How to Care for Your Skin Before and After Ultherapy

Loose, sagging skin is one of the most common signs of aging that shows up on the face, neck, and chin. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, gradually leading to skin laxity, wrinkles, and often dry, crepey skin.

One of the most effective non-surgical treatments for these common age-related concerns is an ultrasound-based device called Ultherapy. To see the best results from your Ultherapy treatment, follow these tips to care for your skin before and after your appointment. 

Ultherapy is a non-invasive skin-tightening procedure that uses ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen production. There are several types of ultrasound used in cosmetic treatments, including high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), microfocused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V), and synchronous ultrasound parallel beam (SUPERB) technology.

Ultherapy uses MFU-V ultrasound energy. Unlike HIFU, which is used for deeper tissue ablation, MFU-V is designed to generate smaller thermal zones that promote skin rejuvenation with minimal damage. This makes Ultherapy ideal for treating delicate areas like the face, neck, and décolleté.

The Ultherapy device emits high-frequency ultrasound energy that is able to reach below the skin’s surface, where it briefly heats the targeted skin tissue to between 62°C and 65°C (144°F to 149°F). At this specific temperature, collagen fibers within the skin shorten, causing the surface of your skin to tighten and appear firmer (3). Additionally, the thermal energy triggers your skin’s natural healing process, which stimulates the production of new collagen, further firming and lifting the skin over time.

One key advantage of Ultherapy is that it bypasses the outermost layers of your skin, allowing it to reach the deeper structural layers without damaging the surface. This ability to selectively target specific depths allows Ultherapy to effectively achieve noticeable lifting and tightening effects that mimic the results of a surgical facelift, though on a smaller scale.

To maximize your Ultherapy results, you can begin using skin care products that will help to promote collagen at least two weeks before your appointment. I recommend using a product like Alastin Regenerating Skin Nectar , which contains peptides that help to clear out old, damaged collagen and elastin, making room for the new collagen that Ultherapy will help your skin produce.

I also recommend adding a vitamin C serum to your routine at least two weeks before Ultherapy, as vitamin C plays a key role in collagen synthesis. 

After your Ultherapy treatment, your skin will need extra care to promote healing and collagen production. I like Neocutis NEO THERAPY Neck & Decollete Tightening Cream for Post-Procedure Treatment or Alastin Recovery Balm to help soothe the skin and promote healing directly after a skin treatment like Ultherapy.

To promote collagen and maximize your skin-tightening results, you can add a growth factor serum like SkinMedica TNS Advanced + Serum and/or a vitamin C serum to boost collagen. 

Ultherapy can be a great option for anyone looking to firm and tighten their skin without undergoing a surgical procedure like a facelift. These are some of the most notable benefits of this non-surgical skin-tightening treatment:

• Ability to improve skin laxity, wrinkles, and creases in the face, neck, and submental (under chin) area

• Precision and controlled heat that directly targets collagen fibers in the deeper layers of skin

• Ability to bypass the outer layer of skin, leaving your skin’s surface undamaged

• Pairs well with other non-surgical skin treatments like injectables, IPL treatments, or peels

• No downtime or extensive recovery

Ultherapy does have some limitations and mild side effects:

• Ultherapy may not be the best treatment for those with significant amounts of excess or loose skin or who are looking for the same level of results as a surgical procedure can provide.

• Ultherapy may cause mild, temporary side effects such as redness, swelling, or tenderness in the treated area . These side effects typically resolve on their own in the days following your treatment.

• The thermal energy that Ultherapy uses to tighten skin has the potential to also cause fat loss in the treated area, which can change the shape or contours of your face. Ensure your Ultherapy provider is trained and experienced to help minimize unintentional fat loss and maximize skin-tightening results.

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not get Ultherapy treatments.

Your Ultherapy results will develop gradually, providing a natural-looking lifting and firming effect. Most people begin to notice a significant improvement in skin laxity and wrinkles around 2 to 3 months after Ultherapy as new collagen builds up. You may continue to notice gradual improvements from there for up to six months , revealing your final results.

How long those skin-tightening results will last depends on several factors, including your age, lifestyle habits, and the severity of skin laxity. On average, Ultherapy results last 1 to 3 years , although some people still see noticeable results in as much as five years after their treatment. 

While Ultherapy can offer dramatic results, it is not the only way to promote firmer, tighter skin. If you would prefer to stick with topical skin care treatments, using products specifically designed to improve skin elasticity and promote collagen production may give some mild improvement.

However, no product can improve moderate to severe skin sagging, but many products can help prevent sagging skin.

Look for anti-aging ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, growth factors, defensins, and exosomes to achieve firmer, more youthful-looking skin. Always be sure to check that the anti-aging products you choose are a match for your skin type.

Ultherapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment for those looking to lift and tighten their skin without surgery. Using the right skin care before and after skin-tightening treatments like Ultherapy can help to enhance and prolong your results.

Before you invest in new skin care products to use prior to skin treatments, make sure they are a match for your Baumann Skin Type. If you don’t yet know your skin type, take the quick and easy quiz now!

1. Baumann L. Antiaging Ingredients in Ch. 37 of Baumann's Cosmetic Dermatology Ed 3. (McGraw Hill 2022)
2. Baumann, L. Ch. Cosmeceuticals and cosmetic Ingredients (McGraw Hill 2015)
3. Avila Rodríguez, M. I., Rodriguez Barroso, L. G., & Sánchez, M. L. (2018). Collagen: A review on its sources and potential cosmetic applications. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 17(1), 20-26.
4. Fabi, S. G., Massaki, A., Eimpunth, S., Pogoda, J. M., & Goldman, M. P. (2013). Evaluation of microfocused ultrasound for lifting and tightening the face and neck. Dermatologic Surgery, 39(5), 744-751.
5. Sasaki, G. H., & Tevez, A. (2012). Clinical efficacy and safety of focused ultrasound thermal therapy for noninvasive skin tightening and lifting: A review of 59 treated patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 32(1), 41-53.
6. Kaminer, M. S., Bogart, M., & Chasin, W. (2017). Advanced techniques for combining microfocused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V) and injectable fillers for non-surgical face and neck rejuvenation. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 16(3), 352-359.