Fresh from her big win at the 2019 Merz Aesthetics Tala Awards earlier this month, Dr. Vicki Belo was quite voluble. The company went on to receive three awards, including the coveted Ultherapy Transducer Award.

Ultherapy is the only nonsurgical, collagen-building procedure that has been US Food and Drug Administration-cleared to lift skin on the neck, under the chin and on the brow. It delivers focused ultrasound energy and create a fresher, more youthful look from brow to chest. After undergoing the procedure, one can resume normal everyday activities without having to follow any special post-treatment measures.

“Ulthera is very good for facial procedures. It defines the jawline and is very good in getting rid of small double chin,” Belo said. “One market that has been tapped are men who, as they age, suddenly lose definition in their jawline or the break between the neck and the face.”

The newest Belo endorser for Ulthera is actor Alden Richards, who, despite being only 27 years old, wanted to have a more defined jawline. In a video uploaded on the Belo Medical Group’s (BMG) Instagram account, Richards said that while his body got leaner through regular workouts, his face remained round. With Ulthera, he got his longed-for jawline.

“Ulthera is also very good for making pores look smaller. It can be used on the forehead to raise the eyebrows if your lids are falling or on the neck but I think Ulthera Prime is best when you do the jawline,” Belo said. BMG came up with the term Ulthera Prime to distinguish themselves from other skin clinics.

Chiseled features

“It basically means we have a special way of doing Ulthera with better results. We’re very proud because many people have asked me if Alden was photoshopped in our billboards and I always tell them the results are real. You see him walking around looking that way.”
In a chance encounter at the Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge in Ninoy Aquino International Airport 2 last week, we saw up close how chiseled Richards’ jawline is now. Aside from the definition in the jaw, his chin tapered off to a point, giving him a more mature look.

“The reason it looks really, really good is because of all our experience; it’s not just the machine that’s good but also the person behind it. In a similar way it’s like creating a painting. it’s not just the paint that’s good or the canvas, but also the artist behind it,” Belo said.

One reason why Ulthera works well with Asian skin is because it addresses drooping or sagging skin. Unlike other types of skin, Asian skin does not wrinkle as much.

“As we get better and better with the way we use Ulthera, people are seeing dramatic results. Ulthera is able to go deep, all the way to the muscle and bone level, to create a facelift effect. It really isn’t necessary anymore to have surgery because you can have really good results just by doing Ulthera.”

In the past, patients were put under sedation so doctors could reach the optimum level of pulses but there are some who can tolerate the treatment without sedation. Belo said that people now do it in tandem: a husband and wife, mother and daughter or two friends.

The results last depending on the patient’s age. “If you’re between 20 and 30 years old the results can last for two years. If you’re 30 to 40, I would say you do it once a year. But if you’re 45 and up, I think you should do it twice a year.

“The great thing about Ulthera is it actually softens and improves the quality of the skin. It increases the collagen and elastin formation over time. The results get better and better. There’s an instant lift, but if you wait three months, you’ll see that your skin is even more lifted and at six months, it’s at its maximal result.” —Raoul J. Chee Kee