Noninvasive tissue tightening for cosmetic effects

A method of treating the skin, the method comprising:

• using an ultrasound probe to deliver ultrasound energy from a therapy element housed within the ultrasound probe to a region of interest at a depth under a skin surface,
• wherein the region of interest comprises a muscle and a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue, and
• moving the therapy element within the ultrasound probe for creating thermal foci along a line at the depth under the skin surface,
• wherein the creation of the thermal foci causes shrinkage of a plurality of collagen fibers in the SMAS for tightening of the skin surface.

A method for tissue shrinkage, the method comprising:

• providing an ultrasound system comprising an ultrasound probe, an ultrasound therapy element housed within the probe, and an imaging element, the ultrasound system configured for:
• (i) imaging, with the imaging element, a region of interest under the skin surface, wherein the region of interest comprises a tissue;
• (ii) treating, with the therapy element, the tissue,
• wherein the tissue comprises a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue,
• wherein the therapy element is configured for delivery of energy at a temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage of a plurality of collagen fibers in the SMAS at a depth under the skin surface;
• and
• (iii) moving the therapy element, with a motion mechanism, to form a plurality of thermal foci at the depth to cause the shrinkage.