From the Eyes to the Jawline! Natural Lifting with Ultherapy

Sagging around the eyes and a blurred jawline that appear as we age do not just stop at external changes but can significantly affect our overall impression.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in non-invasive lifting procedures that offer natural changes without the burden of surgery.

In particular, if you are someone who thinks, ‘I am afraid of going under the knife, but I want to make my eyes look a bit larger and more defined,’ or ‘I want to slim down my chubby and sagging facial contours

and make them smaller,’ you might be curious about Ultherapy. Let us take a closer look at its working principles, application range, and how it is utilized across various areas.

What is Ultherapy?

Ultherapy is a non-invasive lifting procedure using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). Its key feature is delivering energy to targeted tissues deep within the skin without irritating the surface. Because it is performed without surgical incisions, it allows for a relatively quick return to daily life, making it an excellent choice for those seeking natural anti-aging treatments.

As our bodies age, collagen and elastin within the skin decrease, leading to a loss of structural support. As a result, various changes can occur, such as an increase in fine lines around the eyes or a blurring of facial contours. Ultherapy is utilized as a treatment method that addresses these changes in skin structure, allowing for a treatment plan that comprehensively considers the areas needing improvement and individual skin characteristics. Furthermore, Ultherapy can be customized for the entire face, including the eye area. However, since skin thickness and improvement goals vary by treatment area, selecting the appropriate tip is crucial. A delicate approach is required, fully considering anatomical factors such as the characteristics of the skin layers and the distribution of fat.

How Ultherapy Works

One of the defining features of Ultherapy is that medical professionals can perform the procedure while monitoring the skin layers and anatomical structures in real-time through ultrasound imaging. This allows them to understand the characteristics of the treatment area and quickly address individual concerns. This verification process plays a vital role, especially in areas with thin skin like the eyes or areas with diverse tissue distribution like the jawline.

The face has different skin thicknesses and fat distributions in each area, and the patterns of aging also vary from person to person. Even within the same age group, one person may first notice a prominent loss of elasticity around the eyes, while another may first experience sagging along the jawline or changes in the buccal fat pads. Therefore, a thorough evaluation of the areas needing improvement and the current skin condition must precede any Ultherapy treatment.

Additionally, Ultherapy utilizes tips of various depths. From the 1.5mm tip applied to thin skin layers, to the 3.0mm tip used to enhance tissue support in the lower face, and the 4.5mm tip applied to alleviate sagging in deeper layers, the appropriate choice is made based on the treatment area and purpose. This approach enables a procedure that considers the balance of the entire face and can be used to develop treatment strategies tailored to the characteristics of each area. For natural results, it is important to consider the harmony of the entire face rather than looking at a specific area in isolation. It is advisable to determine the scope and method of treatment by comprehensively evaluating the characteristics and improvement goals of each area, such as the eyes, cheeks, and jawline.

<Ultherapy Application Areas and Expected Effects by Tip>

Ultherapy to Revitalize and Lift Sagging Eyes

The area around the eyes, which has the thinnest skin and fewest sebaceous glands on our body, is where signs of aging appear relatively quickly. As we age, if the eyelids gradually begin to sag, it does not just stop at a simple cosmetic change but can also lead to functional discomfort, making your field of vision feel obstructed. Furthermore, as the orbital septum under the eyes weakens, fat can become more prominent, and a decrease in the tension of the soft tissues around the eyes can give an impression of looking more tired and older than you actually are.

This aging of the eye area is caused by a complex interaction of various factors, including decreased skin elasticity, weakening of the orbital septum, and changes in the tissues surrounding the eyes. Therefore, improving the eye area requires a precise approach that considers the characteristics of thin skin. For the eye area, Ultherapy can delicately deliver energy using a dedicated 1.5mm tip, and it is applied to improve elasticity and manage fine lines around the eyes. It is one of the non-invasive treatment methods you can consider if you are concerned about changes in your eye shape but are burdened by surgical options. Depending on the condition of the tissues around the eyes, you can expect a more vibrant impression.

Improving a Collapsed Jawline, Double Chin, and Dull Contours

As aging progresses, the skin’s support capacity decreases, and under the influence of gravity, cheek fat and the jawline begin to sag downward. During this process, buccal fat pads may become prominent, a double chin may form, and the jawline boundary may blur, giving the face a larger and heavier impression than it actually is. Changes in the lower face reduce the clarity of facial contours and can affect your overall impression, making it one of the aging symptoms that many people worry about.

