Use of micro-focused ultrasound for skin tightening of mid and lower face

Background: The changes in the mid face and lower face are among the most
prominent features of the aging process. Intense focused ultrasound, known as
the Ulthera System (Ulthera Inc., Mesa, AZ, USA), was designed to correct this
process. It employs micro-focused ultrasound to cause discrete focal heating of the
dermis and stimulates neocollagenesis and elastin remodeling.
Methods: This study enrolled 50 adult patients of Indian ethnicity who opted
for correction of mid face and lower face sagging by Ulthera. The subjects were
treated using Ulthera 3.0mm probes which targets deep dermis and 4.5mm, which
targets the superficial muscular aponeurotic system. All patients were evaluated
for allergic reactions and side effects like scarring and nerve/muscle dysfunction.
Investigators Global Aesthetic Improvement Scales Scores and Patients Global
Aesthetic Improvement Scales Scores were used for analysis at 30 days, 60 days, 3

months, 6 months, and 1 year. Photographs were taken for detailed facial evalua-
tion. Patients were asked to fill a self-assessment questionnaire.

Results: At the end of 6 months, improvements in mid face and lower face were
reported in 93% patients by blinded reviewers and 85% patients found the results
to be satisfactory. The same results were maintained at the end of 1 year.

Conclusion: Our study showed that substantial results can be achieved in over-
all aesthetic improvement of sagging of mid face and lower face with this modal-
ity using intense focused ultrasound which utilizes delivering of treatment at a
single focal depth.

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