Ultherapy PRIME® Geelong

Some patients notice temporary tightening immediately after treatment, however this generally settles over several days. New collagen and elastin production continues over 3–6 months, with optimal outcomes often seen 6–12 months after treatment.

Ultherapy PRIME® is not designed to create dramatic overnight change, but rather to support gradual, natural-looking improvements in tissue firmness and skin quality over time. Patients often describe looking fresher, healthier, or more rested, without appearing obviously treated.

At RiverEnd Aesthetics, Ultherapy PRIME® is often used as a foundational treatment within long-term treatment plans, working gradually in the background to support tissue firmness and a healthy, well-rested appearance over time. Additional treatments – such as skincare, biostimulatory treatments, or carefully selected injectable treatments – can then be layered around this foundation depending on individual anatomy and treatment goals.

At RiverEnd Aesthetics, we utilise a number of different Ultherapy PRIME® treatment protocols. Many patients choose to have their full face and upper neck treated using the “Hi5 Protocol” approach.

Traditional Ultherapy protocols are generally performed as a single longer treatment session. In contrast, the Hi5 Protocol divides treatment into a series of shorter sessions spaced over time. Treatment plans are tailored according to individual anatomy, skin laxity, tolerance, lifestyle, and treatment goals.

Many patients appreciate the Hi5 approach as it can feel:

• more tolerable
• easier to fit into busy schedules
• well suited to long-term maintenance planning

Initial treatment courses may involve 3–5 sessions spaced approximately 2–6 weeks apart, depending on the degree of tissue laxity and the treatment areas involved.

A full face and neck treatment session generally takes around 30–45 minutes, while smaller areas such as the brows or peri-oral region may take 15–30 minutes.

As Ultherapy PRIME® targets tissue layers beneath the skin surface, many other skin treatments can generally be performed immediately afterwards as part of an overall treatment plan.

As ageing continues naturally over time, maintenance treatments are typically recommended every 6–12 months to support ongoing collagen production and tissue firmness.

In this video, RiverEnd Aesthetics’ Dr Niamh Corduff explains how Ultherapy works and how she aims for natural-looking results on our patient, Lisa.

Dr Niamh demonstrates what’s involved in the preparation for treatment, and explains how she interprets the real-time ultrasound to target the intended treatment areas.

Immediately after treatment, Lisa shows us her results and Dr Niamh explains which areas were treated and how this has helped to achieve tightening of the facial tissues.

Ultherapy PRIME® is generally best suited to patients with mild to moderate skin and tissue laxity who are seeking gradual, natural-looking improvement without surgery.

It may be appropriate for patients noticing:

• heaviness through the brows
• early jawline softening and jowls
• submental fullness (“double chin”)
• tissue laxity through the lower face or neck

Suitability varies significantly depending on anatomy, age, skin quality, and treatment expectations. An initial consultation with our doctors is important to determine whether Ultherapy PRIME® is appropriate for you and your concerns.

During consultation, we assess skin elasticity and tissue laxity, discuss your medical and surgical history, review any regular medications, and ensure expectations are realistic and aligned with what Ultherapy PRIME® can achieve in your particular situation.

Ultherapy PRIME® is generally best suited to patients in good overall physical and mental health. It may not be appropriate for patients who smoke, have active skin infections or wounds, significant active acne, certain neurological conditions, severe bleeding disorders, implanted electrical devices in treatment areas, or who are significantly immunocompromised.

At RiverEnd Aesthetics, treatment plans are highly individualised and often involve Ultherapy PRIME® in conjunction with other treatment modalities such as skincare, biostimulatory treatments, laser procedures, or carefully selected injectable treatments where appropriate.

Ultherapy PRIME® is often described as feeling like brief waves of heat, tingling, or “hot prickles” beneath the skin as ultrasound energy is delivered to deeper tissue layers. This sensation is expected and indicates that energy is being deposited at the intended depth.

Comfort levels vary significantly between individuals and can depend on factors such as stress levels, fatigue, treatment area, individual pain tolerance, and whether patients have eaten and hydrated beforehand. Most patients find treatment quite tolerable, with brief periods of discomfort during more intensive areas of treatment. Some patients have fallen asleep during treatment!

At RiverEnd Aesthetics, we tailor treatment settings carefully to balance comfort and treatment efficacy. During your initial consultation, we will discuss options to improve comfort during treatment, including over-the-counter analgesia and, for most patients, topical numbing cream prior to treatment sessions.

Side effects of Ultherapy PRIME® are usually mild and temporary. Serious side effects are very rare. As Ultherapy incorporates real-time ultrasound visualisation, injury to the skin and underlying structures is uncommon.

• Pain / tenderness: Treatment areas may feel tender or sensitive following treatment. Any lingering tenderness usually settles within days to 2 weeks.
• Swelling: Mild swelling of the treatment areas may occur afterwards and generally resolves within 24–72 hours.
• Redness / flushing: Treatment areas are commonly red or flushed immediately after treatment, however most patients are able to return to normal activities straight away. Redness usually settles within several hours. Makeup can generally be applied immediately after treatment.
• Welts / linear bumps: Temporary raised linear welts or bumps may occur in the skin after treatment. These can occur even if you have previously undergone Ultherapy PRIME® without experiencing welts before. In most cases, they settle within days, although (rarely) welts may persist for several weeks.
• Nerve irritation: Tingling, numbness, twitching, altered sensation, or temporary muscle weakness may rarely occur due to temporary inflammation around deeper nerves. These symptoms generally resolve gradually over several weeks.
• Bruising: Mild bruising can occasionally occur, particularly in delicate treatment areas.
• Uneven outcomes: As with all energy-based procedures, asymmetry or variable responses between sides of the face may occasionally occur.
• Extremely rare risks: Burns and scarring have been reported extremely rarely with ultrasound devices. These cases have generally been associated with faulty equipment, inappropriate treatment settings, or unsafe treatment practices.

All potential risks, side effects, and expected recovery will be discussed further during your consultation and consent process.

Downtime following Ultherapy PRIME® is usually minimal. At RiverEnd Aesthetics, Ultherapy is commonly performed as a “lunchtime” treatment, as most patients are able to return to work or normal daily activities immediately afterwards.

Skin is commonly a little red or flushed immediately after treatment. Most patients feel comfortable returning to work or other activities straight away, whereas others prefer to wait until the redness settles, usually over several hours.

Treatment areas may also feel mildly tender or swollen afterwards, although this is generally subtle and often not noticeable to others.

Following treatment, we recommend:

• cool compresses if required
• avoiding heavy exercise, spas, saunas, or excessive heat exposure for the remainder of the day
• continuing routine skincare and sun protection
• antihistamines in some patients if raised linear bumps or welts develop after treatment

As always, we encourage patients to contact us if they have any concerns regarding side effects or recovery after treatment.