Today, it is more important than ever for peeople to feel self-confident in their skin. There is constant pressure to look your best because you never know when someone is going to snap a picture that ends up on social media. At Beauty 2.0 Aesthetics in Port Moody, BC, we offer Ultherapy to help our clients improve their self-confidence.
This Health Canada-licensed treatment is an incredibly reliable way to improve the health of your skin by increasing collagen and elastin production. Today, we’re taking a closer look at this safe, effective treatment, including the right age to start considering this treatment.
What Is the Best Age for Ultherapy?
The best age to seek Ultherapy treatments is the age at which you start to notice moderate-to-severe skin laxity, wrinkles, or sagging. People who seek this treatment are generally between 30 and 40 years of age, but it is not uncommon for people to start getting this treatment when they are in their 20s.
Notably, there is no upper limit on who qualifies for this treatment. While people usually start treatment in their 30s or 40s, it is not uncommon for treatment to continue while people are in their 50s or 60s. However, it is worth considering that the older you are, the more likely you are to need follow-up treatments more often. This is because your skin produces less and less collagen and elastin over time, and these substances keep your skin looking young.
How This Treatment Works
Sometimes reffered to as Ultherapy, ultherapy works by harnessing the power of ultrasound therapy to penetrate and warm the deepest layers of your skin. This deep warmth encourages the foundational layer of your skin to produce extra elastin and collagen. These substances form most of the support structure of your skin, and your skin sags when there is no longer enough collagen and elastin to support the skin.
When there is a lack of collagen, your skin loses a significant amount of volume and starts to wrinkle. When your skin can’t produce elastin as quickly as it is used, your skin doesn’t snap back into place like it used to.
Collagen and Elastin
Three layers make up your skin. The outer layer of your skin is called the epidermis, and it comprises dead skin cells. The middle layer of your skin is called the dermis and comprises living skin cells. The deepest layer of your skin is called the hypodermis and home to fat cells, collagen, and elastin. Your body stops producing fat cells at the age of 25, but it continues to produce collagen and elastin.
Unfortunately, your skin starts sagging because it can’t produce collagen and elastin fast enough. These chemical compounds provide most of the skin’s support structure. When stimulated by the heat from ultrasound therapy, your skin starts to produce more collagen and elastin, volumize itself, and tighten itself up.
A Long-Lasting Treatment
This long-lasting treatment is perfect if your goal is natural-looking skin tightening results. You can feel confident that your results will look natural because your skin produces extra collagen and elastin in response to the therapy. Since the results are derived from your skin producing a sufficient amount of supportive proteins and fibers, your skin will look just like it did years ago when it was producing enough supportive structures.
Who Is a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
Other skin tightening treatments sometimes have strict guidelines regarding who qualifies for treatment. However, this non-invasive soundwave-based treatment is appropriate for almost everyone. In fact, it is even safe for women who are pregnant because it is based on the same ultrasound technology used to produce images of the womb when women are with child.
Note, in some cases, several cosmetic treatments are required to achieve an ideal aesthetic. For example, if you are concerned about thin or asymmetrical lips in addition to sagging, wrinkled skin, you may need injectable dermal filler treatments in addition to ultrasound-based treatments. Similarly, you may need injectable muscle relaxant treatments if you are concerned about dynamic wrinkles.
Where Can This Treatment Be Used?
This treatment is most commonly used to improve the appearance of the face and neck. However, it can be used to tighten loose skin and erase wrinkles just about anywhere on the body. Among the most popular areas for this treatment are the:
- Chest
- Cheeks
- Chin and jaw
- Neck
- Chest
- Arms
- Eyes
- Knees
Since this non-invasive treatment is so safe, you don’t have to worry about it damaging your teeth or eyes. In other words, it can be used safely to eliminate wrinkles from around the mouth and eyes.
What to Expect Throughout the Treatment Process
Attending an Initial Consultation
Before you schedule your first treatment session, you need to schedule an initial consultation to verify that you will be considered a good candidate for this treatment. While it is safe for virtually everyone, we need to evaluate your areas of concern and discuss your goals to ensure Ultherapy is the right skin rejuvenation treatment for you.
Preparing for Your Treatment
During your initial consultation, we will determine whether you are a good candidate for this treatment. If we find this treatment is a good fit for you, we will advise you on how to prepare for your session. For example, you will need to ensure that your skin is free from irritation, including sunburn. It is also important that you come in with skin that is free from cosmetics, like lotion and makeup.
Will I Need To Take Any Medicine Before My Treatment?
Some clients choose to take an analgesic prior to treatment because they are worried about the heat during this treatment. Individual heat tolerances vary, but you do not have to take any medication before you come in for your appointment.
Arriving for Your Treatment
On the day of your appointment, you should come in wearing loose, comfortable clothes. If you choose to come in wearing cosmetics, be aware that they will be removed before your session begins. We will also remove any excessive hair in the treatment area and clean it. Then, we will apply the special ultrasound gel to the areas of concern and apply the applicator to the skin.
When the applicator is turned on, it will emit soundwaves that warm the deepest layer of your skin. You may feel a little tingling, but this is neither uncomfortable nor painful. After a few minutes, the applicator will be withdrawn and the ultrasound gel will be wiped away gently. Depending on the number of areas you are treating and how large they are, your session may take between 30 and 90 minutes to complete.
After Your Session Is Complete
Once your ultrasound therapy session is complete, you are free to resume your day. There is no downtime required following this treatment, so you can go back to work if you want to. Alternatively, you can take the rest of the day off from work to go for a stroll around town or spend the afternoon catching up on your favorite show. You will start to see an improvement in the appearance of your skin after only a few short days.
However, the final results of this treatment won’t be apparent until roughly six months after your treatment. Your age and lifestyle affects the longevity of this treatment, but most people enjoy their ideal results for two to five years.
How To Make the Results Last Longer
While you can’t change your age, you can take steps to help extend the longevity of your results. For example, your results will last longer if you wear sunscreen diligently and limit your exposure to sunlight between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM.
You can also extend the longevity of your results by moderating your consumption of alcohol and consuming as little nicotine as possible. A healthy diet, including plenty of water, protein, and vitamin C, will also help you extend the longevity of your results.
Learn More Today
Do you think Ultherapy would help you improve your self-confidence? If so, it may be right for you. To determine whether now is the time to seek this skin tightening treatment, contact us today at Beauty 2.0 Aesthetics in Port Moody, BC to schedule your initial evaluation. During this evaluation, we will review your cosmetic concerns and health history to ensure that this is the most appropriate treatment to help you achieve your cosmetic goals.
