Ultherapy or ThermiRF for tightening my neck and jowls?

Ultherapy and ThermiRF are both excellent procedures for neck and jowl tightening.  Ultherapy is entirely noninvasive whereas ThermiRF is minimally invasive.

Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound energy to target the SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System), which is the muscular tissue that is normally sutured or shrunk during a facelift.  Unlike a facelift though, no incisions are required to reach this layer of tissue as the ultrasound will send directed energy waves to shrink it up.  Easy enough and no recovery time required.  A second pass is also made which targets the dermal collagen and forces the skin to generate healthy new collagen fibers to keep the skin firm.  Although the procedure does hurt during treatment, there is no pain afterwards.  Patients are able to tolerate and get through the procedure just fine.  You can resume all normal daily activiities right away.

ThermiRF is a monopolar radiofrequency device.  First, the neck and jowl skin is numbed using a small blunt canula.  The procedure is entirely pain and sensation free after the numbing.  Next, a thin probe is inserted in a fan like pattern across the neck and jowls, while heating the area of the SMAS and skin.  Temperatures of 60-65 degrees are reached under the skin to enable for tightening and shrinkage of the SMAS.  If there is excess fat in the neck, there will also be some fat apoptosis for better contouring.  The skin temperature target is 42-45 degrees for optimal collagen stimulation.  After the procedure, a chin strap is worn for 48-72 hours to provide mild compression to the area.  Swelling is seen for several days.  There is minimal to no bruising afterwards.  We recommend restricting activities for a few days or a week until the swelling subsides.  ThermiRF certainly delivers the more dramatic results for patients with more significant skin laxity.  It is the perfect procedure for someone requiring a facelift but does not want surgery.  You are entirely awake and alert throughout this painless procedure.

Both procedures are excellent options with excellent safety profiles and excellent results.  Give us a call at 513-985-9885 to learn more and help us help you decide which would be a better option for you.  There are a few other skin tightening procedures we offer as well including Exilis Elite, Skin Tyte, Thermage and Thermismooth which you may also be a good candidate for.  Our passion is to help you look and be your best.

Ultherapy Before and After Photo

ThermiRF Before and After Photo

My Neck and Face are falling. I need help!

Aaah!  The Aging Neck

Among our patients' greatest concerns is that of looking older than we feel.   We all want to look our best because it gives us the confidence to express our personality and thoughts without feeling self conscious of our appearance. 

Several technologies have come along over the years to help with the neck and face falling problem.   There is always a surgical neck or face lift, which may be absolutely essential for patients who have waited a bit too long to take preventive measures and where the skin laxity is too great to correct nonsurgically.  However, for the vast majority of patients, we can accomplish neck tightening without the worry of a long scar along the hairline or ear and without extended recovery times and most importantly, without the danger and fear of looking “overdone”.   Even if a prior facelift has been done, maintaining with these less invasive approaches is important to save one’s investment.

 

Among the two best approaches are Ultherapy and ThermiRF. 

 

ThermiRF is the latest kid on the block.  It uses monopolar radiofrequency energy that is delivered via a thin probe to the SMAS (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System).  This is the tissue under the skin which covers and binds all the facial muscles.  During a surgical facelift, the SMAS is sutured in a manner to effectively shrink it and hence tighten the muscles.  With ThermiRF, the SMAS is shrunk using RF heat (essentially think of it as controlled electrocautery).  The procedure is extremely safe with temperature readings coming from the tissue, the probe and through an external heat sensing camera, which helps achieve both therapeutic and safe target temperatures for controlled shrinkage of tissue.  Excess fat tissue can also be targeted and destroyed, such as under the chin, at the same time.  Finally, the heat radiates to the skin itself and stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin fibers.  ThermiRF is performed entirely under local numbing.  The patient is awake and may drive home on their own post procedure.   There is no discomfort during the procedure.  A compressive chin strap garment is all that is required for 48 hours.  No sutures are placed as the three tiny puncture access points close up within 24-48 hours.

 

 Ultherapy is also a highly effective procedure and can be used to treat not only the neck and jowls as ThermiRF can, but also the cheeks, chest and eye areas.   As both a surgical facelift and ThermiRF affect the SMAS, so does Ultherapy!  We can easily see that in order to be effective, the procedure must affect the SMAS.  The difference is that Ultherapy is applied directly through the skin using HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound).  The tissue is directly visualized via ultrasound so we know exactly where the energy is being delivered.  There is some discomfort as the ultrasound waves travel through the skin to the underlying SMAS target tissue but is well tolerated and well worth it in the end.  There is no real recovery time, outside of mild redness and swelling.  One can resume social obligations and public appearances immediately.  Ultherapy also targets the dermis to stimulate collagen production with a second pass that is highly recommended.  The lips and delicate skin under the eyes are also very responsive to this technology. 

It takes about 4-6 months to see results.  The same is true with ThermiRF.  A procedure called SmartLift uses the SmartLipo probe to deliver heat under the skin and could potentially mimic ThermiRF.  The difference is in the control and constant feedback of the heat delivered to get effective yet safe treatment.  We are not using SmartLift/SmartLipo as much in our practice now due to having the more advanced ThermiRF. 

Please take a look at results from ThermiRF and Ultherapy below.  The patients who have had a combination of both procedures, have seen especially dramatic results.   Please also check out our website www.cincinnatiskinandlaser.com for more information.