What is Sofwave

Sofwave is a ground-breaking, clinically-proven, non-invasive treatment for skin rejuvenation. It is successful in lifting eyebrows, submental area and neck. It targets and reduces fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen and smoothing out the surface of the skin. Sofwave is FDA-approved and safe for all skin types and tones, even the darker ones. It is a quick in-office treatment that requires no downtime and can be done during lunch breaks. It truly is an effective treatment for patients who wish to reduce their fine lines and wrinkles and lift moderately loose skin without the need for surgery.

Procedure info at a glance

Is it painful? Yes, but tolerable after anesthetic cream
Is there any downtime? No
How long does the procedure take? 30-45 minutes
When can I see the results? Initial after week, final after 12 weeks
How often should I do it? Every 6-12 months

How It Works

HOW DOES SOFWAVE WORK?

This advanced treatment device is based on Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam Technology – it heats the skin tissue at a precise depth to stimulate collagen and elastin. This way it lifts and tightens the skin and smooths out fine lines and wrinkles. When this treatment is used for wrinkles and fine lines, it heats the mid-dermis at 1.5 mm. It also has an integrated cooling system that protects the surface layer of the skin from burning.
The technology used in this treatment is a combined ultrasound which makes it safe and completely non-invasive. The ultrasound is of a high frequency and low divergence and heats the mid-dermis at the precise temperature to start collagen production. Since it is based on parallel beam technology, it’s not working as focused ultrasound. Therefore it doesn’t heat the skin in tiny zones but it heats the skin tissue in order to start collagen production in the deeper layers.
This collagen production stimulation is similar to micro-needling but without physical punctures to the skin.
The targeted heated tissue encourages a healing response or neo-collagenases which stimulates the production of collagen. This, in turn, reduces wrinkles and lines and lifts eyebrow, submental and neck areas. When this treatment is done on the full face it makes the skin smoother, younger-looking, tighter and overall more enhanced.

 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SOFWAVE PROCEDURE?

The benefits of this innovative procedure are numerous.
It is FDA-approved and clinically proven to lift the eyebrows, mid-face, lower face, submental area and neck. Sofwave treatment also effectively reduces fine lines and wrinkles. It is a very appealing procedure because it is safe for all skin types and tones. There is no aftercare and patients can go out in the sun straight away, because this procedure doesn’t cause sensitivity to the sun.
The procedure tightens the skin under the chin and on the neck by stimulating collagen rebuilding. It is less intense than other procedures but it effectively smooths out the skin and makes it firmer and subtly lifted.
It is a very quick, lunchtime treatment that is non-invasive and doesn’t involve needles or risks that are connected to invasive procedures. It is similar to a mini facelift only without cuts and scalpels.
There is no downtime after Sofwave and patients can resume their normal routine right away. This is another thing that makes this treatment very popular.
Most patients report that they can see significant improvement in their skin quality after just one treatment session.

Visit Lucia Clinic or feel free to contact us for more information about this next-generation ultrasound technology for skin rejuvenation.

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    FREQUENT QUESTIONS

    • WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SOFWAVE TREATMENT?

      The best candidates are both 30+ men and women with moderate skin laxity. With this treatment, they can lift saggy skin under their necks and on the chin and reduce wrinkles and lines on the decolletage. It is also a great option for skin lifting on their brows and jaws. If they have any other skin damage on the surface of the skin like sun damage, the treatment is also very effective in that aspect. A very important fact about this treatment is that it is safe for all skin types and tones which makes it a very popular treatment.
      Even though Sofwave treatment can’t replace surgical facelifts, it is a great option for patients who wish to avoid this surgery or are not willing to have a longer recovery. Since the treatment doesn’t require downtime it is very appealing to the patients. Plus, it is a very quick procedure and can be done during lunchtime.

    • WHAT DOES SOFWAVE TREATMENT INCLUDE?

      The patient is first consulted with Lucia Clinic’s skin therapist and talks about skin concerns. It can be wrinkles and fine lines, sun damage, skin laxity or others. The therapist examines the patient’s face and creates a customized treatment plan that will target the patient’s specific skin issues. This way, the patient can get the best possible results.
      After the consultation, the patient is prepared for the procedure. First, the therapist applies a numbing cream all over the patient’s face and under the chin. The numbing cream stays on the patient’s face for about 30 minutes.
      Next, the therapist applies ultrasound gel to the patient’s face - first on the forehead and then on the rest of the face. The therapist starts the treatment with the energy of 3.2 joules and then gradually increases it if the patient is comfortable with that. The therapist places the treatment applicator in the middle of the patient’s forehead and keeps it there until a beeping sound is heard. Then the therapist moves and places the applicator on the next area on the forehead until the whole forehead is covered. The therapist asks the patient constantly if he/she can handle the discomfort. If yes, then the therapist can increase the level of energy. If not, then the therapist keeps it at the same level all the time. For the forehead area, the therapist can do three passes, for example, 2 horizontal and 1 vertical.
      Then the therapist moves to the mid-face and can do 3 passes also. The therapist continues with treatment until the full face is covered.
      Sofwave applicator sends a lot of energy into the patient’s dermis to regenerate the collagen. In turn, the patient gets toned and smooth skin surface and his/her wrinkles are noticeably improved.