Ultherapy also plays an excellent role in smoothly refining such collapsed lower facial lines. In particular, the 4.5mm tip delivers ultrasound energy down to the deep SMAS (fascia) layer, which fundamentally supports the skin, powerfully lifting sagging in the jawline and buccal fat pad areas. By combining this with the 3.0mm tip, it can help achieve even more precise tissue contraction and tension recovery depending on the skin condition. If you are concerned about changes in your facial contours due to sagging buccal fat pads and a double chin, you may consider non-invasive lifting treatments. However, since the same treatment plan does not apply to everyone, a process of evaluating your current skin condition through thorough consultation and setting an appropriate treatment direction is necessary.

The Importance of Customized Procedures and Post-Treatment Care

Above all, it is crucial to plan Ultherapy procedures on a 1:1 customized basis, comprehensively considering the individual’s skin condition, degree of aging, and areas needing improvement. From applying the 1.5mm tip for eye area care to the combined use of 3.0mm and 4.5mm tips for facial contour improvement, and additional approaches considering the refinement of skin texture and fine lines across the entire face, treatment methods can vary endlessly depending on skin characteristics and improvement goals.

While some people feel a slight tightening effect immediately after an Ultherapy procedure, the real transformation begins post-treatment. As collagen remodeling gradually progresses within the skin, you can expect your face to become firmer over time. Generally, noticeable changes begin to appear about one month after the procedure, and you will naturally experience improved tissue tension and elasticity changes over 3 to 6 months. However, the degree of effectiveness and duration of results may vary depending on the individual’s age, skin condition, and daily lifestyle habits.

After the procedure, it is advisable to apply sunscreen meticulously and pay attention to sufficient moisturizing care. Additionally, to allow your skin to recover stably, it is helpful to avoid excessive drinking, sauna use, and strenuous exercise for a certain period. After the treatment, the skin may temporarily become red, or you may experience mild swelling or a tingling pain (tenderness), but these are mostly normal reactions that naturally improve over time. However, if symptoms persist longer than expected or if the discomfort is severe, we recommend consulting a medical professional without hesitation.

Since the speed and pattern of aging are completely different for everyone, the key is to accurately understand ‘my current skin condition’ and set a treatment direction accordingly, rather than applying the same uniform standards as others. At the Chaum Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Clinic, we comprehensively evaluate the individual’s skin condition and aging patterns anatomically to propose the suitability of Ultherapy and the optimal customized treatment direction. We hope you maintain healthy and natural beauty for a long time through the right care tailored just for you.

Reviewed by: Professor Jin Seok-in, Chaum Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Clinic

Fields of Practice: Non-surgical facial lifting, petit plastic surgery, middle-aged eye surgery, thread lifting, fat grafting, skin regeneration. Center Director Jin Seok-in of the Chaum Beauty Life Center Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Clinic shows outstanding achievements in non-surgical procedure fields such as fat grafting, lifting lasers, and thread lifting. Youth-enhancing procedures like middle-aged eye surgery are also his strengths. He not only participated in the development and research of ‘Cha-Diform Fat Grafting,’ an integration of the internally and externally recognized technologies of CHA Hospital and Chaum, but also achieved 300 cases of ‘Cha-Diform Fat Grafting’ in 2017.

Inquiries

Chaum Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Clinic 02-3015-5371 | Beauty Life Center, 2nd Floor, Chaum, 4-1 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the effects of Ultherapy treatment start to appear?

Noticeable changes typically begin to appear approximately one month after the procedure. Collagen remodeling gradually progresses within the skin, and you can naturally experience improved tissue tension and elasticity changes over 3 to 6 months. However, there may be differences depending on individual skin conditions.

Can Ultherapy be performed on thin skin areas like around the eyes?

Yes, it is possible. For thin skin areas like around the eyes, a dedicated 1.5mm tip is used to delicately deliver energy. This helps improve elasticity around the eyes and manage fine wrinkles, allowing you to expect a more vibrant impression without the burden of surgery.

Does it help improve a double chin or a sagging jawline?

Yes, it plays an excellent role in improving the jawline and double chin. A 4.5mm tip is used to deliver ultrasound energy to the deep fascial (SMAS) layer, lifting sagging skin, and combining it with a 3.0mm tip can help achieve more precise tissue contraction and tension recovery.

Is there any disruption to daily life after Ultherapy treatment?

Since it is a non-invasive procedure performed without surgical incision, a relatively quick return to daily life is possible. Temporary redness, slight swelling, and a tingling sensation may appear after the procedure, but these are mostly normal reactions that naturally improve over time.

What precautions should be taken after the procedure?

It is recommended to apply sunscreen thoroughly and provide sufficient moisturizing care. Additionally, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, sauna use, and strenuous exercise for a certain period can help the skin recover stably.