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Non-Surgical Treatments

Ultherapy — Non-Surgical Facelifting Treatment

A TGA-approved ultrasound treatment that targets the same structural layers addressed in facelift surgery, stimulating collagen for gradual tightening without surgery or downtime.

At a Glance

Ultherapy

Treatment Type Non-surgical — focused ultrasound energy, no incisions or anaesthesia
Best Suited To Mild to moderate skin laxity, early jawline softening or neck changes
Treatment Areas Brow, lower face, jawline, neck and décolletage
Sessions Required Typically a single session of 60–90 minutes
Results Timeline Gradual improvement from 2–3 months; full results up to 6 months
Results Longevity Typically 1–2 years; maintenance treatments may be considered

May not be suitable if you have advanced tissue descent or jowling, need immediate visible results, or are seeking skin texture/resurfacing correction rather than lifting.

Located in Armadale, Melbourne, Aesthetica Image Centre offers Ultherapy — a non-surgical facelift treatment for the face, neck and décolletage.

Ultherapy is a single non-surgical treatment that uses focused ultrasound energy to target multiple depths of the skin, down to deeper structural layers, to support collagen production. It is a TGA-approved treatment, most effective for patients in the earlier stages of facial ageing who are not yet candidates for, or do not wish to pursue, surgery.

Ultherapy is not a replacement for facelift surgery.

If you're exploring your options, you may also wish to compare non-surgical skin tightening vs. facelift surgery.

Understanding the Treatment

How Ultherapy Works

Ultherapy uses precisely controlled ultrasound energy to reach the SMAS and dermal layers — the same structural layers addressed in facelift surgery — encouraging gradual, natural lifting and tightening over several months as your body produces new collagen.

  • Targets the SMAS and dermal layers beneath the skin's surface
  • Uses focused ultrasound energy to stimulate deep collagen production
  • Real-time visualisation allows precise, targeted energy delivery
  • Results build gradually as new collagen forms and matures
Diagram comparing the treatment depths of Ultherapy and other non-surgical skin tightening treatments

There are numerous treatments for skin care and rejuvenation, all working at different depths. Devices and operator experience can also play a role in results.

Why Patients Choose It

Benefits of Ultherapy

Non-Surgical

No incisions, no anaesthesia and no required downtime — most patients return to normal activities immediately.

Natural, Gradual Results

Supports your own collagen production for a lifted, tightened appearance that develops over months, not overnight.

Versatile Treatment Areas

May be used on the brow, lower face, jawline, neck and décolletage, depending on your goals.

Ultherapy uses ultrasound energy, which has a long history of use in medical imaging, and is a TGA-approved medical device widely used in aesthetic medicine. During your consultation, your clinician will assess your suitability and discuss potential side effects.

Before Your Appointment

Preparing for Your Ultherapy Treatment

A few simple steps in the days before treatment can help support your comfort and recovery.

  • Where possible, avoid blood-thinning medications, aspirin, anti-inflammatories and fish oil supplements in the days beforehand, as these may increase the likelihood of bruising
  • Speak with your clinician about whether a supplement such as Arnica Montana may be appropriate in the lead-up to your treatment
  • Arrive with clean skin, free of makeup, on the day of your appointment
  • Wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the treatment area

Always confirm any medication or supplement changes with your clinician or GP before your appointment.

On the Day

What to Expect During Treatment

  • Treatment usually takes 60–90 minutes, depending on the area treated
  • You may feel warmth or a tingling sensation as energy is delivered
  • Most patients find the treatment manageable and any discomfort brief
  • There is no required downtime afterwards
Recovery

What to Expect After Treatment

Everyone's response varies, but most patients notice some or all of the following in the days after treatment:

  • Mild redness, similar to that following a facial, usually settling within a few hours
  • Occasional bruising, most commonly along the jawline or cheekbone
  • Tenderness, tightness or a mild aching sensation for a few days — often most noticeable when washing your face or applying makeup
  • Temporary, mild swelling in the treated area
  • Rarely, temporary numbness or localised muscle weakness, which generally resolves within a few weeks

Most patients return to work, exercise and their usual routine straight away. If you notice anything that concerns you during recovery, contact our team.

Real Results

Ultherapy Before & After

Before and after Ultherapy treatment at Aesthetica Image Centre, showing improved jawline and skin tightening

Ultherapy to the lower face and jawline. Pre and 3 months post-treatment. Individual results vary.

