Plastic surgery is having a moment. Deep plane facelifts, blepharo-plasties, and neck lifts are dominating TikTok feeds and Reels, and while I fully support the growing transparency around cosmetic procedures, going under the knife just isn’t for me right now. A more lifted, sculpted complexion, however? Very much my thing—which is exactly why I was tasked with testing the “Best Skin Tightening Treatment” category for our 2026 Holy Grail Beauty Awards.
During the testing process, I researched, reviewed, and tried a ton of different noninvasive treatments, from radiofrequency facials to microneedling, all in the pursuit of snatched skin, and there was one clear standout: Ultherapy Prime. Keep reading for my full Ultherapy Prime review plus all the important things to know about the treatment, according to a dermatologist and plastic surgeon.
What is Ultherapy? And does it really work?
Ultherapy is a noninvasive treatment (i.e., there’s no surgery, incisions, or anesthesia involved) that uses focused ultrasound energy to target the deep layers of the skin, the underlying connective tissue, and fat, explains dermatologist Heather Rogers, MD. “The ultrasound energy creates controlled thermal injuries at precise depths, which trigger a natural healing response, stimulating fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin.” And why do we care about collagen and elastin? “They’re the proteins that keep skin tight and firm, and unfortunately, our bodies slow down making them once we hit our late 20s,” says plastic surgeon Jennifer Levine, MD.
Ultherapy works to smooth, tighten, and lift skin thanks to its ability to stimulate collagen and elastin. It can be used all over the face and neck to minimize lines and wrinkles, lift brows, reduce the look of jowls, tighten up loose skin under the chin, and define the jawline and cheekbones.
How long does it take Ultherapy to work?
If you’re looking for a quick fix, Ultherapy isn’t it. It takes around three months to see the effects kick in as the growth of collagen and elastin takes place.
Is Ultherapy as good as a facelift?
Ultherapy is often referred to as a “nonsurgical facelift” on social media. And while the treatment can definitely provide subtle lifting and tightening, it’s by no means better than, or even comparable to, a traditional facelift. Sorry, but “the term ‘nonsurgical lift’ is misleading,” says Dr. Rogers. “Ultherapy cannot replicate the results of a surgical facelift—none of the popular noninvasive technologies can,” she adds. That said, when compared to other noninvasive technologies that promise to lift and firm (like Thermage, Sofwave, and Emface), Ultherapy is generally regarded as one of the better options.
What are the downsides of Ultherapy?
Patients say the biggest downsides to Ultherapy are the pain and price. I’ll get more into my personal experience with Ultherapy below, but I can attest—it hurts. My skin was numbed using a topical cream for about 30 minutes pre-treatment, and it still felt like a combo of sharp needles and extreme heat as the device sent ultrasound waves through my skin. To take the edge off during a treatment, most providers will recommend a combo of topical anesthesia, oral pain medication, and/or ProNox.
There’s also the fact that Ultherapy is expensive. What you’ll pay varies based on provider and location, but in New York City, a full-face treatment will set you back anywhere from $4,000 to $7,000.
And, as is the case with all noninvasive cosmetic treatments, there’s always the risk of complications or the treatment simply not working. Complications are most common with Ultherapy if you’re going to an inexperienced provider or being treated with the wrong settings, says Dr. Rogers.
How many sessions of Ultherapy Prime are needed?
In general, most people need one or two Ultherapy treatments to see an optimal result. That’s a major perk of Ultherapy, IMO. So many noninvasive treatments require multiple sessions (like upwards of six) to yield results, but for some, Ultherapy can be a one-and-done thing that requires a maintenance treatment every couple of years.
My Ultherapy Prime review:
I have a naturally flat, heavy brow, so whenever I get Botox, I ask my provider to inject my eye area so that my brows are slightly lifted and my eye area is more awake. I love how it looks, but the effect only lasts for like two months (annoyingly, my body metabolizes neurotoxins quickly). So I decided to try an Ultherapy Brow Lift with the Ultherapy PRIME device instead. According to Dr. Levine (she did my Ultherapy Brow Lift, FYI), the treatment can help subtly lift your brows, just like BrowTox, but the effect lasts anywhere from one to two years if you take care of your skin. It sounded perfect for me.
Ahead of my treatment, there wasn’t anything to do to prep. As soon as I showed up at Dr. Levine’s office, one of her nurses cleaned my skin and then applied a topical numbing agent to the upper half of my face. Thirty minutes later, once I was nice and numb, Dr. Levine drew white marks on the areas of my face where I’d be getting the treatment—above my brows and the sides of my eyes. She explained to me that by tightening and firming the skin in these spots, my brows would be lifted and the quality of my skin would improve.
Dr. Levine warned me that while quick, the treatment would be uncomfortable. Uncomfortable was an understatement—it was downright painful, but I survived. Dr. Levine moved the applicator around my eyes in two passes—the first felt like sharp needles, the second felt like hot zaps. In my beauty editor experience, it’s the painful treatments that actually make a difference, so I was willing to suffer for 15 minutes in the name of better brows. Now, if I were getting my whole face treated with Ultherapy (which usually ends up taking an hour), I would have absolutely taken up Dr. Levine on her ProNox and injectable numbing offer.
What was most remarkable to me, though, was how normal my skin looked when it was all over. After other noninvasive treatments I’ve tried, like Fraxel and Morpheus8, my face looked red, scabby, and discolored for up to a week afterward. I had to book those treatments with my social schedule in mind. It was the total opposite with Ultherapy. I was a little pink and blotchy around my eyes immediately post-treatment, but it subsided after an hour. Nothing I couldn’t cover up with a skin tint or tinted moisturizer. And the skin that was treated felt slightly tender for the next day or so but not at all hot or swollen. This is the epitome of a zero-downtime treatment. I left the appointment and everything regarding my face was business as usual.
Now for the results. Dr. Levine told me I’d notice an improvement in my skin quality and a slight lift in my brows around the two-month mark (collagen doesn’t grow overnight), and she was right. About seven weeks after I got Ultherapy, I was sitting on the train checking my makeup when I noticed it: The tails of my brows were ever so elevated, and I had more space under my eyebrows. The skin around my eyes also looks firmer and thicker. The change isn’t dramatic by any means, but it’s definitely noticeable to me at this point. And the good news is that Dr. Levine says that the results will gradually continue to improve for another month or so and then last for up to two years if you take care of your skin.
The bottom line:
Overall, Ultherapy is a great option for anyone who wants to correct mild to moderate brow drooping or has a desire for subtle lifting without surgery, says Dr. Rogers. And even though it’s pricey and painful, the fact that the results can last for years makes it worth considering, IMO.
Meet the experts:
- Heather Rogers, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Seattle. Dr. Rogers is the cofounder of Modern Dermatology and the CEO of Doctor Rogers Skin Care.
- Jennifer Levine, MD, is an award-winning facial plastic surgeon in New York City. She’s one of only a few surgeons who are double-board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, giving her a unique knowledge of the face and its underlying structures.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan with a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories. She regularly tests and analyzes new skincare products and treatments while working with the industry’s top experts to assess new technologies and trends.
Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
