Over the years, our skin gradually loses its elasticity. We observe her sagging in the forehead. At the same time, the eyebrow line decreases, which provokes the lowering of excess skin on the eyes. Other changes are becoming noticeable, because of which the face is losing youth. Sagging soft tissue and skin literally “blur” the jaw line. This leads to the formation of ugly protrusions in the chin area. In addition, the muscles of the cheeks relax and nasolabial folds appear.
At the origins of these processes lies such a phenomenon as the weakening of collagen fibers. It leads to the loss of their elasticity. Over time, a period begins in a person’s life when the frame collagen layers weaken so much that they make the skin vulnerable to gravity. This causes her sagging.
Of course, in this case, many women begin to think about conducting anti-aging procedures. The popularity of such methods of returning youth to the face is noted by many specialists working in the field of aesthetic medicine. After all, this area offers relatively affordable manipulations that allow you to restore youth to a person within a short time without any risks associated with complications. The departure from traditional plastic surgery recently has become possible thanks to the innovative achievements that aesthetic medicine offers its clients today. She has created the latest hardware methods of treatment, which are an excellent alternative to painful surgical operations. A real breakthrough in this area is the system "Altera" (Ulthera System Smas) - lifting, striking with its effect. And most importantly, done without using a scalpel.
What is smas?
The translation of this word is rather complicated. It means the superficial muscular aponeurotic system. It is worth noting that, in essence, smas is an inextricable layer. It is located directly under the skin and its subcutaneous fat. This system serves to connect the muscles with the dermis. On a person’s face, smears are located in the buccal and parotid zones, as well as in the cheek area. Such a layer is responsible for the expression of emotions and the condition of facial muscles.
The aging processes that begin with age primarily affect the smas system. A similar process and contributes to the gradual lowering of the muscles of the face.
What is lifting "Altera"?
More recently, surgery was considered the only way to lift the face, which will allow you to get the desired effect. However, life does not stand still. Along with the development of aesthetic medicine, a revolutionary non-invasive facial procedure “Altera” came to us, reviews of which confirm that today it has no analogues. The results obtained using this method are comparable to those proposed with surgical interventions.
Altera's oil lifting is a hardware procedure. Perform it in cases where a soft tissue lift of the chin, face and other parts of the body is required. The novelty of this method is to expand the capabilities that natural processes of skin restoration possess. With the help of lifting "Altera" there is a stimulation of the activity of special cells of the epidermis - fibroplasts.
Hardware cosmetology is considered the most capacious direction in beauty medicine. After all, it allows you to solve a huge number of problems. But, of course, the most desired gift for all women is a correction that eliminates sagging face. The desired effect becomes possible only when exposed to the mix system. And this can only be done by the only device that produces focused intense ultrasound - Ulthera. With its help, the so-called alterapy is performed.
Currently, only the apparatus used to perform this procedure allows you to visualize subcutaneous tissue during manipulations. Altera lifting is carried out using revolutionary technology. This is an ultrasound imaging of Deepsea, with the help of which a specialist can see subcutaneous tissue located at a depth of 3-8 mm. Such spatial visualization, which became possible during the lifting of the Ulthera System, allows you to guarantee high efficiency and accuracy of the treatment. Indeed, in this case, the doctor gets a complete picture of those areas that are exposed to ultrasound. This allows him to maintain complete control over the procedure and select only the right places for the focus points of the waves, as well as to manipulate at the required depth.
Such a focal effect leads to the stimulation of reparative processes in the skin. At the same time, the active production of new collagen fibers by fibroblasts begins. The energy that is generated by ultrasound when exposed to the Ulthera System, enters a depth selected by a specialist, which is below the surface of the skin. This allows you to keep the epidermis intact.
The fact that Altera’s ultrasonic lifting is highly effective is confirmed by numerous clinical trials conducted in the most famous American medical centers. Studies have proven not only the safety of the procedure, but also its significant results. In confirmation of this, the face-lift system in 2009 received an FDA certificate, which is known for its serious approach to issuing such documents. The certificate, which is called De Novo, indicates that today the Altera oil-lifting apparatus is unique. In addition, the Ulthera System in 2008 received a certificate of conformity of the European standard (CE Mark), and in 2009 it was issued a certificate of health in Canada.
