound, which does not dissipate as it penetrates tissue like radiofrequency energy does. 95% of the delivered energy is concentrated at a pre-selected depth below the skin’s surface, creating controlled heating through cellular friction. Ultherapy uses this safe energy to stimulate the deep support layers of the skin—including those typically addressed in a surgical facelift—without disturbing the skin surface.
Which conditions can be treated?
• Poor jawline definition
• Loose, sagging neck skin
• Facial volume loss
• Aging eyelids
• General skin laxity
• Crepey decolletage
Am I a good candidate?
Ultherapy is appropriate for anyone concerned with skin laxity and sagging of the face and neck. Micro-focused ultrasound is safe and effective for all skin types.
Key benefits and typical results
Most patients experience immediate tightening with continued improvement over two to three months, while many patients have reported improvement for up to six months. Ultherapy is not a replacement for a surgical facelift, but it is one of the best alternatives to stay ahead of the aging curve, and boost your body’s own natural collagen production. The majority of patients respond very well to one treatment, however some patients benefit from additional sessions, depending on their degree of laxity, age and own biological response to stimulating collagen.
Before and After Gallery
How do I prepare for treatment?
Avoid over-the-counter blood thinning medications such as aspirin, Advil (ibuprofen), and Aleve (naproxen) for few days prior to your appointment. Also stop taking herbal supplements such as Vitamin E, Ginkgo Biloba, St. John’s Wort and fish oils, wich can also thin your blood. This will minimize potential bruising.
What happens during treatment?
Your skin is cleansed, measured, and marked for even placement of the Ulthera handpiece. Discomfort levels vary from patient to patient, and with different treatment areas. Mostly, patients experience mild stinging and tingling during the actual treatment. We offer numbing cream for mild discomfort. You have the option to self-administer inhaled analgesia, our PRO-NOX™ Nitrous Oxide System add-on service for pain or anxiety. Ask your practitioner if you are concerned about your comfort level. Total treatment time is thirty to ninety minutes depending on the areas treated.
Post-treatment care or downtime?
You may experience some bruising, swelling, numbness, tenderness and redness that will subside in a day or two, but you may resume your regular schedule right away. Other than these mild side effects there is no downtime after your procedure. This is one of the great feature of ultrasound therapy.
How long until I see results?
Improvement in the appearance of the treated area begins in the first few weeks after treatment. However, the full effects of collagen growth take between two to three months to develop as the results of Ultherapy are gradual and progressive. Some patients continue to see improvement for up to six months.
How long will results last?
Ultherapy treatments produce results which can last up to a year or more. Maintenance treatments can be safely and effectively performed to prolong the outcome of your procedure. Individual results vary based on skin type, your skin care regimen and how well you protect your skin from the sun and other environmental stressors. Always try to avoid prolonged sun exposure and apply SPF dutifully before outdoor activities.
How many treatments will I need?
The majority of patients only need one full treatment though depending on the severity of skin laxity, general condition of your skin, two treatments approximately six months apart may be recommended. During your complimentary consultation we can determine what’s best for your needs and goals.
Can this treatment be used as part of a combo therapy?
Ultherapy can be combined with other treatments such as skin resurfacing, neuromodulators, and fillers as part of a complete approach to rejuvenation of both the face and body.
What’s the science?
Energy is delivered with surgical precision, reaching a depth 50% greater than first generation devices, to non-invasively target the same deep tissue planes as a modern facelift. This energy heats tissue structures to coagulative temperatures, causing collagen denaturation and initiating aggressive collagen synthesis – all without injuring the skin’s surface. The Ulthera® System also combines treatment delivery with real-time ultrasound visualization, adding an enhanced degree of precision to treatment delivery.
Similar to a magnifying glass focusing sunlight, heat is only generated at the focal point, leaving the skin’s surface and intervening tissue unaffected. Over 90-180 days, the wound-healing response stimulates long-term tissue remodeling and leads to further lifting and tightening, with results that can last a year or more.
Ultherapy is the “collagen creator”, technically called neocollagenesis
PHASE 1: INFLAMMATION — Activated upon Injury
Application of microfocused ultrasound energy creates TCPs, which denature collagen and initiate an inflammatory response. Macrophages engulf and digest injured tissue and release cytokines, which attract fibroblasts.
PHASE 2: PROLIFERATION —Typically starts within hours; can last for several weeks
Fibroblasts synthesize new collagen, mainly Type III, and other mediators important to rebuilding of the collagen matrix. Histological analysis of facial skin treated with Ultherapy shows a significant increase in collagen and elastin.
PHASE 3: MATURATION AND REMODELING — Typically starts at 3 weeks post-injury; may last up to 1 year
Type III collagen is replaced by Type I, forming tight cross-links with itself and other proteins. This gradual collagen remodeling process is essential to the skin tightening and lifting provided by Ultherapy.
