What Is Microneedling?
This treatment – also known as collagen induction therapy (CIT) – uses very fine needles attached to a hand-held roller. A healthcare provider gently rolls those needles over the face to make microscopic pricks (not holes) in the skin. By making the tiniest of injuries, this process ignites the production of collagen within the body.
Collagen is a protein vital to skin health. With it, your face looks firm and plump. Collagen also revs up skin cell turnover to slough off the old and reveal the new. The combination of these processes helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. As an added bonus, this therapy also targets age spots, hyperpigmentation, and acne scars.
Facial Application
This therapy can be used throughout the face, including under the chin, on the upper lip, and across the brow area. It is suitable for almost any patient without facial lesions, active infections – including cystic acne, or problems with wound healing.
What Is Ultherapy?
This is another therapy that works below the skin’s surface to provide a more youthful appearance to the face. Specifically, a handheld applicator is used to deliver targeted heat energy to three different layers:
- Surface wrinkles
- Skin
- Muscle
The heat stimulates collagen production in the treatment areas. Because it provides an image of underlying tissues during treatment sessions, it is considered a very precise therapy. It can be further customized with temperature and treatment depth to provide optimal results.
The Benefits
Ultrasound therapy is FDA-approved to tighten skin, and hence, this is the area in which it really shines. Patients see smoother jawlines, tighter necks, and higher brows for a more contoured and fresher appearance.
Which Is Better?
Simply put, both of these therapies yield significant and long-term benefits. Each also provides precise targeting to deliver the results you want, so one shouldn’t be thought of as better than the other. The more appropriate question, therefore, is what concern do you hope to address with treatment?
Comparing Results
CIT is a natural and proven way to rejuvenate the face. Again, it removes wrinkles, which are commonly thought to be the most telling signs of aging, and improves skin clarity and tone.
Ultrasound therapy, on the other hand, helps lift skin in a non-invasive manner. This is a great alternative for those who have considered a surgical facelift but don’t want the recovery period and/or the incision scars.
Patient Profiles
Both treatments are safe for most patients, although ultrasound therapy is more ideally suited to patients in their 30s and 40s who want to combat mild skin sagging. Ultrasound therapy also provides a slightly more comfortable experience with less recovery time. But CIT penetrates deeper to resolve multiple issues at once: skin discoloration, wrinkles, and some sagging.
The Choice Is Yours
Again, we want to stress that neither therapy is necessarily better than the other. It’s a matter of deciding which method you prefer and which targeted treatment you want to receive. During your consultation, we can help determine which fits better with your treatment plan.
