Speaker A
Hey guys, David Lim, board certified dermatologist.
Dr. Davin Lim compares HIFU devices Ultherapy and Ultraformer MPT, highlighting differences in technology, fat reduction, treatment depth, and patient suitability.
Key Takeaways
- Ultraformer MPT offers more versatile depth options and faster, less painful treatments than Ultherapy.
- Ultraformer MPT effectively targets and melts superficial fat pads for facial contouring, unlike Ultherapy's traditional stance.
- Patient selection and treatment intent are crucial to achieving optimal results with HIFU devices.
- HIFU treatments should be integrated with other aesthetic procedures for comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
- Technological advances like Micro Pulse Technology improve treatment efficiency and patient comfort.
Summary
- Ultherapy is an older HIFU device introduced around 2008-2009, using fixed depths of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mm for facial treatments.
- Ultraformer MPT is a newer device offering more depth options (1.5, 2, 3, and 4.5 mm), allowing more precise targeting of dermal and subcutaneous layers.
- Ultraformer MPT is designed to melt superficial fat pads for facial contouring, while Ultherapy traditionally denies fat melting but is still used by many practitioners for fat reduction.
- Superficial fat pads migrate and accumulate with age, causing facial sagging; Ultraformer targets these areas for focal fat reduction rather than global fat atrophy.
- Patient selection is critical: thin patients with low facial volume may not benefit from HIFU fat reduction as tightening can give the illusion of fat loss.
- Ultraformer MPT uses Micro Pulse Technology (MPT) delivering continuous linear ultrasound energy, increasing bulk heating and fat destruction efficiency.
- Ultraformer MPT treatments are 2.5 times faster than Ultherapy, resulting in less pain and reduced operator fatigue.
- Both devices stimulate collagen but treatment choice depends on patient-specific factors and may be combined with other modalities like injectables, lasers, or surgery.
- HIFU is part of a broader facial contouring approach that includes fat debulking, skin quality improvement, and volume replacement.
- Understanding the clinical features and patient goals is essential to selecting the appropriate device and treatment plan.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
You want to know more about HIFU or high intensity focused ultrasound, and you want to know the differences between the Ultraformer MPT and an older technology called Ultherapy or Ulthera.
Speaker A
So, just as a disclosure, I have these devices, both the older Ultherapy device and the newer Ultraformer MPT.
Speaker A
So, in this video, I'll go through the key differences.
Speaker A
So, when you look at Ultherapy, this is an older device, I think it was first conceived around 2008 and entered the US market around 2009.
Speaker A
So, when you Google search what happens in 2008, you'll see like we were carrying BlackBerry phones then, how many BlackBerry phones now, but the device is still in use, but like there are some software changes.
Speaker A
So, the device itself, when it comes to Ultherapy, you're using 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mils for the face.
Speaker A
So, that limits your depth of penetration.
Speaker A
And like I said, this device is still good, I'm not saying it's bad, it's still good.
Speaker A
But times have moved and fast forward a decade and a half.
Speaker A
We got a newer device, which also gives you a range of depths, when you look at the range of depths, this is very important because with the Ultraformer MPT, you've got the 1.5, the 2, the 3, and the 4.5 mils of which to treat your face.
Speaker A
This is super important because when you're looking at dermal layers of skin.
Speaker A
Anything more than 1.5 to 2, you're in the subcutaneous layer.
Speaker A
When we measure the thickness of the dermis, especially around the perioral area, most of the time we're around 1.9 to about 2.2.
Speaker A
So, if you deliver shots at 1.5, you're within the dermis.
Speaker A
If you deliver shots at 3 mm over here, you're into your subcutaneous tissue.
Speaker A
And why is this important?
Speaker A
Because when you're using Ultherapy, if you're using it at 3 mils, chances are around this area, you're into your fat.
Speaker A
Which brings me to the next point, the denial of fat destruction or melting fat from certain companies.
Speaker A
Now, when you look at statements by Merz, which is Ultherapy, over the years, you'll see many statements saying that Ultherapy HIFU itself does not melt fat.
Speaker A
But as most plastic surgeons and dermatologists will tell you, it does.
Speaker A
So, in fact, most of us use Ultherapy to decrease areas of fat, unwanted fat, for example, in your nasolabial folds, your superior and your infraorbital fat pads, your superficial fat pads.
Speaker A
Which are very different from treating your deep fat pads.
Speaker A
Now, Ultherapy's stance is that it does not melt fat.
Speaker A
We know it does.
Speaker A
The flip side, Ultraformer MPT, their stance basically is it melts fat.
Speaker A
It has to melt fat.
Speaker A
Because HIFU is an awesome treatment to treat unwanted fat, especially focal fat.
