Are you concerned about your appearance due to a significant amount of volume loss? Do you hate how visible your veins are on the backs of your hands due to severe skin thinning? Do you have hollow cheeks that make you look chronically ill or older than you feel? If so, you may be considered a good candidate for Ultherapy at Finesse Cosmetic Laser and Lipo in Waltham, MA.
Ultherapy is an FDA-approved anti-aging treatment that has been used for years to improve self-esteem. It is usually used to improve the appearance of the cheeks. However, it can also be used to treat other areas experiencing collagen loss. For instance, this treatment can be used to improve the appearance of the backs of the hands, the chest, and the upper face. Here’s what you need to know about achieving your ideal results.
How Many Sessions of Ultherapy Do You Need?
It is very rare for people to need more than one Ultherapy session to achieve their desired results. However, in those few cases, a second treatment session is required four to six weeks after the first session is complete. It is important that several weeks pass between treatment sessions because it can be between four and six weeks before the initial results become apparent.
It can take months for the final results to become apparent. However, once we see how your initial results are developing, we can determine whether a follow-up session is necessary. Keep in mind, there are both preparation and aftercare guidelines you will need to adhere to. If you have severe collagen loss, be ready to make sunscreen your new best friend.
How Long Will the Results of My Treatment Last?
Individual results vary based on numerous factors, including lifestyle choices, skin health, overall health, and concern severity. However, four-fifths of people who get this treatment report that they are still satisfied with their results after 24 months. If you’re one of the 80% of people who remain satisfied with their results 24 months after their development, you may get another three years out of your results.
It is not unheard of for people to not need a follow-up session for 5.5 years after their first session. This is because it can take up to six months for the treatment to take full effect. To see your final results as quickly as possible, you will need to make sure that your skin has everything it needs to produce collagen. For instance, you need to ensure that you are hydrated and nourished adequately.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
The only way to know for sure whether you are a good candidate for ultrasound-based treatment is to come in for an initial evaluation. This treatment is incredibly safe, in part, because it is non-invasive. We don’t have to make any incisions to manually manipulate your facial tissues. It is all done with the special ultrasound-based device and gel. The radio waves emitted by the device penetrate your outer skin layers, warming the foundational layer.
Nevertheless, despite its safety, your health history and current health need to be reviewed before a determination can be made regarding your candidacy. If you’re sick, or you’ve been sick recently, you will be disqualified from this treatment temporarily.
Who Isn’t a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
You will be considered a poor Ultherapy candidate if your cosmetic concerns are caused by hyperactive muscles rather than collagen loss. There are a number of benefits of this treatment, but they are all derived from boosting collagen production in the treatment areas. If your cosmetic concerns cannot be corrected by collagen production increases, you will need alternative treatments to achieve your desired aesthetic.
You also will be considered a poor candidate for this treatment if your skin is irritated at the time of your appointment. If you show up to your appointment with irritated skin, your session will have to be rescheduled. For this reason, it is very important to wear sunscreen, limit time spent outdoors during the day, and mitigate the risk of acne outbreaks or viral infections prior to your session.
What Other Preparation Steps Will I Need To Adhere to?
In addition to ensuring your skin is not irritated at the time of your appointment, it is very important that you ensure you are hydrated at the time of your treatment session. The more hydrated you are at the time of your appointment, the more effective your session will be. Also, the more hydrated you are after your treatment session, the faster your final results will become apparent.
Another crucial preparation step is refraining from consuming tobacco products. It is important to avoid consuming tobacco products because they elevate your blood pressure. This impedes circulation, meaning that your treatment won’t be as effective. Other preparation steps you should take include eating nutritiously and coming in with clean skin. If you are wearing cosmetics, like lotion, they will be removed prior to treatment.
How Much Time Will I Need To Take Off From Work?
One of the most popular features of Ultherapy is that the ultrasound-based treatment does not require any downtime after treatment. As soon as your treatment session is complete, we will review your aftercare guidelines with you. Then, you are free to return to work. At most, you may need to request an hour off from work. This is because treatment sessions can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to complete.
If your supervisor won’t let you take a long lunch one day after coming in early or before leaving late, then you will need to use a bit of PTO. However, you will not need to take the rest of your work day off to recover from your treatment. Nevertheless, you may need to take time off from work after your treatment if your job requires strenuous physical activity. This is prohibited during the early stages of your recovery.
What Other Post-Treatment Guidelines Must I Follow?
As a general rule of thumb, it is highly advisable to sleep on your back in the days following your treatment. We say this is a general rule, not a hard-and-fast rule, because your post-treatment sleeping requirements depend on what areas of your body were targeted for treatment. For example, if you get ultrasound-based therapy to tighten loose upper back skin, you should sleep on your stomach during your recovery.
This ensures that too much pressure is not applied to the treatment area. On the other hand, you will need to sleep on your back for several days if you target other areas for skin tightening and voluminization, like your abdomen, chest, or the tops of your thighs. Here are some other post-treatment guidelines you will need to follow.
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is crucial for a rapid recovery, rapid results, and long-lasting results. Make sure that you are drinking enough that your urine is pale. Some people can accomplish optimal hydration by sipping on water, coffee, or tea throughout the day. However, if you notice that your urine is dark, you will need to make more of an effort to get hydrating fluids in.
Wash the Treatment Areas Gently
Another thing that sets ultrasound-based therapy apart from other anti-aging techniques is that it is safe to shower after the treatment is over. However, you should take care to shower in lukewarm water, rather than water that is very hot or cold. Also, make sure you use a gentle skin cleanser, applying it with your fingers in circular motions and patting the treatment areas dry gently.
The Best News
If your cosmetic concerns are mild or moderate in nature, you will only need one ultrasound-based therapy session. However, if your cosmetic concerns are severe in nature, you may need a second treatment session four to six weeks after your first session. The good news is that you can expect your ideal results to last for two to five years, regardless of how many sessions you need initially.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
To find out for sure whether ultrasound-based therapy is right for you, drop us a line today at Finesse Cosmetic Laser and Lipo in Waltham, MA to schedule your initial Ultherapy consultation. Depending on your cosmetic goals, we may also recommend other cosmetic treatments to help you improve your self-confidence. Regardless of your concerns, we have a safe, effective solution for you and look forward to tailoring your unique treatment plan.