As years go by, the skin will slowly lose its youthful elasticity. Collagen and fat supplies naturally diminish, leaving behind tissues that are lax, sagging, and wrinkled. The resulting fine lines and deep creases are exacerbated by weight fluctuations, smoking, sun damage, and genetic disposition. With these dramatic changes, even the most expensive creams and serums cannot restore a youthful appearance. Although a facelift can provide significant improvements, not everyone is ready to commit to the expense or recovery time associated with a surgical procedure. Fortunately, The Naderi Center has an innovative way to restore a youthful, more refreshed appearance without surgery: Ulthera.
What is Ulthera?
Ulthera is an innovative, noninvasive technique created to lift and tighten dull, lax skin. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe and effective method for smoothing the skin, Ulthera holds little chance for complications. The first and only treatment of its kind, Ulthera uses ultrasound technology to address targeted areas, raising and plumping the skin to improve the appearance.
An in-office procedure, Ulthera takes less than 30 minutes to perform. No downtime is needed, meaning patients are back to their normal routine immediately. The gentle ultrasound heat targets underlying tissues, kick-starting the body’s production of collagen. Over the months to come, the results from Ulthera will continue to improve. Using the body’s own collagen-building process, this one-of-a-kind technique reduces the tell-tale signs of early aging to provide long-lasting, unmatched results.
Ulthera Can:
- Ease lines around the mouth
- Smooth deep creases around the eyes
- Reduce jowls
- Decrease laxity along the jawline
- Tighten skin under the chin
- Lift tissue on the neck and décolletage
The Best Candidate For Ulthera:
There are two ideal candidates for Ultherapy. The first group are patients who have developed laxity or looseness or sagging and wrinkles but for a variety of reasons be it cost or downtime or risk or co-morbidity they do not want definitive surgical correction. Ulthera does not replace surgery and does not give surgical results but it can improve aging changes and “buy time” until more dramatic surgery. The second group of patients are men and women in their late 30’s or early 40’s who are starting to see and feel laxity and signs of aging. In this group a comprehensive approach to anti-aging at The Naderi Center includes use of topical pharmaceutical grade skin care regimen using Retin-A and ZO products, Botox, Fillers, Light Chemical peels, and Ulthera. While Hollywood celebrities in Southern California get Ulthera treatments up to 3 times per year, the cost becomes prohibitive and we recommend Ulthera to be repeated every other year or every 3rd year to help keep the skin tight and prevent or delay more drastic surgery down the line. Anti-aging is complex but the expert cosmetic surgeons at The Naderi Center can guide you through the best option for your unique anatomy.
How does Ulthera work?
Ulthera has been approved by the FDA to smooth fine lines and wrinkles on the face, neck, and décolletage. The treatment safely focuses ultrasound energy deep into the lower layers of the skin. The warmth will then stimulate the production of collage, a building block of smooth, firm skin. After an Ulthera treatment, as the collagen stores are rebuilt, the tissues are plumped and lifted, providing a more youthful appearance. The skin will become noticeably firmer and tighter.
At The Naderi Center, each Ulthera session is performed in a private, comfortable treatment room. Depending on the treatment area, Ulthera normally takes less than half an hour. Once the targeted treatment area has been determined, the provider will gently pass the Ulthera handpiece directly over the skin. A concentrated beam of light energy will gently warm the lower layers of tissue. The focused energy boosts the body’s production of collagen in a process known as neocollagenesis. No anesthesia is needed; most patients report mild discomfort during treatment.
No downtime is required after an Ulthera session. Patients are back to their usual activities the same afternoon, including work and exercise. Immediately after the procedure, the treatment area may appear flushed or red, however this discoloration will quickly disappear. Side-effects of Ulthera are mild but can include swelling, tingling, and tenderness. Bruising is not uncommon. In some cases, temporary numbness may occur, but this will resolve on its own. As Ulthera does not involve any incisions or sutures, there is little chance for more serious complications such as infection or scarring to occur.
How can I get started with Ulthera?
The ideal Ulthera candidate will be someone in generally good health, who is experiencing a mild to moderate loss of skin elasticity. Potential patients should fully understand the Ulthera process and hold reasonable expectations for their results. The treatment can be safely performed on patients at almost any age, and of all skin types or ethnicities. While Ulthera is an excellent option for most patients, those with severe tissue laxity may not get optimal benefits from the procedure. As Ulthera encourages the production of collagen to plump the skin, some degree of existing tissue elasticity is necessary.
Prior to scheduling an Ulthera session at The Naderi Center, a consultation will be arranged with Dr. Naderi, Dr. Kulak, or Dr. Anderson. At this time, surgeons will perform a quick exam of the skin, as well as review your medical history. After an in-depth discuss about the Ulthera process and your aesthetic goals, it will be determined if this this technique is right for your individual situation.
What are the benefits of Ulthera?
Patients may see mild improvement immediately after an Ulthera session. However, most of the results will take several months to appear. Over the following several weeks, as the body’s collagen supply is revamped, tighter and smoother skin can be seen. Gradually, tissue elasticity will improve and the skin will become firmer. Full benefits of an Ulthera session normally take two to three months to be seen.
Generally, only one Ulthera session is needed. However, depending on the patient’s skin laxity and desired results, more than one treatment may be recommended. The benefits of Ulthera can last for up to a full year or longer. As everyone’s skin ages differently, touch-ups sessions may be required periodically to ensure optimal improvements.
Why choose Ulthera from The Naderi Center?
The experienced staff at The Naderi Center offers Ulthera for patients in Maryland, Virginia, and across the Washington D.C. area. The team at The Naderi Center – Dr. Shervin Naderi, Dr. Jessica Kulak, and Dr. Erica Anderson – combine unique training and exceptional skills, providing our patients with the safest and most satisfying plastic surgery results available today. Strongly believing in specialization, the surgeons at The Naderi Center are considered masters in their craft, both by their peers and their patients.
Dr. Shervin Naderi has more than two decades of aesthetic experience. Fellowship trained, Dr. Naderi is a double Board Certified plastic surgeon, focusing solely on surgical and noninvasive procedures for the face and neck. Dr. Jessica Kulak is Board Certified in Plastic Surgery of the Head and Neck by the prestigious American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOTO) in Head and Neck Surgery. She is considered one of the country’s leading “aging face specialists”. Dr. Erica Anderson is an experienced “body specialist”, Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Contact The Naderi Center for more information:
To get more information on the Ulthera procedure, as well as any of the other surgical or noninvasive technique performed at The Naderi Center, fill out our online Contact Us form. For patient convenience, consultations can be performed in either the Reston, Virginia or Chevy Chase, Maryland location. Schedule your one-on-one Ulthera consultation appointment in Reston by calling 703.481.0002 or in Chevy Chase at 301.222.2020. If you are traveling from outside of the northern Virginia area, online consultation appointments are available. Speak with a patient coordinator for additionally travel suggestions or local reservations.