Thank you, Mom. I feel fortunate that I’ve been blessed with good genes in the aging department, but after reaching my mid 40s, I started to feel my skin loosening and it bothered me tremendously. I literally lost sleep over it. Like any other woman, I just wanted to look on the outside the same way I felt on the inside. Plus, I live in an environment in Silicon Valley where ageism is rampant – just way too many Mark Zuckerburgs and Marissa Mayers running around to remind us of how little we’ve all achieved at our ripe old ages. Let me state for the record, I have never done anything injectable such as Botox (injecting botulism into my skin does not sit well with me), but I am always open to natural remedies, so last week I tried Ultherapy.
Enter to win your own Ultherapy treatment valude up to $5,000! Details below…
Actual patient, before and after treatment
Often referred to as the lunchtime facelift, Ultherapy is a relatively new non-invasive procedure that uses ultrasound to restore the body’s own natural collagen to lift, tone and tighten loose skin. It works especially well raising your brows, and lifting the skin on the neck and under the chin – the very areas I was starting to experience some sagging. It was approved by the FDA in 2009, and uses safe, energy of ultrasound to stimulate the deep structural support layers of the skin without disturbing the surface of the skin.
So, what was my experience like? Earlier this month, I went to Dr. Jill Hessler’s Palo Alto office to share my “true” concerns with my aging face, but expressed to her that I really wanted to look like myself and not these women who were over-Botoxed or over-filled with fillers. I also shared that I wanted mobility in my forehead, even maintaining some of lighter wrinkles just to give me a more natural appearance. What was so great about Dr. Hessler was that I talked to her girlfriend to girlfriend. She’s not what you expect when you think of the typical surgeon. Yes, she is very smart, but she is also beautiful, and I just felt like I could talk to her in a way that she would truly understand my concerns and not push me into things that I either was adamantly against or just am not ready for – such as surgery.
First, let me set the stage for what I experienced prior to the procedure. I have to say that I was terrified to get it done. For me, I am more afraid of the what happens before the procedure rather than the procedure itself. For whatever reason, the numbing aspect just scares the crap out of me. There is something about numbing that I find completely discombobulating. Anyway, Dr. Hessler offered me the opportunity to go anesthetic-free, but convinced me that the numbing would ware off really quickly – right after the hour long procedure. So, I agreed. She injected numbing anesthetics right into my skin and while I had a moment of panic, it was all OK. It did not hurt, and the numbing was not has intense as I expected.
Another patient, before and after treatment
Then, Dr. Hesler began the Ultherpy procedure. My heart raced for just a second, but as she place the ultrasound wand on my face, I felt absolutely no discomfort during the procedure (there were just a couple of more intense pulses around the jaw line and areas where my face was not as numb, but nothing uncomfortable), and was really glad that I allowed Dr. Hessler to use the numbing anesthetic.
While I just had the procedure done a week ago, I have to say that I do see an immediate gain particularly the area under my chin, but the best results happen after 90 days, so stay tuned for Part II of this article. Regardless, I am excited that I took this step for being preventive and look forward to having more a youthful, natural that will hopefully last more than two years.
WANT TO TRY ULTHERAPY YOURSELF? Enter The Ultherapy Facebook contest!
The Ultherapy Facebook contest brings attention to the treatment’s unique indication to lift the skin on the neck by empowering women to do away with their scarves and show-off their necks … after having the Ultherapy treatment. Women are encouraged to literally mail in an “old” scarf (using a pre-paid shipping label) for a chance to win an Ultherapy treatment.
To enter, you just need to fill out the form on the Ultherapy Facebook page and then use the pre-paid shipping label emailed to you to mail in an old scarf.
The contest ends August 31, 2013. The grand prize winner will be selected at random by September 13, 2013 and will be awarded a full face and neck treatment from a participating Ultherapy provider of their choice (valued up to $5,000!).
