National demand for minimally invasive anti-aging treatments remains robust. According to the most recent statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of minimally invasive procedures performed by its members increased by 7% year-over-year in 2023. As this figure does not account for non-ASPS member providers, actual growth could be much higher.

Indeed. Dr. Swapna M. Kallikadan, Tampa, Florida’s Health + Glow lead physician, says patient interest in long-standing and emerging innovative minimally invasive anti-aging treatments consistently expands. “Our patients constantly express interest in learning about any non-surgical option that shows promise in turning back or holding off visible signs of aging,” she says. “Patient interest in a particular treatment often spikes noticeably higher when such treatments generate a buzz due to media exposure, celebrity endorsements, and word-of-mouth acclaim.”

Dr. Kallikadan notes that skin-tightening treatments, such as Ultherapy, are experiencing a surge in interest at Health + Glow. Given the buzz, she believes now is the perfect time to detail how this FDA-approved ultrasound energy therapy naturally tightens skin and boosts collagen production, all without the need for surgery or downtime. Read on to learn how Ultherapy visibly firms and lifts loose skin, providing the most noticeable results in the facial area.

What Is Ultherapy® and How Does It Work?

Only available through licensed physicians like Dr. Kallikadan, Ultherapy® uses precisely targeted ultrasound waves to stimulate collagen production in the foundational skin layers, which helps lift and tighten the overlaying skin in the months following treatment. The ultrasound energy penetrates the skin up to depths of 4.5 millimeters, heating the deeper tissues without damaging the surface skin. This creates tiny controlled thermal injuries in the skin to trigger the body’s natural healing response, including a significant boost in skin-firming collagen production.

Dr. Kallikadan can perform an Ultherapy® session in Tampa in under 90 minutes, and any patient downtime is limited to that needed to address potential short-term swelling and redness. Ultherapy’s® natural-looking skin-tightening and lifting results subtly emerge two to six months after treatment and last up to two years, depending on individual factors such as age and skin condition. Ultherapy® is the only FDA-approved ultrasound skin treatment for tightening brow, chin, neck, and décolletage skin.

Benefits of Ultherapy®

Ultherapy’s® ability to create natural-looking skin lifting and tightening results is why more than three million patients have undergone the treatment. Other Ultherapy® benefits include:

• Non-invasive with no incisions, needles, anesthesia, or downtime.
• Especially effective at mitigating early signs of aging.
• Precision targeting allows for customized treatment.
• Can delay or reduce the need for surgical facelifts.
• Provides treatment for skin laxity in stubborn areas, like the jowls, brows, and neck.

On this last point, at least one clinical study found that 85% of Ultherapy® trial patients treated for sagging midface and lower face skin were satisfied with their results. Studies also support its effectiveness at treating “turkey neck.”

What to Expect During and After Treatment

An Ultherapy session at Health + Glow in Tampa begins with a personal consultation. Dr. Kallikadan will assess your skin and discuss your concerns about aging to strategize a treatment plan that delivers the desired tightening and lifting results. The procedure begins with skin cleansing and the application of a gel that helps transition the ultrasound energy into the deeper layers of the skin. Dr. Kallikidan then guides the Ultherapy® applicator across the targeted areas, guided by real-time thermal imaging to ensure the ultrasound waves reach the skin layers that produce collagen.

During treatment, you may experience tingling and/or heat sensations, indicating that the ultrasound energy is at work and initiating collagen production. Once your session ends, you should be able to resume all normal activities; however, your skin may appear flushed, and you may experience slight swelling and skin tenderness. These after-effects typically subside within a few hours.

Many patients experience subtle skin tightening immediately after their Ultherapy® session due to the contraction of existing collagen fibers. Within two months of your Ultherapy® session, you should start noticing more enhanced lifting and tightening of the treated areas. With continued collagen production, this firming effect will improve over the next three to four months, yielding full results lasting up to two years.

Is Ultherapy® Right for You?

If you’re wondering whether Ultherapy® is the perfect treatment for treating your skin’s laxity, Dr. Kallikadan offers the following guidelines:

• It is most effective for individuals with mild to moderate facial skin laxity, with an ideal age range of 30 to 50 years.
• Individuals with a sagging jawline, drooping brows, or loose neck skin are typically good candidates for Ultherapy.
• While marketed by some physicians as a non-surgical facelift, Ultherapy® is an effective preventative facelift option, as it can delay the need to undergo one. It also helps maintain a facelift’s efficacy.
• Ultherapy® is often less effective at tightening skin that has suffered extensive sun damage.
• It’s safe and effective for all skin types and tones.
• Ultherapy® can be combined with other minimally invasive skincare treatments, such as Forever Young BBL Laser Therapy and EndyMed RF Microneedling, for enhanced anti-aging results.

Schedule Your Ultherapy® Consultation in Tampa

With long-term expertise in helping her Tampa, Florida-area patients achieve their anti-aging skincare goals, Dr. Kallikadan can help you determine whether Ultherapy will effectively lift and tighten your facial area skin to give you a younger-looking profile. To schedule your initial Ultherapy consultation or to learn about our other medical spa, primary care, and IV therapy services, please contact us today.