    • HOW LONG DOES SOFWAVE TREATMENT LAST?

      This procedure is very quick - it can be finished in between 30 and 45 minutes. This is one of the most appealing benefits of Softwave because patients don’t spend a lot of time for the treatment and can do it during lunchtime.

    • IS SOFWAVE PROCEDURE PAINFUL?

      Every patient is different and has lower or higher pain tolerance. Generally, patients feel different levels of warmth on their skin while the energy is being delivered through the applicator. However, before the treatment the patients get a numbing cream applied which makes it quite tolerable. Each cycle during the treatment lasts for about 30 seconds and the end of each cycle is the most uncomfortable. However, it lasts only for a very short time.

    • ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS AFTER SOFWAVE TREATMENT?

      Since this is a completely non-invasive treatment and the ultrasound energy is precisely focused, there are minimal to no side effects. Right after the treatment, the patient’s face is mildly red for one to two hours. The therapist can apply a hydrating serum to the patient’s face and help with the redness.
      If some patients have sensitive skin they might experience very minor swelling and the feeling of tightness, yet this is all individual.

    • IS THERE DOWNTIME AFTER SOFWAVE TREATMENT?

      Another very appealing benefit of this treatment is that it requires only a little downtime. The patients can continue with their regular daily activities right after the treatment or the next day. There is no post-procedure aftercare. The patients can even go outside in the sun because Softwave doesn’t cause any sun sensitivity. Nobody even notices that the patients had this procedure. Still, the patients can see the difference in their skin - it is subtly lifted and toned.

    • WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF SOFWAVE TREATMENT?

      What is amazing about this procedure is that it can significantly improve the patient’s skin just with one treatment session. The first results can be noticed a week after the treatment - the skin is tighter, smoother and more evenly toned. The skin continues to improve for 3 months approximately because the regenerated collagen needs some time to build up. So, the best results are seen after about 12 weeks. It depends on the patients how long the results will last so it is recommended to have a touch-up treatment session once in 6 or 12 months - just to maintain the youthfulness of the skin.

    • WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOFWAVE AND ULTHERAPY?

      Both Sofwave and Ultherapy treatments make the skin tighter and firmer, yet there is a difference in how they achieve that.
      Sofwave treatment is FDA-approved that sculpts, lifts and firms the skin on the face and neck with the use of Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam energy. It provides long-lasting results and requires minimal downtime. It is an ultrasound device and since it uses parallel beam energy it heats the skin tissue to the precise temperature that starts protein denaturation in the deeper layers. It doesn’t heat the skin in small hotspots because it doesn’t use focused ultrasound. It also heats the skin tissue at a precise depth. It rejuvenates and triggers collagen and elastin  production and thus improves the skin's overall health. It subtly firms and lifts the skin and smooths out fine lines and wrinkles. The skin appears more youthful and its overall appearance is more enhanced. It can lift brows, upper face, mid-face, lower face and neck. It is powerful yet gentle and can be used on all skin types and tones.
      Ultherapy is an FDA-approved treatment for tightening and lifting jowls and neck and for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It is a non-invasive ultrasound treatment that triggers the production of elastin and collagen in the deep layers of the skin. It stimulates these building blocks in the skin and gradually provides a tightening and lifting effect.
      Unlike Softwave, Ultherapy treatment uses high-focused ultrasound energy that goes into the deeper layers of the skin. Sofwave doesn’t send the energy so deeply into the skin, nevertheless, it can still be very effective in lifting - it can lift eyebrows for 3 to 4 mm, which is quite amazing. This treatment can be used from the forehead to the bottom of the neck and even in the areas with nerves without causing any damage to them. Because it doesn’t work so deeply in the skin, Softwave doesn’t carry a risk of structural changes deeper in the skin.
      So, the biggest difference between Sofwave and Ultherapy is the depth at which the ultrasound is delivered into the skin.
      Ultherapy treatment delivers energy at 1.5 mm, 3 mm and 4.5 mm.
      Sofwave treatment delivers the energy only at 1.5 mm, where the collagen is most abundant. Since Sofwave treatment is less intense, it may be more comfortable than Ultherapy.
      Another difference is in the treatment time. Sofwave is faster than Ultherapy because its applicator is larger so it can cover larger areas much quicker.
      Finally, Sofwave treatment is a good option for improving skin quality. It is effective in improving crepey skin which has a collection of many fine lines.
      On the other hand, Ultherapy is effective for patients that have deeper folds and wrinkles, which are not caused just by saggy skin but also by saggy muscles. This usually happens with a bit older patients.
      Regarding downtime, both Sofwave and Ultherapy require only a minimal one. After the treatments, the skin is mildly red but the redness passes after one or two hours. The patients can safely cover the redness with makeup if they have an important social event right away.
      Both treatments require some time to show the best results since they both work on collagen rebuilding. But, the patients can see significant improvements in their skin after just one treatment session.