As we age, our skin naturally begins to lose elasticity. Each area of our face and body may experience these changes at different rates, making it challenging to address skin ageing uniformly. At AF Aesthetics in Chatswood, we offer two distinct treatments to help with skin tightening: Ultherapy and Thermage FLX.
Ultherapy and Thermage use different technologies, each working without surgery or needles. These treatments can lead to different results depending on your skin type and goals. By offering both options, we can help you choose the treatment that suits you better.
Why Skin Tightening Is Important
As skin loses its natural elasticity with age, it can lead to sagging and wrinkles in various areas of the face and body. Nonsurgical skin tightening treatments help address this by stimulating collagen production, which is a protein our body uses to maintain firm, smooth skin.
With Ultherapy and Thermage technologies, we can address the areas that are most prone to developing visible skin laxity, such as the jawline, neck and around the eyes.
What Is Ultherapy?
Ultherapy is a noninvasive treatment that uses focused ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production deep within the skin. It targets the foundational layers that are typically addressed in surgical facelifts but without surgery. This energy heats the tissue at precise temperatures that promote neocollagenesis and trigger a response in the body that tightens and lifts the skin. The results can continue to improve for several months after treatment.
What Is Thermage FLX?
Thermage FLX relies on radiofrequency rather than ultrasound technology to heat the skin. This device includes vibration and cooling technology for comfort. Like Ultherapy, this treatment also promotes collagen remodelling to tighten and smooth the skin, but it is can be used on larger areas of the face and body.
Comparing Skin Tightening Technologies: Ultrasound vs. Radiofrequency
Ultrasound technology, like that used by Ultherapy, transmits sound waves that are converted into thermal (or heat) energy when interacting with the skin. The benefit of this technology is the depth to which it can penetrate and the minimal effect it has on the surface of the skin. With ultrasound technology, collagen production and tissue tightening can happen at the deep, foundational layers of the skin. Ultherapy also includes ultrasound imaging to help us treat the correct layers of the skin.
Radiofrequency energy generates heat through electrical currents that interact with water molecules in the skin. This causes controlled heating of the dermal layers, which disrupts the existing collagen fibres and causes them to contract. This can lead to an immediate tightening effect while also triggering long-term collagen production.
What Areas Do Ultherapy and Thermage Treat?
Ultherapy Treatment Areas
Ultherapy is most commonly used for smaller areas where skin laxity is present. Common treatment areas include the brow, neck, chin and décolletage. It can be helpful in the area around the jawline and upper neck where loose skin can be more pronounced. It can also be used around the eyes and on the cheeks.
Thermage FLX Treatment Areas
Thermage is versatile in its application and treats both facial and body areas. It’s often used on the forehead, eyelids, lower face and neck to improve skin firmness. It can also be used on the abdomen, thighs and arms.
Customising Treatments for Specific Areas
Both Ultherapy and Thermage FLX allow your provider to customise the treatment based on the area being targeted. For smaller, more delicate areas like the eyes and brow, Ultherapy’s precise targeting of deeper layers can be advantageous. For broader regions such as the abdomen or thighs, Thermage’s ability to spread radiofrequency energy over larger surfaces may be more suitable.
What to Expect From the Longevity of Results
Both Ultherapy and Thermage provide gradual results that can continue to improve over time as new collagen forms. With Ultherapy, results typically begin to appear after two to three months, and the effects can last up to a year or more, depending on individual factors such as age and skin condition. With Thermage, results can be visible two to six months after treatment and last one to two years. Natural ageing will continue to affect your skin, which can impact your results over time.
Comfort During the Treatments
During Ultherapy, you may feel a warming or tingling sensation as the ultrasound energy is delivered. The amount of discomfort varies from patient to patient, so communicating with your provider is important. We can make adjustments to ensure you are relaxed and comfortable during the procedure.
Thermage uses a combination of vibration and cooling technology to protect your skin’s surface. Patients may feel heat pulses followed by cooling. While each patient perceives sensations differently, both treatments are typically well-tolerated without the need for anaesthesia.
Downtime and Recovery
Both Ultherapy and Thermage are noninvasive treatments that require limited downtime. With both treatments, there can be some temporary redness and swelling. There is no need to take time off from regular activities or to take any special recovery steps beyond your usual skincare and sun-protection routine. Make sure to follow all specific instructions given to you after your treatment.
How to Care for Your Skin After a Sydney Skin Tightening Treatment
Post-treatment care for Ultherapy and Thermage is straightforward. For both treatments, we recommend keeping your skin hydrated with products that do not clog pores and protecting your skin from the sun using a broad-spectrum sunscreen and protective clothing.
You may use gentle skincare products, but we may advise you to avoid anything too harsh or exfoliating in the first few days after treatment. Neither treatment typically requires any special post-care regimen beyond these basic skin care practices.
Explore Your Skin Tightening Options With Us
Ultherapy and Thermage FLX treatments at AF Aesthetics both offer noninvasive solutions for those who are interested in tightening and firming their skin without surgery. Each treatment provides a different approach to stimulating collagen production and can be used to treat different areas of the face and body.
To learn more about these treatments, you can schedule a consultation with us. We serve Chatswood and the Greater Sydney area. You can contact us online, or call us on (02) 8004 3323.
