Philippine Daily Inquirer

Don't fall for a fake lift

Embrace the authentic you, the authentic way with Ultherapy

- By Hannah Palima

Defining means ful on to your be what beauti- own it terms goes hand-inhand with how you do it. Ultherapy®, a skin lifting procedure that lets you enhance your features as you choose, is US FDA-cleared for use above the brows, under the chin, on the neck and décolletag­e to stimulate through sound. It’s micro-focused earned collagen rave reviews growth ultraaroun­d the world, from top beauty publicatio­ns to highprofil­e celebritie­s swearing by it. It’s been dubbed ‘the lunchtime lift’, due to the 90minute (or less) length of the procedure, which lets you jump right back into your daily activities—and can last up to a whole year. However, the treatment’s success has led to high-frequency ultrasound (HIFU) treatments to claim that they employ the same technology at lower prices, while using completely different devices. Some even try to pass their devices off as Ultherapy® machines, which could lead to drastic results for patients. aesthetic physician Award-winning Dr. Ting Song Lim, who has worked at various hospitals and clinics around the world, from Malaysia to Japan to the USA, shares why it’s important to make sure you’re getting your Ultherapy® treatment the authentic way. Because of its micro-focused ultrasound with visualizat­ion (MFU-V) technology, Ultherapy® is precise in both the the as in skin’s visualizat­ion the amount inner layers, of it ultrasound allows as well of energy needed for the procedure. Unlike HIFU treatments, it can accurately distinguis­h between the different depths of skin that need to be targeted for lifting, such as 3.0 mm be- neath the surface of the skin, just above the superficia­l muscular aponeuroti­c system (SMAS) that holds the various layers together, and even as deep as 4.5 mm beneath the surface and onto the skin’s foundation­al layer. Lasers and radiofrequ­ency machines, however, only target up to the dermis or 3.0 mm beneath the skin’s surface, making them less effective. “What we’re trying to do is strengthen the foundation­al area of the skin,” said Dr. Lim. “Back when we needed to use surgery, we had to cut to get to that level and actually coagulate and give energy to that level to tighten the SMAS layer to give better quality to the skin. When Ultherapy® came in, we managed to do that without cutting the skin.” machines, the Counterfei­t same level however, of precision Ultherapy® don’t have as the authentic device. Most of the time, these devices don’t give enough energy to create an effect at best, and at worst, can cause severe damage to the face. “Sometimes the energy goes haywire and that can create a disparity,” said Dr. Lim. “The most dangerous part about it is when you have a device that runs through different layers. It can actually burn the skin.” That’s where the importance of the US FDA clearance comes in. Dr. Lim said, “In the USA, it’s the FDA that determines if the device is safe and effective. By having the device FDA-cleared, that means that they went through a stringent examinatio­n to make sure that this device is safe for consumers and at the same time is effective for certain indicators.” Aside from having authentic devices, Ultherapy® also pushes patients to seek out accredited partner clinics. Much effort goes into training doctors in carrying out the procedure to ensure that those interested in Ultherapy® receive proper treatment. “Even with the best device, if you put it in the wrong hands, it’s not gonna work and you can do harm,” said Dr. Lim. “But if you take a good device and put it in the hands of a skilled person, you get great results.” ULTHERAPY is a registered trademark of the Merz group of companies. Imported by: Merz Philippine­s Healthcare Inc. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For more informatio­n, you may visit: realmatter­sasia.com, www.merzaesthe­tics.com. Clinic locator: realmatter­sasia.com/philippine­s

If you take a good device and put it in the hands of a skilled person, you get great results. Dr. Ting Song Lim Award-winning aesthetic physician

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Authorized Ultherapy devices and skincare centers are given this Seal of Authentici­ty to mark them as real Ultherapy® providers
Authorized Ultherapy devices and skincare centers are given this Seal of Authentici­ty to mark them as real Ultherapy® providers
 ??  ?? Genuine Ulthera® system
Genuine Ulthera® system
 ??  ?? Ask to see your clinic’s Certificat­e of Authentici­ty
Ask to see your clinic’s Certificat­e of Authentici­ty
 ??  ?? Look for this Amplify II Software seal in all Ultherapy devices
Look for this Amplify II Software seal in all Ultherapy devices
 ??  ?? Official product label on the back of the system
Official product label on the back of the system

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