Posts

Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ultherapy?
Ultherapy is the only non-invasive treatment cleared by the FDA to lift skin on the neck, under the chin and above brow. Ultherapy treats the face and neck using focused ultrasound energy, and stimulates the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin to gradually lift and tighten skin without any downtime.
How is Ultherapy different from other cosmetic procedures?
Ultherapy is the only non-surgical cosmetic procedure that uses focused ultrasound to stimulate the growth of new collagen deep within the skin. Thanks to ultrasound’s unique ability to bypass the top layer of the skin, Ultherapy can specifically target the deep foundation below the skin – typically addressed in cosmetic surgery – without cutting or disrupting the surface of the skin.
Ultherapy is also the only procedure to use ultrasound imaging, which allows providers to actually see the layers of tissue targeted during treatment to ensure the energy is deposited to where it will be most optimal.
How long until I see results?
Patients may enjoy some initial effect but the ultimate lifting and toning will take place over 2-3 months, as tired collagen is replaced with new, more elastic collagen. As this collagen- building process continues, further improvements can appear up to 6 months following a procedure.
How long does it last?
Patients treated with Ultherapy still have fresh young collagen after a year’s time following the procedure, but skin continues to age. Future touch-up treatments can help keep pace with the aging process, which varies by individual.
Does it hurt?
Continual scientific and clinical research is conducted to enhance the treatment, and thanks to a recent development, the Ultherapy treatment is now more comfortable for patients! This new-and-improved treatment approach is proven to increase patient comfort of the procedure without impacting efficacy.
Of course, comfort thresholds vary from patient to patient, so some people may experience discomfort while the ultrasound energy is being delivered. This sensation is temporary and a positive signal that the collagen-building process has been initiated. Patients typically leave comfortable and excited about the benefits to come! Your practitioner will consult with you prior to your treatment to make your experience as pleasant as possible.
Are there any side effects?
There may be slight redness for up to an hour or so following the treatment, and a small percentage of patients may have slight swelling, tingling or tenderness to touch, but these are mild and temporary in nature.
 
How much does it cost?
Patients can expect to pay between $1000 and $5000, depending upon the areas being treated. Of course, the cost of Ultherapy can vary depending on geographic location and physician practice.
Is Ultherapy safe?
The procedure has been cleared by the FDA after demonstrating safety in clinical studies, and more than 250,000 treatments have been performed safely worldwide. In addition, ultrasound energy has a proven track record, with use in the field of medicine for more than 50 years.
How many treatments will I need?
The majority of patients only need one treatment; however, some may benefit from more than one treatment depending on how much laxity they have and their body’s own biological response to the ultrasound and the collagen-building process.
Who is a good candidate for Ultherapy?
A good candidate for Ultherapy is someone with skin that has some degree of laxity, to the point of looking, and often feeling, less firm. A lowered eyebrow line or sagging skin on the eyelids, for instance, is often the first sign of “maturing” skin. Loose skin on the neck and under the chin signals a patient might be a candidate. Typically, those in their thirties and older who have mild to moderate skin laxity are candidates.
While Ultherapy is not a replacement for a surgical face or neck lift, there are many people who want some lifting but are not ready for surgery, either mentally, physically or financially. There also are younger people who want to “stay ahead of the game” as well as those looking to prolong the effects of cosmetic surgery.
What about treating anatomical regions other than the face?
Currently, Ultherapy is a treatment for the face and neck with specific clinical indications for lifting the skin on the neck, under the chin and above the brow.
What does collagen do? How does Ultherapy stimulate the creation of collagen?
Collagen is a natural protein that gives skin its youthfulness by keeping it firmed and toned. As we age, collagen loses its strength and its ability to stand up to the effects of gravity that pull the skin downward. Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound to generate a thermal effect under the skin. The thermal effect essentially jumpstarts a repair process that strengthens existing collagen and produces fresh, new collagen.
Where can I get an Ultherapy treatment?
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ULTHERAPY SERVICES, PLEASE CONTACT US (817) 473-2120 OR EMAIL APPOINTMENTS@MARKBISHARAMD.COM TO SCHEDULE AN  APPOINTMENT.
    Spring, Texas Sugar Land, Texas Temple Texarkana, Texas Texas City, Texas The Colony, Texas The Woodlands Tyler, Texas University Park Victoria, Texas Waco, Texas Watauga, Texas Waxahachie Weatherford, Texas Weslaco, Texas Wichita Falls, Texas Wylie,
 

 

Facial wrinkles occur because people lose skin elasticity as they age, but there are also habits that can contribute to premature signs of aging. For example, forgoing sunscreen can cause sun damage, which leads to lines on the face. Repetitive motions, such as constantly squinting at the sun or sucking on a cigarette, can also make you more likely to develop wrinkles. In a recent article, The Inquisitr identified another potential cause of facial lines: water bottles.

Think before you drink
If you live in an area that has less-than-stellar tap water, drinking bottled water may seem like a no-brainer. There’s nothing wrong, nutritionally, with drinking H2O from a bottle, but the cosmetic dermatologist told the news source that it’s the repetitive motion that could cause lines to form around the mouth when they otherwise might not.
“We tell our patients, keep on drinking, it’s great for your body, it’s great for your health, it’s great for your skin,” a physician said in the interview. “Unfortunately, over time it either causes these lines or it aggravates them.”
Of course, there are ways to avoid this issue. Water purifiers may do the trick if you’d rather drink from the tap, and this will also save you money in the long run. You can pour your bottled water into a cup or drink through a straw, thus eliminating the lip-pursing motion.

A cosmetic solution
Unfortunately, for those of us who have been drinking out of water bottles for years, this news may come a bit late in the game. If wrinkles have already formed, you can discuss other options with a plastic surgeon. Facelifts and deep chemical peels offer long-term results that can make you appear younger, while dermal fillers can help fill deep wrinkles and reshape the facial contours.
 

Have you ever wondered why some people get wrinkles at a young age and others don’t? There are many answers to this question – smoking can cause wrinkles to form sooner, and if you don’t wear sunscreen when you’re young, you can expect signs of aging to surface earlier rather than later. But a new study finds another potential cause of early facial lines – the genes we get from our mothers.
What your mama gave you
For some time now, it’s been known that the mitochondria, often referred to as the “powerhouses” of the cells that make up our bodies, have a lot to do with aging. As these mitochondria sustain damage, they mutate and lose their ability to produce energy, resulting in the breakdown of the cells that leads to signs of aging.
The new study, published in the journal Nature, finds that the mitochondrial DNA passed down to us from our mothers also influences our own rate of aging. In other words, if your mother had wrinkles at a young age, you might be more likely to see fine lines on your own face in your early years. On the flip side, if your mother had smooth, blemish-free skin well into her 40s or 50s, you could be in for the same luck.
Looking to the future
This study focused solely on cell aging and genetics, but researchers hope that it may help future development of therapeutic interventions that could focus on mitochondrial function, thus slowing the aging process. Unfortunately, such developments probably won’t be available for some time until more research can be conducted.
However, there are certain cosmetic procedures available today that can help people who show signs of premature aging. No matter whether you want long-term results that target deep facial lines or something less invasive that treats fine lines, you can likely benefit from a visit to a board-certified plastic surgeon’s office.
For example, Botox injections, which have become immensely popular over the past few years, offer results that last for several months. This means you won’t have to make a big commitment like you would if you chose to undergo facelift surgery, but on the downside, you’ll need to continue to get injections of the substance to keep wrinkles at bay.
This information is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Mansfield and Southlake, TX