Ultherapy in Des Moines, WA
The only FDA-cleared non-surgical treatment that lifts skin using micro-focused ultrasound. Allen Medical Aesthetics in Des Moines, WA offers Ultherapy for the brow, jawline, neck, and decolletage to stimulate deep collagen production and restore a more lifted, defined appearance.
- Treatment Time
- 60-90 minutes
- Downtime
- None
- Results In
- 2-3 months
- Lasts
- 12-18 months
- Sessions
- 1
- Best For
- Skin lifting
What Is Ultherapy?
Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound energy (MFU-V) to stimulate collagen production at the deep foundational layer of the skin called the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system). This is the same tissue layer that surgeons address during a surgical facelift. Ultherapy is the only non-surgical treatment with FDA clearance for lifting the skin on the brow, under the chin, along the jawline, and for improving lines and wrinkles on the decolletage.
The MFU-V technology includes real-time ultrasound visualization, which allows the provider to see the tissue layers being treated and deliver energy with precision. This visualization ensures that ultrasound energy reaches the correct depth for each treatment area while the skin surface remains untouched. There are no incisions, no surface damage, and no disruption to the outer skin.
At Allen Medical Aesthetics in Des Moines, WA, Therese Allen, ARNP, and Lynda Borge Jouini, NP, perform all Ultherapy treatments. We also offer Ultherapy Prime, an updated protocol with refined energy delivery for improved comfort and treatment efficiency. If you have been searching for Ultherapy near me and want experienced providers, we encourage you to schedule a consultation.
How Ultherapy Works
Ultherapy delivers focused ultrasound energy to precise depths beneath the skin surface. This energy creates thermal coagulation points in the SMAS layer, triggering the body's collagen regeneration response. The treatment takes 60 to 90 minutes depending on the areas being addressed.
Ultherapy is the only FDA-cleared non-surgical treatment that uses focused ultrasound to lift the skin at the foundational level. I recommend it for patients who are seeing early laxity in the brow, jawline, or neck and want results without surgery or downtime.
Consultation and treatment planning
Your provider evaluates the degree of laxity in your brow, jawline, neck, and decolletage. She determines whether Ultherapy is the right approach for your concerns and discusses realistic expectations. Patients with mild to moderate laxity are the best candidates. Those with severe laxity may benefit more from surgical intervention.
Pre-treatment preparation
No specific preparation is required. Arrive with clean skin. Your provider discusses comfort management options before treatment begins.
Ultrasound imaging and treatment
Ultrasound gel is applied to the treatment area. The provider uses the MFU-V handpiece to visualize the tissue layers on a screen, then delivers focused ultrasound energy to the SMAS layer. You will feel brief bursts of heat during energy delivery. Comfort varies by treatment area, with the jawline and chin areas typically being more sensitive than the brow or decolletage.
Post-treatment and collagen development
You can return to normal activities immediately. Some patients experience mild redness, swelling, or tenderness for a few days. Occasional tingling or numbness resolves on its own. Results develop gradually over the following months as new collagen forms.
Ready to see if ultherapy is right for you?
Complimentary consultations available. No pressure, no obligation.
Treatment Areas and Ideal Candidates
Ultherapy is designed for patients experiencing early to moderate skin laxity who want non-surgical improvement. During your consultation, we assess your specific concerns and determine whether ultrasound skin tightening is the right approach.
- Drooping eyebrows (non-surgical brow lift)
- Jowling and laxity along the jawline
- Loose skin and banding on the neck
- Submental laxity (under the chin)
- Lines and crepiness on the decolletage
Is This Treatment Right for You?
Sound like you? Let's talk about your goals.
Book a Consultation- Patients with mild to moderate skin laxity in the brow, jawline, neck, or decolletage
- Those who want a non-surgical face lift alternative without incisions, anesthesia, or extended recovery
- Patients who are not ready for or do not want surgical intervention but want visible lifting
- Those looking to complement other treatments (Botox for dynamic lines, RF microneedling for texture) with deep structural tightening
- Patients with severe laxity should be aware that surgery may produce more appropriate results, and we are transparent about this during consultation
Results Timeline and Recovery
One of the advantages of Ultherapy is the absence of real downtime. You can return to all normal activities immediately after treatment. Some patients experience mild redness, swelling, or tenderness in the treated areas for a few days. Occasional tingling or numbness is possible and resolves on its own.
