Ultherapy, Knife-less therapy for timeless beauty

Knife-less therapy for timeless beauty

~Ultherapy, a non-invasive cosmetic procedure gives natural yet noticeable results~

Forty-year old Harsimran got all excited when she received an invitation for a college reunion. Reminiscing old times, she smiled thinking how popular she was, especially for her looks. But the smile vanished as soon she saw herself in the mirror. After two kids and a life revolving around family and work, her face had sagged and she had developed fine lines, pigmentation and dullness on her skin. All of a sudden she got scared of the idea of meeting her college friends again. What would they say? She did not want her pretty image shattered.

Sigh! Only if reality had a Photoshop to make us look flawless at all ages. Nonetheless, there is cosmetic surgery to the rescue. But alas, most of us are scared of going under the knife and do not want needle stings. Thanks to advances in medical science, a breakthrough in skin anti-ageing treatment called Ultherapy has been invented. The new fad is being vouched by Hollywood celebrities such as Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Kim Kardashian to name a few and everyone is singing praises for this painless no-knife treatment.

Dr Shahin Nooreyezdan, Senior Consultant – Cosmetic Surgery, Apollo Cosmetic Clinics Delhi says, “Beautiful, glowing younger looking skin requires intensive care, both internally and externally. Especially, after crossing 30's this process requires extra effort to overcome the signs of ageing. A relatively new therapy for India, Ultherapy provides an immediate smoothing effect by slowing down the aging process by creating new structural collagen and eventually tightens it thus improving skin texture and tone.”

Today, Ultherapy is being used in more than 55 countries and around 40 scientific papers have been published on the procedure. More than twice that number of scientific lectures have also been delivered at various platforms.

Also known as the ‘lunchtime lift’, Ultherapy is a micro-focused ultrasound treatment for skin tightening. Yes, an ultrasound system, normally used for viewing baby growth in pregnant ladies. Conveniently termed as 'lunchtime lift' it requires no overnight stay at the clinic. “You can literally choose to get it done in your lunch hour and go back to work.  It is a mere 60-90 minutes’ treatment that uses your body’s own regenerative response to gently and gradually restore memory to the skin and underlying tissues”, says Dr Nooreyezdan

Approved by the USFDA, improvements continue for 6 months. Different than 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. The technique uses ultrasound pulse energy to enter into the tissue, working from the inside-out delivering thermal energy. This thermal energy revives the collagen producing engines within the tissues, resulting in the production of new collagen and markedly improving the elasticity of the skin. The effect lasts for up totwo and a half years after which you may need another session as you have become two and a half years older too!!

Dr Nooreyezdan added, “Ultherapy is recommended for those between 35 and 60 with early signs of laxity. These patients see results within three to six months with a single treatment. Patients over the age of 60 may require a second treatment in six months. Treatments specific for certain areas such as the chin, eyes or brow can last for several years.”

While fillers and Botox are overpriced, can be painful and need to be done regularly, Ultherapy gives a great natural-looking freshening up alternate.

Do give it a shot and feel the difference yourselves!

How does Botox work?

Botox works to relax the contraction of muscles by blocking nerve impulses. The result is muscles that can no longer contract, and so the wrinkles relax and soften. It usually takes two to four days to see cosmetic improvement and the effects tend to last from four to six months. Most patients require retreatment to remove wrinkles and lines as they begin to reappear, but after each injection the wrinkles return as less severe as the muscles are trained to relax

How is Botox administered?

Botox procedures do not require anesthesia and usually take just a few minutes to perform. The protein is injected into the muscle using a fine needle in order to minimize discomfort and maximize accuracy. It is recommended that patients avoid alcohol for about a week before the procedure. In order to minimize bruising, patients should stop using aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications about two weeks before treatment. For cosmetic procedures, a study published in Dermatologic Therapy found that men need a higher dose of Botox than women.

Is Botox better than a face-lift?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, whether Botox gives better results than a facelift (surgery) depends on the age of the patient. People in their 30s who have had limited exposure to sunlight usually show signs of aging in their eyes and temple area first, with crow's feet and some bulging of the eyelid. As they have not lost much volume at this point, fillers or Botox usually smooth out the lines that people want to get rid of.

When people enter their 40s the middle of the face starts to shift as the cheeks lose some of their fat and laugh lines set in. The cheeks become deflated towards the end of the 4th decade, and the jowls start to sag. A combination of Botox as well as minimal lifting procedures will provide the best results.

The facelift procedure

The traditional facelift. An incision is made in front of the ear extending up into the hair or hairline. The incision stretches downward in front of the ear, comes under the ear and then upward behind the ear. It then ends in the hair or hairline behind the ear. If necessary, the deeper tissues of the face can be tightened. The excess skin is removed.

The incisions are then closed with sutures and staples. In some cases a drain is placed under the skin behind the ear to drain off any excess blood and fluids. This drainage tube is removed a day or two after the procedure. Then bandages are applied.

New surgical techniquesThere are new methods for performing facelifts. New surgical options are constantly being developed.These advances aim at improving cosmetic procedures:

·         Lasers: A face-lift procedure called laser neck and jaw liposculpture and resurfacing, uses lasers. This can be done through a one-inch incision under the chin using only a local anesthetic.

·         Endoscopy: Endoscopic techniques are now used to do face lifts and brow lifts. This method allows for smaller incisions. As a result, there are fewer traumas to tissues, and a faster recovery time. Facial structures are raised, and there is no need to cut away folds of skin. However, this type of procedure also depends on the patient.

