From concerns to side effects, we have the answers

Even if you’re doing your best to eat well, drink the recommended six to eight glasses of water a day, stay active and stick to your tried-and-tested skincare routine, there will be parts of the body – commonly face, jawline and décolletage – that show obvious signs of ageing more than others. And sadly, no matter what you do, these areas cannot be tightened and smoothed with lifestyle measures, so what’s the answer?

For Katy Young, Harper’s Bazaar Group Luxury Beauty Editor, it was Ultherapy – the non-invasive skin-tightening treatment that lifts and sculpts targeted areas of skin. “Understanding that the procedure was essentially an anti-ageing treatment meant it was an obvious choice,” she says. “The ultrasound works on the foundation of the skin, boosting natural collagen to result in firmer, fresher-looking skin. Celebrities have been known to use it as a new facelift alternative.”

Dr Matthew Jarvie-Thomas, a cosmetic doctor with a special interest in advanced non-surgical aesthetics and anatomy, backs this reasoning, adding: “Ultherapy offers a non-surgical way to lift and tighten the skin. Many of our patients at the Cosmetic Skin Clinic are bothered by jowls and losing the sharpness in their jawline and neck. Ultherapy targets the production of collagen and elastin – the scaffolding of youthful skin – making it a great option to generate that lift.”

“I’ll be candid,” says Katy, “I found the experience a little painful because it works on the deep dermal layers. It was like having a headache in the skin, so I would recommend taking a painkiller beforehand. However, the pain doesn’t last beyond the treatment.”

Dr Jarvie-Thomas agrees, revealing that the most common question patients ask is whether it will be painful. He goes on to explain that while some patients may experience low-level discomfort, Ultherapy should not be a painful treatment: “We prepare our patients with numbing cream and painkillers pre-treatment.”

Dr Jarvie-Thomas explains that “before an Ultherapy treatment, patients should have a thorough consultation with a qualified practitioner to discuss their suitability. During the treatment, imaging is used to give optimal results safely, so your practitioner knows precisely what depths are needing to be treated. The treatment is completely non-invasive and will take 30-90 minutes depending on the areas treated.”

Katy elaborates that her in-clinic treatment “took approximately 20-30 minutes using a handheld gadget to deliver ultrasound waves across [her] face and neck”.

I did not experience any side effects from my treatment

“I did not experience any side effects from my treatment,” says Katy, “although I have heard that mild swelling can occur but subsides within 48 hours.”

“Ask yourself if you really, truly need it,” urges Katy. “This absolutely works but is best seen on faces where gravity is beginning to take hold.” She also stresses that it should only be carried out by certified professionals. And her final tip is to ask the clinic to show you examples of previous work, so you feel confident in their hands.

“Ultherapy is widely regarded as the gold standard of non-surgical skin tightening, making it a great preventative or regenerative treatment," says Dr Jarvie-Thomas. “My patients love how it gives them the ability to generate their own collagen and while the results come gradually, they will last for years, not months.”

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic has been the number one Ultherapy treatment provider for nine years in a row. Find out more about it here