Speaker A
So, with their guidelines and then new system, it's actually designed to treat excess fat.
Speaker A
It's designed to debulk key areas, so once again, guys, it's key areas of superficial fat.
Speaker A
So, when we're talking about superficial fat, you're looking at accumulation over time in areas where you don't want.
Speaker A
For example, the lower face, and I talked about the jowl fat pads and the nasolabial fat pads.
Speaker A
These are subcutaneous areas, in other words, superficial areas.
Speaker A
It's very different from treating things like your buccal fat pad, your buckle fat pad, or your deep fat pad.
Speaker A
Which we don't want to actually reduce in volume, because as one ages, the deep fat pad deflates.
Speaker A
Your superficial fat pads act totally differently, because what happens over time is that these superficial fat pads, they migrate.
Speaker A
They become totic and they migrate downwards.
Speaker A
And the fibroseptal elements, which in other words, the stocking that keeps your fat.
Speaker A
The superficial fat pads in check and in a compact area becomes lax.
Speaker A
And as a result, you get this accumulation of fat.
Speaker A
So, on label, Ultraformer MPT, facial contouring, facial shaping, importantly, facial shaping, and the focal, not global.
Speaker A
So, guys, understand this.
Speaker A
It's the intended focal and precise ablation or reduction of key superficial fat pads is what we want for facial contouring.
Speaker A
It's not the generalized atrophy that you get when we want to decrease or debulk your entire subcutaneous fat.
Speaker A
Which brings me to patient selection.
Speaker A
So, you'll have a lot of patients saying, it melted my fat.
Speaker A
Well, if you think if someone's got low volume, the question is, is it the device itself?
Speaker A
Or is it the indication of how the device was used?
Speaker A
So, for patients who come to see me in their 30s, in their 40s, with low facial volume, thin skin, thin areas of subcutaneous tissue.
Speaker A
Do I advocate Ultherapy, do I advocate Ultraformer MPT?
Speaker A
The answer is no.
Speaker A
Because if someone's thin and you tighten the skin, what can happen is that the perception that it can actually reduce fat itself.
Speaker A
So, if you're using it in superficial treatments like 1.5 and you're in the dermis, it doesn't melt fat because you're not that deep in, but go deeper than 1.5, it could.
Speaker A
So, guys, it's the actual intent of use and the application according to the patient, which is super important.
Speaker A
The other difference with MPT is that it's, as the name suggests, it's got MPT, which is your micro pulse technology.
Speaker A
So, instead of delivering lines, which are basically intermittent lines with high energy focused ultrasound going deep into the dermis or subcutaneous tissue with gaps in between.
Speaker A
The MPT delivers what's known as a linear array.
Speaker A
So, in other words, a line that's continuous without the brakes.
Speaker A
And with this continuous line, it basically increases the bulk heating to the tissue.
Speaker A
And with the increased heat in linear areas, in other words, in lines.
Speaker A
That is where the fat destruction comes in handy.
Speaker A
So, with the MPT that can do that at 2.5 times faster than the previous model.
Speaker A
So, it's much, much quicker than Ultherapy.
Speaker A
And as a result, if it's much quicker than Ultherapy, the pain is markedly reduced.
Speaker A
So, pain for the patient is markedly reduced because it's faster.
Speaker A
And then the operator itself, or the technicians who's performing the procedure, they complete the task in two to two and a half times quicker compared to the older systems.
Speaker A
Which means your neck ache, your back ache, and all the other ergonomic, I guess, nuances.
Speaker A
Which come with delivering HIFU is markedly diminished.
Speaker A
So, guys, those are the key differences between your Ultraformer MPT and your Ultherapy.
Speaker A
So, at the end of the day, these are all devices, and you need to actually understand the patient.
Speaker A
And see whether you use HIFU, is it collagen stimulating injectables?
Speaker A
Is it surgery, is it Elacore microcoring, what is it, is it RF micro needling?
Speaker A
That you can use in that patient to contour them.
Speaker A
So, it's application of a particular device pertaining to the clinical features.
Speaker A
You see in the patient that is super important.
Speaker A
For some patients, it's as simple as debulking fat in key areas.
Speaker A
In other patients, it's a whole heap of different things including replacement of your deeper fat pads.
Speaker A
Your improvement of your skin quality using lasers.
Speaker A
Your use use of collagen stimulating injectables.
Speaker A
And in some cases, when laxity is too far gone.
Speaker A
It's a surgical approach.
Speaker A
Guys, thanks for watching.
Topics:HIFUUltherapyUltraformer MPTfacial contouringfat reductiondermatologyskin tighteningMicro Pulse Technologynon-surgical faceliftDr Davin Lim
