that time. New technology makes for a more comfortable
patient experience. A face or eye treatment takes about 45
minutes; treatments on larger areas of the body require
about 90 minutes.
Ultherapy, which has been available for several years,
uses ultrasound and the body’s own natural healing process
to stimulate the deep structural layers of the skin without
disturbing the surface of the skin. One Ultherapy treatment
will take about 60 to 90 minutes.
Plastic surgeon Dr Cheung Wing Yung, who works at
the Pedder Clinic in Tsim Sha Tsui, says Thermage and
Ultherapy are generally safe for the face and body, and
most patients can head straight back
to the office after a treatment. It is
all about working below the surface
imperfections and remodelling collagen
to help skin achieve that smooth,
youthful look we all crave.
Smooth operator
Heather Ryan, 44, a graphic designer
and mother of two, had Thermage
on her face and found a gradual and
natural improvement. Elaine Chan, 38,
a nurse and mother of three, swears by
her treatments. She had Thermage to
tone up her post-pregnancy stomach after her third child,
as well as on her face. Elaine says, “Thermage helped iron
out the creases. I don’t have the lines around my mouth
anymore and my skin has changed: it is smoother. For
anyone concerned about their wrinkles, I would definitely
recommend Thermage.”
Though the treatments are quick and you can typically
return to your normal activities right away, the results
might not be immediately apparent. Dr Cheung says,
“Overall tissue changes are subtle and can take two to
three months to evolve and develop.” Kristen Smythe, 43, a
journalist who had a Thermage treatment on her eye area
says that, although she was pleased with the process, “I
didn’t notice the change around my eyes and on my eyelids
until I saw the before and after photos at the doctor’s a few
weeks later.” She says her eyes looked brighter and less tired
than before the treatment. Karen, 42, a mother of three,
had Ultherapy around her eyes and noticed her eyelids
seemed lifted. She’s happy to wear eye shadow again and
says, “I just look better … I felt more confident again.”
How much will these treatments hurt? Some patients
experience discomfort, but most say it is minimal. Kristen
remembers tingling around her eyes during Thermage,
but says she didn’t find it overtly painful. Elaine admits
that, “The treatment was a bit painful,” but says the doctor
can give you pre-treatment pain medication if you both
think it’s necessary. Ultherapy is specifically indicated
for eyebrow lifting, but not for eyelid treatment, and this
procedure can be slightly more painful than the Thermage
eyelid and face treatments, especially on the sensitive areas
close to the bone and nerves.
The complications for these procedures
are rare and Dr Cheung says plastic
surgeons are always trying their best to
ensure patient safety and high satisfaction
by minimising risks. Some patients
experience reactions such as redness and
swelling, which usually subside within 24
hours. During Ultherapy, the ultrasound
machine monitor allows the physician
to control heat waves without disrupting
healthy fat layers in the skin.
With any aesthetic treatment, both the
procedure and the satisfaction regarding
the results are personal and individual; there is no one-size-
fits-all treatment or result. Dr Cheung says that while these
treatments can help correct the signs of collagen loss, skin
laxity and fine wrinkles, they cannot reverse the normal
ageing process, which includes fat- and bone-loss. And they
cannot offer the dramatic changes that surgical or more
invasive procedures can. “Laser skin resurfacing is still the
most effective single treatment for facial rejuvenation and
really is good at correcting all signs of ageing,” Dr Cheung
says.
Growth and change in expression is inevitable. Lines
add character, and beauty can radiate from a glimmer in
the eye of a confident woman. Thermage and Ultherapy
build a little bridge to lift unwanted sagging and add to lost
tone and definition. We are works in progress and, with the
choice of a range of simple, non-invasive procedures, we
can present our best face to the world without losing our
individual expression.
We can present
our best face
to the world
without losing
our individual
expression.
October 2013
91
