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Ultherapy or Sofwave? Here’s why you should do both
Now that mask-wearing is no longer mandatory (except on public transportation), this only means one thing – we can attend social gatherings without masks.
With the festive season approaching, it’s about time to undergo collagen stimulating aesthetic treatments. If you’re afraid of needles or prefer something less invasive, consider ultrasound treatments like Sofwave and Ultherapy.
Because these treatments take 2-3 months for their full effects to take place, now’s the perfect time to schedule an appointment[link to contact form]– that’s if you want tighter, younger looking skin by your next Christmas or New Year’s gathering.
What is Sofwave?
Sofwave uses proprietary Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam SUPERB™ technology to stimulate collagen and rejuvenate skin. Typically used on the brow, jawline and neck, Sofwave heats the mid-dermal tissue and works to:
- Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
- Lift the brow, submental tissue and neck
A treatment session of Sofwave takes about 45-60 minutes. There is no pain or risk of burns and patients can resume their daily activities immediately after treatment.
You will notice improvements in skin texture and firmness after one treatment; however because collagen regeneration is an ongoing process, you can expect to see further refinements in 3 months.
What is Ultherapy?
Like Sofwave, Ultherapy delivers focused ultrasound energy to trigger natural collagen production in the dermal and subdermal tissues.
Unlike Sofwave, however, Ultherapy penetrates deeper into the skin and is the only non-invasive treatment to reach the SMAS layer.
For this reason, Ultherapy is complementary to Sofwave and is:
- Used on the full face and areas where Sofwave cannot reach
- Better for patients with moderate skin laxity
An Ultherapy session takes about 60-90 minutes and 20 minutes for the whole face and undereye region respectively. There is no downtime, and most patients only need one treatment a year.
How is Sofwave different from Ultherapy?
| Aspect | Sofwave | Ultherapy |
|---|---|---|
| How new it is | Established in 2020 | Established in 2004 |
| Treatment areas | Whole face and neck. | The full face, neck and décolletage. |
| FDA clearance | Yes. | Yes. |
| Depth | Sofwave is delivered at 1.5mm, producing bulk heating of the middle-to-deep layer of the skin where collagen is most abundant. This lowers the risk of destroying good fat in the face, or causing injury to muscles and nerves in the deeper tissue. | Ultherapy is delivered at 1.5mm, 3.0mm, and 4.5mm. Amongst the non-invasive skin treatments, Ultherapy reaches the deepest. It is the only treatment other than surgery to affect the SMAS layer. |
| Real-time visualisation | No. | Yes. |
| Effects | It improves fine lines and wrinkles; crepey skin becomes firmer and more youthful in appearance. | Loose and sagging skin is tightened, lifted, and firmed, resulting in a more youthful appearance. |
| Downtime | No downtime. | No downtime. |
| Results | Final results take about 2-3 months to appear and last 9 months to a year. | Full results take 3-6 months to show and last a year. |
| Treatment length for face | 45 minutes. | 45 minutes. |
| No. of treatments needed | One. | One. |
| Applicable to all skin types | Suitable for all skin types and tones. | Suitable for all skin types and tones. |
Both Sofwave and Ultherapy are not that different, and neither one is inherently better than the other. Due to the different skin depths they can reach, it is highly recommended to do both treatments to get the best of both worlds.
Look the best you’ve had in years
Sofwave and Ultherapy are low maintenance treatments that show the best results in about 3 months.
The ideal candidates are those with:
Mild to moderate skin laxity
Fine lines and wrinkles
And importantly, those who want to look like the best version of themselves mask-free.
Contact us to find out more.