Initial tightening may be noticeable within the first few weeks, but the primary results develop gradually over two to three months as new collagen forms in the SMAS layer. Peak results typically appear at six months post-treatment. This gradual timeline means the improvement looks natural and develops progressively rather than appearing as a sudden change.
Ultherapy before and after comparisons demonstrate the most visible difference at the three to six month mark. Results typically last one to two years depending on your age, skin condition, and lifestyle factors. Annual maintenance sessions can help extend the lifting and tightening benefits over time.
You may notice mild redness or swelling in the treatment area. Return to all normal activities the same day.
Mild tenderness, swelling, or tingling may persist and gradually resolves. Some patients notice initial tightening during this period.
New collagen production becomes increasingly visible. Skin begins to appear tighter and more lifted in the treated areas.
Peak results develop as collagen remodeling reaches its full effect. Brow, jawline, and neck show the most defined improvement.
Results are maintained. Annual maintenance sessions can extend the benefits and address ongoing aging changes.
Common Questions About Ultherapy
Does Ultherapy hurt?
Discomfort during Ultherapy varies by patient and treatment area. Most patients describe brief bursts of heat during energy delivery. The jawline and chin areas tend to be more sensitive than the brow or decolletage. We discuss comfort management options during your consultation. The discomfort is temporary and limited to the treatment session itself. It subsides once the procedure is complete.
How long do Ultherapy results last?
Ultherapy results typically last one to two years. Collagen remodeling begins immediately, with visible improvement starting at two to three months and peak results at six months. Because the treatment stimulates your body's own collagen production, the results develop naturally and gradually. Annual maintenance sessions can help sustain the lifting and tightening effects as the natural aging process continues.
How does Ultherapy compare to a facelift?
A surgical facelift physically repositions tissue and removes excess skin, producing more dramatic results for advanced laxity. Ultherapy targets the same deep tissue layer (the SMAS) using focused ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen, but without incisions, anesthesia, or extended recovery. Ultherapy is best suited for mild to moderate laxity. Patients with significant sagging may benefit more from surgery. We help patients determine which approach matches their goals during a thorough consultation.
How long does it take to see Ultherapy results?
Some patients notice initial tightening within the first few weeks after treatment. However, the full benefit develops over two to three months as new collagen forms in the deep tissue layers. Results continue to improve for up to six months post-treatment. This gradual timeline is why Ultherapy produces natural-looking improvement rather than a sudden, obvious change.
What is Ultherapy Prime?
Ultherapy Prime is an updated treatment protocol that uses refined energy delivery for improved comfort and treatment efficiency. It targets the same foundational SMAS tissue layer as standard Ultherapy and produces comparable lifting and tightening results. Your provider can discuss whether the Ultherapy Prime protocol is appropriate for your treatment plan during your consultation.
How long do Ultherapy results last?
Ultherapy results can last 12 to 24 months depending on your skin quality, age, and lifestyle factors. The treatment stimulates new collagen production over two to three months, with results continuing to improve for up to six months after treatment. Many patients schedule annual or biannual maintenance sessions to sustain the lifting effect as natural aging continues.
Is Ultherapy painful, and what can be done to manage discomfort?
Ultherapy delivers focused ultrasound energy to deep tissue layers, and most patients describe the sensation as brief, intense heat or prickling during energy delivery. Comfort measures include topical numbing cream applied before treatment and oral pain medication. The Ultherapy Prime protocol also offers improved comfort compared to traditional Ultherapy. Discomfort is temporary and limited to the treatment itself.
When will I see results from Ultherapy, and how does it compare to a surgical facelift?
Some patients notice mild tightening immediately, but primary results develop gradually over two to six months as your body produces new collagen. Ultherapy provides subtle, natural lifting without incisions, anesthesia, or downtime. A surgical facelift produces more dramatic results but involves significant recovery. Ultherapy is ideal for patients with mild to moderate laxity who want improvement without surgery.
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Read articleSchedule Your Ultherapy Consultation
Contact Allen Medical Aesthetics in Des Moines, WA to learn whether Ultherapy is the right approach for your lifting and tightening goals. Therese Allen, ARNP, and Lynda Borge Jouini, NP, perform all Ultherapy treatments and will give you an honest assessment of what to expect. Call (206) 414-9979 or book online. We serve patients from Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Burien, Seattle, and throughout South King County.
- Board-certified providers
- FDA-approved products only
- Complimentary consultations
- Transparent, honest pricing
- Individualized treatment plans
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