Thank you for your question. There are many methods for firming the skin and they range from the non-invasive to the invasive surgical facelift.
In recent times, there has been quite a lot of attention given to ultrasound based tightening procedures to rejuvenate the face. Two of the common brands are HIFU and Ulthera. These are ideal for the younger patients as they cause skin tightening and provide a modest lift of the face. Personally, I have used both and I prefer the Ulthera as it provides a more definite lift with a long lasting result.
The HIFU is noted to be less painful and more sessions are required whilst some of the concerns of the Ulthera are that it can be more painful so we provide the patient with ample anaesthetic to numb the skin before the procedure to reduce the discomfort. There are also some radio frequency based devices which I have used but with limited success.
The Ultherapy aims to tighten the SMAS which is the same layer that we address during a surgical facelift. The ultrasound aims to cause contraction of the collagen at specific points which leads to lifting and firming of the face. New collagen is stimulated in the coming months and this causes the results to last. However, it is of course without doubt that the pull of these ultrasound based treatments are modest and cannot address significant skin laxity in the face or neck. In such cases a surgical facelift would be required. The other doctors have correctly mentioned that injectables such as botox and fillers can be done in combination to complement the Ulthera or HIFU to give a youthful, rejuvenated appearance.
Please seek an in-person consultation with a well trained plastic surgeon that is able to give you the full spectrum of options to address your problems. I hope this answers your question. Have a great week ahead and all the best!
Dr. Terence Goh
Plastic Surgeon
The information provided is purely for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice or create any physician/patient relationship. Results may vary between individuals.
