Methods for face and neck lifts
AssigneeGuided Therapy Systems, LLC
InventorsPeter G. Barthe, Michael H. Slayton, Inder Raj S. Makin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Methods of lifting sagging tissue on a face and/or neck are described.
Claims20
A method of lifting skin tissue, the method comprising:
- positioning a portion of an ultrasound probe on a skin surface, the ultrasound probe comprising a movement mechanism and a therapy element,
- wherein the movement mechanism is controlled by a control system in communication with the ultrasound probe;
- using the therapy element to treat a region of interest under the skin surface, the region of interest comprising a tissue comprising at least one of the group consisting of:
- a muscle, a muscular fascia, a fat tissue, and a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue;
- wherein the therapy element is coupled to the movement mechanism within the ultrasound probe;
- wherein the therapy element is configured for targeted delivery of ultrasound energy to form a thermal focus with at least a temperature sufficient to treat at least a portion of the tissue at a fixed depth under the skin surface;
- and
- activating the movement mechanism within the ultrasound probe to move the therapy element to form a plurality of the thermal foci at the fixed depth to treat at least the SMAS tissue in the region of interest,
- wherein the plurality of thermal foci results in a tissue lift.
A method of treating sagging skin, comprising:
- providing a probe that emits ultrasound energy;
- coupling the probe to a skin surface over a region comprising a subcutaneous tissue,
- wherein the subcutaneous tissue comprises any one or more of the group consisting of:
- fat, muscle, muscular fascia, and connective tissue;
- and
- delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy to at least the muscular fascia in the region of interest at a treatment frequency of between 4 MHz and 15 MHz,
- wherein the therapeutic ultrasound energy thermally treats at least the muscular fascia at a specific depth under the skin surface to reduce skin sagging.
A method of lifting sagging skin, comprising:
- identifying a region of sagging skin;
- providing an ultrasonic probe that emits ultrasound energy;
- coupling the ultrasonic probe to a skin surface in a region selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following:
- a forehead, an eyelid, a nose, a cheek, an ear, a mouth, and a chin;
- delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy at a treatment frequency of between 4 MHz and 15 MHz,
- wherein the therapeutic ultrasound energy treats at least one of the group consisting of subcutaneous fat, muscle, cartilage, and connective tissue at a specific depth under the skin surface to lift the sagging skin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.