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Focused Ultrasound: Ultherapy | My Beauty Protocol

Focused Ultrasound: Ultherapy

Microfocused Ultrasound Therapy

Plain-English name: Skin Ultrasound Treatment

Also known asSofwaveUltraformer MPTMicro-focused Ultrasound

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

Focused ultrasound energy creates precise thermal points in the skin's foundational layers, stimulating natural collagen and elastin production for a gradual lifting effect.

Downtime: Same day
Sessions: 1
Pain: High
Cost per visit: Price level 4 of 5
Results start: In 2–3 months
Results last: A year or more

Focused ultrasound heat under the skin, aimed at lifting the brow, chin and neck.

Check first: Open wounds, lesions, or severe cystic acne in the treatment area.

Will it work for me?

Skin tone

Often used on tones I–VI, with the right settings.

IVery Light

IILight

IIIMedium

IVTan

VBrown

VIDeep

Often usedAsk first

General info, not a check of your own skin.

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

Skin types

Often a fit for all of these. Tap one for details.

Skin types to ask about first

Sensitive or Redness-proneAsk first

Needs a gentle, barrier-safe plan and careful screening.

Breakout-proneAsk first

Active breakouts in the area may need to calm down first. Ask your provider.

How do the devices differ?

In no special order. Ask which one they use, and why.

3 devices

Ask your provider

Which device and settings will you use for my skin, and why?
Can we do a test spot first?
What result is realistic for me, and after how many sessions?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 30–90 minutes
Total course: One session.
Session interval: Repeat every 1–2 years if wanted

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

None

Avoid sun

24 hours

No sweat or heat

See Post-Care

Other aftercare

No ice on the area unless your provider says so

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
- Discuss pain management options with your provider beforehand if you are concerned about discomfort.
- Come with clean skin: no makeup or lotion
1 week before
Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and vitamin E for 1 week before, if your doctor agrees
Right after your visit
- Don't touch, rub or press the area for 48 hours
- No retinoids, acids or scrubs for 48 hours
After your visit
- You can go back to normal activities right away
- Some tenderness or tingling is normal and may persist for a few days or weeks.
- Wear sunscreen every day
- Recovery is typically immediate. Some patients experience mild redness, swelling, or tenderness in the treated areas, which usually resolves within a few hours to a few days. The skin's surface is not broken, so there is no specific wound care required. Results start to show in 2–3 months.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Open wounds, lesions, or severe cystic acne in the treatment area
Active implants (e.g., pacemakers or defibrillators) or metallic stents in the treatment area
Not evaluated for use in individuals who are pregnant or lactating, or those with autoimmune diseases, bleeding disorders, or epilepsy

Possible side effects

Common

Temporary redness or flushing
Mild swelling
Tingling or tenderness to the touch that can last for a few weeks
Sensation of deep heat or prickling during treatment

Less common

Temporary bruising
Temporary numbness in a small area
Welts or lines (striations)
Blisters

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

Focused ultrasound energy initiates a natural wound-healing response, prompting new collagen and elastin synthesis for internal skin tightening.

A little more technical

It delivers focused ultrasound energy to the same foundational layer of skin addressed in a surgical facelift, creating precise heat zones that trigger the body's natural collagen production process.

Micro-focused ultrasound energy is delivered to precise depths (e.g., 1.5mm, 3.0mm, and 4.5mm), creating thermal coagulation points (TCPs) at temperatures of 60-70°C in the dermis and the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS). This controlled thermal injury denatures collagen and initiates a robust wound-healing response, leading to neocollagenesis and elastin remodeling, resulting in tissue contraction and tightening over several months.

Energy type: Focused Ultrasound Waves; Concentrates high-frequency sound waves to create microscopic thermal coagulation points deep under the skin.
Delivery method: Real-Time Visualization; Uses active ultrasound imaging on a screen so the practitioner can see the exact layer of tissue they are treating to safely avoid bone and nerves.
Target: SMAS Contraction; Targets the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System, forcing intense, deep structural contraction and lifting over 3-6 months.
Common device / product names: Ultherapy · Sofwave · Ultraformer MPT
Clinical descriptor: Microfocused Ultrasound Therapy