by
Lisa Chamoff, Contributing Reporter | January 14, 2015
From the January 2015 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
“Micro-focused ultrasound creates more of a lift than we have been able to achieve with the Thermage and radiofrequency devices,” says Dr. Tina Alster, director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery and a clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Hospital. “We’ve been very impressed with this particular technology.”
Matthew Likens, the president and chief executive officer of Ulthera Inc., says the company’s product uses two ultrasound technologies — the strong thermal effects of focused ultrasound and also the ability to image the area.
“The imaging happens simultaneously with the treatment itself,” Likens says. “With pinpoint precision, you can get to any depth. It only affects tissue at the depths that you’re trying to affect tissue.”
While dermatologists and plastic surgeons are the primary market for Ulthera, the company has recently been selling the Ultherapy systems to obstetrics and gynecology, as well as ear, nose and throat practices looking for alternative revenue streams.
Alster uses Ultherapy in “mega combinations,” tightening or lifting the lower segment and then doing laser resurfacing on top of that.
“In the past, when we were limited to radiofrequency, people didn’t see as much tightening or lifting as anticipated,” Alster says. “I think this is the best noninvasive lift we can provide.”
Katz, of the Juva Skin and Laser Center, says he prefers radiofrequency for skin tightening, and uses vShape, a focused radiofrequency workstation by Alma Lasers, which stimulates collagen. Katz said he tried Ultherapy a few years ago.
“We decided to wait until something better came along, which it did,” Katz says. “The results, I think, are better.”
Likens counters that radiofrequency is not as focused as ultrasound.
“It’s in there, but it’s heating everything to a much lower temperature that we’re able to get,” Likens says. “We get to 65 degrees centigrade, the optimal temperature for building new collagen. Radiofrequency can’t get to those temperatures.”
DOTmed Registered Aesthetic Treatment Options Companies
Names in boldface are Premium Listings.
Domestic
Christopher Ostler, Wholesale Aesthetics, LLC, CA
DOTmed Certified
Thomas Merolla, Eastern Surgical Company, CO
DOTmed Certified
DOTmed 100
Scott Ehrlich, EZ Brokerage, KS
Jay Jordan, State of the Art Medical, KY
DOTmed 100
Alison Bouck, Medical Laser Resources LLC, MI
DOTmed Certified
DOTmed 100
Alison Fortin, Global Inventory Management, NH
DOTmed Certified
DOTmed 100
Eric Graham, Sentient Medical Technologies, UT
DOTmed Certified
International
Navneet Kumar, Emerging India Healthcare , India
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