Watch out Thermage – there's a new way to take YEARS off your face (buzz in the industry says 10…that sounds a bit extreme…I'll be happy with 5) within an hour, that's making its way to a slacking forehead and 310 prefix near you.

Late 30's watch the out!  ULTHERAPY's here to scare the Big 4-0 away.

It's been taking the media by storm.  Maybe you've read about this "Lunchtime Lift" in Bazaar Magazine.  Or Marie Claire.  Saw it on The Doctors of Rachel Ray (see below to watch it in action.)

After devouring the Bazaar piece in a doctor's waiting room one day ( awaiting a mammogram, can you say, so not fun, but so happy I did it this year.  WEAR A THYROID GUARD!) I put on my Groomed LA detective hat (chic, wide-brimmed, loaded with built in SPF of course), determined to discover the best person in town who has mastered this latest treatment.  This led me to Dr. Carlo Honrado, a board certified facial and plastic reconstructive surgeon who is bad-ass-brilliant.   And here I am to report back to you with my findings!

First, let me give you the — 

WHAT ::  Ultherapy is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment designed to tighten and lift the skin. Ultherapy™ achieves enhanced patient results by incorporating ultrasound energy to lift and tighten loose skin of the face and neck. There is no patient downtime associated with Ultherapy™ and it can be administered in as little as 30 minutes.  Ultherapy™ is the first of its kind ultrasound energy. The treatment triggers the body's own regenerative response which in turn results in firming, tightening and actual lifting of the skin. The results take place naturally and gradually over time as collagen is rebuilt within the skin. There is no down time!   

HOW :: The treatment is simple; an ultrasound wand is placed on top of your skin and sends sound waves below the surface, causing tissue to contract and new collagen to form over time. There is no downtime with Ultherapy™, and you can resume normal activities immediately. 

Here's the thing.  Youth don't come easy.  Rand Rusher is right. Pretty does, er, hurt.

Dr. Honrado asked me about my pain threshold before we started. I scoffed. Who me?  I've had 5 hip replacement surgeries, a double hernia operation, 2 kids and 2 C-sections to top it off.  If anyone can deal with pain, it's me.  "Because you can take a Percoset before we start if you want."  Percoset is pussies, I say.   Bring on my new face and bring it on now!

That was a mistake.  As the zapping begun, I started to liken it to being, well, tasered.  Or more like, a lion being tasered to it's death.  Make that a whale. 

"Wow! This is no joke!" I said, doing my best to stay zen – yoga breathing, remote viewing, you name it, whatever I could do to get my mind off the zap-zap-zapping.  Dr. Honrado was so fantastic though, counting down the zaps for me and making small talk about kindergarten schools.  I breathed, deeply.  He zapped.  My legs twitched like road kill.  I was happy I had said yes to the shot of Toradol (injected Advil, I think) in my arm before hand.  I persevered, pulverizing  those mushy squeeze balls and kept my eyes on the prize.  I mean, what's a few minutes of discomfort (maybe 45 for my lower face and neck) for taking ten years off and staving off, even longer (I mean, that should happen when I'm like 55?! 60?), those words I dare not speaketh (facelift)??  

NOTHING!

And besides, I had already braved my first Long Time Liner treatment that day, basically a fricken tattoo to my lash line (I know, can you believe this?! All in the name of beauty reporting for YOU!!) so how bad could anything really be?

NOT BAD!

Boom, it was over.  I was slightly red.  And probably a bit thinner from burning all those calories from freaking out (on the inside of course, I made-like-a champ for the Dr. and his nurse).

But, guess what… the results??

UNBELIEVABLYGREATAMAZINGHOLYSHITWOW!

The immediate effects were undeniable — the slight lifting and toning of loose skin along cheeks, neck, mouth, under chin.  Check!   My skin was not as lax/loose.  Check!  Even the texture improved (!!??!!) Lines were plumped, the crepe paper texture of my skin was reduced and this is what I have to look forward to over the next 30 to 60 days as my collagen (that was massacred) rebuilds: better fitting skin, reduced pores, brighter skin, more even tone, more resilient, smoother skin, sleeker jawline, lifting of cheek tissue, more defined jaw, less sunken more voluminous cheeks…and then some.

A week later and it's just getting better.  I'm a tiny bit sore but honestly, this is one of those things that makes a subtle change that IS NOT SO SUBTLE.  I can say it took about 5 years off this point.  When I look at my girlfriends who are 5 years younger and really study how their skin in sitting on their face, how the muscles and neck look, I can confidently say, I don't think I look any different.  WOW.

I'm realllly looking forward to the next few months with this.  And the great thing is, boom, I'm done.  This is not one of those "series of 5" things.  In fact, I think I'm over-riding Exilis with this. Thanks to Dr. Kris Pressman for introducing me to the awesome Dr. Honrado.

If you are like me — in that phase of (mid) life when you look in the mirror and think, wow, this is really starting to happen,  I still feel 12 on the inside even though I've hit 40,  what the heck do I do?  ULTHERAPY is a brilliant BRILLIANT treatment that will have people wondering what the heck you DID do.  It's already been happening to me, in only one week.

And oh, TAKE THE FRICKEN PERCOSET!!

Here are some approximate prices (can slightly vary)

2,800-3,500 for a full face (brow, crow's feet, cheek region and neck)
2,000-2,500 for the face and neck
1,000-1500 for the brow
1,000-1500 for the neck alone (though Dr. Honrado highly recommends that if you are doing a neck, it is best to also do the face)

AND HERE'S THE COOL PART!

MENTION GROOMED LA WHEN YOU GET THERE AND GET 25% OFF!!! 

DR. CARLO HONRADO

2080 Century Park East Suite 1700
Los Angeles, CA 90067 

Telephone: (310) 201-0717
Fax: (310) 201-9665

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