Today, the desire for youth that most women share can be fulfilled without necessarily having to undergo surgery. There are many strides made by aesthetic medicine in terms of treatments that aim to restore a plump and firm appearance to the skin, but which have no need of a scalpel. Such is the case with Ultherapy, a microfocused ultrasound aesthetic medicine treatment employed in nonsurgical lifting of the face, neck and décolleté.

This new technology is one of the latest additions to Merz Aesthetics and has already been widely used in the United States for several years. Finally, Ultherapy is also available in Italy. It is a non-invasive treatment that has no side effects or contraindications and guarantees extraordinary and, above all, long-lasting results.

Is the surgical facelift, then, destined to retire? Not exactly. Rather, there are cases that must be compulsorily treated with a scalpel and others on which, instead, it would be better to intervene differently.

For clarity, we talked about this with Dr. Mirko Manola, a plastic surgeon who happily uses Ultherapy to meet the demands of his patients.

Dr. Manola, when is it appropriate to have a surgical facelift and when, instead, can Ultherapy be used?

Many of the people who come to the office for consultation have a minimal defect, while a small proportion suffer from an issue that necessarily needs surgery. Ultherapy is a true innovation because compared with classic fillers and botox it acts in the same deep areas where surgery operates.

Therefore, patients who do not have a “major” defect today no longer have to undergo an overly invasive surgery, but can opt for an alternative solution that, if well performed, guarantees excellent results, certainly also very harmonious with the rest of the body compared to the classic facelift.

It should be emphasized, then, that many times the surgical facelift-if not properly performed-after 6 to 8 months after surgery is likely to return the patient to square one.

Take, for example, the mini facelift–called lunchtime facelift–which consists simply of traction of the skin. Given that aging takes place in depth and not on the surface, it happens that after 6-8 months the effects wear off, despite having undergone a real operation.

Going back to Ultherapy, what does the treatment consist of? Does it involve side effects, are there specific treatments involved?

Ultherapy is a very simple treatment and involves no postoperative problems except for mild edema that fades in 24-48 hours. I always recommend the application of an anesthetic cream before the session, which is still less uncomfortable than a lip filler. The duration varies from 30 to 90 minutes depending on the areas to be treated, after which you return to normal daily activities.

In this respect, Ultherapy is revolutionary.

Are the effects immediate?

It depends. The eyebrow lift, for example, is visible right away because the skin is thinner, while the face takes 45-60 days.

How long do they last over time? Can the treatment be repeated?

The effects last about a couple of years, but Ultherapy can be repeated without any problems. According to statistics, 70% of patients are satisfied with it. I believe, however, that the remaining 30% simply had to deal with a treatment that was not performed well.

The result, in fact, is very subjective because we are in the field of regenerative medicine and the biological response varies from patient to patient. In addition, Ultherapy is an operator-dependent energy device; it needs ongoing training and professionalism.

Do patients still take inspiration from celebrities when approaching surgical or cosmetic medicine treatments?

Yes, 50% of patients are still inspired by a TV or otherwise famous model. They often show the photo of the person they would like to resemble for face, breasts, and so on.

Are there any VIPs among your patients?

Yes, Ultherapy is also practiced on VIPs, precisely because it is less invasive than surgery and with excellent results.

Do you remember a very delicate and difficult case that you treated with Ultherapy?

Certainly all cases where there was significant aging of the neck. One patient, for example, was overjoyed 60 days after the session, not only because of the visible effects but also because of the pleasant feeling of turgor from within the tissues that Ultherapy gives.

Are there any cases where you advise against it?

Yes, all cases that are too severe to be treated only by surgery. For all others, there are absolutely no contraindications.