·         Liposuction: This method is used to remove focal deposits of fat in the face. It is usually used in the area between the chin and neck. Liposuction can be combined with a face lift or performed separately.

Face lift surgery can last from two to five hours. It can be performed in an outpatient facility with local anesthetics and sedatives to relax the patient. However, in some cases surgery can be performed under general anesthesia and the patient may stay in the hospital overnight.

Facelifts are effectively combined with eyelid surgery and other facial procedures. The result of a facelift is a smoother, more youthful appearance. The procedure removes and tightens sagging skin. The droop of the cheeks around the jaw line is reduced. The corners of the mouth are lifted and the creases between the cheeks and lips are diminished. The results usually last between five to ten years.

Our appearance can greatly impact on how we feel about ourselves and how others react to us. Commonly, most of the changes we attribute to ageing are in fact caused by sun damage. Sun damage causes harm to the vital collagen fibers of the skin, resulting in a loss in skin support and changes in the skins texture and tone. Sun exposure can also contribute to open / broken blood vessels to the face resulting in an increased red complexion or fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores.

The RevLite™is the next generation of Q-switch ND: YAG laser technology.It is a multi-purpose, multi-wavelength aesthetic medical laser that offers maximum power and versatility for a broad range of indications on all skin types.

RevLite™ utilizes an extremely high-speed shutter to produce nanosecond pulse widths, enabling highly effective procedures with less heat and increased safety. Featuring the Photo Acoustic Technology Pulse™, the RevLite™ delivers very narrow pulse widths at peak energy, even at larger spot sizes. The speed and power of RevLite™ can create a superior Photo Acoustic rejuvenation effect, including a more refreshed appearance, decreased redness, a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles and collagen stimulation.

Dermal Fillers Overview

Cosmetic Dermal Fillers, Softform and Fat are all substances used for wrinkle treatments, scars and skin depressions, as well as for the improvement of lips.

These filling substances are injected or implanted into the skin to create, or replace volume which has either been lost over time, or can be added to a specific area that has had a natural deficit. Dermal fillers are great at plumping out an area thereby rejuvenating and giving subtle and immediate results.

Due to current government restrictions we cannot legally name any specific products, for more information on what each product has to offer please call the clinic and speak to one of our specialist cosmetic nurses.

As we age the skin structure undergoes many changes. The epidermis thins causing the skin to become dry more easily. The dermal layer depletes its supply of normal tissue making it less plump and the elastin fibers become less firm. All of these signs are minimal at first, however over time when the fat cells of the subcutaneous layer get smaller, the wrinkles and sagging becomes more noticeable.

Dermal Fillers Options

Dermal fillers have been available in different forms for many years in a variety of medical applications. One of the first fillers used (which we cannot name), although it was reliable many patients felt it was too restrictive, as it required two test doses, two weeks apart prior to treatment to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction.

The newer dermal fillers are made of substances that can be found in all living tissue. The advantage is that treatment can be immediate as any risk of allergic reaction is rare which eliminates the testing period. As there are a variety of different products available, the most appropriate product for the patient can be specifically chosen for the particular area of concern.

DEMYSTIFYING COSMETIC TREATMENTS – BEATING THE MYTHS FOR A BEAUTIFUL BODY

                 

 MYTH: Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are one and the same

The terms "plastic surgery" and "cosmetic surgery" are not the same. Confusion about both has led to public misconceptions about the two specialties. Cosmetic surgery is the surgery of appearance- the looks. It is elective and focuses on the aesthetics of beauty.

Plastic Surgery has two divisions “Reconstructive Surgery” and “Cosmetic Surgery”.

Reconstructive Surgery is to restore individuals to normal.

Cosmetic surgery is to enhance the appearance of normal people or surpass normal. Cosmetic surgery uses the same surgical principles as plastic surgery and is performed by qualified cosmetic surgeons.

Unlike cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery focuses on repairing and reconstructing abnormal structures of the body caused by birth defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease.

MYTH: Only Women Get Plastic Surgery

Although women have been the traditional customers of cosmetic surgery, now-a-days, an increasing number of men are taking this path.

Less invasive procedures such as Botox, laser treatments and dermal fillers can give men a rejuvenated and naturally youthful appearance without any downtime and at relatively low costs. These, along with liposuction, are the most popular cosmetic surgery treatments for men. The reason for pursuing cosmetic treatments is to improve your quality of life, self- esteem, awareness, affordability & safety.

MYTH: Liposuction is an effective way to lose weight

While liposuction involves removing fat from the body, it's designed to remove fat from trouble spots. For a person near ideal weight, with excess fat in a specific area, liposuction may work well. The procedure is most helpful in someone who is healthy and is looking for a slight change in body shape. Weight loss through liposuction is site specific unlike losing weight as that is overall.

Liposuction is only a cosmetic surgery and is in no way a substitute for proper diet and exercise essential for the body. Even after surgery, a good exercise regime to maintain weight at a stable point is very essential. Diet and exercise are important for people to maintain their weight after liposuction surgery.

MYTH: Botox can cause droopy eyelids.

If the Botox treatment is managed by a properly trained person, the risk of suffering from droopy eyelids is lower than 2%. As with any potential side effect, the condition is temporary and should resolve itself within a few weeks. 

MYTH: Botox freezes your face.

Treatment performed by an experienced person will make the face look relax without affect expression.

Dr Kuldeep Singh

Senior Consultant, Cosmetic Surgery,

Apollo Hospitals

 NOTE: This is a promoted post by Apollo Hospital Delhi, India