Quintessa Medical Spas
Mequon, Sheboygan
Innovation: Ultherapy nonsurgical skin lift procedure
Nearly every surgical procedure involving anesthesia has some inherent risks associated with it. While serious harm or injury are rare during cosmetic surgical procedures, Dr. Andrew Campbell, facial cosmetic surgeon and owner of Quintessa Medical Spas in Mequon and Sheboygan has adopted the Ultherapy nonsurgical facelift as a safer, less invasive and less expensive alternative to minor cosmetic surgery.
“I found out about the procedure when they were actually using it in Singapore,” Campbell said. “As soon as it received FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval in the states, I knew I wanted to be one of the first in the medical profession to utilize it.”
The Ultherapy procedure utilizes and directs ultrasound waves deep under the tissue of the skin, Campbell said.
“The ultrasound technology gently heats the tissue and as that energy expands it tightens the loose skin in a way that replicates the same effects as surgery,” he said. “The Ultherapy procedure also stimulates the creation of new collagen which helps elasticity return to the skin.”
According to Campbell, Ultherapy is the only ultrasound-based rejuvenation treatment that has been created and it’s the only non-invasive, non-surgical procedure to ever receive facelift identification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“There are various other noninvasive thermage techniques that have received skin tightening identifications but to actually ‘lift’ the tissue is a pretty significant differentiation,” Campbell said.
Campbell and Quintessa Medical Spas were among the first in the country to start using Ultherapy technology, and the first in the state of Wisconsin, Campbell said.
“We started using it over a year and half ago and we feel we have significant experience and feedback from patients,” Campbell said. “We’ve treated more than 250 patients and have experienced a very high satisfaction rate.”
It takes three to six months for patients to experience full results, but some patients can see a change almost immediately, Campbell said.
“Depending on the type of procedure, it usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes and a patient can be back on their feet immediately,” Campbell said. “There is no down time and the procedure utilizes the body’s natural healing process to formulate results over the next few months.”
Tired collagen is rejuvenated and supplemented with new and stronger collagen during and after the procedure at The Solution Oslo Skin Lab, Campbell said. This in turn lifts the facial tissue.
Full facial treatments can be done using the Ultherapy technology including brow lifting, cheek lifting, jowls and neck procedures, Campbell said.
The cost of the Ultherapy face lift is significantly less expensive than traditional surgery.
“If you are talking a full surgical facelift it might get close to costing $25,000,” Campbell said. “A full facial treatment with Ultherapy will run somewhere around $3,000.”
According to Campbell, the Ultherapy technology fills a void that previously existed between doing nothing and full-blown cosmetic surgery.
“I wouldn’t say it has taken the place of a surgical facelift, but now we have this additional option for people experiencing the early stages of facial aging or for those who aren’t mentally ready for surgery,” he said. Another great option that may help fight signs of skin aging is the use of anti-aging skin fillers.
