A intense-focused ultrasound tightening for the treatment of infraorbital laxity.

BACKGROUND: Infraorbital laxity is a common problem that increases with age. Blepharoplasty with lipectomy is a very commonly performed surgical procedure to treat this problem; however, it is invasive and is associated with the potential for re-emergence. Therefore, young patients may prefer a non-surgical procedure rather than to a surgical procedure. Intense-focused ultrasound (IFUS) has emerged as an effective, non-surgical, tissue-tightening procedure. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the safety and efficacy of IFUS (Ulthera system, Ulthera Inc, Mesa, AZ, U.S.A.) for facial tightening in Asian patients with infraorbital laxity. METHODS: We studied 15 patients who were treated with an IFUS device applied to both lower eyelids. The primary outcome measure was an objective improvement in a paired comparison of pre-treatment and post treatment (6 months) photographs. A secondary outcome measure was patient satisfaction as measured by a questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 50 years (range, 27-69). All patients received one to two treatments with intense-focused ultrasound. All patients in the study experienced both subjective and objective improvement. CONCLUSION: IFUS can be used as a non-invasive, skin-tightening procedure for infraorbital laxity. No serious, permanent, or delayed side effects were noted up to 6 months post treatment. Thus, this procedure can be effective and safe in the treatment of decreased laxity of the lower eyelids.

Intense focused ultrasound tightening in Asian skin: clinical and pathologic results.

BACKGROUND: Laxity and wrinkles of the aging face are common cosmetic concerns. Intense focused ultrasound (IFUS), a novel treatment modality for skin laxity, produces thermal effects at various depths while sparing overlying epidermis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of IFUS in facial skin tightening. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-two Korean patients with facial laxity were analyzed after a single IFUS treatment. Patient assessments were recorded, and two blinded, experienced clinicians who assessed improvement of nasolabial folds and jaw tightening evaluated photographs of patients and rated skin laxity. Skin biopsies were taken from 11 patients before and 2 months after treatment. RESULTS: Objectively, nasolabial folds and jaw lines were improved in all patients. Subjectively, 77% of patients reported much improvement of nasolabial folds, and 73% of patients reported much improvement at the jaw line. Histologic evaluation of skin biopsy samples using hematoxylin and eosin and Victoria blue stains showed greater dermal collagen with thickening of the dermis and straightening of elastic fibers in the reticular dermis after treatment. CONCLUSION: IFUS is a safe, effective, noninvasive procedure to tighten the facial skin of Asian patients. Improvement is associated with greater production of dermal collagen and straightening of dermal elastic fibers.