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.

When the news hit that that Ultherapy is now offered by Dermacure Medical Aesthetics, it 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.

Jeanna Crawford, our resident skin maven, was the first of us to try it. She's a self proclaimed wimp when it comes to pain but she said the treatment was quite comfortable. In the months following her session that focused on her jaw and under the chin, we all closely watched with baited breath as the results appeared. We didn't have to wait long. Immediately, we saw improvement in tone and texture. Two months in, we saw impressive firming and the "lift" was starting to show. Three months later, we can say that she easily looked five years younger. (And she already looked young for her age!). If you don't know Jeanna, you may think she's just aging really gracefully. For the rest of us, we're fully aware that she won't be aging without a fight! What she affectionately calls "Ingber-therapy" was just what she needed to win this round!

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