Photographs are shown with patient consent and unedited apart from standard cropping and lighting adjustments. Results vary between individuals.

Your Rejuvenation Pathway

Where Ultherapy Fits in Your Treatment Journey

Ultherapy occupies a specific place in facial rejuvenation — it may not be the first step, and it isn't the last. These treatments aren't required steps toward a facelift; depending on your goals and expectations, they may be a suitable alternative, or used to complement your skin quality alongside surgery.

Facial rejuvenation options pyramid showing treatments from skincare through to surgical facelift with indicative starting costs

Indicative starting prices only — a personalised quote is provided following consultation.

For very early skin changes, radiofrequency treatments such as Viora V-ST may be a good starting point, supporting skin quality and gradual firmness over a series of sessions.

Ultherapy is generally considered when those early changes have progressed — when there is mild to moderate skin laxity, early softening around the jawline or neck, or when a patient wants deeper tissue support without surgery. Because Ultherapy targets the same structural layers addressed in facelift surgery, it's a meaningful step up from surface-level skin treatments.

Where laxity is more advanced — particularly if jowling is present, or non-surgical treatments have reached their limit — surgery may be a more appropriate discussion. A thread lift may be considered in selected cases as a minimally invasive intermediate option, a mini facelift for earlier, more limited signs of jowling or jawline softening, or full facelift surgery for more advanced tissue descent.

Understanding where you sit in this journey is something we assess carefully at consultation.

Complementary Care

Combining Ultherapy With Other Treatments

Ultherapy may be combined with other treatments to support overall skin quality, including:

A real person, not a chatbot

Ask Julie

Wondering whether Ultherapy is the right fit for you? I'm Julie Bates, Aesthetica's Patient Care Coordinator. Our online chat is answered by our friendly staff — no AI, no call centre — so you're always talking to a real person, at your own pace.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Most treatments take 60–90 minutes, depending on the areas treated. Afterwards, we invite you to relax under Omnilux light therapy to support recovery.

Most patients describe the sensation as warm to tingling, and it's usually brief. Your clinician will discuss what to expect and how comfort is managed during your consultation.

No — you can usually return to normal activities straight after treatment. Some patients experience mild redness, tenderness or bruising in the days afterwards, but this doesn't typically require time off.

Results appear gradually, from around 2–3 months, with continued improvement for up to 6 months. This is because Ultherapy works by stimulating your own collagen production, which takes time to mature.

Cost depends on the areas treated and is confirmed at your consultation. We recommend requesting an itemised estimate from any provider you're considering, so you can compare like with like.

Most patients need just one treatment. Some choose a maintenance session every 1–2 years to help support results over time, depending on individual skin quality and ageing.

Ultherapy is best suited to mild to moderate skin laxity, rather than more advanced tissue descent. It's not designed to replicate the results of a facelift. A consultation is the best way to determine whether it — or another option — is the right fit for your goals.

Meet the Team

Your Ultherapy Clinician

Kathryn Coen, Dermal Clinician at Aesthetica Image Centre
Dermal Clinician

Kathryn Coen

BAppSc (Dermal Sciences), Victoria University · ASDC-Registered

Kathryn is a qualified, ASDC-registered Dermal Clinician who specialises in non-surgical treatment pathways, with a strong focus on skin rejuvenation and corrective treatments, including pre- and post-operative skin preparation and healing. Her clinical interests include Ultherapy, radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening, non-surgical labia reduction, IPL, fractional ablative RF resurfacing, chemical peels and laser hair reduction.

Why Choose Us

Our Commitment to Care

We believe in providing respectful, personalised care. Our patients often tell us they value our:

  • Warm, professional and unhurried consultations
  • Genuine commitment to understanding individual skin goals
  • Clinicians with specialised, ongoing training in non-surgical treatment pathways
  • Honest guidance — including when a different treatment may better suit your goals
  • Convenient location in Armadale, Melbourne
  • Personalised aftercare and support throughout your journey

Book Your Complimentary Ultherapy Consultation

Ready to discover what Ultherapy can do for your skin? Contact Aesthetica Image Centre today to schedule your complimentary consultation and explore whether this treatment is right for you.

Book Your Appointment Online

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