Quick answer: Ultherapy PRIME is regarded as the gold standard for non-surgical lifting because it combines three things no other device offers together: focused ultrasound that reaches the SMAS, the deep support layer surgeons tighten in a facelift; real-time imaging, so your provider can see the tissue being treated; and FDA clearance to lift the brow, neck and under-chin area. It takes one session, with no incisions and no downtime. At JLoo Beauty Experts in Midtown Manhattan, Founding VIP pricing currently ranges from $899 to $3,750.
"Gold standard" is used loosely in aesthetics, so it is fair to ask what is behind it. In this case, quite a lot.
Ultherapy PRIME is the newest generation of that platform. None of this makes it the right choice for every face. It does explain why other non-surgical lifting devices are measured against it.
Sagging is a structural problem. Skin loosens because the support beneath it loosens: collagen thins, and the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system), the fibrous layer surgeons tighten in a facelift, begins to descend. Most lasers and radiofrequency devices work within the skin itself and do not reach that layer.
Ultherapy PRIME delivers micro-focused ultrasound at three depths: 1.5mm, 3.0mm and 4.5mm. At its deepest setting it reaches the SMAS. The energy creates tiny, precise points of heat that cause existing collagen to contract and signal your body to build new collagen over the following months.
This is the feature that sets Ultherapy apart. Before any energy is delivered, the handpiece shows an ultrasound image of your tissue layers on screen. Your provider can confirm the energy will land in the intended layer and stay clear of bone and blood vessels.
That matters because faces differ. The depth that suits a full cheek is not the depth that suits a thin temple. According to Merz, the PRIME system's imaging is 72% clearer than the previous device's.
"Tightening" and "lifting" are different claims. Many energy devices are cleared to treat wrinkles or to tighten skin in general terms. Ultherapy's clearances specifically include lifting the eyebrow and lifting skin on the neck and under the chin.
A treatment takes 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the area. There are no needles and no incisions. Numbing cream is applied first, and most clients describe a deep warming sensation that comes and goes. You can go back to work or out to dinner straight afterward. Some clients see mild redness that fades within hours.
PRIME is also about 20% faster than the previous Ultherapy device, based on a provider survey reported by Merz. As with any energy treatment, side effects are possible. In clinical trials, the most common were redness, swelling, pain and temporary nerve effects.
Nothing is injected and nothing is removed. The lift comes from collagen your own body produces, which is why it looks natural and why it takes time. Some clients notice early tightening in the first few weeks. The main result builds over 3 to 6 months, and according to the manufacturer it can last a year or more on the face. We recommend one session a year to maintain it.
| Ultherapy PRIME | Sofwave | Morpheus8 | Surgical facelift | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | Micro-focused ultrasound with imaging | Parallel-beam ultrasound | Radiofrequency microneedling | Surgery |
| Deepest layer treated | SMAS, at 4.5mm | Mid-dermis, at 1.5mm | Skin and the layer just beneath it, up to about 4mm on the face | SMAS, repositioned directly |
| Sees tissue in real time | Yes | No | No | Direct view |
| Typical plan | One session, about once a year | One or two sessions | A series of about three | One procedure |
| Downtime | None for most clients | None for most clients | A few days of redness | Weeks |
| Best for | Mild to moderate, and many cases of more significant, laxity of the brow, jawline and neck | Fine lines and mild laxity | Texture, pores and acne scars | Very advanced laxity |
Ultherapy PRIME vs. Sofwave. Sofwave is the closest comparison, and it is a good device. It is also FDA-cleared to lift the brow, neck and under-chin area. The differences are depth and imaging. Sofwave delivers ultrasound at 1.5mm, in the mid-dermis, and has no imaging. Ultherapy PRIME reaches 4.5mm and shows your provider the tissue in real time. If your main concerns are fine lines and early laxity and you want the quickest session, Sofwave is a reasonable choice. If you want the deepest non-surgical lift for the brow, jawline or neck, depth is the reason we chose Ultherapy PRIME for our practice.
Ultherapy PRIME vs. Morpheus8. Morpheus8 combines microneedling with radiofrequency. It is excellent for texture, pores and acne scarring, usually as a series of about three sessions with a few days of redness after each. It remodels the skin. It is not designed to lift the deep support layer. Some clients benefit from both, at different times.
Ultherapy PRIME vs. a surgical facelift. A facelift physically repositions the SMAS and removes excess skin. No non-surgical treatment matches that, and when laxity is very advanced, surgery is often the right recommendation. Not every patient needs a surgical procedure, though. For many people with mild, moderate and even more significant laxity, Ultherapy PRIME is the better first step. It is the treatment you choose to stay ahead. Surgery is what you consider when you need to catch up.
As Joanne Loo puts it, the key is choosing the right treatment for the degree of laxity you actually have. Not every patient needs filler, and not every patient needs surgery.
Ultherapy PRIME tends to suit you if:
It is not the right choice if:
At JLoo Beauty Experts, Ultherapy PRIME is priced by treatment plan. Each plan is built from a set number of ultrasound lines: the more area and depth we treat, the more lines the plan uses.
| Treatment plan | Lines | Founding VIP price |
|---|---|---|
| Brow Lift | 70 | $899 |
| Focus Area | 200 | $950 |
| Lower Face | 400 | $1,499 |
| Advanced Lower Face & Jaw Sculpt | 600 | $2,500 |
| Intensive Lower Face Lift | 660 | $2,950 |
| Gold Standard Full Face Lift | 800 | $3,750 |
| Full Neck | 530 | $1,699 |
| Chest | 280 | $1,199 |
| V-Line Sculpt Package | 600 + 1 vial PCDC | $2,750 |
Founding VIP pricing is a limited-time introductory rate and is subject to change. Every treatment begins with a consultation, and the $100 consultation deposit is applied to your plan. See the full details on our Ultherapy PRIME page.
It is often called one because it treats the same deep layer a facelift tightens. It is not a replacement for surgery. Expect a natural lift and firmer contours, not a surgical result.
Results build over 3 to 6 months and, according to the manufacturer, can last a year or more on the face. Sun protection, skincare and lifestyle all affect how long they hold. We recommend one session a year.
Most clients feel a deep warming sensation that comes and goes. Numbing cream is applied before every treatment, and PRIME is more comfortable than the original Ultherapy system.
It depends on the area and your anatomy. A brow lift uses about 70 lines, a lower face treatment about 400 and a full face lift about 800. Your provider confirms the number at your consultation.
Both are FDA-cleared to lift the brow, neck and under-chin area. Ultherapy PRIME treats deeper, reaching the SMAS at 4.5mm, and uses real-time imaging. Sofwave treats at 1.5mm without imaging. For deeper structural lifting, we recommend Ultherapy PRIME.
Yes. It pairs well with Botox or Sculptra for lines and volume, and with PRF Microneedling for skin texture. Your provider will plan the timing.
Book your Ultherapy PRIME consultation at JLoo Beauty Experts in Midtown Manhattan. For the full science behind the treatment, read Ultherapy PRIME in NYC: What It Is and How It Works, or see real client results on our Before & After page.
Medically reviewed by Joanne Loo, MS, AGPCNP-BC, Medical Director. MD oversight: Dr. Jade Hon, MD. This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for a personalized clinical assessment.