Effect produced
Non-invasive facelift without surgery with the Altera system is performed using ultrasonic energy. The same technique is used to rejuvenate the neck. According to the opinions of doctors and patients, the Altera-system, counteracting the force of gravity, significantly reduces the sagging of soft tissues, as well as the skin. Treatment using an innovative device restores the freshness of the face and neck. In addition, reviews of the Altera facial procedure suggest that it is able to eliminate even the smallest wrinkles located in inaccessible places. After performing a revolutionary inherently lifting, the natural aging process slows down.
What other facial treatment does Altera receive? This therapy can significantly increase the tension and density of the skin. This becomes possible due to the regeneration of the 3D structure of soft tissues, as well as ultrasonic waves that produce their action in a pulsed sequence. All this allows the system to provide a lifting effect, which is similar to that achieved by surgical intervention.
It is worth noting that currently there are other technologies of non-invasive type. These include, for example, the Thermage method. However, they are not able to eliminate such a level of skin redundancy that the innovative Altera system perfectly copes with.
What effect can be expected from such a lifting? Judging by the reviews of doctors and patients, it allows you to relax your forehead and raise your eyebrows, as well as tighten the tissues around the eyes. This system effectively rejuvenates the chin and neck, eliminating wrinkles in the mouth, as well as small wrinkles on the lower eyelids.
Indications for the procedure
Ultrasonic lifting "Altera" is intended for those who, after their thirty years of age, have discovered the first signs of aging on their faces. This procedure is also recommended for older people. Due to the fact that the effect of ultrasound extends to the deeper layers of the skin, a face-lift massage is performed simultaneously with superficial manipulations.
Indications for use of the Altera system are as follows:
- non-invasive lift of eyebrows and forehead;
- non-surgical face correction;
- Strengthening the skin in the area around the eyes and eyelids;
- correction of fine wrinkles around the mouth and lower eyelids.
What effect does the Altera facial procedure achieve? The reviews of patients who used this technique indicate that they corrected such problems of their appearance as:
- drooping eyelids and eyebrows;
- drooping cheeks;
- deep folds in the nasolabial region;
- flabby chin;
- drooping corners of the mouth.
Application limitations
There are also contraindications for the Altera face procedure. The innovative device is not used for treatment if there are open sores, acne, lesions, bio-implants, metal stents, as well as electrical implanted devices.
Ulthera System smas-lifting is not performed:
- during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- with local skin diseases that can change the course of the wound healing process;
- during the course of antithrombotic therapy;
- with wounds, epilepsy, oncology, as well as serious diseases of a systemic nature (diabetes mellitus, renal failure, coronary heart disease).
The list of contraindications for treatment with the device does not include the case of the presence of dental implants.
General characteristics of Altera-systems
The device designed for deep non-invasive lifting is designed to generate ultrasonic waves. For this, three types of active sensors are provided in its design, which have different frequencies. Thanks to these elements, the doctor exercises effects on the tissues at different depths, namely:
- superficially - up to 3 mm;
- on the middle layers - from 4 to 5 mm;
- in deep layers - from 6 to 8 mm.
The Altera device is equipped with a system operating in two modes. This is a visualization, as well as a therapeutic effect. In the first of them, ultrasonic waves contribute to the display of the hypodermal, dermal and epidermal layers, up to a depth of 8 mm. This happens similarly to such a well-known procedure as ultrasound.
The use of a therapeutic regimen allows the doctor to conduct a consistent, focused study of tissues located at a depth of 3, 4 and 6 mm. Such manipulations are performed along pre-determined lines under the visual supervision of a specialist using each of the three sensors alternately. In this case, thermal coagulation occurs in the thickness of the skin structures, the intensity of which is the same in each of the 5-17 points forming the line. Those areas that are outside the focus area, as well as nerve endings and blood vessels, remain intact.
Mechanism of action
During the operation of the Altera apparatus at the selective points where the ultrasonic pulses arrive, vibrational displacements of the tissue molecules occur, as well as their friction between themselves. Such an action leads to an intense release of heat, which the patient learns from the sensations of a slight tingling and burning sensation. The energy released in the stretched muscle, elastin and collagen fibers damages the proteins of the masac system. This leads to their compression, reduction and compaction, as well as a decrease in the volume of all structural components.
