Gravity won’t stand a chance with Ultherapy, which promises to lift the skin in a single session. One Honeycomber tries the cutting-edge facial treatment in Singapore
When people around me found out I was going for a non-invasive face-lifting treatment in Singapore, they were, well, mostly puzzled. “What’s there to lift?” was the common response. But if there’s anything I’ve learnt from writing beauty articles over the years, it’s that anti-ageing starts young – even if there’re no signs of it (yet).
I first heard about Ultherapy at my first writing gig, but sagging skin was the least of my worries then as I battled acne and overactive sebum glands. Fast forward seven years, lines have started to show and my skin is evidently less taut than before. Sure, facials, masks and daily sunscreen plus anti-ageing products certainly did their work, but results were slight or didn’t last very long. I needed something that could go beyond the surface, and so the highly-raved Ultherapy seemed like the answer.
The doctor will see you now
I arrived at See Aesthetics and Medical Clinic around lunch hour for my appointment – admittedly rather nervous. You see, I looked up Ultherapy the day before, and most reviews online warned about the pain. The candid (and very lovely) Dr. Joseph See didn’t sugarcoat it for me either. “It’s possibly the most painful, non-invasive aesthetic procedure in the market,” he said, “But it will be bearable. Besides, we are going to give you some oral painkillers and numbing cream”.
How Ultherapy works
Before I was sent off to prep, Dr See gave me a low-down on Ultherapy. Through the device, micro-focused ultrasound energy is delivered deep into the skin (up to 4.5mm in depth), heating tissue to a precise temperature of 60-70 degree Celsius, depending on the area. This causes thermal injury, which stimulates collagenesis: the growth of fresh, new collagen and strengthening of weak collagen. The treatment also uses ultrasound imaging, so doctors can set the right amount of energy to be given at the right depth.
Some may experience an immediate effect post-treatment, though real results appear over two to three months as new collagen builds, gradually lifting and tightening treated areas. Because my skin is still relatively taut, according to Dr. See, I won’t see dramatic results, but I can see how it’s a great treatment to prolong skin’s youthfulness.
Will Ultherapy reduce my pesky wrinkles? Dr. See said yes, “to a certain degree”, but recommended that we add Xeomin (read all about our review of the Botox alternative here), which is more effective in eliminating lines, to my treatment.
And so it begins
After the consultation, I was brought to another room to get my face and neck cleansed and numbed. Thirty minutes and a quickie snooze later, I was back with Dr. See to start the treatment. In the next hour, he pressed the Ultherapy device across my face and neck, inch by inch, constantly checking if I was okay.
The first “shots” for each area were alright, but the pain gets progressively worse. I should also mention that there were hundreds of shots administered, with about 30 shots on average for each section. With every zap, I felt like multiple needles piercing into my skin. Now, pain, as we all know, is pretty subjective, and for me, the procedure did hurt – though it wasn’t hard to get through.
With Ultherapy done, Dr. See then went on to inject my forehead, jawline and around my eyes with Xeomin. Thanks to the numbing cream and painkillers, I felt nothing!
Post-treatment
I looked in the mirror right after the treatments, and saw little bumps where I was injected. Other than that, there was no redness or swelling. Dr. See assured that these bumps would subside in 15-20 minutes, but told me to expect achy sensations, particularly in the jawline and cheeks, in the next week due to Ultherapy.
By the time I was out the door, the bumps had disappeared. In the week that followed, my face felt as though it had a serious workout, but my lines have vanished – hurrah! My colleagues and friends have also commented that I look much fresher and awake, and my skin visibly younger.
The verdict
It’s been a couple of months, and I’m utterly satisfied with my plump, line-free skin – so much so, that I’ll like to go back to Dr. See for Xeomin once every six months and Ultherapy every year as recommended.
Ultherapy is available at See Aesthetics and Medical Clinic, #11-01 Scotts Medical Centre, Pacific Plaza, 9 Scotts Road, Singapore 228210. For more information call 6738 8842 or visit www.seeaesthetics.com.