Which Is Better for Skin Tightening – Ulthera or Thermage?

I recently saw this question posted on Dr. Rod Rohrich’s Facebook page, which in turn linked me to a RealSelf posting of opinions provided by other noted plastic surgeons.

Although Thermage wins kudos for being on the forefront for non-invasive skin tightening devices, most of the plastic surgeons who weighed in on this topic voted Ulthera as their preferred choice for face and neck skin tightening. Here are a few of their expressed opinions:

Although none of the noninvasive technologies will give the same results as surgery, they do provide a subtle, yet noticeable improvement without much downtime or cost. Ulthera is my choice for skin tightening in the face and neck, since I have seen a definite improvement in the face and neck of the the patients…

Angela Sturm, MD

Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

 “I have followed both technologies since their inception, Thermage for about the last 10 to 12 years, and Ultherapy by Ulthera for the past 2 years.  Based on the science behind them and the patient satisfaction results, Ultherapy by Ulthera is a superior treatment.”

Rian Maercks, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

And finally, the statement that to me is most significant of all.

“Keep in mind these are only tools and by themselves are neither good nor bad.  A scalpel is neither good nor bad but can be used to perform beautiful surgery or make a terrible mess.  That being said, these devices are commonly used by practitioners with no formal training in plastic and reconstructive surgery and thus no understanding of what interventions, forces structures …”

 Michael A. Persky, MD

You’ll find informative articles on most every non-invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic procedure at http://www.ticktockstoptheclock.com.

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CAN WE EVER FEEL GOOD ABOUT OUR NECKS AGAIN? – by Lois W. Stern

 Can we ever feel good about our necks again?

 Well that depends . . .

First we have to decide what’s bothering us about it in the first place? Then it becomes a question of how  much we’re willing to spend to fix it? (I’m not just talking money here. What about time, effort, risk tolerance? They are legitimate expenditures too.)

Let’s talk about the most basic solutions first. For the neck with only small wrinkles and perhaps some skin discoloration, some basic home remedies might be all you need. Take  a look at this great little video for help in mastering yoga facial exercises.

Sorting out wrinkled necks can be difficult. If your neck has only small wrinkles caused by sun damage, it can be helped by a chemical peel. Make sure any peel you have uses Retin A as it has been proven to improve the appearance of skin. But do not be seduced into having laser treatment for your neck as this can leave very marked pigmentation on the skin.

For moderately wrinkled necks with discoloration a series of Intense Pulsed Light Treatments might be the best solution for you.  Dr. Robert Kotler, well respected head and neck cosmetic surgeon, shares some important insights into neck rejuvenation techniques. Watch this WebMD video. Lately I have also been reading about the use the fab results from the CO2 fractional laser, for  of deep dermal skin tightening so I’ll be investigating and reporting more on those treatments in a future article.

Some patients, usually younger gals and guys, have problems with neck fat and no other aesthetic neck problems. In such cases a liposuction treatment might ressolve the issue.

Technology is scrambling to keep up in the race to develop other energy driven devices to meet that waddle neck head on. Many promises out there, but no real FDA approved solutions at present.

At the moment, for very wrinkled necks, especially where there is droop, don’t be seduced into energy driven treatments. If you really want to fix that turkey neck, surgery is probably the best solution –  either a neck lift or a neck lift combined with a face lift.

From advice on skin care of the delicate tissues of the neck, to Botox treatments, surgery and more, read this informative article from the Daily Mail.

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