Are you worried about the aging process affecting the appearance of your skin? Do you wish there was something you could do about sagging jowls or chest wrinkles? Do you think tighter, smoother skin would give you a much-needed boost of confidence? If so, you may be an ideal candidate for Ultherapy at R Shaheen Vascular in Mountain View, CA. Keep reading to find out how you should prepare for this treatment to help you decide if you’re a good fit.
The first Ultherapy preparation step you must take is to attend an initial consultation. We need to discuss your health and concerns to verify that this treatment will be effective and safe for you. Since it is based on the same ultrasound technology that has been used by obstetricians on pregnant women for decades, this treatment will most likely be considered safe for you. However, it is not right for everyone.
During your initial consultation, if you are deemed a good fit for this treatment, we will give you a complete set of preparation instructions. In the meantime, we find it worth noting that it is vital to avoid direct sunlight in the five days leading up to your treatment session. If you have a sunburn in the treatment area, we won’t be able to perform the treatment.
In addition to avoiding exposure to direct sunlight, there are some other steps you can take to mitigate the risk of a sunburn. For example, you can make a point to avoid sunlight between 10 o’clock in the morning and 4 o’clock in the afternoon. During these six hours of the day, the sun’s UV rays are the most powerful and have the greatest potential to damage your skin. You can also wear sunscreen that provides the maximum amount of broad-spectrum protection.
Staying hydrated is another very important step you must take in advance of an Ultherapy session. This treatment works by encouraging the skin in the treatment area to produce extra collagen due to the heat from the soundwaves. If you are dehydrated, your treatment will not be as effective as it should be because your skin needs lots of water to produce collagen.
Everyone’s hydration needs are unique, but there is a constant. You can tell that you are hydrated when your urine is not dark. For three to five days prior to your treatment session, drink enough water and other hydrating fluids to ensure that your urine is pretty pale. If you get tired of drinking hydrating fluids but you’re dehydrated, consider increasing your sodium intake so your body holds onto more water. Otherwise, eat foods that are high in water, like:
In addition to coming into your appointment hydrated, you should come into your appointment well-nourished. Just like your skin needs plenty of water to make collagen, it needs plenty of amino acids and micronutrients, like vitamin C. Vitamin C is mostly found in citrus fruits, tropical fruits, and dark green, leafy vegetables. However, it can also be found in abundance in cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli.
Don’t take amino acid supplements in an attempt to get the amino acids your skin needs to build collagen. Get it from bioavailable sources, like seafood, poultry, and dairy products. It may seem easy to swallow a couple of capsules, but dietary supplements are not very bioavailable. In other words, your body won’t be able to process them efficiently and get the maximum possible benefit.
You should strongly consider coming into your appointment without cosmetics, like makeup or lotion, on the treatment area. Before your session begins, we will clean your treatment area thoroughly, removing anything that may be on your skin. If we don’t need to remove any cosmetics, your session will go faster.
Another preparation step you need to take in advance of your treatment is to not take NSAIDs or any other drugs that can thin your blood or prevent clotting. For example, you should also avoid taking Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, or fish oil supplements. MAOI use should also be avoided. Just make sure you talk to your doctor or psychiatrist before you stop taking medication, especially if your doctor advised you to take the medication daily.
Make sure you read the labels on the skincare products you use very carefully. There are a number of common ingredients that should be avoided for several days prior to your treatment. For example, you should not use any skincare products that contain glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or vitamin A.
You should also make sure that your targeted treatment area is clean-shaven when you come in for your appointment. Just remember to use a sharp, clean razor blade and shaving cream to mitigate the risk of irritating your skin before your appointment. Laser hair removal and other hair removal techniques should be avoided due to the high likelihood of causing skin irritation.
Due to the non-invasive nature of this skin tightening treatment, there is no need to take time off from work to recover. Of course, you are more than welcome to go home and enjoy knowing that your skin will look brighter and smoother for a long time to come. The exciting this is that you have a choice. You don’t need to use up precious paid time off recovering from this anti-aging treatment.
While there is no downtime following your treatment, there are some recovery guidelines you need to follow. For example, it is very important that you do not subject your skin to damage from the sun. Just like you should avoid exposure to direct sunlight to prepare for your treatment, you should avoid direct sunlight for a couple of weeks after your treatment.
Similarly, when you go outside during the day, you should wear broad-spectrum sunscreen to ensure you have protection from all three of the sun’s UV rays. Many sun protectants block UVA and UVB rays, but it is the sun’s UVC rays that damage your existing collagen and make it harder for your skin to produce more collagen. Sun damage can slow the rate at which you see your results or even diminish your potential results.
Coming into your appointment hydrated is great. However, you will need to stay hydrated until your final results become apparent. The more hydrated you and your skin are, the sooner you will be able to see your final results. To keep the outer layers of your skin hydrated and beautiful, remember to moisturize once or twice per day. Unless you have dry skin, you shouldn’t need to moisturize more than once daily to keep your skin hydrated.
Also, make sure you are drinking plenty of hydrating fluids. While water is the purest form of hydration, there is nothing wrong with drinking mineral water or sparkling water to mix things up. You can also get hydration from unsweetened tea or black coffee. Just be mindful that consuming too much caffeine, especially close to bedtime, can affect your sleep negatively. Also, remember that fruits and veggies are great sources of hydration if you get tired of drinking.
During the first 24 hours following your treatment, it is important to avoid sweating too much. Therefore, hot baths and showers, steam rooms, and dry saunas should be avoided. You should also avoid vigorous exercise during the first 24 hours after your treatment to make sure you don’t get too sweaty.
Note that there is nothing wrong with getting moderate exercise. In fact, getting 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise most days may help you see your final results faster. Aerobic exercise is good for your cardiovascular system, meaning oxygen and growth factors can more efficiently circulate throughout your body.
There are a number of preparation steps you must take before getting an Ultherapy treatment, and the first is to attend an initial consultation. If you think tighter, smoother skin would lift your spirits and self-confidence, you may be a good candidate for this ultrasound-based skin tightening treatment. To find out for sure, schedule an initial consultation with us today at R Shaheen Vawscular in Mountain View, CA.
Lymphedema is challenging for individuals of any age, but when children are affected, the situation…
At Shaheen Vascular, we often encounter patients in Mountain View and San Jose, CA, troubled…
Lymphedema, a chronic condition characterized by swelling typically in the arms or legs, can significantly…
Experiencing leg vein pain can go beyond mild discomfort to significantly impact your daily life,…
Lymphedema, a condition characterized by localized fluid retention and tissue swelling, can present challenges when…
Have you ever felt persistent leg pain without an apparent reason? That throbbing or heaviness…