Most Inside SCV staff members are somewhere in our 30s. Like most SCVians, we try to take good care of our bodies and our appearance - so you can imagine the discussions that have evolved over the years as the calendar pages fly past at top speed, our wrinkles deepen and our skin starts to lose that youthful bounce.

"My eyelids are drooping. In another year, my vision will be impaired, but that's Ok because then I can't look in the mirror." "My double chin is working on a triple." "I wish I could just walk around with tape on my face to pull my skin back up." "I'm never leaving this office again without makeup. I was mistaken for my mother."

You get the picture. And now you'll also understand why the news that Ultherapy is now offered by Dermacure Medical Aesthetics lead to an impromptu office celebration.

"I. Want. That," we all drooled in unison. Look at the before and after shots and you'll see what we mean. We haven't coveted something this hard since New Kids on the Block jackets hit stores in the '90s.

Here's the breakdown: Ultherapy is a new type of non-surgical, non-invasive procedure that uses ultrasound and the body's own natural healing process to lift, tone and tighten loose skin on the brow, neck and under the chin. The only FDA-approved procedure to lift skin on these hard-to-treat areas, Ultherapy uses the safe, time-tested energy of ultrasound to stimulate the deep structural support layers of the skin - including those typically addressed in a surgical facelift - without disturbing the surface of the skin. The treatment is usually done in 60 minutes or less and there's absolutely no down time. You can return to your normal activities - even wear makeup - immediately.

Ultherapy offers significant and satisfying non-surgical results, making it appealing to a wide range of adults looking to exert some amount of control over their skin as it ages - particularly those who may not be ready for an invasive brow lift or face lift. Whether you are between surgeries, using a non-invasive treatment regimen or looking for an entry-level way to put collagen in the bank as "skinsurance," Ultherapy is a great option.

Ultherapy Q & A
What Problem Areas does Ultherapy Target?
Ultherapy addresses mild to moderate loose or sagging skin on the face and neck. Specifically, by reconditioning and renewing the skin from within, Ultherapy will lift the brow, which in turn reduces excess skin on the lids, opens up the eyes, and gives a more refreshed look overall. Ultherapy is also used to lift and tighten sagging skin on the neck and under the chin, addressing the "turkey gobbler" and "double chin," which many patients are trying to eliminate.

How Long Until I See Results?
Patients may enjoy some initial effect but the ultimate lifting and toning will take place over two to three months, as tired collagen is replaced with new, more elastic collagen. As this collagen-building process continues, further improvements can appear up to six months following a procedure.

How it Works
Unlike lasers, which penetrate the skin from the outside-in, Ultherapy bypasses the surface of the skin, specifically targeting the deep, structural skin tissues where collagen lives. Using ultrasound technology, Ultherapy actually works from the inside-out to lift and tighten skin non-invasively.

In some ways, Ultherapy is just like an ultrasound imaging procedure that expectant mothers may receive. A smooth handpiece is placed on your skin and an image of the tissue beneath is projected on a screen. This allows your practitioner to "see" where they will treat your skin.

But here's the difference: with Ultherapy, that same handpiece is also used to deliver tiny deposits of focused ultrasound energy at just the right depth below the skin, to the same foundational layer typically addressed in a surgical facelift.

Your body's response to this energy is to recondition tired skin by stimulating the growth of fresh, new collagen. The result is a tightening and gradual lifting - or shifting - of the skin back into a more youthful position and form-fitting shape.
Ultherapy is available from DermaCure Medical Aesthetics. 257-8400 www.dermacurevalencia.com