This is precisely the mechanism for achieving the lifting effect, in which wrinkles are smoothed out and facial contours are restored. Such an effect becomes noticeable immediately after the procedure. Moreover, it is significantly supported by the activation of the synthesis of new collagen fibers. In this regard, the effect of the use of the Altera apparatus is growing gradually and is able to fully manifest itself only 2-4 months after the manipulations. The results of this lifting are preserved over the next few years (from 1 to 3).
Benefits of the procedure
The very principle of rejuvenation, which is used in the innovative methodology of Altera-lifting, is not know-how. To ultrasound, which serves as a physical factor, the skin reacts in exactly the same way as to laser or radio frequency radiation. Nevertheless, the strength of the technology under consideration lies in the apparatus reaching the deep layers of tissue. After all, the ultrasound in the Altera apparatus operates at such anatomical levels, the transformation of which can rejuvenate the skin quite effectively.
There is another significant nuance in the smas facelift. It is the ability to concentrate ultrasonic energy. The latter does not dissipate during the procedure. Nearly 90% focuses on the beam's focal point. Such a fact serves as a convincing argument, allowing us to talk about the benefits and safety of the technique. Another proof of the high level of process control is the presence of a visualization mode in the device. It allows you to display the ultrasound image of the tissues, scanning the image to a considerable depth (up to 8 mm).
In addition, the following features are characteristic of non-surgical lifting on the Altera apparatus:
- If, during surgical grafting, stretched muscles and skin must be excised, then when applying the Ulthera System hardware technique, a multilevel effect on the skin and muscles is performed without damaging them.
- The performed procedure is almost painless and does not require anesthesia.
- A focused ultrasound beam does not affect adjacent tissues.
- Processing is performed with maximum accuracy, which is ensured by the possibility of visual observation.
- The one-time procedure.
- Achieving the effectiveness of the technique in 89 percent of patients.
- No need for a rehabilitation period.
Complications and side effects
Before performing the procedure for Altera’s face, the pros and cons of this technology should be studied without fail. The positive aspects of ultrasonic depth lifting were mentioned above. Now it is worth considering its negative manifestations.
Sometimes after alterapy, a slight reddening is observed on the skin. However, it is difficult to attribute to side effects, since this is a normal reaction of the dermis. Redness disappears within 30 minutes on its own. In the rarest cases, swelling on the face is possible. They persist for two days.
Sometimes it happens that the treated area of the face becomes hypersensitive to any touch. This can last for 14 days. Another side effect is a slight soreness that occurs when pressure is applied to the treated area.
With excessive sensitivity of the skin to local heating, a side effect is the appearance of minor seals in the dermis. To the touch, they look like small soft balls. The list of possible side effects includes numbness of the face, which is sometimes observed above the upper lip or in the eyelids.
It is worth noting that the above symptoms are temporary. They do not require any treatment and go away within six months on their own. The most serious consequences of the procedure for Altera’s face can be in case of tissue burn. At the same time, overgrowth of the connective tissue occurs in the affected area. In order to prevent burns, it is necessary to inform the beautician about the occurrence of discomfort and pain during the procedure.
Carrying out hardware lifting
If we consider the description of the procedure for the Altera face, then at the first stage it is carried out the diagnosis and visualization of subcutaneous tissue. Based on the pre-made picture, the doctor determines the depth of the treatment area. In order to avoid the slight pain that is possible at the very beginning of the manipulations, half an hour before a visit to the cosmetology office, the patient can take any painkiller. It may be, for example, the drug "Paracetamol".
At the second stage, the doctor sends a beam of ultrasonic waves to the previously designated area. In this case, the specialist, depending on the intended results, uses various system heads. Each of them allows you to provide an energy flow of various frequencies, affecting a particular depth, which is selected by the cosmetologist depending on the specific features of the treated area.
How much does Altera face treatment cost?The prices for conducting the hardware technique depend on the area of the face and neck, as well as on the depth of the effect of ultrasound on the soft tissues. The most superficial and standard procedures have a cost starting from 12,000 Russian rubles. If necessary, a deeper facial correction, the price of such a procedure can reach up to 160,000 Ross. rub.